Riga might not have any restaurants in the Michelin Guide yet, but I suspect that will soon change. (I was right – the Michelin inspectors came to Riga in 2023!) The city’s chefs continually impress me with their meticulous attention to detail and masterful plating. Latvians take great pride in their work, and it shows. If you are visiting the city and wondering where to eat, this guide to some of the best restaurants in Riga has you covered.
Restaurants are listed in alphabetical order to make them easier to find:
- 3 Chefs
- COD
- Le Dome
- Domini Canes
- Entresol
- Italissimo
- Kolonāde
- Mio
- Neiburgs
- Pētergailis
- Portofino
- Riviera
- Rossini
- Shōyu
- The Catch
- Uncle Vanya
3 Chefs
Meals at 3 Chefs are an immersive experience. To begin, one of the three head chefs turns your table into an art canvas, drizzling various sauces and dips on white paper for you to mop up with artisan bread.
Afterwards you’ll have a tough time deciding among the dishes on the ever-changing menu, though you can’t make a wrong choice. And if you truly can’t decide, there’s a 6-course tasting menu so you can try a bit of everything.
COD
COD was the first restaurant to bring authentic Japanese cuisine to Riga. Plates feature the freshest ingredients prepared to perfection, whether it’s robata grilled fish or a simple sushi roll. I was wowed, quite frankly, and can’t wait to go back.
Le Dome
Hotel dining can be hit or miss, but Le Dome Restaurant never disappoints. The chef – who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens around the world – creates beautiful Baltic dishes with a French twist. The seafood starters are particularly good. In the warmer months, a rooftop terrace offers a lovely view over Old Riga.
Domini Canes
Considering Domini Canes is located on a busy street in the old town, you might expect it to be a tourist trap, but that is definitely not the case. The pan-fried pikeperch is my go-to dish, but I’ve never had a bad meal here. Domini Canes also has some of the tastiest desserts in town!
Entresol
Entresol offers an elegant 5-course tasting menu at an incredibly reasonable price. (€55 as of 2023.) The dishes are changed twice a year, but past winners have included a scallop served elegantly in its shell, creamy potato soup, and foie gras with chorizo. It’s easy to see why head chef Raimonds Zommers is one of the most highly awarded in Latvia.
Italissimo
Any place that has a menu section dedicated to burrata and other fresh cheese starters is a winner in my book. Italissimo came highly recommended by Latvian friends, and I am passing the favor onto you. Expect generous servings of homemade pasta, market fresh salads, and friendly service.
Kolonāde
Housed in a historic building between the Freedom Monument and Opera House, Kolonāde seeks to tell the story of a modern-yet-traditional Latvia through food. The talented team in the kitchen transforms the country’s farm-fresh produce into a visual feast. Sometimes they miss the mark, but generally the dishes are successful. My favorite part of dining at Kolonāde, though, is the view.
Mio
The décor at Mio is so quirky and charming you’ll think you’ve fallen down Alice’s rabbit hole. The menu is just as whimsical, with its Latvian take on French and American cuisines. (I heartily recommend the mushroom risotto and marzipan cake.) Mio is the perfect choice for a memorable night out.
Neiburgs
Another excellent hotel restaurant is Neiburgs. I would describe the food here as Latvian fusion, with traditional Baltic ingredients given a Mediterranean twist. Neiburgs also offers an excellent breakfast buffet and three-course lunch menu.
The stunning Art Nouveau Hotel Neiburgs was originally built in 1903 as the family home of Ludvigs Neiburgs. During the post-WWII Soviet Occupation of Latvia, the home was confiscated and converted into a communal dwelling, with 22 families living in 13 flats. The Neiburgs family regained ownership of the property in 2003 and a few years later opened a charming boutique hotel and restaurant.
Pētergailis
One of Riga’s oldest restaurants, Pētergailis has been an old town institution since 1978. The menu, though, is a thoroughly modern take on Latvian cuisine. All of the dishes feature the region’s best seasonal ingredients presented as edible works of art. I was also impressed with the warm and friendly service.
Portofino
This upscale Italian restaurant is an elegant hideaway in Riga’s Art Nouveau district. My entire meal was excellent, from the black bean dip accompanying the artisan bread to the thoughtfully plated dessert. Even better, the wait staff made me feel welcome the second I entered. Portofino came recommended to me by several blog readers and I am grateful for the tip!
Riviera
The Mediterranean-inspired dishes at Riviera are as tasty as they are beautiful. The seafood and pasta dishes are especially recommended. If the service here seems slow, order an extra glass of wine from the extensive menu and lean into the Cote d’Azur vibe. Especially if you happen to be enjoying the terrace in nice weather.
Rossini
Rossini is my one of my favorite restaurants in Riga and I’ve dined here more times than I can count. The porcini mushroom risotto is my dish of choice, and I’m delighted it’s still on the menu after all these years. The goat cheese ravioli is another stellar option, as are most of the seasonal specials. There’s a second location in Milan, so you know Rossini is legit Italian.
Shōyu
For authentic Japanese ramen head to Shōyu. The homemade noodles and flavorful dashi broth are the perfect way to warm up on a chilly Baltic day. Shōyu is located near Viestura Garden Park, the oldest public park in Riga. It’s a bit off the typical tourist trail, but well worth seeking out. The ramen shop is very popular with locals so reservations are essential, even for lunch.
The Catch
Another great Japanese restaurant in Riga is The Catch. This stylish izakaya serves up some of the tastiest sushi and cocktails in town. There are also plenty of grilled items and rice bowls on the menu should you crave something a bit heartier. And if there are any passionfruit mochi left by the time you are ready for dessert, grab one. They are sensational!
Uncle Vanya
Named after a play by Anton Chekhov, Uncle Vanya takes diners back to the halcyon days of pre-revolution Russia. The menu features Slavic classics such as blini with caviar, pelmeni dumplings, pickled herring, borscht, and honey cake. Though the beef stroganoff has been given a modern makeover in recent years and I much preferred the original version. Be sure to try one of the flavored vodkas or fruit liqueurs, all distilled in-house.
For some more budget-friendly restaurant options, click here for my cheap eats guide. If you are searching for a good breakfast spot, or somewhere for a coffee break, check out my Riga café guide.
What do you think are the best restaurants in Riga?
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We enjoyed lots of tasty food on my visit, but I only remember Rossini’s name. I loved their risotto with mushrooms! Looking forward to having that again (hint, hint)!
There’s a bowl of mushroom risotto here with your name on it!
So much food!! Looks like foodie heaven.
I’ve certainly been in heaven 🙂
Great post! I had an amazing meal at Vincents when I was in Riga a few years ago.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed Vincent’s, too! I definitely hope to pay them another visit 🙂
I’m coming!!
Just tell me where you want to eat first!!
Looks like you’ve had a lot of good meals in Riga! 😉 Luckily, we even dined at Neiburgs when we visited. I remember having good food and service. Smacznego!
Yes, I remember you talking about your meal at Neiburgs! My Mom is visiting soon and I can’t wait to take here there. She’ll love it!
What a fabulous roundup! Istaba looks amazing!!!! Exploring a city through its cuisine is one of my favorite things to do–just returned from Europe and must have put on 5 pounds!;-)
I think you would LOVED Istaba, Jess! It oozes rustic-yet-funky charm and the food is very veggie friendly!
And re: putting on five pounds in Europe – welcome to my life! 😉
I like visiting r Riga and all of this 15 places and see you also. Very nice post .
Thank you!
Wow, it looks like the restaurant scene in Riga has changed a lot – and for the better – since we were there many moons ago. I just remember getting lost all the time in the old town and constantly bumping into a TGI Fridays! 🙂 Think we need a revisit sometime to update our memories and try out some of these great looking places! 🙂
Julia
“getting lost all the time in the old town and constantly bumping into a TGI Fridays”
Julia, you have just described my first three months in Riga! LOL! Thankfully the dining scene has proved to be well worth exploring!
I can’t get over how fancy all of this food looks! Just looking at the photos makes me feel so decadent. 😀
All of the places look great and delicious, but there’s something about Biblioteka (it’s name???) that calls to me. Of the 15 places you’ve listed, it’s the one I think I’d most want to visit!
The food presentation here really is incredible. Valtera offers a 3-course business lunch for 9 euros and each plate still looks like it costs double that. Biblioteka is one of the pricier places in town, but its nine-course chef’s tasting is only €60. That’s a steal considering the quality. I’ll never be able to look at fine dining the same way again!
Oh Heather, I wish I’d seen this post before going to Latvia! My cousin and I were on a budget in Riga so we ended up going back to the Ale Folkklubs pub a few times, but we weren’t sure where else to look for affordable traditional Latvian food. Damn!
Ala Folkklubs is a great place! Did you get to hear some live music? On Wednesdays the pub hosts folk dancing lessons. I should probably include it in my next roundup!
In general, though, I’ve found the prices in Riga to be much more reasonable than elsewhere in Europe. Especially for the quality!
I am definitely going to try Istaba and two of the other ones. Have you been to Piens Gatavo yet? It’s where the locals go and there are few tourists. It has great reviews in TripAdvisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g274967-d7886068-Reviews-Piens_Gatavo-Riga_Riga_Region.html
I haven’t been to Piens Gatavo, but it sounds good! I’ll definitely give it a try, thanks for the tip!!
I would add Olive Oil Trading – Italian restaurant on Pils iela right in front of Riga Castle. Ask for homemade limoncella or grappa at the end of your dinner. Unforgettable. My favorite is a tuna salad. Enjoy! 🙂
I love Olive Oil restaurant and am definitely including it in my next Riga restaurant round up. I think it has some of the best pizza in town! 🙂
I’m in Riga next week on a business trip. Thanks for this list, I will definitely check a few places out.
Excellent, I hope you have a great trip!
very interesting list…thx! we will try Muusu when passing by with the family in summer…
if you should drop by in Cologne area, feel free to contact us for local recommendations
Thanks, Arno! I’ll do that! 🙂
Any listing of Riga restaurants that leaves off Aragats is neglecting the best culinary experience ever! It’s one of those places where you can order off the menu, but even better, just have a little conversation with Ludmila, the proprietor, about what you’re in the mood for, and she’ll come up with exactly what you want. Delicious Caucasian starters, inspired mains (especially a heavenly lamb Trapezunde that will have you sighing all the way to the juicy bottom of the dish), and precisely the correct top-off, little dessert or thick dark hot chocolate or espresso. And now they are in upscale digs, just across from the British Embassy on J. Alunana.
Dear Heather! Your blog and tips are amazing!! =)
I am Brazilian and I´m going to spend the new year´s in Riga with a friend. Would you have any special tips for us? I have already read your post about New Year´s Eve, but we are searching for some nice dinner/party.
Thanx a lot for sharing your experiences with us!
Cheers,
Rafael
Hi Rafael, thank you for your comment! If you are interested in seeing the fireworks while enjoying a party, I would consider splurging for the Skyline Bar at the top of the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvia. (I want to say that last year’s tickets cost around €150 per person but I could be mistaken.) The Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel, directly across the river from Old Riga, is another option. I’m not sure they’ve announced their NYE offers yet, but if I were traveling to Riga as a tourist those would be my top two choices purely for the view. Hope this helps!
Thanx a lot, Heather!! =)