DINING IN RIGA

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For every taste there is a special dish in Latvia, no matter weather you are a vegeterian or just fond of seafood, or maybe you can eat nothing but sushi – it is all here!

Latvian
Alus Seta (Lido Group)
6 Tirgonu iela 
Located just off the Dome square, this joint is pretty rowdy and bubbling over with Latvian youth. Self-service, heavy Latvian style food. A variety of local beer on tap.

Cau, Rasma!
20 Aspazijas bulv. 
Cellar Latvian pub style restaurant reminding of good old times. Home style typical Latvian cooking, extremely good value for money if you like substantial dishes of big size. Tastes very good as well! Latvian bands play live on some evenings. Also organise karaoke.

Dzirnavas (Lido Group)
76 Dzirnavu iela (Riga Centre)
This country-style cafeteria has been fondly dubbed by some the "Latvian McDonalds", as the food simmers mouth-wateringly before your eyes and customers are often at a loss as to what to choose. No one leaves the Windmill hungry. Gluttons, plunder the salad buffet; reproducing Mount Everest on your plate takes training and skill, but we've seen some pretty good imitations. Don't miss out on the delicious shashliks!

Lido Atputas Centrs (Lido Recreation Centre)
76 Krasta iela (Kengarags)
www.ac.lido.lv 
LIDO Recreation Centre is one of the most attractive public catering enterprises and favourite place of family recreation in Latvia. Building is one of the largest and the most beautiful log cabins in Europe. LIDO Recreation Centre can host more than 1000 visitors. It is characterized by a Latvian environment, tasty and various dishes, LIDO beer, live music every evening, celebration of national festivities with gorgeous decorations and concerts! The Centre Amusement park offers ice-skating in the winter and roller-skating in the summer in the largest skating-rink in the Baltic as well as other breathtaking attractions. 
Take direct bus № A17 from central post or tram № 7 or 9 from Latvian National opera up to LIDO Recreation Centre.

Staburags (Lido Group)
55 Caka iela (Riga Centre)
Jolly, multileveled rural decor, the hearty "farmers' fare" seems to be designed to stuff any person with a lion-sized appetite to bursting-point! Cook-it-yourself meals and a beer galore! You can even get 1L mugs!

Vermanitis (Lido Group)
65 Elizabetes iela (Riga Centre)
Decorated in light-hearted, ethnic Latvian style, this self-service eatery (named after the park it faces) offers a good, filling Latvian food, which you may enjoy, accompanied by traditional Latvian music. A great place to fill your 'tum' with several pounds of local grub at a low price, if you don't mind the ever-present chatter of other patrons situated close by. A few international dishes are also available.


Gourmet
Vincents 
19 Elizabetes iela 
www.vincents.lv
The amazing creativity of chef Martins Ritins gives you the urge to frame your dinner, not eat it! Mr. Ritins is famous for having catered for numerous celebrities among them the strongest man in the world (no, NOT Arnold Schwarzenegger) US President George Bush, Elton John, Prince Charles and Andrew, Pierre Cardin, Paco Rabanne—the photo gallery proves it! Martins uses mainly organically grown local produce and is also the President of Slow Food in Latvia. Every month some novelties appear in the menu, according to the culinary season.

La Boheme
2a J. Alunana iela 
www.laboheme.lv
Named after Puccini’s opera, La Boheme is divided into an upscale life style cafe and fine dining restaurant. Made in elegant Scandinavian style, this establishment offers European cuisine with a French touch in leisurely and joyfull atmosphere. Sofisticated food is as delicate as background smooth jazz and light classical music. Definitely the place to unhurriedly enjoy a meal and atmosphere, made with a great attention to even the smallest details. Try their speciality—French quiche. 

Otto Schwarz 
28 Kalku iela (Old Riga), in Hotel de Rome
The exclusive restaurant on the top floor of Hotel de Rome serves excellent food for a price. The chef has not neglected the vegetarians—meat-free dishes are in abundance. All dishes are skillfully prepared from local, ecologically clean seasonal products. 3-course business lunch menu. The restaurant’s unmatched bonus is the picturesque view of Riga.

Piramida
1 Reimersa iela (Riga Centre), in Hotel Ridzene
Start your day with a unique and flavourful breakfast buffet with international delicacies. Take a break with your business partners and enjoy an extensive buffet business lunch in this wonderfully designed glass pyramid. The quality and variety of dishes brings you back for more! And finally, at the end of a busy day, treat yourself to an exclusive A La Carte menu. Let the executive chef suggest a tasty treat! Impeccable service. Enjoy a meal on the Piramida Summer Terrace.

Skonto Zivju Restorans (fish restaurant)
4 Vagnera iela (Old Riga)
www.zivjurestorans.lv
This elegant restaurant specialises in a multitude of sea dishes. The restaurant offers a choice of four dining rooms each in a separate style. The fish is always fresh, you may even pick your victim lobster or trout from the aquaria. A threecourse business lunch available. Start with the lobster Bisque soup and afterwards have the fillet of sea devil with fresh asparagus and garlic butter fried snails.


International
4 Istabas (4 rooms)
23 Meistaru iela 
Located in a historic building, this restaurant lies right in the centre of the Old Town, not far from the well-known Cat House. The combination of country and modern style creates a cozy atmosphere. European cuisine, many Latvian beer sorts, traditional Latvian hospitality. 

Bellevue
1 Slokas iela (Pardaugava), in Maritim Park Hotel Riga
Located on the 11th floor of the Maritim hotel, the Bellevue restaurant lives up to its name, providing a splendid panoramic view of Riga. Elevate your stand of elegant dining in the comfort of this gourmet restaurant. Marvel at the exotic marine life in the aquarium while you relax in this modern restaurant. Menu changes every month!

Esplanade
55 Elizabetes iela (Riga Centre), in Reval Hotel Latvija
The comfortable and spacious restaurant reflects the latest trends and tastes of dining in a relaxing and sensually pleasing atmosphere. The cuisine features a variety of international styles and flavours. Choose between a mouthwatering, creative and sumptuous “A La Carte” menu and competitively priced, extensive buffets served for lunch and dinner daily. A full international wine list and smiling, friendly efficient service staff. Your first visit to the Esplanåde will certainly not be your last!

Gutenbergs
1 Doma laukums 
www.gutenbergs.lv
This upmarket restaurant offers Balto-Germanic cuisine in a light classical atmosphere. Extensive winelist.
CR: duck breast with red onion pie; lamb with grilled vegetables in red wine sauce.

Hedonia 55
55 Dzirnavu iela
As you can guess from the name, Hedonia 55 encourages us to become hedonists and have only pleasure in our life, just like Epicurus taught us. This bar, restaurant and club appeals to the cream of the golden youth and to get in (to pass the face control) you should look good and respect the dress code (our tip: BCBG or slick and sexy would do the trick). Once you are in you can enjoy numerous funky cocktails prepared by Sergey – the inimitable barmen from Nautilus – or something more substantial from the menu such as the Texas steak. The weekend commences on Thr at 21.00, when DJs start to play happy tunes for happy people and the tables are moved to free some space for the dance-floor.

Il Patio
6 Kalku iela (Old Riga)
2 Stacijas laukums (shopping centre Origo)
24/26 K. Barona iela 
www.rrg.lv
This casual family restaurant located in a typical Old Town cellar offers decent Italian pizzas baked on birch wood in a real stone oven. Other typical Italian dishes from different regions and salad bar are also available. Special children’s menu.

Kabuki
46 Terbatas iela (entrance from Martas iela) 
14 K. Barona iela (entrance from Elizabetes iela) 
Sushi bars have been booming in Europe for quite a while now. This cheaper version of Sumo, created by the same owners, strives to offer a new look on classic Japanese cuisine with a modern interior design and democratic prices. Delicious sushi, yakitori and noodles. Check out the other outlet on 14 Kr.Barona iela which is more spacious an features a food conveyor system. The trendiest venue for sushi!

La Petite
18 Tallinas iela (Situated in the Beauty Institute Liora)
Carefully selected background music and exquisite cuisine with a French and Mediterranean touch create elegant and intimate atmosphere of restaurant “La Petite”. The menu provides a wide choice of starters, elaborate fish and meat dishes and pasta. Leave some space for the famous desserts—Crźpes Suzette and Panna Cotta and enjoy an undeniable French ambience. Bon appetit!

La Salsa
7 Pils iela (Old Riga)
European and Tex-Mex dishes spiced up by non-stop Latino music. The menu features dishes such as steak Fidel, burrito and chilli. Come on Tue and Thr to learn Salsa and Meringue and then practise it on Fri and Sat night during the hot Salsa parties. Try cocktail Che Guevara Deluxe.

Lotoss
7-2 Skarnu iela 
A small artsy restaurant offering a lovely view of the St. Peter's church through "smart" tinted windows which make it a warm, sunny oasis for most of the day. Good a la carte choice from sandwiches to main courses. Variety of vegetarian dishes.

Mauricius
2 Alunana iela,
Intricately furnished restaurant, crammed by an enormous collection of masks, idols and other interesting trophies from North-Africa and India. Decked out in typically British Colonial style, the interior of this large restaurant brandishes numerous authentic artefacts, for instance, the carved wooden portal in the banquet room dates back to 17th century. Cosmopolitan cuisine, ranging from Hungarian fish soup to Mexican burro con queso. On Fri and Sat disco with tunes from 80s and 90s.

Melnie Muki (The Black Monks)
1 Jana Seta 
Ruggedness of the bare medieval brick smoothly fuses with the finesse of modern polished wood and textiles, the result, is a very sophisticated and contemporary style. Polite service, the right choice of music and delicious cuisine. The chef was once the private cook of former president Ulmanis. Fajitas with turkey meat and fish dishes are most popular.

Monterosso
9 Valnu iela 
Refined Italian cuisine in a pleasantly elegant setting. Their Italian chef is the inventor of the black pasta, which became something of a rage in Italy. As for pizzas, we really liked the one with gorgonzola, sun-dried tomatoes and ruccola.

Pie Kristapa
27/29 Baznicas iela 
www.piekristapa.lv
Really a BIG restaurant, where you will find everything: Latvian, European, Russian, Eastern cuisine, special gourmet dishes in 8 halls, made in different Latvian ethnic styles. A good place to go to with friends, and treat them to Royal sturgeon, or Savoury cheese fondue. If you are less generous and want to eat all by yourself, just try anything else from the menu such as Beef kidneys ą la Russian taste XIX century recipe, Shorba soup, or pick your own trout from the aquarium and have it prepared according to your choice (boiled, oven-baked or cooked on open fire). Special children programmes.

Planeta Sushi (Planet Sushi)
16 Skunu iela 
24 K. Barona iela 
www.rrg.lv
This centrally located restaurant offers genuine Japanese dishes, more than 180 different ones, as well as 80 types of sushi. Try the fire sushi, unique in Riga, prepared on an open fire. Learn how to eat with chop sticks, discover the subtleness of sashimi and the meaning of many Japanese words.

Samurajs
2 Kalku iela 
This newcomer to the Japanese restaurants scene boasts a Korean chef who has worked a long time in Japan and an interior design created by a true Japanese. Extensive sushi list including fruit and vegetable sushi, moderately priced, as well as king crab kamino grill and teriyaki. A private room available.

Tiramisu
32 Gertrudes iela (Riga Centre)
This small restaurant, designed in elegant trattoria style, with tiles and mirrors, is frequented by local stylish intelligentsia and foreign embassy people. On Friday evenings it gets full, so it is better reserve a table in advance. Try their risottos, pastas and steaks, and, of course, the tiramisu. They also have an amazing Italian wine list with the best wines from every region of Italy more than 100.

Vanille Cafe
24 Valnu iela 
A cafe/sushi bar/restaurant three-in-one concept. The name stands for the design of the place with its predominant beige colours. As for the food, the groundfloor offers a more casual menu ranging from breakfast specials, that you can order at any time (we recommend the succulent club sandwich with bacon and fillet of chicken) to pastas, stir-fries and sushi. Mind you, sushi is a good choice, as the restaurant is a new creation by the owners of the so popular Sumo. The upstairs has a more calm atmosphere and a sophisticated menu with a pronounced French accent (foie gras, oysters and lobster are on the list), we suggest any fish or seafood dish, as they all come fresh, not frozen. Try the coquilles St. Jaques in proscuitto for starters and follow with the turbot with basil chips.

Velvets 
9 Skarnu iela 
The chef prepares eclectic European dishes. Try the slivers of chicken breast with jasmine rice. Free entrance and good 80s-90s music attract hordes of people all ages daily every evening from 21.00.


Vegetarian
Kamala
14 Jauniela (Old Riga)
Named after Kamala, a 4-armed Indian deity that sits in a cross-legged posture meditating on a tender pink lotus.The menu is rotated daily to keep the colour and composition of the food in balance with the celestial body that earth is aligned to on that day. The chefs put their strongest accents on Ayurvedic health recipes for which one of the magic ingredients is gi—an intricately prepared, cholesterol-free golden butter with an exquisite aroma. Try the tofu shashlik—a rare delicacy.

Rama
56 Kr.Barona iela (Riga Centre)
The Hare Krishna’s cafeteria offers very cheap rice and vegetables as well as a variety of pastries. For those of you that like to cook Indian or brush their teeth with Vicco, don’t miss out on the little shop downstairs that sells all kinds of spices, clothes and other Indian trinkets.

Thanks to for the information!