Neringa – Hotel and Restaurant

This building with functional, modest facade forms was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. Before the war, there was a hotel “Viktorija”, and during the Soviet period, it served as a dormitory. Between 1956 and 1960, the building was reconstructed and adapted to the “Neringa” hotel with a café.

In the “Soviet” world of that time, “Neringa” was a breath of fresh air that inspired the rise of many other unique interiors throughout Lithuania. It was a favorite gathering place for intellectuals and bohemians – the café was always full of life, music, and heated discussions. This place was loved by many but criticized by Soviet institutions that were afraid of new ideas.

Rumors circulated that listening devices in the “Neringa” café were hidden in bread plates, flower vases, and table legs, and that during “sanitary days”, KGB agents checked the condition of these devices and collected the data they had gathered.

“Neringa” made its authors famous – the architect brothers Algimantas and Vytautas Nasvytis. The café interior was created not only by seeking new spatial solutions but also by paying special attention to detail. The architects collaborated with many artists, whose contributions helped to implement new and unusual solutions at that time, which became an integral part of this interior.

To this day, the restaurant’s interior is considered one of the most significant modernist interiors in Lithuania.