To eat well in Riga equates to expanding your palate to heavy duty flavors, and they’re often derived from the sea. Cold herrings with baked potatoes, garlic rye bread with sour pickles, smoked meat and pelmeni (dumplings) are surely not to be missed.

To drink well in Riga equates to handling heavy duty liquor. Besides a plethora of local draft beers and homemade kvass, you’ll want to discover Black Balsam. It’s been said that, if you haven’t taken a shot of Black Balsam, then you haven’t been to Latvia at all. But be careful with it, it’s exceedingly strong so don’t kid around. Love a moonshine? How about flavors like garlic or horseradish?

Here’s a list of top restaurants and bars in Riga. Remember to try everything! If not, what’s the fun of traveling?

@jetsettimes Here are helpful travel hacks for #riga #latvia ✈️🇱🇻 #travel #traveltiktok #travellife #travelbucketlist #traveling #traveltips #travelmemories #travelhacks #europe #europetravel #latvian #latviantiktok #latvia🇱🇻 #baltic #balticsea #europe #european #europetravel #europetiktok #money #tippingculture #tipping #water ♬ Primrose – Kupla

One of the most creative meals in Riga is right next to Jacob’s Barracks, called: 3 pavāru restorāns “Tam labam būs augt,” which translates to 3-cook restaurant “It will be good to grow.” The delightful meal begins with the wait staff arriving at the table, splattering colorful sauces on top of a placemat. The table essentially transforms into a canvas of vibrant stripes, or a creative dipping sauce for the bread. The six-course menu highlights modern Latvian cuisine, opt for a refreshing beet salad followed by a rich ostrich tartare. The drink menu also showcases Latvian ciders, this is simply the best meal in the city.

For the best steak and fries in Riga, head over to Chef’s Corner – a chophouse serving dry-aged gourmet meat cuts. Opened in 2019, this busy restaurant has often been included on the list of The Best Restaurants in Latvia, hailed for both its New Latvian style and drinks. Its steaks are ultra tasty as it only uses premium dry-aged beef, making each choice particularly tender and nutty. Both the fries and sauce that come with the steak are equally delicious. Who can resist a Caramelized Foie Gras with Cream Roquefort?

Ala Pagrabs is a cavern showcasing the largest selection of Latvian beers. There’s quite a few unique blends of moonshine. For the adventurous drinkers, try garlic flavor, or horseradish is quite lovely as well. It’s also a restaurant serving traditional Latvian foods like smoked ham, cheeses, garlic rye bread, kotletes (meatballs,) pork and pearl barley stew…and many more dishes that you can typically only find in the countryside. On certain nights, there’s folk dancing for tourists.

Best Russian food in Riga has got to be Tēvocis Vaņa where steamy dumplings await. Both pork and beef are delectable choices at Uncle Vanya’s restaurant, embellished with cozy décor. Lamps, books, floral wallpaper that transport a traveler back to a Russian grandmother’s kitchen. Don’t forget to pair your dumplings with homemade kvass!

Despite that the cocktail scene in Riga is still developing, there’s a pretty good list of go-to’s and A’Drop is definitely one of them. The stylish bar makes a mean Strawberry Balsamic Negroni, it’s both original and flavorful. Other options on the menu are based off of fine champagnes. Situated on the posh side of the city, A’Drop evidently caters to a Latvia’s chic crowd. Fortunately, it definitely lives up to the expectation. The fish tank on the polished bar table is certainly a humorous touch to a sophisticated ambiance.

Europe’s largest market happens to be in Latvia. Riga Central Market is a feast for the eyes and stomach. A foodie haven to eat, browse and shop. There are 5 pavilions that cover 72,300 square meters (778,000 sq ft) of space by the sea and it hosts the livelihood of more than 3,000 traders. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the market’s structures also boast both Neoclassicism design and Art Deco style.

Here, you can sample glorious amounts of fish, particularly herring. Want to bring home some caviar? You’ve come to the right spot!