Riga bars 2026: 5 places in Old Town worth spending an evening

In Riga's Old Town there are hundreds of bars. Almost all of them survive on tourists rather than on character. In one evening you can easily blow your entire budget at a random place and not remember a single name.

We picked five spots worth visiting with a specific goal in mind, and added a sixth as a bonus. One of them hides in the basement of a 17th-century building and is open Sunday through Thursday until 2:00, and on Friday and Saturday until 3:00 (as of 09/2026, official website).

Ad: this article contains affiliate links, we earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

How to choose a bar in Old Town

💡 In short:

• Old Town is compact: you can walk to most of the places on this list.
• Prices on the main tourist streets are higher than in basement spots tucked into courtyards.
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the venues' official websites.

Before choosing, decide what you want: to eat, to drink, or to listen to music. In Old Town these three kinds of evenings look different. Below are five venues of different formats, and the list ends with a basement whose name we won't reveal.

1. Ala Pagrabs

© Bernt Rostad · CC BYPhoto: Bernt Rostad, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), Flickr

The venue is officially called Folkklubs ALA, but the sign simply says Ala. It occupies a basement at Peldu iela 19 (pub page). You walk down the stairs into a long vaulted hall with wooden tables. The giant chairs by the entrance make it look like giants run the place.

ALA is called a Riga classic, and people will tell you about it on your very first evening. The food is rich and hearty: meat, potatoes, cabbage. The pork knuckle with sides is enough for two, if not three people. Go with the local craft beer.

On Fridays and Saturdays folk bands play in the hall, and admission to the concert is free.

• Who it's for: if you want Latvian cuisine and live music in one place.
• Where: Peldu iela 19, entrance from the street down the stairs (schedule and reservations).
• Music: Friday and Saturday, reservations are required on those evenings (as of 09/2026, Folkklubs ALA schedule).
• The catch: it gets loud here on Friday and Saturday.

2. Distillers Republic

© Diego Delso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The venue occupies the basement of a historic building at Vecpilsētas iela 8a. The brick vaults and oak panels remain from a 17th-century warehouse. It is home to the first distillery in Latvia with a bar in the same room (distillery website).

Behind the bartender is a display case with stills: they use them to distill their own gin and rum. They sometimes have blueberry and quince gin. The craft beer is also their own: coconut-pineapple-mango, vanilla IPA, grapefruit. A glass will cost more than the Old Town average.

Board games sit on the shelves, so the evening unfolds at a relaxed pace. The room is small and quiet, and loud groups are rare here.

• Who it's for: if you want to try local gin, rum, or unusual beer.
• How to get there: a five-minute walk from Riga bus station, in the courtyard (follow the map).
• Hours: Sun-Thu 4:00 PM-2:00 AM, Fri-Sat 4:00 PM-3:00 AM (As of: 09/2026, opening hours).
• The catch: the room is small, and there may be no free tables in the evening.

3. Lido: a Latvian canteen

© Iscream icecream · CC BY-SAPhoto: Iscream icecream, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Lido works like a canteen: you take a tray and pick dishes from the display. The food is home-style: fried potatoes, salads, meat, desserts. At lunch, be sure to get the local kvass.

The large venue at Krasta iela 76 is called the red Lido. It sits outside the Old Town. The official name of this center is Lido Leisure Centre (As of: 09/2026, hours and addresses). It has an outdoor area, an ice rink in winter, and a large entertainment zone inside. Smaller locations of the chain are scattered across the city's shopping centers, so you can grab a bite in almost any neighborhood.

• Who it's for: if you need a quick lunch at a predictable price.
• Where: Lido Leisure Centre, Krasta iela 76 (As of: 09/2026, all chain addresses).
• What to get: fried potatoes, a dessert, and the local kvass.
• The catch: trays and self-service instead of waiters, and not much romance in the evening.

4. HookahPlace lounge in the Old Town

© karel291 · CC BYPhoto: karel291, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The hookah lounge hides on Jauniela, a couple of steps from Dome Square. The room is compact, the lighting is dim, and the sofas sit close together. The first impression is that you have walked into a private club: the door is not opened right away.

There is no menu of smoking blends here. The hookah master sits down next to you and picks tobacco to match your taste, like a bank consultant. According to a 2026 review of Riga hookah lounges, the place is valued for its experienced masters and calm atmosphere (As of: 09/2026, rating and reviews).

Smoking in public places is banned in Latvia, and hookah lounges themselves long remained outside the ban. A few years ago, this led to citations being issued to both the guest and the venue. Now a visit goes smoothly.

• Who it's for: if you want a hookah and conversation without loud music.
• Address: Jauniela, Old Town, near Dome Square (2026 review).
• The catch: the room is very small, so you cannot sit here with a large group.

5. Aussie Backpackers Pub

© karel291 · CC BYPhoto: karel291, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The pub occupies a building on Vaļņu iela in the very center of the Old Town, next to the Laima clock. The main feature inside: the bar counter is built into an old Volkswagen minibus. There are three floors, and each has its own crowd.

They keep Latvian beer on tap, including cranberry and hemp varieties. It's quiet here during the day, and in the evening sports broadcasts, table football, and live bands start up. Draft beer discounts run every day from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (as of 09/2026, local-life).

• Who it's for: if you want beer, sports on a big screen, and live music.
• What to order: Latvian draft varieties, including cranberry and hemp beer.
• The catch: on match days you can't get near the screens, so grab a table in advance.

Bonus: a secret bar under the gallery

© karel291 · CC BYPhoto: karel291, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

A few dozen meters from Galerija Centrs, in a quiet courtyard, a low door to a basement hides away. You'll recognize it by the stairs leading down and the dark room with skulls, candlesticks, and figures in the corners.

The drink selection is small, but the cocktails are a delight, and the rhubarb wine is almost indistinguishable from grape wine. The sound and lighting here are set up so you can hear conversation without shouting. Come here as a couple or with a small group.

We're deliberately not naming the bar. The landmark is simple: a narrow courtyard next to Galerija Centrs and a door with stairs leading down.

• Where to look: a courtyard a few dozen meters from Galerija Centrs.
• What to try: rhubarb wine and cocktails.
• The catch: you'll have to guess the name, since there's no sign to find the bar by.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does an evening cost at the bars in Riga's Old Town?

The price depends on the format. At Lido you can have lunch for the price of a regular cafeteria, at Distillers Republic a glass of craft beer costs more than the city average, and at Ala Pagrabs one pork knuckle covers dinner for three. Budget for an evening at the average city restaurant check, and check the exact prices on the venues' websites (as of 09/2026, Distillers Republic website).

Do you need a reservation to get into Ala Pagrabs?

On Friday and Saturday it's practically essential. On those evenings folk bands play in the hall, and free tables run out well in advance. On weekdays you'll most likely find a spot without calling. You can book a table through the form on the pub's page (as of 09/2026).

Do hookah lounges operate in Riga?

Yes, they do, although the list of venues has changed over recent years. HookahPlace in the Old Town closed for renovations and is welcoming guests again. The schedule here changes often, so check the current hours on the venue's social media before visiting (as of 09/2026, review).

Where can you try Latvian cuisine in Riga?

At Ala Pagrabs and Lido. Ala Pagrabs serves hearty dishes: meat, potatoes, cabbage, and pork knuckle with a side. Lido offers the same cuisine in a cafeteria format, where you pick dishes from the display yourself. For a first introduction, lunch at Lido is enough; for an evening with music, go with Ala Pagrabs.

In short: what's worth booking

If you have just one evening in Riga, start with Ala Pagrabs: Latvian cuisine, live music, and a straightforward check. For a quiet conversation, head to Distillers Republic or the secret bar near Galerija Centrs. For a quick lunch, Lido comes to the rescue; for beer and sports, Aussie Backpackers Pub fits the bill.

• If you're hungry and want music: go with Ala Pagrabs.
• If you're looking for local alcohol: go with Distillers Republic.
• If you're short on time: go with Lido.
• If you want an evening with hookah: go with HookahPlace.
• If you want sports and beer: go with Aussie Backpackers Pub.

For hotels near these bars, check Trip.com.

Compare airport transfers in Riga on Kiwitaxi, and look for city tours on GetYourGuide.