Long-term outcome data indicate that open partial nephrectomy has cancer-free survival rates comparable to those of radical surgery, with better preservation of renal function, decreased overall mortality and reduced frequency of cardiovascular events. Open partial nephrectomy is increasingly being challenged by laparoscopic and/or robot assisted partial nephrectomy, which in the hands of experts appears to achieve comparable oncological results, albeit at a higher complication rate. We report a review based on literature published over the past years, which may provide insight into the role of open partial nephrectomy in the present urological practice and in years to come.