The Ultimate Food Guide for Riga, Latvia

Located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, Riga is a city to discover with its unique culture. As you wander through its historic streets, you will see that Riga will impress you not only with its architecture but also with its delicious food. In this guide, I will share the most delicious stops and local delicacies that will allow you to have a pleasant trip in Riga. So, here is the Latvia – Riga food and drink guide…

What to Eat and Drink in Riga?

Rupjmaize: I believe it would not be wrong to say that bread made from rye flour is the basis of Latvian cuisine. They also make these rye breads with garlic and serve them with sauce. You absolutely have to taste this. This is called Kiploku grauzdini.

Pelekie Zirni ar Speki: Latvia’s national dish made with gray peas, diced and fried onions and bacon.

Kartupelu pankükas: Potato pancakes, also similar to hash browns, usually served with sour cream.

Auksta Zupa: A cold soup made with beetroot, cucumber, kefir and boiled eggs. It is drunk as a refreshing drink especially in summer.

Maizes Zupa: A sweet soup made from rye bread, served with cream.

Sklandrausis: A sweet pie with carrot and sweet potato filling.

Debesmanna: A mousse made from sour fruits such as cranberries, raspberries or blueberries.

Melnais balzams: Black Balsam, Latvia’s world famous herbal liqueur, a very strong drink.

Kvass: A very low-alcohol, slightly sour-tasting drink made with barley, rye and sometimes fruit.

Apart from these, there are some foods that are common in different parts of Europe, especially in the North. For example, pelmeni (Russian ravioli) and carbonade (schnitzel) are quite common in Riga.

Where to Eat in Riga?

I really liked the dining options in Riga, the city is very developed in terms of gastronomy. From coffee shops to chic restaurants, from authentic traditional places to cocktail bars, Riga has something for every taste and budget. There are so many good places, I am sure you will find many good places yourself, but I will share a few humble suggestions.

Best Coffee Houses in Riga

Rocket Bean: A local chain coffee shop. They also serve sandwiches, breakfast and lunch, but they stand out with their coffee.

Strada: A cafe with good coffee in Old Town. They also serve desserts and sandwiches.

Crumble Cake: I like the vintage details of this place, the presentations are made on old porcelain. Their pear-caramel crumble cake is famous, hence the name, but I only had coffee.

Riga Breakfast Spots

Street Fries Kitchen: Kahvaltı için epey geniş bir menüsü var. buranın. Krepler, İngiliz kahvaltısı, şakşuka, avokado tost vb. her zevke uygun bir şeyler var.

Big Bad Bagels: Bagel ile yapılan sandviçleri güzel, bagel seviyorsanız burayı deneyebilirsiniz.

This Place Doesn’t Need A Name: Old Town’da ufak, şirin bir mekan. Kahvaltıları ve kokteylleri güzel.

Restaurant Recommendations in Riga

Lido: This is a local chain where you can eat affordable Latvian food. It offers self-service.

Ala Pagrabs: This is a traditional restaurant where you can eat Latvian cuisine. You go underground, it is like a labyrinth, it consists of rooms. What I ate was very delicious. There are live bands in the evening.

Lokals Karbonades: This place is located a little outside Old Town. It is famous for its Latvian schnitzel, but there are other food options such as seafood, salads, etc.

Milda: No Michelin star but listed as Bib Gourmand in the guide. They serve Lithuanian and Latvian cuisine with a modern twist. The name Milda comes from the name of the figure on the statue of freedom in Riga.

Tails:Another restaurant in the Michelin guide. They make a show on seafood.

Barents: This place is in the Michelin guide, it doesn’t have a star yet, but it is quite ambitious. They have tasting menus with different themes, you can also order a la carte. Of course, it is higher priced than other places.

Let me write down a few places that I have noted but didn’t have the chance to visit. PEPPO’s for Neapolitan pizza, Snatch for Italian cuisine, The Catch for sushi and Shoyu for ramen are highly recommended. I would also like to mention Max Cekot Kitchen, the only Michelin starred restaurant in the city.

Riga Nightlife and Bars

Nosaints: A speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a secret entrance. It is located opposite the Italian Embassy in Old Town. Both the ambiance and cocktails are good.

Gimlet Nordic Cocktail Bar: They use seasonal, local and natural ingredients grown in the north to make the cocktails here. You can meet flavors you have never tried anywhere else.

Black Magic: This place is especially famous for the Latvian drink black balsam. It has an authentic atmosphere, the waiters are dressed in medieval costumes.

The Armoury Bar: A shabby bar with a weapon concept. I have no interest in weapons, but I was interested because it had a different concept. Different beer varieties were also good.

I hope my Riga Foodie Guide will be useful for you. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. If you have any suggestions, I would also welcome them in the comments. Have a good vacation in advance!

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