Where to Party in Riga

The top places to paint the town red after your Riga tour! 

-       My Beer (Alksnāja iela 10/12), the biggest beer salon in the Baltics, offers 600 brews for a reasonable price in a historic warehouse. The pavement seating is as chilled as the beers.

Folk Club Ala (Peldu iela 19) is an Old Town institution dishing up dozens of brews, coronary inducing Latvian fare and entertainment from live bands to all-in folk dancing. It gets jam packed so booking a table is a good move.

Zobens un Lemess, (Sword and Ploughshare, Aristīda Briāna iela 10) is a friendly blend of pagan heavy metal, craft beer and dirty hip decor. A slew of other rocking pubs nearby guarantee  a big night,

Also check out my blog article on the story of Latvian beer.

-        Black Magic (Kaļķu iela 10) is a historically-furnished Old Town veteran showcasing the city's official drink, Riga Black Balsam. Down a Black Shooter or a Riga Coffee, and don't skip the Balsam meringue for dessert. Check out my blog on the history of Riga Black Balsam.

Sienna (Strēlnieku iela 3) is a posh classic with old world furnishings, pricey but excellent coffee and lush views of one of Mikhail Eisenstein's Art Nouveau marvels. The cakes are top-notch, too.

The far side of the Dairy Pavilion at the gargantuan Central Market has a stack of stalls offering mouth watering pastries and bargain coffee. Wonderful people watching, too.

Skyline Bar (26th floor of the Soviet-icon Hotel Latvija) has the hands down best views of Riga. Grab a Rigatini and drink in the scenery.

Distillers Republic (Vecpilsētas 8a) makes their own gin and creative cocktails in a fun-filled medieval cellar. There's a slew of other cool bars in the same block, for a hassle-free night on the tiles.

Shot Cafe (Torņa iela 4) does, yes, lots of different shots in a cellar in Jacob's Barracks, the longest building in Old Town. The shabby relaxed furnishings and calory-crazy bar snacks make it a bundle of laughs.

Enjoy a walk around Jurmala or a daylong drive around the resort.

Castle gazing in Sigulda or wine tasting in Kurzeme.