Best restaurants and what to eat
Latvia
Riga is Latvia’s culinary center, where Baltic fish, dark rye bread, dairy, and forest flavors meet a lively urban food culture. The city is especially known for smoked and pickled seafood, hearty rye-based staples, sweet pastries, and a growing craft beverage scene rooted in Latvian brewing and distilling traditions.
Dark, aromatic chocolate truffles infused with the bitter-herbal character of Riga Black Balsam. They offer a silky ganache texture and a bittersweet finish, making them a refined pairing with coffee or a digestif.
Dense Latvian rye bread with a deep malted aroma, gentle sweetness, and a chewy crumb. In Riga it is a daily staple and a gourmet accompaniment to smoked fish, cured meats, butter, and honey.
A traditional rye pastry filled with sweet carrot and potato layers, lightly spiced and baked in a rustic open tart. It combines earthy sweetness with a hearty dough, often enjoyed with milk or tea.
Small baked yeast pastries typically filled with bacon and onions. In Riga they are a beloved snack for gatherings, with a soft bread shell and a savory, smoky center.
Classic Latvian bacon buns with a tender dough and a rich, salty filling. Best served warm, they are a simple but deeply satisfying specialty that pairs naturally with beer or soup.
Riga’s iconic cold beet soup, bright pink and refreshing, usually finished with kefir, dill, cucumber, and egg. Its creamy-tart flavor makes it especially appealing in summer and alongside rye bread.
Riga’s signature herbal liqueur, dark and intensely aromatic with notes of roots, berries, spice, and bitterness. Traditionally served neat, over ice, or mixed in cocktails, it is one of Latvia’s most famous spirits.
A long-established Riga beer name associated with lager and other locally brewed styles. Typically crisp, clean, and malty, it is served well chilled with hearty Baltic food.
A Riga craft brewery known for expressive, hop-forward and often experimental beers. Its beers tend to be aromatic and full-flavored, suited to modern tasting menus and casual beer bars.
A traditional Latvian porter style brewed in Riga and across Latvia, known for its dark color, roasted malt character, and smooth sweetness. It is usually enjoyed slowly, often with desserts or smoked foods.
A classic city-branded beer associated with Riga’s brewing identity, typically light-bodied, refreshing, and easy-drinking. It is commonly served cold in taverns and at everyday meals.
A Riga craft beer producer known for small-batch brews and seasonal styles. The beers are generally fresh, aromatic, and modern in profile, often highlighting local ingredients or contemporary techniques.
A bright, chilled beet soup finished with kefir, cucumber, dill, and hard-boiled egg. It is refreshing, creamy, and slightly tangy, making it one of Riga’s most recognizable summer dishes.
Small hand-held pastries filled with bacon and onions, baked until golden and fragrant. They are soft, savory, and ideal as a snack with beer or a light meal with soup.
Traditional bacon buns with a tender yeasted dough and a savory, smoky filling. Their comforting richness and portable shape have made them a fixture of celebrations and everyday bakery counters.
Gray peas cooked until tender and served with fried bacon and onions. The dish is earthy, filling, and deeply traditional, with a satisfying contrast between creamy peas and crisp pork.
Crispy potato pancakes with a golden exterior and soft center, often served with sour cream. In Riga they are beloved for their simple, hearty flavor and versatility as a snack or side.
A hearty fish soup rooted in Riga’s Baltic shoreline cooking, often built on local fish, vegetables, and herbs. It is fragrant and nourishing, with a clean broth and a pleasantly briny finish.
A hearty Latvian staple of tender grey peas tossed with smoky bacon and onions, salty, earthy, and deeply satisfying. In Riga you’ll find it at Central Market snack counters, winter food stalls, and casual lunch spots in and around the Old Town and market halls.
Small baked yeast buns usually filled with bacon and onions, sometimes with minced meat, lightly sweet dough outside and savory, smoky filling inside. They’re sold at bakeries, market kiosks, transport hubs, and takeaway stands throughout Riga.
Mini hand pies or buns with a rich, buttery dough and a savory bacon-and-onion filling, often eaten as a quick snack with coffee or beer. Look for them at Central Market bakeries, neighborhood cafés, and baked-goods stalls.
Pan-fried curd cheese cakes with a soft, creamy center and lightly crisp edges, usually served with sour cream or jam. Common at market cafés, breakfast stalls, and old-school lunch counters in Riga.
Golden grated potato pancakes, crispy outside and tender inside, often finished with sour cream or mushroom sauce. You’ll find them at Riga markets, street-food stands in food halls, and casual Baltic-style eateries.
A beloved sweet snack of fresh curd cheese coated in chocolate, creamy and tangy beneath a thin cocoa shell. Sold everywhere in Riga from kiosks and convenience counters to supermarket checkouts and market vendors.
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