19th June 2025
The Vilnius Old Town restaurant “Augustin” has been found to have discriminated against visitors with mobility impairments due to its inaccessible entrance. This conclusion was reached by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson following an investigation into a complaint.
The complainant reported that they had attempted to book a table at the centrally located restaurant and inquired whether customers using wheelchairs could access the premises.
Restaurant representatives informed the individual that the entrance was not adapted for people with mobility disabilities. However, they also noted that the restaurant had an accessible restroom.
During the investigation, it was confirmed that steep stairs lead to the entrance, making independent wheelchair access impossible. It was also revealed that the establishment owned a portable ramp. However, the individual was not informed about its existence, and no such information was provided at the entrance or on the restaurant’s website.
Audronė Daukšaitė-Timpė, Head of the Legal Affairs Group at the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, emphasized that public spaces and services must be accessible to people with disabilities – a right guaranteed by both national law and international conventions.
“It’s commendable that the restaurant has an accessible toilet, but it’s unclear how people are supposed to use it if they can’t enter the premises. A temporary ramp could help, but if people are unaware it exists, it cannot be considered real accessibility,” said A. Daukšaitė-Timpė.
She noted that people with disabilities arriving at the restaurant would have to wait outside and ask for assistance, which significantly complicates their ability to access services.
“Therefore, the restaurant does not provide equal opportunities for all guests to enter the premises independently. This constitutes discrimination based on disability,” the lawyer concluded.
The Office issued a warning to “Augustin” for violating the Law on Equal Opportunities and recommended that the restaurant uphold the rights of people with mobility impairments by installing a permanent ramp or sloped entrance.
It also advised the restaurant to clearly and publicly indicate the availability of the portable ramp and, when necessary – for instance, upon a guest’s request – to provide it at the entrance. Additionally, the ramp should be safe, sturdy, and fit for use.