Where to eat and drink in Riga
We didn’t go to Latvia for its cuisine, the way you might with Greece or Mexico. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t great places to eat and drink. Across our three days in Riga we had some delicious meals at modern (and not so modern) restaurants. And by night we found plenty of great bars to drink in.
These were our favourite places to eat and drink in Latvia.
Herbārijs, kafejnīca
On the rooftop of Galeria Riga is Herbary, a glass conservatory that serves small plates, delicious mains, and great cocktails. We stopped here for lunch and enjoyed an amazing view across the city as well as a range of European, Asian, and Mexican-inspired dishes.
Rozengrāls
If you’re up for something a bit different, check out the medieval restaurant Rozengrāls in Riga’s Old Town. You’ll recognise it by the flags, ivy, and the man dressed as a knight sat outside. To enter you traverse through underground tunnels lit by candles, which open up into a large stone dining hall.
All the food here is inspired by what medieval people would have eaten – which doesn’t sound great. But there are actually loads of delicious dishes to choose from including goats cheese salad, seabass with barley and lentils, and plenty more options that sound reassuringly modern. The drinks menu, on the other hand, is limited by this theme. There’s no sodas – just fruit juices, beers, wines, and spirits. But overall, the food was great and the experience was entertaining enough to make up for the limitations of medieval kitchens.
nosaints
Like Tallinn, Riga loves a hidden bar. You’ll find nosaints at the end of a courtyard, down some steps, and through what looks like the back door of a commercial building. Just ring the bell and they’ll let you into their cosy, cave-like pub. We stopped for cocktails at about midnight and the vibe was still buzzy. The menu is in three sections, with a simple ‘on tap’ selection, pre-mixed cocktails, and more advanced combinations for connoisseurs. Drinks cost between €9-15.
Andrejostas Kvartāls
On a Friday night we headed a bit further out of town to Andrejostas Kvartāls, an open air bar on the banks of Daugava River. There’s a rooftop, a beach bar, a DJ playing house music until 2am, and pizza and sushi kitchens. It got busy from about 10pm and seemed to be full of locals rather than tourists.
The music was good, the food was good, the drinks were affordable (€6 for pints and €9 for mixers) so we ended up having a few too many. If you’re in Riga on a weekend and looking for a party, Andrejostas Kvartāls is a great place to go. And it was super simple to get a Bolt back to the old town late at night, which only took 5 minutes and cost €4!
Find out more about how we spent three days in Riga here.