My Top 3 Best Restaurants in Riga

If you have been following this blog for a while, you know that I am in love with Riga, Latvia's beautiful capital city.

While visiting Riga, I found some great local restaurants I would like to tell you about.

Here are my top 3 best restaurants for a proper Latvian dinner. All three are solo traveler-friendly, family-friendly, and in Riga's Old Town.

• Table of Contents
  • 1. Folkklubs Ala
  • 2. Province
  • 3. Two More Beers
  • Bonus: Riga Central Market
  • Conclusion
  • Restaurants & Food Breakdown

1. Folkklubs Ala

I would never have found Folkklubs Ala if it wasn't for Guna – the local tour guide who showed me around Riga's Central Market and Riga's Old Town. Check out my blog post about my week in Riga to read more about my time in Riga.

During the tour through Riga's Old Town with Guna, she recommended some restaurants, and Folkklubs Ala was one of them. According to her, this restaurant is popular among the locals.

The restaurant is underground and a bit hidden, and the entrance is not what you expect from a restaurant. Thanks to Guna, I knew where to look and found it without much effort.

When I walked in, I found stairs going underground. At the bottom of the stairs was a long corridor that looked like an underground wine cellar. At the end of the corridor was an open area with tables. It was quiet despite it being 6 PM. 

There was some staff walking around, and I asked for a table. I could choose any unreserved table.

I found a good table and got served quickly by a friendly girl who gave me an English menu. I ordered a honey beer and traditional Latvian meatballs, and I got a honey cake as dessert. Yes, Latvians love honey. Everything was delicious.

It became busier just after I sat down, so I recommend making a reservation.

And if you are lucky, you can enjoy some live music.

2. Province

The first time I visited Riga, I wanted to try a traditional Latvian dish. After looking around in Riga's Old Town, I discovered a restaurant called "Province" that advertises "Latviešu virtuve," which means "Latvian kitchen."

Province serves many local dishes and is a good recommendation for trying the Latvian kitchen. The food is good, the staff is friendly and helpful, and you get immersed in Latvian culture with music and decorations.

So far, I have been here four times and would return anytime.

My favorite dishes:

• Potato Pancakes with Fresh Salted Salmon Tartar and Sour Cream
• Latvian Beef Stroganoff with Mashed Potatoes
• Zeppelins with Sour Cream and Bacon
• Potato Chicken Stew with cheese

3. Two More Beers

You can find Two More Beers in the hotel complex of Konventa Sēta – my hotel during my second time in Riga.

I had just arrived in Riga and was craving a refreshing drink. I decided to get a beer (or two) at Two More Beers and stay there for dinner. The beer menu has plenty of choices between Latvian and foreign beers. They even offer Heineken for the homesick Dutchies.

The food menu has a lot of choices – local and international. I had fried Smiltene (a town in Latvia) venison dumplings with porcini sauce, smoked cheese, and hazelnuts. And apfelstrudel as dessert. The dumplings had a distinctive taste but were good.

Later that week, I went to Two More Beers again and ordered a dry-aged beef burger with cheese and bacon. And maybe that was the best burger I have ever had.

Two More Beers is a great restaurant. It offers delicious food, great beers, comfy seats, and a cozy vibe. The staff is friendly and helpful, and I would pick this restaurant again next time I am in Riga.

Bonus: Riga Central Market

Yes, this article is called "Three Best Restaurants in Riga," but I thought I'd give you a bonus one.

No visit to Riga is complete without having visited Riga's Central Market. It is a few minutes' walk from Riga's Old Town and consists of five pavilions. One of the pavilions houses a food court offering many local dishes – including pīrāgi, pankūkas, and much more. It is an excellent recommendation for everyone interested in Latvian food.

And give the beers at Labietis a try. The Labietis brewery in Riga brews everything locally and has many good beers.

The Central Market is open from early morning till 5:30 PM, so don't expect to get your supper here.

Conclusion

So, these are my favorite restaurants in Riga. They are not necessarily the best restaurants, but the ones I like the most. As a solo traveler, I like it simple, and I want to feel welcome. These three restaurants succeeded in that. Riga's Central Market is my favorite place for lunch and to try out Latvian specialties. Or to have a good but cheap beer.

Restaurants & Food Breakdown