The rehabilitation of historic piles into modern hotels often results in slick modern interiors with absolutely no sense of the building’s storied past. A round of applause then for architect Saulius Mikštas and YES.design.architecture studio for their admirable work on turning this grand 17th-century baroque mansion into Hotel Pacai in Vilnius’ Old Town.
Anchored by a dramatically proportioned 500sqm courtyard, the public spaces and 104 rooms all feature a handsome palette of deep grey walls and drapes, tufted leather finishes, marble benches and slender-limbed midcentury furniture, but what catches the eye are the mansion’s textured old bones which peek out like an architectural palimpsest at unexpected moments – a wall of exposed original bricks and barn timber here, cracked pilasters and a patch of ancient frescos there.
The best room in the house is the Pacai Suite with views of the Old Town, but we’re equally impressed by in-house brasserie 14 Horses, which harnesses local produce in its Lithuanian- and Baltic-inspired menu.
ADDRESS
Didzioji str. 7
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