Project Name
Nineteen18
Posted in
Design, Interior Design
Location
11 Dominikonų gatvė
01131 Vilnius Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė
Lithuania
Telephone
+370 608 08 950
Detailed Information
Project NameNineteen18Posted inDesign, Interior DesignLocation
11 Dominikonų gatvė
01131 Vilnius Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė
Lithuania
Telephone+370 608 08 950

Taking its name from the year Lithuania regained its independence, Nineteen18 is an intimate 42-seat restaurant in Vilnius that combines a farm-to-table philosophy with a setting of artisanal elegance and historic undertones. Part of the restaurant’s unique charm is its location; the space is located in the Senatorių Pasažas, a 400-year-old mansion in the city’s old town which was given a new lease of life in 2020 as a multi-purpose culinary venue bringing together shops, cafés and eateries. Meticulously renovated by DO ARCHITECTS in collaboration with interior designers YES, the building has retained its stately grandeur yet feels neither bombastic nor museum-like thanks to modern touches of understated sophistication and a thoughtful restoration process which brings to light rather than polishes over its storied past. Serving Chef Andrius Kubilius’ forward-looking dishes that draw from Lithuania’s rich culinary heritage, Nineteen18 evocatively bridge the country’s past, present and future in both culinary and spatial terms.

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Originally built in the 17th century and expanded over the course of the next two centuries, the palatial Senatorių Pasažas encapsulates the city’s architectural heritage mixing Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. When it came to refurbishing the building, the decision was made to restore the existing building fabric as faithfully and as lightly as possible in line with the Wabi Sabi philosophy, summarized as the beauty of imperfections, while espousing a design language of contemporary minimalism for all new additions. The result is a mix of centuries old groin vaults, exposed stonework and fading plastering interweaved with steel canopies, planters and staircases, frameless glazing, and floating concrete terraces. A central passageway that used to connect to the busy street has been reopened to the public, hence its name which translates as Senator’s Passage, now also functioning as a courtyard where visitors can sit.

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Conceived as a culinary meeting place in the Old Town, Senatorių Pasažas aims to promote sustainable Lithuanian farmers - housing under the same roof - a series of shops selling seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese and eggs from local farmers, and the Farmers Circle, a 500-hectare farm an hour's drive from Vilnius, as well as a bakery, delicatessen, florist, culinary book shop and wine store. Local farmers also supply fresh produce to the venue’s eateries, including Ninteen18, where seasonality, sustainability and a connection to nature are core values of Chef Andrius Kubilius’ culinary philosophy. Complementing the à la carte menu, a tasting menu is served at the Chef’ table where patrons get a front row seat to the kitchen’s action, while the intimate Gallery Tapas bar serves drinks and appetizers, with a separate private dining room reserved for special occasions. No matter where you sit, the restaurant’s storied ambience, effortless sophistication and authentically flavoured avant garde dishes softly tiptoe between past and present.

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Photography by Aiste Rakauskaite

Nineteen18 Restaurant Bridges Lithuania's Past and Present in Both Design and Gastronomy

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