If you live or come to Vilnius, here is something interesting for you. I have to say, I discovered the smoothness of the Cafe latte in Vilnius, and not in Italy or in some loosy Starbucks Coffee selling "Coffee Ersatz" a bit everywhere in the world. The idea rulling in this post is that the quality of the Latte produced in a place reflects rather well the overall quality (food and service) of the establishment.
That is why this post is called the Vilnius Latte benchmarking, which is the first benchmarking of its kind ever made in the whole world. (I looked on Google). I encourage all bloggers to do the same in their city and report it in their blogs.
Since I have arrived in Vilnius, Daiva and I have been wandering in many pubs, cafes, restaurants in the city. I have to say the quality of the Latte can change a lot from one place to an other, this lead me to consider other aspects in the visited places and I eventually came to this conclusion: The better the Latte, the better the place.
I noticed also that Lithuania has a definite advantage over Latte drinker countries: its milk is of excellent quality, which really helps a lot.
Cafe Solero on Traku Street serves so far the best Latte in town. I gave this establishment a note of 4.5 out of 5. The caffe Latte is served in high transparent glass allowing you to see the 3 layers: 2/3 milk, 1/3 espresso and the thin layer of milk foam. The coffee beans used has a good quality, and you will get your caffein kick for your bucks. Reflecting this high score, the Solero is a great place to meet friends or to organize relax professional meeting. The Solero has 3 rooms of medium size (some of them slightly below ground level), well designed, equipped with rather large tables and confortable sofas. The service is perfect nevertheless a bit slow: it takes time to produce quality. The standard is well kept. The dishes served succulent and very well presented. The groovy but relaxing music is sometimes a bit to loud, but you can ask the staff to reduce the volume. I definitly recommend this place.
Double Coffee, a Lithuanian coffee company, a copycat of the Starbucks Coffee, provides an excellent Latte. You can find many stores across the city, the two sites I have tested for you are located on Gedimino prospektas. I am giving a note of 4 out of 5. The Latte, served in a high glass allows you to see the layered composition. The milk is at the right temperature, and you may drink it fast. The service is quick as well. Double Coffee has a large panel of hot and cold beverages, alcoholic drinks and hot dishes. The Double Coffee interior design are quite similar from one store to an other and on the dark tones, the stores visited lacked of windows, therefore, appart from the sexy waitresses and other customers, there is not much to look at. One of the good thing at Double Caffee is that they give "drink on the house" vouchers. This attractive offer is definitly a plus for them.
The Pica 25 is located at the last floor of the shopping centre CUP. I will give a note of 3.5 out of 5. The Latte served there is a normal Latte. It has absolutely nothing special to say about it: it tastes coffee, it has a correct proportion of milk, espresso shots and foam, served in a transparent glass. It remains a good Latte, far better than any Latte served in any Starbucks. This establishment is a pizzeria serving italian dishes arranged to the taste of lithuanian people. Their hot dishes have no extra stuff, but it is tasty, and served quickly by the two members of staff working there. It is a small place with a big view. This small pizzeria has big windows bay from which you have a view on Vilnius. Not a fantastic view in fact, a view on the black waters of the Neris and the grey building accross, with many people crossing the pedestrian white bridge. I recommend to go there for sunset and order there a pizza and a latte. Simple combination. No better place to threat yourself after work.
The Presto is a coffee company like Double Coffee and you can find many of their stores well located accross the city. The stores I have tested are located in Europa and on Trakai street. I would give a maybe fair note of 1.5 out of 5. The latte is served in a small white cup. It taste coffee but disappointed me a lot. It seems they use skimmed milk to make their latte and it tastes very much like water. The fact that it is served with a little coffee bean does not smoothened my unsatisfaction. The place itself are not particulary attractive. It is small without being cosy and it is noisy. Bad experience really and we could not wait to leave the place really.
The Mambopizza is located on Gedimino prospektas which is Vilnius main street, but not on the most passing section. It has a covered terrace advancing on the pavement which is quite pleasant in summer. However, I gave this establishment a harsh note of 1.5 out of 5.
The Latte macchiato served there has definitly lost its capital letter. The milk was burned, the shots were burned too or they maybe use a low quality of coffee, the beverage did not taste like a latte, actually it tastes anything particular. The place is far too dark, they failed to create a cosy atmosphere. Even air seems to be lacking there. The pathway is none existant: When you enter, tables are right in the path and you have to squizze yourself against the wall to make your way to the long bar. The armchairs are not particularly confortable and the tables are too high. They offer hot and cold beverages, pretty much all tastless and alcoholic drinks. The Mambopizza offers an average selection of italian dishes arranged to the lithuanien taste, but even the traditional lithuanian cold soup made with beetroot looked not fresh and untasty. They are trying without much effort, consequence of that: they are not convincing, therefore they desserve their note..
I will continue my Latte benchmarking throughout spring and summer in Vilnius, and surely in other towns of Lithuania. After all, this calm country has a lot to offer.
Our next target will be Fortas, and other independant coffee shops.
That is why this post is called the Vilnius Latte benchmarking, which is the first benchmarking of its kind ever made in the whole world. (I looked on Google). I encourage all bloggers to do the same in their city and report it in their blogs.
Since I have arrived in Vilnius, Daiva and I have been wandering in many pubs, cafes, restaurants in the city. I have to say the quality of the Latte can change a lot from one place to an other, this lead me to consider other aspects in the visited places and I eventually came to this conclusion: The better the Latte, the better the place.
I noticed also that Lithuania has a definite advantage over Latte drinker countries: its milk is of excellent quality, which really helps a lot.
Cafe Solero on Traku Street serves so far the best Latte in town. I gave this establishment a note of 4.5 out of 5. The caffe Latte is served in high transparent glass allowing you to see the 3 layers: 2/3 milk, 1/3 espresso and the thin layer of milk foam. The coffee beans used has a good quality, and you will get your caffein kick for your bucks. Reflecting this high score, the Solero is a great place to meet friends or to organize relax professional meeting. The Solero has 3 rooms of medium size (some of them slightly below ground level), well designed, equipped with rather large tables and confortable sofas. The service is perfect nevertheless a bit slow: it takes time to produce quality. The standard is well kept. The dishes served succulent and very well presented. The groovy but relaxing music is sometimes a bit to loud, but you can ask the staff to reduce the volume. I definitly recommend this place.
Double Coffee, a Lithuanian coffee company, a copycat of the Starbucks Coffee, provides an excellent Latte. You can find many stores across the city, the two sites I have tested for you are located on Gedimino prospektas. I am giving a note of 4 out of 5. The Latte, served in a high glass allows you to see the layered composition. The milk is at the right temperature, and you may drink it fast. The service is quick as well. Double Coffee has a large panel of hot and cold beverages, alcoholic drinks and hot dishes. The Double Coffee interior design are quite similar from one store to an other and on the dark tones, the stores visited lacked of windows, therefore, appart from the sexy waitresses and other customers, there is not much to look at. One of the good thing at Double Caffee is that they give "drink on the house" vouchers. This attractive offer is definitly a plus for them.
The Pica 25 is located at the last floor of the shopping centre CUP. I will give a note of 3.5 out of 5. The Latte served there is a normal Latte. It has absolutely nothing special to say about it: it tastes coffee, it has a correct proportion of milk, espresso shots and foam, served in a transparent glass. It remains a good Latte, far better than any Latte served in any Starbucks. This establishment is a pizzeria serving italian dishes arranged to the taste of lithuanian people. Their hot dishes have no extra stuff, but it is tasty, and served quickly by the two members of staff working there. It is a small place with a big view. This small pizzeria has big windows bay from which you have a view on Vilnius. Not a fantastic view in fact, a view on the black waters of the Neris and the grey building accross, with many people crossing the pedestrian white bridge. I recommend to go there for sunset and order there a pizza and a latte. Simple combination. No better place to threat yourself after work.
The Presto is a coffee company like Double Coffee and you can find many of their stores well located accross the city. The stores I have tested are located in Europa and on Trakai street. I would give a maybe fair note of 1.5 out of 5. The latte is served in a small white cup. It taste coffee but disappointed me a lot. It seems they use skimmed milk to make their latte and it tastes very much like water. The fact that it is served with a little coffee bean does not smoothened my unsatisfaction. The place itself are not particulary attractive. It is small without being cosy and it is noisy. Bad experience really and we could not wait to leave the place really.
The Mambopizza is located on Gedimino prospektas which is Vilnius main street, but not on the most passing section. It has a covered terrace advancing on the pavement which is quite pleasant in summer. However, I gave this establishment a harsh note of 1.5 out of 5.
The Latte macchiato served there has definitly lost its capital letter. The milk was burned, the shots were burned too or they maybe use a low quality of coffee, the beverage did not taste like a latte, actually it tastes anything particular. The place is far too dark, they failed to create a cosy atmosphere. Even air seems to be lacking there. The pathway is none existant: When you enter, tables are right in the path and you have to squizze yourself against the wall to make your way to the long bar. The armchairs are not particularly confortable and the tables are too high. They offer hot and cold beverages, pretty much all tastless and alcoholic drinks. The Mambopizza offers an average selection of italian dishes arranged to the lithuanien taste, but even the traditional lithuanian cold soup made with beetroot looked not fresh and untasty. They are trying without much effort, consequence of that: they are not convincing, therefore they desserve their note..
I will continue my Latte benchmarking throughout spring and summer in Vilnius, and surely in other towns of Lithuania. After all, this calm country has a lot to offer.
Our next target will be Fortas, and other independant coffee shops.
