Three MICHELIN award-winning restaurants: Pavāru māja, KEST and H.E.Vanadziņš
Pavāru māja
The first Latvian restaurant to be awarded the MICHELIN Green Star for caring for the sustainable development of nature. And it is located in the small town of Līgatne, between Cēsis and Sigulda. Its creators revive ancient culinary traditions, and in the preparation of dishes they use vegetables and fruits grown in their own garden, trying to be as eco-friendly to the surrounding nature as possible.
The restaurant’s menu includes Kurzeme pie — sklandrausis. It is considered a national treasure of Latvia. Among other traditional dishes we recommend to try marinated pikeperch from lake Burtnieks with apples and seaweed. It’s important to keep in mind that restaurant guests are offered two menu options: a four-course lunch menu and an eight-course tasting menu for dinner — a pre-planned scenario for your meal. Read more about the dishes and the history of the famous restaurant at pavarumaja.lv.
KEST
This restaurant has received the MICHELIN award for outstanding service. It is the signature project of Chef Māris Jansons, who says poetically about his work: food is not only the quality of ingredients, but also the quality of thoughts. He chose a very original place for his establishment — the building of the former fire station. For current opening hours and menu, please visit the restaurant’s website.
H.E.Vanadziņš
H.E.Vanadziņš is included in the MICHELIN guide of selected restaurants. It is located in one of the most colorful wooden houses in the very center of Cēsis. You will definitely not pass it by — the restored building looks so attractive.
It mainly serves northern cuisine. There are also traditional Latvian treats, such as steamed gray peas and beets. You can see the bar list and menu on Facebook.
Gourmando
We recommend this place not only to eat delicious food, but also to enjoy cooking various dishes in a great company. Chef Elmārs Tannis conducts cooking workshops on a farm in Augšlīgatne, one of the most beautiful natural areas in Latvia. He also hosts his own inspiring show on YouTube. He is a very charismatic person with a special style of cooking. Every cooking session with him turns into a mesmerizing experience.
You can sign up for a master class with Elmārs here.
MALA
A cozy cultural space in the former Cēsis brewery where you can have a snack, a glass of beer and listen to a concert or watch an exhibition at the same time. Imagine the local atmosphere: people come here with their pets, drink coffee and socialize surrounded by interiors with many authentic and unusual details. It is more like a community of artists than a usual café, which you can become a part of or just watch what is going on.
By the way, the dishes here pleasantly surprise with the ratio of size, taste and price. For example, a portion of nachos can be safely ordered for two people. If you don’t feel like eating or drinking, come here for original souvenirs and works by local artists. You can follow the events at MALA on their Facebook page.
Kannas
The menu of Kannas restaurant, located at the Annas Design Hotel & Spa, consists of only a few items, but each of them is thoroughly elaborated by a local chef. The list of dishes directly depends on the season of the year and fresh products, which are regularly delivered to the kitchen by local farmers and hunters.
It is known that appetite is sharpened in the fresh air. Annas Manor is located far away from noisy cities, on the shore of a small lake — the local nature will definitely not leave you indifferent. The current seasonal menu is available on the website.
Jāņoga
A little away from the crowded center of Cēsis, there is a restaurant where lovers of fish and meat dishes must visit. Jāņoga is the realized dream of chef Jānis Sproģis, who wanted to combine the traditions of Latvian cuisine with culinary experience gained in other countries.
Your dinner may consist of such original dishes: first herring baked in beer batter with hemp cream and kohlrabi, and for dessert — chestnut cream with quince meringue and plums marinated in black tea. Check out the current menu here.
Mango Sky Lounge
The highest restaurant in the Vidzeme region. From here you can enjoy beautiful views of Cēsis Castle, St. John’s Church, the central part of the city and the surrounding forests in the Gauja River area. The mango fruit, its creators say, is associated with the fiery colors of sunset — something you can admire here in the evenings.
Doing it is more pleasant with a glass of cocktail and fresh appetizers. The large assortment of drinks is complemented by several types of salads, soups, desserts and hearty dishes: burgers, pork ribs, rice noodles, fried fish and chicken.
Restaurant and bar opening hours, as well as the current menu, please visit the website mangosky.lv.
Villa Santa
A great advantage of Villa Santa is its location near the shore of Gauja, in a quiet and picturesque forest. In the local restaurant, chef Egils Grīnfelds emphasizes Asian cuisine, but connoisseurs of Latvian culinary traditions can also try interesting dishes.
For example, there are such unusual items on the menu: potato fondue with carrot cream and beef steak from Bauņu Bullītis estate, as well as fillet of barramundi perch grown in Vecpiebalga. Full menu is available on the restaurant and hotel’s website.
Kārļamuiža
The distinctive feature of this restaurant is seasonal dishes. Most of the products used are local vegetables and fruits, as well as fish, forest game and farm meat. The menu can vary greatly depending on the time of year.
You are given the opportunity to live on a real manor surrounded by wildlife. In addition to the restaurant, there is a small hotel with furnished rooms. The manor is only a few kilometers away from Cēsis, which makes it very accessible. For up-to-date information, please visit karlamuiza.lv.
Restorāns 1815
A family restaurant located in the oldest building in the beautiful town of Līgatne. It was built in 1815 as a paper mill, which operated from 1816 to 2013.
The restaurant overlooks a pond with white swans, and nearby are the cliffs and caves for which Līgatne is famous. The restaurant serves dishes from different regions of the world, but the main emphasis is on local Latvian products. A table must be booked in advance via the Facebook link:
More information about the annual gourmet festival can be found on the event’s website.
From March 15 to 31, 2024, you have the opportunity to take part in Gardēža Loks — a gastronomic journey through cafes and restaurants in Cēsis county. This year, as many as 16 establishments are involved in the event.
