One of Europe’s highest revolving restaurants is back in business as Lithuania’s iconic Vilnius TV Tower has reopened its renovated Milky Way (Paukščių Takas) restaurant. It offers travelers a unique dining experience 165 meters above the Lithuanian capital.
The reopening adds another attraction to one of Vilnius‘ most recognizable landmarks, which welcomes more than 130,000 visitors each year.
Perched inside the 326.4-meter tower, the restaurant completes a full 360-degree rotation every 55 minutes, giving diners constantly changing panoramic views stretching up to 50 kilometers on clear days. The tower is the tallest structure in Lithuania, the eighth-tallest TV tower in Europe and stands just three meters shorter than the Eiffel Tower.
Discovering the freshness of Lithuanian cuisine
The revamped restaurant showcases modern Lithuanian cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, with chef Aleksandras Buiko reinterpreting traditional flavors through a contemporary menu.
Seasonal produce from local farms takes center stage, including mushrooms, herbs, berries and vegetables. Signature dishes include trout paired with sea buckthorn, black bread crumble and dill, while traditional Lithuanian potato dumplings, known as švilpikai, are given a modern twist.
An unusual feature is the wine program. Rather than organizing wines by country or grape variety, the list focuses on vineyards located at elevations similar to the restaurant’s 165-meter height. Lithuanian wines are also featured under the concept of “northern elevation,” highlighting how the country’s cool climate and long summer daylight create distinctive characteristics.
Beyond the restaurant, the tower has evolved into one of Lithuania’s most distinctive visitor attractions.
Beside the revolving restaurant
Its standout accommodation is among the most unusual hotel experiences in Northern Europe. Two exclusive apartments sit 175 meters (574 feet) above the ground, making them among the highest accommodations in the Baltic region. Floor-to-ceiling windows deliver uninterrupted views across Vilnius, allowing guests to watch both sunrise and sunset from one of the city’s most spectacular vantage points. Overnight stays include private access to the tower after regular visitor hours, creating an experience few hotels can match.
Adventure travelers can also tackle the Edge Walk, an open-air walk around the tower’s exterior platform at 170 meters while secured by a safety harness.
Originally completed in 1980, the tower also holds deep historical significance. It became a symbol of Lithuania’s independence during the Soviet assault of January 13, 1991, when civilians defended the landmark. Visitors can learn more through the on-site “Fight for Freedom” exhibition.
The reopening further strengthens Vilnius‘ growing appeal as a city-break destination, offering a range of unique attractions which can only surprise visitors.
Such as the new exhibition “Hidden Within”, which presents the Treasury of Vilnius Cathedral. The exhibition traces the dramatic fate of the Cathedral treasures – their concealment and rediscovery across time, particularly royal insignia and burial crowns belonging to Lithuania and Poland’s XVI century rulers. The exhibition, which opened on July 9, 2026, can be discovered until January 30, 2027 at the Vilnius Church Heritage Museum.
