Augustas ir Barbora Love Story Café – Visit the Prettiest Café in Vilnius

One of my favourite cafés in Vilnius has got to be the Augustas ir Barbora Love Story Café.

As soon as I passed it on my walking tour of Vilnius Old Town and I saw the incredible decor, I knew I had to plan a visit.

As it was Christmas time, they had a pink glittery wall, huge baubles, and a pink unicorn on top.

Inside, gorgeous rose trellises and hanging flowers filled the space. Not to mention, their coffee, champagne breakfasts, and cakes are incredible.

If you’re looking for Instagrammable places to eat in Vilnius, then I would bump this pretty restaurant to the top of your list.

Not only does it have one of the most beautiful settings, but it’s also inspired by Lithuania’s most famous love story.

Here’s a complete guide for visiting the Love Story Café in Vilnius.

Why the name Augustas ir Barbora Love Story? 

It’s called the Augustas ir Barbora Love Story Café because of the Lithuanian legend of Barbora Radvilaitė and Žygimantas Augustas. 

Barbora Radvilaitė was the Grand Duchess of Lithuania, and Žygimantas Augustas was the King of Poland in the 16th Century.

This bittersweet romantic tale has a tragic ending, but the love story still resonates as a testament to eternal love in the hearts of Lithuanians today. 

Barbora Radvilaitė and Žygimantas Augustas

The story goes that Barbora Radvilaitė was born into one of Lithuania’s most important families, the Radvilas.

She was also one of the most beautiful women in all of Europe. When she met Žygimantas Augustas, they fell in love and began a secret affair. 

They met in secret, and it is thought that Augustas met her at Radvila Palace through a secret corridor he created.

Eventually, the pair married in secret at a cathedral in Vilnius, but it was a scandalous union.

This was because of a medieval custom that the king could not marry a woman who wasn’t from a royal family. 

When the court learned of their marriage, Augusta’s mother, Queen Bona, could not accept it and moved to Krakow, Poland.

She broke off all relations with her son. The court also urged Augustas to divorce Barbora. 

Augustas would not be swayed, and he threatened to dissolve parliament if they did not make Barbora Queen of Poland.

Sure enough, her coronation took place a few months later in 1550.

Tragically, Barbora died just six months later. Many blamed Queen Bona for poisoning her!

Afterwards, Augustus made sure her remains were buried in Vilnius, where they first fell in love. He wore black every day for the rest of his life. 

Although many call this just a legend, in 1931, Barbora’s remains were found under Vilnius Cathedral.

She was then moved to the royal mausoleum in Saint Casimir’s Crypt. An excavation of Radvila Palace also revealed where they met in secret.

Places named after Barbora Radvilaitė

This tragic love story has inspired many throughout the ages and ensures that Barbora’s story lives on. 

There are plays, songs, portraits, and even books that have been influenced by the star-crossed pair:

• You can find a portrait of Barbora Radvilaitė in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

• There is a street in the Old Town named after Barbora Radvilaitė. This borders Pilies and Maironio Street

• You can find a statue of Queen Barbora on Vokiečių Street

• An award now bears both Barbora Radvilaitė’s and Žygimantas Augustas’ names.

• The Augustas ir Barbora Love Story Café is a tribute to their story.

Where is the Love Story Café in Vilnius?

Augustas ir Barbora is located on Stiklių Gatvé in Vilnius. This is in the Jewish Quarter (Former Ghetto) of Vilnius Old Town. 

You can easily make your way over here on foot from the Vilnius Town Hall. Follow the signs for the Jewish Ghetto and take Stiklių Gatvé.

Once you’re on the street, you’ll easily spot the café from its fantastic display.

The easiest way to arrive at the café is on foot. But you can take an Uber / Tram to Town Hall Square and find it from there.  

Love Story Café opening times

The Love Story Café is open from 10 am to 11 pm, every day of the week.

However, it is busy pretty much all day. So, I would recommend reserving a table to guarantee a place. 

If not, I would arrive just before opening time to get a table for breakfast. 

What to expect on your visit

As soon as you walk into the café, you’ll be absolutely stunned by the decor.

You’ll find pretty flowers hanging everywhere, pink velvet seats, and marble tables waiting for you.

I arrived at the 10 am opening and decided to stay for a late breakfast. 

I went for their continental offering: coffee, fresh orange juice, and a buttery, flaky croissant. It was really delicious.

The café is open all day, so you’ll also find some amazing lunch and dinner choices. Or you can have afternoon tea, ice cream, or cocktails.

Photography tips 

• The Love Story Café in Vilnius is always busy. I recommend visiting at opening time.

• If you want to guarantee a table for food or cocktails, I would try to make a reservation.

• The café serves a variety of things that are super pretty in photos, like cocktails, iced coffees, and cupcakes

• If you tag the café (@augustasirbarboracafe) on their social media, you may be lucky enough to get featured on their social channels.

Places near Augustas ir Barbora Love Story Café

• The Jewish Quarter & Vilnius Old Town – After your visit to the café, it’s well worth exploring the streets around here.

• Vilnius Cathedral & Cathedral Square – The main hub of the city is the Vilnius Cathedral and Cathedral Square.

• St Casimir’s Cathedral – You can visit this amazing pink cathedral in the Old Town, another great photo spot.

• Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania – I absolutely loved this huge museum and recreation of the Old Palace. You can find many lavish rooms, paintings and even a portrait of Barbora.

• Radvila Palace – The palace where Barbora used to live and where the two used to meet in secret still exists today and is now an Art Museum.

Vilnius photography locations

Many people told me that Vilnius would be very drab and grey. But they couldn’t be more wrong. Vilnius is a gorgeous city.

Not only does it have many colourful cathedrals, but it also has incredible viewpoints and street art. 

The Old Town is also a photographer’s paradise with historic courtyards, squares, and streets.

Vilnius has so many amazing places to photograph; I’ve put together a full list for you.

Read my Lithuania guides

A guide for visiting Gediminas Castle

The best viewpoints in Vilnius

The ultimate guide for Three Crosses Hill

Top things to see in Uzupis

Traditional foods to try in Lithuania

A complete guide for Trakai Castle

The top places to visit in Kaunas

A day trip to the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania

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