Restaurants and Bistros
Nine restaurants where everyone can find a tasty dish to savour.
Māsa
This restaurant, which opened in late July, is filled with art in every corner. The walls showcase local and international works, including a piece by Danish artist Luka Bjørnsted—adorable kittens that look as if they were drawn by a child.
The menu includes hummus, chicken liver pâté, and tartare. To round off the perfect restaurant visit, there’s wine and signature cocktails.
Neighbourhood Choice: dolma—a non-traditional twist with rice, dried fruits, tomato sauce, and fennel.
Address: Dzirnavu 31
Iesmi Bistro
The main dish here is kebab in all its forms. For vegetarians, there is equally delicious tofu.
Although the bistro only opened in September, it already has many fans. Reviews praise both the cuisine and the interior: modern art on the walls, closely arranged tables, a wide selection of wines, and affordable prices.
Neighborhood Choice: chef’s mix—skewers with different meats
Address: Blaumaņa 9
Limone
A corner of Italian warmth and sunshine. We don’t even know what warms us up more: pizza with gooey cheese and fresh tomatoes or the space decorated with lemon trees.
Neighborhood Choice: seafood pasta
Address: Dzirnavu 67 (Galleria Riga)
Mercado
A Mexican restaurant. To visit here, you must bring a cowboy hat, a scarf, and a guitar. If you don’t have these, just bring a good mood. You’ll be listening to maracas, synthesizers, and guitars, and enjoying tacos and nachos.
Neighbourhood Choice: chilli con carne.
Address: Brīvības 90
instagram.com/mercadoriga
Buono Buono Pizza
A place where the main dish is pizza on a thin, crispy crust. In addition to pizza, the menu includes artichokes, tiramisu, burrata salad and other Italian food.
Cosy homey atmosphere—brick walls and cute paintings, wooden tables and chairs.
Neighborhood choice: Buono Buono’s signature pizza with mozzarella and prosciutto
Address: Miera 10
Babo
Traditional Georgian cuisine at its finest: khachapuri with hot, delicious cheese, juicy kebabs, and khinkali filled with rich broth. And, as it should be “back in Georgia,” a welcoming staff. There’s no Georgian dish that doesn’t pair perfectly with wine. The restaurant is listed in the Michelin guide.
instagram.com/babo.riga
instagram.com/babo.riga
FiveOne 51
Not again, but once more—pizza. You can never have too much pizza, especially when it’s at a cool new place that opened in May 2024. The venue offers a bar, signature cocktails, and live music performances. Besides pizza, there are also burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and sandwiches.
Neighborhood Choice: vegan pizza with juicy tomatoes
Address: Kalēju 51
instagram.com/51.riga
instagram.com/51.riga
Habits
A family restaurant where it is good to come with children, a group of friends or your other half. Delicious food, breakfasts, lunches, coffee… Or wine—it’s up to you.
We haven’t decided yet what we want to do here more: sit in a beautiful place with a cup of coffee and think or gather with friends for a glass of wine. The space seems perfect for any occasion.
Neighborhood Choice: homemade soup with salmon, lemongrass and herbs
Address: Zolitūdes 51
instagram.com/habits.lv
instagram.com/eat_riis
Riis
A paradise for Asian food lovers: gyozas, wonton soup, mochi. A small cozy spot in Japanese style—not quite suited for meetings and lively discussions, but perfect for enjoying the cuisine.
Neighborhood Choice: lemon mochi
Addresses: Tērbatas 71, main venue. Agenskalns market—point on the ground floor
Breakfasts
Choose the place that suits you: quiet and peaceful or loud and trendy.
instagram.com/rigasandwiches
Focci
Sandwiches with a soft bun, tasty sauce and fresh ingredients inside—the main dish at this place. Perfect for breakfast, it also works as a snack for lunch or dinner.
Neighborhood Choice: hang-over sandwich with mozzarella, cheddar and onions
Address: Currently Brīvības 75
Mimosa
An Instagram-worthy spot for breakfasts and brunches. The menu includes porridges, scrambled eggs, and omelets, as well as toast.
Neighbourhood Choice: Granola
Address: Strēlnieku 8-2
Bagel&co
A great place to grab bagels and coffee in the morning if you’re in a rush for work or school. With a soft bagel, red fish, cream cheese, greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers—now who will argue that you’re not eating healthy?
Neighbourhood Choice: Nutella bagel
Address: Brīvības 101
instagram.com/bagelandco_cafe
Coffee shops and bakeries
There was a time when coffee and coffee shops were banned in many countries, like Sweden. Sometimes we understand the prohibition—as soon as you walk into a café and smell the aroma of coffee beans, you lose track of time.
Kūre
Another bakery. We can’t resist baked goods and sweets: honey cake, carrot cake, cheesecake, cinnamon rolls—literally everything to avoid losing weight before summer.
The new location in Grīziņkalns is a spacious place with plenty of tables and a children’s area. Freelancers love working here too—the place is perfect for that.
Neighborhood Choice: Pastel de Natas are puff pastry bowls with custard
Address: Vārnu 9
Kūūk
A place where hot cappuccino and fluffy pastries meet the sound of guitar and jazz. While you enjoy your drink, the beautiful view from the window, and the paintings by artist Elga Grinvalde, jazz musicians will play for you. All you need to do is relax in the cozy café interior: large sofas and tables, or small tables with chairs. There’s room for both a large group and a single person.
Neighborhood Choice: apple and pecan pie
Address: Dzirnavu 66A
instagram.com/kuuk_cafe
instagram.com/kuuk_cafe
One cacao and coffee shop
A place that reveals cocoa in a whole new light. They bring real beans from the jungle, which you can try on-site or buy to prepare the drink at home. We’re not sure what real cocoa should taste like, but it seems the reviewers on Google know — they say it tastes like something shamanic from Latin America.
The interior is likely inspired by shamanism — with tree branches, plants, and dolls on the walls.
Neighbourhood Choice: childhood jungle boba—cocoa with tapioca balls
Address: Skolas 21
facebook.com/onecacao
Bazaar
Appetising croissants, puffs, khachapuri, biscuits and cakes. Beware—before the summer season it is better not to come here—there is a risk of eating the whole counter.
What about the interior: a nice bakery with a neat corner for guests. There are a couple of tables with high chairs. You won’t be able to gather a large group here, but they allow dogs.
Neighbourhood Choice: Greek orange-yoghurt scones
Addresses: P. Brieža 22 and Ūnijas 6
instagram.com/rocketbeancafe
Rocketbean
Rocketbean is a coffee shop chain with delicious coffee and baked goods: baguettes, paninis, vegan sweets. They bring beans from Africa, Indonesia, Central and Latin America. The coffee is roasted in their facility in Riga.
Two new locations have opened. The first is in the heart of Riga—Raiņa Boulevard 11. Here you can sit inside or enjoy the outdoor seating. The view from the café overlooks the magnificent Freedom Monument and the park. The second is at Blaumaņa 10, near Galerija Rīga. The interior is divided into two areas: one for freelancers with laptops and the other for socializing with friends.
Neighborhood Choice: Decaf — almost like regular coffee
Addresses: Raiņa Boulevard 11 and Blaumaņa 10
Coffee Society
We have several ideas for this place. The first: bring an interesting book, a mysterious mood, and a maple drink with cardamom — read, look out the window, and enjoy. The second: gather with friends, tell funny stories, and laugh while finishing the tenth cup of tea.
It doesn’t matter the reason — just come. The staff will be happy to serve you, and there are croissants on display.
Neighborhood Choice: cappuccino and almond biscuits—this time on a classic
Address: Tērbatas 72
instagram.com/coffee__society_
Bars
These places were chosen for their delicious, affordable cocktails and lively parties—the perfect formula for a bar.
At your mom’s bar
A large selection of cocktails at affordable prices — both signature and classic ones. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual. The bar’s name reflects the interior. It’s very neat, cozy, and homey: lamps, floral chairs, and Christmas lights. They also host quizzes frequently—keep an eye on their social media.
Neighborhood Choice: “Mom knows best” cocktail—tequila with basil and raspberries
Address: Stabu 61
instagram.com/atyourmoms.bar
instagram.com/atyourmoms.bar
When Coffee Meets Whisky
A bar with live music, Japanese whiskey, and signature cocktails. Musically, various musicians are invited, like Visvaldis—a popular Latvian DJ. As for the whiskey—come and check it out yourself.
Neighborhood Choice: Soju—traditional Korean alcoholic drink
Address: Baznīcas 20/22
instagram.com/wcmw.bar
instagram.com/wcmw.bar
Möku Bar
People come to this Estonian bar not only for the drinks, but also for the atmosphere, music and people. To listen to live music or to sing karaoke yourself. Follow the poster on social media.
Neighborhood Choice: go to the next party to listen to drums and guitar
Address: Skolas 35
Summer season only
These places are open only in summer. They don’t operate in the fall, winter, and spring, but they are ready to entertain and serve delicious food when the warm season arrives.
AvantGarden
This place brings together various types of cuisine: from poke bowls to juicy burgers. But people come here not only for the food. It’s also fun — live music concerts are held, where you can come with a big group or meet new people.
Neighbourhood Choice: kimchi wok.
Address: Dzirnavu 67 (Galleria Riga)
instagram.com/avantgarden_riga
instagram.com/avantgarden_riga
instagram.com/avantgarden_riga
Vest Osta
Currently closed, but in the summer, a large terrace with burgers, steaks, bruschettas, and other delicious dishes will be open for guests.
Neighborhood Choice: tomato cream soup.
Address: Eksporta 3A
instagram.com/vest.osta
Shop
Yes, this shop deserves an entire block in the guide. We assure you: after visiting, you’ll change your opinion about canned fish.
Diplomats
A store specializing in fish delicacies: sardines, sprats, and other canned fish. The team knows their craft — their own fish canning factory, which brings fish here, was founded in 1907.
Neighborhood Choice: trout fillet—fresh Latvian trout from local farms
Address: Tērbatas 14
instagram.com/diplomats.fish
instagram.com/diplomats.fish
