The Sugar-free guide to Riga

Nirvana

On a hot summer day, hide in the shade of the trees at the Nirvana café on the picturesque Gertrudes Street. 

The menu here changes every day, but the main principles of cooking remain the same. None of the desserts contain sugar, all dishes are freshly cooked, and most importantly, the food retains most of its nutrients thanks to low cooking temperatures.

The flavour of their natural desserts is pleasantly accompanied by a hot drink: a selection of East Asian teas served in elegant china.

NBHD’s choice: chocolate cake with black plum and walnuts

One cacao

Right around the corner from Nirvana you’ll come across top quality chocolate. One cacao’s mission is to help visitors feel less stressed, find inner harmony and overall improve their mood.

Here you can learn about the health benefits of raw cacao and taste a special ceremonial drink from Peru and Guatemala. There are also artisan drinks with oat milk, date syrup and spices. The café, of course, also offers healthy desserts.

There are 18 new drinks on their summer menu. You can choose cocoa or matcha with fruits and berries: mango, strawberry, lychee, pineapple and tangerine.

NBHD’s choice: ”third eye opener” cocoa and brownies

Doctor Chef

The spicy aroma of sweets and quality spices instantly captures you as soon as you step into Doctor Chef, a small café-shop with sugar-free vegan desserts. 

Inexpensive coffee and tea, the hospitality of the staff and, of course, the extraordinary taste of the desserts and main courses have made this place one of the most popular among connoisseurs of quality healthy food.

NBHD’s choice: chocolate sausage—bitter chocolate with hazelnuts and dried fruits.

Kozy Eats

Kozy Eats is the place to go for dreamy desserts. One of the cake’s on offer is aptly named Sapnis (dream): peanut cream with salted caramel on juicy sponge cake. It may sound indulgent, but it’s gluten-free and sugar-free. Among diet-friendly sweets you can choose light pistachio tarts, delicate mousse cakes, almond cupcakes and more.

You can also order a custom cake to meet all your taste preferences.

NBHD’s choice: avocado cake and a cup of Kalve coffee

MIIT

Whenever it comes to healthy food, delicious coffee and a cosy atmosphere, MIIT is always on the list of recommendations. 

The dishes here are made with vegan and vegetarian preferences in mind, the dessert menu is suitable for people with a gluten intolerance, and some of the pastries are even sugar-free.  

NBHD’s choice: chocolate mousse

Rawcake

Sugar-free. Gluten-free. Eggless. Lactose-free. “Raw” cakes which will turn your gastronomic world upside down. The desserts are unbaked and only natural and fresh products are used. 

Green buckwheat, coconut milk, spinach, organic lavender, chia seeds, nuts—that’s just scratching the surface of theingredients that help create amazing flavour and uniquely designed cakes.

Cakes at Rawcake need to be ordered two days in advance, or you can choose from pre-made ones in the shop.

NBHD’s choice: healthy cake made from spinach, prunes, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax, green buckwheat, coconut milk, agave syrup, kiwi and banana.