FORUM
Lets talk about dinning, hotels, travelling & more
|
RTW recommends
Steiku Haoss (Steak Chaos) All restaurants are designed in western style letting customers enjoy an unforgettable trip through the Wild West. Enjoy one of the 17 different steaks prepared right in front of your eyes, accompanied by a glass of mellow wine or a refreshing cocktail, and finish off with an appetizing dessert. When the horse is hitched and you have enjoyed a good meal, it’s time to stretch your legs and join the line dance together with the waitresses and the best Latvian country music groups.
Hospitalis Hospitalis is a totally detailed recall to
Soviet clinic atmosphere without compromises, where you
have a rare possibility to dine at an actual operation table,
sitting on a gynaecologist chair. Sexy waitresses wearing
white tight uniforms will defi nitely treat you right by serving
curious European cuisine variations or even spoonfeeding
you. The establishment presents a non-conformist
approach to the Riga dining scene—going against the
traditional eating philosophy, an unforgettable experience
is guaranteed. Try their old-school sanatorium-style business
lunch. The Lazarete bistro, located next door, offers
a more democratic menu.
KID All three KIDs are capacious and have superb locations.
This creatively ‘romantic’ factory style cafe/restaurants has become a hotspot for hip Rigans. All KIDs are famous for their salads, live music and DJ events, exhibitions and truly European vibes. The Old Riga branch has a lovely wine bar.
Meta Kafe The Meta concept unites restaurant, bar, concert/performance,
library space within one blank and minimalist interior. Meta Kafe co-owners Elviss & Ervins are really hard-to-please types, trying to always reach the highest standards. So, when it concerns their cafe, food must be properly made from 100% local organic produce, the most current music must play in the background, the most recent books on the shelves (also audio and DVD books for sale) and only the most refi ned contemporary shows and events will fi ll the evenings. Don’t miss the changing wall-exhibition—every two months different local
artists paint over the existing art.
Bon Vivant (Belgian Beer Cafe) Special group
discounts. A food and beverage operation focused on the
unique Belgian beer culture and its beer-pouring rituals,
recreating the atmosphere of a 1930s Belgian brasserie.
Finally a place in Riga where you can savour steamed
mussels with fries. Offers more than 30 sorts of beer.
Beers on tap: Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Kriek Belle Vue,
Leffe Blond and Leffe Brune as well as Antwerp’s favourite—
De Koninck. Business lunch available. Andrey, the
chef Bon Vivant is quite the gastronomic wizard indeed:
putting the pub food to sky high level, he manages to
keep his meals rustic but at the same time gastronomic.
Try his solyanka in rye bread, steaks and salads.
Rock'n'Riga At last a Rock cafe has opened in Riga! Bloody steaks,
metallic sounds, booze, metal icon posters, live metal
shows. The difference with other, ‘chain’ rock cafes is
that Rock’n’riga remains Baltic: patriotic food-wise, bandwise
and music-wise. A must for alternative or ex-alternative
city guests. See also Riga This Night: Music Clubs.
Caipiranha The sun goes down
and up again when you spend time in any of the places
created by famous Riga bar-club father fi gures Arnis
Bikšus (Piektdiena, Cuba) and Miks (Pulkvedis). They are
always present, playing vinyls, making cocktails, clubbing.
Caipiranha is just a small pocket-size bar with a
shabby-comical design. But the atmosphere, the music,
the cocktails... There is something in the air, some kind
of laughing gas that just won’t let go of you. See also
Riga This Night: Bar-Clubs.
Neiburgs Now this is something interesting! Located
in a beautiful Art Nouveau building in the soon-to-be-open
hotel run by the Neiburg family. The place already evokes
the feeling that it has been there forever and that it belongs
here. The white and simple interior is saturated with
local art (exhibitions change monthly) and with design
icon furniture. Serves nouvelle Latvian gourmet cuisine
and European classics. Prices are irrisistibly low for that
kind of service and food level.
Ostas Skati (Port Views) This urban restaurant-eatery offers
probably the best Riga riverside view. The low prices
will positively shock you! The experienced chef Ingmars
Ladîgs (ex-mc2 chef) specializes in fish and has created
three menus—two of them (breakfast and lunch) are very
democratic (Ls 1.50 - 4) and the a la carte menu is just
a tad more expensive (Ls 3 - 12). Their specialization is
grilled meat and fi sh dishes.
Melns vai Balts (Black or White) Very friendly nonexpensive
European, and a bit Italian-minded, restaurant,
owned by young and handsome but also experienced
chefs. Offers a huge list of simple trattoria-style food.
Also offers refi ned fi sh dishes for an evening-long dining,
huge wine selection. CR: Sea perch grilled in sea salt.
Boulangerie Bonjour Classical French boulangerie—a selection of veritable
French pastries such as eclairs, tarts, almond cookies,
baguettes, quiches, cakes and obviously real crrrrunchy
croissants, all freshly baked by the experienced French
cook, right before your curious eyes. CEO Gilles owns
various same type establishments in France, so how
much more francais can you get?
Kukotava Delicate pastries and pies, made from local seasonal
berries, fruits and vegetables, using fi ngerlickin’ recipes
from granny’s cooking book. Also French tarts, scrumptious
mascarpone cakes, home made fetuccini cookies
and bread. The loungy/homey Kukotava atmosphere allows
you to spend a bit more time here.
Vincents
The amazing artistry of Chef Martinsh Ritinsh gives you the
urge to frame your dinner, not eat it ...
Concerto On busy Barona street, this Italian restaurant provides you with a relaxing break of life’s loudness. Elegantly decorated, in modern style, though with classical hints—wooden plank fl oors, bare brick wall and white glass chandeliers. With mellow background lounge music, Concerto radiates tranquility and is therefore a great place for breakfast (served until 12.00) or a business lunch (Ls 3.50) from 12.00 - 16.00, both change on a daily basis. The a la carte menu promises a variety of pizzas and pastas as well as European dishes. Friendly waitstaff. Smoker’s room in basement.
CR: Concerto pizza.
Del Popolo One of the most visited new Italian restaurants in Riga. The popularity could be explained by the Italian trattoria ambience and the cuisine, which could be described as not so simple approach to basically simple Italian meals,
but still keeping “for people” (del popolo) concept price
and atmosphere wise. Carefully picked Italian wine selection
and small wine cellar makes the place an expert in
the fi eld. CR: Fellini orange/beef soup, monk fish fillet.
Lido Atputas Centrs (Lido Recreation Centre) One of the most attractive public catering enterprises and
favourite place of family recreation in Latvia. The building
is on of the largest and most beautiful log cabins in Europe.
LIDO Recreation Centre can host more than 1000
visitors. It is characterized by a Latvian environment,
tasty and various dishes, LIDO beer, live music every
evening, celebration of national festivities with gorgeous
decorations and concerts. Take bus Nº17A from central
post or tram Nº7 or 9 from the latvian National Opera up
to LIDO Recreation Centre.
The Centre Amusement park offers ice-skating in the winter and roller-skating in the summer in the largest skating-rink in the Baltic as well as other breathtaking attractions.
Take direct bus ? A17 from central post or tram ? 7 or 9 from Latvian National opera up to LIDO Recreation Centre.
Varzob Nothing special from
the outside,... but the taste! Family-owned tiny Uzbek restaurant
for anyone, but even more for the people who can
appreciate it. A strange homecoming feeling will grab you,
when you visit Varzob a second time, which you defi nitely
will! The place and eating experience is too intimate to
share with others, so hush-hush – don’t tell anybody.
Vina Studija (Wine Studio) Often before, after or even instead of having meal at the
restaurant, we just need a glass of proper wine to be
enjoyed in a restaurant atmosphere. Selected wines from
all “worlds” are advised and then served with simple starters
by clever-looking, expert staff. Be smart: buy a bottle
in their shop, pay Ls 3.50 on top, drink at restaurant.
See
also Shopping: Food, Beverages & Tobacco.
|
SPONSORED LINKS
USEFUL
|
