Many of the most intriguing Latvian food establishments can be found in the Old Town. Let's begin with some of the top restaurants in Riga:
"1221" is centrally located in the Old Town. For 35-40 EUR, you can savor authentic Latvian herring, blood sausage, and a specialty dessert made from bread crumbs.
Rozengrāls is one of the oldest restaurants in Riga, aiming to capture the essence of Hanseatic antiquity with its semi-dark ambiance, long benches, and tables adorned with wax candles. They serve pork knuckles and beer in earthenware. Keep in mind that it's always crowded here, so reserving tables in advance is advisable. The average cost of lunch is around 30-40 EUR per person.
Piejūra (considered one of the most popular restaurants in Riga, based on reviews) offers tasting sets of Baltic cuisine consisting of six dishes for 25 EUR. The standout dishes include Latvian meat and fish specialties, traditional cold beet soup, and Užavas beer.
"Slavic Restaurant" is among the finest Russian restaurants in Riga.
Province is a classic Baltic restaurant with a "thatched-wood" interior. For 25 EUR, you can savor dishes like rabbit legs and the famous homemade cheese with lingonberries.
Salve offers the best blackcurrant and rhubarb wines, homemade cheeses, and specialties like pork ears with horseradish. Lunch at Salve typically costs around 30-35 EUR per person.
For budget-friendly dining options in Riga, consider the Lido - Alus Sēta chain, which serves Latvian cuisine and home-brewed beer with an average bill ranging from 10 to 25 EUR. Among the top cafes in Riga are the Double Coffee chain (offering second courses for about 5 EUR), Ala (featuring 16 varieties of local beer and meatballs for 3.5 EUR), and the balsam bar Black Magic (serving the best coffee with Riga balsam starting from 2.20 EUR, along with almonds and plums glazed in balsam, handmade truffles, and candied fruitcakes). These cafes in Riga offer budget-friendly prices and cozy settings for meaningful conversations.
If restaurant prices in Riga don't quite match your budget, consider visiting the Central Market. There, you'll find numerous affordable cafes offering typical Riga delights such as small pies filled with smoked lard, cappuccino with Riga balsam, smoked chicken or eel, and a variety of bread options.
