Eating out guide for weekend breaks

A guide to the best restaurants in Riga

Sumo was the first Japanese restaurant and is found in the Old town. The menu offers a wide range of authentic Japanese dishes and the service is quick and attentive. Sushi lovers won’t be disappointed with the food at Sumo and will be pleased to have tried this restaurant during a short city break stay. However, if Sumo is fully booked, try Kabuki or Planet Sushi, both are great alternatives to Sumo for Sushi, sake and classic Japanese cuisine in Riga. Both these restaurants have affordable prices and offer exemplary service. For great Chinese cuisine, then try and find Soho which is tucked away in an office complex. The head chef Mateo has prepared food for the Chinese president and is a master of his art. It might not be the most inspiring of venues, but the food is authentic and always of a high quality.

If you’re already missing your local Indian restaurant, then visit Sue’s Indian Raja, in the Old Town. The food is exemplary and served in an authentic Indian atmosphere by helpful staff. It’s an extremely cozy restaurant, found below street level and is a maze of small and large rooms and is suitable for those romantic breaks and even for larger parties that want a private space. Probably a very good idea for those on stag nights, that want a sectioned off area to have a lot of fun. Good quality Indian restaurants are hard to come across in the Baltic States, but this is a real weekend break gem. Another Indian alternative is Nataraja, also in the Old Town, which has belly dance performances, live music and over 140 traditional dishes. Definitely another good dining option, for your Riga holidays.

A well known establishment that is regarded highly amongst Latvian cuisine critics is Charlestons. This restaurant has an excellent reputation for its polite service, inexpensive international cuisine and presents a warm & friendly atmosphere. Also in the centre, we would recommend dining in Esplanade at the Reval Hotel. The restaurant is spacious, tastefully decorated and offers a creative menu & buffet, which is always of the highest quality. Both Charleston’s and Esplanade are excellent places to try, many of our repeat clients have commented positively about these establishments.

One of the most popular and certainly most famous gourmet restaurant is Vincents on Elizabetes street, located just outside Riga’s Old Town. Vincents is the creation of English chef Martin Ritins, who has managed to create one of the most exquisite city break dining experiences in the whole of the Baltics. The menu is forever evolving and improving, to the delight of its very happy customers and frequent celebrities. Since its opening in 1994, Vincents has served food for; Prince Charles, Elton John, B.B.King, Paco Rabane and many others. All the dishes are artistically presented and served by attentive staff, that make you feel relaxed and settled. Undoubtedly, Vincents is one of the top tables for a weekend city break in Riga, we highly recommend booking a table, to coincide with your holiday.

Kamala is probably the best vegetarian restaurant in the Old Town and one of the best we’ve been to in the Baltic States. The menu is in constant rotation, keeping the colour and ingredients of the food in balance with the body that the earth is aligned to on that day. One of the main health ingredients is called 'gi.' This exquisite ingredient is an intricately prepared, cholesterol-free golden butter with a unique aroma. If you want to retrieve some of your lost energy and dine in a spiritual oasis, then we invite you to try the Kamala during your travels in Latvia.

There is an ever increasing choice of quality Italian and Mediterranean restaurants, which is great for pasta and pizza lovers. One of the most authentic restaurants, is Da Sergio on Terbatas street and has been rightfully described as an ‘Island of Italian culture.’ The chef specialities are mouth watering, the wine list is comprehensive and the bread is baked daily on the premise. Da Sergio will always prove to be a perfect choice for refined food, where the price reflects the quality. Fellini is another charming restaurant with a sophisticated design. The food is of a high caliber and they have an extensive wine list. Fellini proves itself with its consistency, many evenings have been spent here and all have been enjoyed. If you’re looking for something a lot less formal and more fun, we can recommend Sandy's Beach. The restaurant is designed as a sea beach bar, with live Djs on the weekends and the waitresses are dressed in Bikinis. The food is a mixture of Mediterranean, Greek and Italian and they serve some great cocktails. Sandy’s beach is great for fun stag weekends and groups looking for a livelier atmosphere. The food isn’t bad at all and the place is a lot of fun.

Tower is a Scandinavian Restaurant in the Old Town and is a highly refined and elegant establishment, perfect for those wanting luxury city breaks. The menu offers many delights and specialties, such as; snails, reindeer and chocolate parfait. Tower is well furbished and has a tranquil atmosphere, helped by subtle lighting and appropriate music. Great for intimate dinners and a high class gourmet experience. Another recommended restaurant, which never fails to impress, is Black Monks (1 Jana) in the Old Town. The relaxed ambiance, gentle music and lighting greats a homely and intimate feel. The food and service is of a high standard and has been a popular choice for Rigans and tourists for sometime. Black Monks is an exceptional restaurant and we’d be delighted to make table reservations for your Riga holiday break.

For a completely different holiday dining experience, then you must try the Lido Recreation Centre. The LIDO centre is one of the most attractive public catering enterprises in the world and is one of the most popular places for family recreation. The building is constructed from pine logs and thatched roofs and the traditionally costumed staff serve the variety of Latvian cuisine from hulking cauldrons. Everyday there are special attractions to be enjoyed, from open-air dancing, LIDO beer, concerts in summer and skating in winter. The LIDO centre is much more than a spectacular restaurant, it has become for many a superb city break attraction.

Like all vibrant cosmopolitan cities, there are many places open around the clock to eat. Although for the majority of citybreak travellers this is of no importance, it is an essential requirement for those party revelers that like to drink ‘n’ dance into the early hours of the morning. Especially for men, celebrating a friends last nights of freedom on stag do’s in Riga. A favourite haunt has always been Chili Pica, which is open till 6am on Saturdays. The pizzas come in four different sizes and there are no less than 50 to choose from off the menu. Pitta Inn is open 24hrs and serves authentic Lebanese kebabs, salads and pizzas, to compliment those liquid diets, that the majority of Latvia lads parties are running on. Another 24hour restaurant is Anspeteri in Riga’s centre and is set on 2 levels and tends to be a little more pricier.