🍺 Top 5 bars in Riga: where to drink and have fun
But this time we ’re not going to talk about architecture . I’m sure you’ll read sighs and aahs about old Riga on hundreds of other sites. I use my private experience to share with you another integral part of travel – gastronomy and bars, where every tourist begins or, most likely, ends his day.
Let's talk about the sad stuff right away. Not all catering establishments in Latvia survived the pandemic. Here and there, the windows of closed establishments, where evening life once flourished, will look sadly at you. For example, one of the most unusual and authentic pubs in the capital of Latvia, my favorite bar “9 degrees” in a scorching Soviet style, died suddenly several years ago. You'll have to make a list without him.
Baltic mini-vacation: 4 days on the route Vilnius-Riga-Jurmala
5 Aussie Backpackers Pub
The establishment is located, like all those on this list, in the old town, not far from the meeting place of all Riga lovers – the Laima clock. The establishment consists of several floors and is more reminiscent of an English pub, but with local charm and flavor. There is entertainment here for every taste: there is table football, sports broadcasts, and a photo zone with rare vehicles.
For me personally, this establishment is interesting from the point of view not of the interior, but of the content. They serve two wonderful types of beer: cranberry and hemp. Even in Riga, which is rich in beer establishments, not everywhere you can taste these wonderful varieties. So it's definitely worth a visit. Moreover, you will pass by “Ozzie” on the way to the “House of Blackheads” or the Dome Cathedral.
4 HookahPlace
Let’s assume that your interests extend beyond the usual earthly “eat and drink” and beyond the standard tourist “something to see.” If this sounds like you, then I strongly recommend visiting this establishment. It's not so much about the hookah itself, but about the notorious vibe, which I bet you'll definitely pick up here.
The establishment is compact, the interior is intimate. And from the first minutes you get the impression that you are in a closed club. My friends and I also felt this because the door of the establishment was closed and opened only after our mournful glances inside. Next, security check and the treasured place on the sofa.
You won't find any smoking mixtures on the menu. The hookah man provides individual consultations to each visitor and identifies your needs like a specialist in a bank. This significantly increases the chances of leaving the establishment not only a little intoxicated, but also satisfied.
By the way, several years ago a paradox took place in Latvia. The country has a ban on smoking in public places. And smoking hookahs was no exception. But at the same time, hookah bars were not prohibited. And tourists became hostages of a legislative incident.
You come in to “blow into the pipe,” and the police follow you. And if someone is holding a hookah in their hands or smoking it at this time, then a protocol is drawn up for the visitor and for the establishment. With the light hand of Latvian law enforcement officers, a 50 euro fine was added to the receipt for a hookah. The establishment's fine amounted to hundreds. I can’t imagine how hookah bars survived these hard times, but now visiting them is no longer so extreme. And you can smoke aromatic mixtures calmly.
3 Lido
I can't imagine visiting Riga without at least one visit to Lido. It's a delicious ritual that energizes you to explore the capital. By the way, in the Lido kitchen there is a large potato display. Fried potatoes are just like home, I don’t have more vivid and tangible images from Riga than this!
Previously, I could have added that here you can eat not only deliciously, but also cheaply (the establishment’s website, by the way, also reports this). But such times, in my opinion, have sunk into oblivion. The average bill per person with dessert will be around 10-12 euros.
In Riga, unlike Minsk, there are a lot of Lido cafes. Big and not very big. They are present in almost every shopping center, making their visit accessible at least from a logistics point of view. But for truly powerful sensations, you should go to the so-called “red Lido” (officially Lido leisure centre), which is the Mecca of “lead Oman “. In addition to the huge establishment and rich cuisine, you will also find a large entertainment area in a traditional style. And in winter there is also a popular skating rink among the locals.
PS When visiting Lido, don’t forget to take a bottle of local kvass, it’s unsurpassed!
2 Distillers Republic
I discovered this place quite recently. It’s as if 10 years of acquaintance with Riga never happened. There are, of course, a huge number of bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants in old Riga. And don’t rush to get into the first one you come across. A lot of noisy tourists is by no means a sign of quality, much less warmth. It would be an outrage against the local gastronomy to stumble indiscriminately into an Irish or Belgian pub. Why do this when there is Distillers Republic.
I can’t imagine how this establishment and I lived for so long without knowing about each other. Despite the fact that it is located a five-minute walk from the bus station in a cozy, quiet nook. I admit, I am an introvert. So I was especially flattered that in addition to us, there was only one small group of visitors in the bar, who literally took their leave after five minutes and left the establishment for us to serve.
What gave me such warm feelings in this bar? At least that it cannot be called a bar in the full sense of the word. Immediately behind the bartender you will see a “secret room” with “moonshine stills”.
Craft breweries in bars are not that uncommon, you might say. Undoubtedly. What about a craft gin brewery? Yes Yes! They make craft gin and rum! For example, blueberry or quince gin. Some of the drinks on offer confused my Christian soul, like the gin-based cocktail “Dry as a Nun.”
I never got around to gin, because I was too enamored with beer, also craft beer. What do you think of this recipe: coconut-pineapple-mango beer? There is also vanilla IPA and grapefruit beer. The price tag is steep – a 400 ml glass of this delight will cost 8 euros. But you can do it just once, right?
There are also a lot of tabletops there, which makes spending time enjoyable and drinking alcohol consciously. Come in – you won't regret it.
1 Ala Pagrabs
Are you a tourist? Have you been to Riga several times already? And yet you don’t know Ala? No, then you are not a tourist. Ala is a Riga legend. I was told about it on my first visit to Riga in 2013. True, it was not destined to join Ala then. Despite the huge size of the establishment, in pre-pandemic times it was worth reserving seats in it significantly in advance. And if it was about Friday or Saturday, then you also had to have a fair amount of luck. By the way, in addition to endurance, desire and luck, a basic level of English will also come in handy.
So what is it, Ala? Ala is an underground cave, in the branches of which you can easily get lost. The giant chairs at the entrance make you think that giant trolls are in charge here. But in fact, no – they’re just fragile girls who burn thousands of calories during their shift of continuous running between tables.
Among the tables you will hear a noisy cacophony of accents from different parts of the world: the establishment is very popular among tourists. But you will hear them only if it is not Friday or Saturday. When all visitors receive a free bonus – concerts (usually folk groups). Unusually incendiary, soulful and spirit-transmitting establishments.
What's on the menu? Of course, you can get acquainted with the national cuisine by trying all the best that the representatives of the Latvian ethnic group have come up with. The cuisine is quite greasy with an abundance of meat, potatoes and cabbage. I recommend taking the pork knuckle, which is served with a side dish. Believe me, it’s enough for not even two, but three adults. And this is only 16 euros.
Portions at Ala are large by default, so don’t rush to order a lot of dishes so as not to walk away like a wolf through a fence in the cartoon “Once Upon a Time There Was a Dog.” And of course beer. Be sure to take local, craft beer. It was here that I tried my favorite beer and am ready to come back for more.
0 Bonus Easter egg
A midnight search for new experiences one day culminated in an extremely pleasant surprise. In a nook-like courtyard a few tens of meters from Galerija Centrs (local Central Department Store) we discovered a seemingly unremarkable little bar going into the basement. If there is love at first sight in the world, then it is about this bar. Very cozy and unusual, dark and bright, containing something from the other world. And it’s not just about skulls, candlesticks and the undead lurking in the corners of the establishment.
Photo by the author
Everything in this bar is optimal: the sound of the music, the brightness of the light, the attention of the staff. There is not a large selection of drinks, although cocktails will delight you, and rhubarb wine (indistinguishable from grape wine!) will surprise you. It’s worth going there to get in the mood with your best friends. What is the name of this establishment? Let this remain a secret for the select few and the most stubborn, who, based on modest guidelines on my part, will find this bar and join in its charm.