Shakespeare Boutique Hotel

A literary hideaway in a 17th-century palace

The Shakespeare is the Old Town's book-lover's bolthole. Housed in a renovated 17th-century palace on Bernardinų gatvė, it fills its rooms with deep sofas, cosy libraries and antique walnut furniture, and names each one after a famous author — so you might spend the night with Wilde, Dickens or the Bard himself. The effect is closer to staying in a well-read friend's townhouse than a hotel.

The address is a quiet one, yet Cathedral Square, Vilnius University and St Anne's Church are all a short walk away. Service draws steady praise for warmth and attentiveness, and mornings begin properly at the on-site Sonnets Restaurant, where the breakfast — with good hot options — is a highlight of the stay.

Good to know

Practical perks are stronger than the romantic styling suggests: there's free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace for golden-hour drinks, and private on-site parking — a genuine rarity this deep in the Old Town and a boon for drivers.

A few caveats keep it honest. Rooms facing the parking side can catch noise from delivery lorries serving a nearby supermarket in the early morning, so ask for a room facing away if you're a light sleeper. Breakfast doesn't start until 8am, which frustrates early risers, and the centuries-old building brings quirks — odd layouts, some older fixtures and kettles, and only instant coffee in the rooms.

• Check current rates and availability on the hotel's own site before booking.