Riga may not boast a significant design district like Antwerp’s Zuid or Amsterdam’s 9 Straatjes. Still, you’ll find that Riga’s best design shops are within easy cycling distance from one another with galleries and food stops along the way.
Riija
Riija – Terbatas street 6/8Nordic vibes and highlights of local craftsmanship. Riija is your go-to for sustainable design items – Riija’s own linen bedding, “frozen” linen shopping and toiletry bags, East Latvian black clay tea sets, The Munio soy wax candles, wood accessories, and natural cosmetics. Treat yourself and your home. Should you feel spoilt for choice, the sales advisors will help make the right decision.
Image House
Imagehouse’s world-class showroom doubles as an elegant location for light lunch or afternoon tea. Sit back in the plush furniture from the likes of Gubi and Minotti or enjoy the secluded terrace as you indulge in the stylish snack selection, each like an accessory designed to match its surroundings.
Once energized, browse the fashion racks featuring pieces by Carven, Henrik Vibskov, and peers.
Miesai
Creator and trusted purveyor of Riga’s slickest design souvenir collection and homeware RĪGA Original. Miesai collaborates with fellow Riga brands like Kalve Coffee & The Munio to bring you the RĪGA Original collection. Staples include t-shirts, mugs, locally roasted coffee, and graphic prints. The airy shop and studio occupy the ground floor of a building nominated for the 2017 Architecture of the Year award in Riga.
Babama Kids
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Babama Kids — Blaumana street 12Cheers to raising the next generation of design lovers! Babama Kids is part concept store, part café. The shop side stocks clothing by parents’ favorite brands like Organic Zoo, Bobo Choses, and Barn of Monkeys. Post-shopping, kids can dive into the play area while parents dive into the delectable smoothies, coffee, and vegan desserts.
Babama Kids is one of the most vibrant interior spaces in Riga, inspired by the aesthetics of a swimming pool.
Manilla
Manilla — Terbatas street 55Your go-to place for a variety of beautiful paper goods and design stationeries. After you stock up on notepads, calendars and beautiful gifts in colorful wrapping paper enjoy a cup of a warm drink in their coffee shop area.
Awake
Awake — Dzirnavu street 67AWAKE adds excitement to what is otherwise a quite plain shopping center. With a focus on Baltic design, the collection showcases small brands making a name for themselves on the world stage, such as Lickstarter panties, pret-a-porter fashion by One Wolf, and BeWith. Perfect for those with limited luggage allowances.
Visitors often remark on the quality of Latvian beer and how little it’s known outside the country’s borders. If you’ve landed on this page, we guess you’re one of the lucky ones who’s already made that discovery or will do in the near future.
Pretty much any Riga bar or restaurant will serve you Latvian beer but only a few have the power of converting non-beer drinkers into beer enthusiasts. Here’s our list of what we think are the best craft beer spots in Riga, which do a damn fine job at promoting local and regional brews.
Taka
Taka – Miera street 10It’s often Taka where you might get a taste of the latest Latvian brews on the market. The staff are well up-to-date with the scene and can guide you through the flavour maze.
Popular for its comedy nights, concerts and board game evenings, Taka is the perfect point to begin a pub crawl along Miera Iela (Peace Street). The street and its surrounding areas are known as a bit of a bohemian haven.
Miezis un Kompānija
Sip on one of the 20 beers on tap or one of plenty bottled varieties as you sit and gaze at the trams zip by at a metre or so’s distance. The airy space on the edge of the old town boasts ceilings way taller than the average Latvian NBA player, and its floor length windows look out over one of Riga’s busiest transport junctions. Miezis un Kompānija is kitted out in a snazzy timber and steel combo. Give the staff a few keywords and they’ll gladly guide you to the right decision.
Within stumbling distance of the airport bus stop, this is a great one for a farewell tipple before your flight. Also, if you’re heading to Latvia’s west coast, drop by their original Liepāja city branch.
Nurme Bar
Living room vibes at this top spot on one of Riga’s hip but grungy streets undergoing a major reputation change. Nurme is a gypsy brewery whose driving force decided to open their own space for celebrating Baltic craft beers and ciders as well as some personal favourites from further afield. Coffee lovers and wine-drinking friends are also welcome. Toasties and a few other snacks on offer for anyone feeling peckish.
Find Nurme by peeking through the windows to spot the neon hops symbol. Check the events schedule for taste test evenings and concerts or do your own tasting party – Nurme has mini beer glasses, so you can try the whole range.
Valmiermuiza
Valmiermuiza — Aristida Briāna street 9The Riga outpost or self-proclaimed embassy of the Valmiermuiža Brewery in North Latvia. These guys with their endless ideas and new releases are an inspiration to many, as well as the pioneers behind the Riga Beer District initiative.
Inventive in both beer and food departments, the “embassy” is also known for its restaurant serving contemporary Latvian cuisine. Their beer pairing menu is one of the city’s “best kept secret” kind of dining experiences with dishes such as beer-battered smoked herring and beer ice cream. Next door is the best kind of Latvian souvenir shop with a vast selection of beer, fruit wine and fine foods.
Distillers Republic
Distillers Republic — Vecpilsētas street 8a-8Vaulted ceilings, open brick walls, custom-built timber furniture and rose gold aplenty. This cool underground space is a refreshing, local-friendly addition to Riga’s pricey old town. Currently serving local and regional craft beers, also planning to brew their own in the near future.
Distillers Republic doubles as a cocktail joint. Thursday nights are spritz nights. Plus, you can get a good burger here.
Terapija
Terapija – 69 Bruņinieku StreetJoin the ranks of Riga’s workforce making their lunchtime pilgrimage to the original Terapija or its little sister for their daily dose of plant-based brain food in the form of soup, salads and mains. In the evening, order from the a la carte menu. At weekends, experience a modern day Riga tradition - book a table for the all-you-can-eat brunch.
Don’t leave without picking up a sandwich or sweet treat to go. The “cheese salad” focaccia or rich slab of brownie make for a satisfying afternoon snack or breakfast! Mazā Terapija is renowned for its vegan sausage rolls.
If you’ve decided to mark a special occasion in Riga, order your cake from Terapija or Mazā Terapija. The lemon meringue, non-honey honey cake and banoffee pie have gone down in Riga’s vegan history.
Photos by @elizagutmane and @vegan_wieners
The Beginnings
A pioneer of healthy eating in Riga. What started as a small basement cafe has grown into a small health food empire with three bricks-n-mortar locations and its own product line featuring, among others, protein bars, raw crackers and superfood supplements. Their “guilt-free” sweets like “Bounty” bars and goji balls are the bomb.
The weekday lunch menu has raw food and hot options. The evening and weekend a la carte has a fantastic mix of fusion dishes like Latvian grey pea hummus, buckwheat “risotto” with chanterelles, and Northern poke bowls with trout, cranberries and horseradish. And did we mention the weekend brunch?
Mr Fox
So popular, they don’t take bookings. Mr Fox is a spot for dining and some serious Instagram posting. Its leafy green wallpaper and yellow sofas are famous among Riga’s design lovers who come here for breakfast and lunch. Favourite menu items include the vegan pancakes with fresh fruit, and nutritious buddha bowls. Guests can also build their own from a long list of veggies and protein sources! Finish up with an excellent coffee and sweet treat like chia pudding.
Stockpot
Stock Pot — 6 Ģertrūdes StreetStockpot is to thank for teaching Latvians to appreciate spices outside the salt and pepper spectrum. Their legendary chilli scale helps navigate the daily menu of Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mexican and lesser known Mediterranean dishes.
All three outposts offer vegan options. Meat free Fridays and Chilled Saturdays at XL are made for those weekending in Riga. Stockpot’s chilli con soya, vegan pho and “no death no dairy lasagne” are always big hits.
Dedicated spice lovers should consider taking part in the annual Stockpot Heroes Challenge. Competitors have 20 minutes to devour an off-the-scale hot dish without any sides.
Bio Bio
Bio Bio — 11 Krisjana Barona Street100% vegan, 100% organic. Part shop, part cafe. This is your chance to rub shoulders with Riga’s yummy mummies and influencers of the day over a steaming bowl of vegan solyanka or lentil stew.
Try one of BioBio’s cashew nut donuts or a slice of the spirulina-matcha-cashew nut “cheesecake”. Grab it to go and enjoy at the nearby Vērmanes Dārzs park or strolling through Bergs Bazaar shopping arcade.
Staying at an Airbnb or hostel with its own kitchen? BioBio’s shelves are stacked with quality staples such as pasta, lentils, coffee and chocolate.
Vegan Fest
VeganFest.lvThe lucky few who are in Riga at the right time in August are in for a treat at the now-annual Vegan Festival. It’s a true celebration of vegan food with street food stands, talks and masterclasses.
It’s one thing when at home and siting at the breakfast table with your favourite mug, but when travelling or on the run a good guide into the local speciality coffee scene will come in handy. Here’s a list of our favourite speciality coffee shops in Riga, a lively city right in the middle of the Baltics.
Rocket Bean Roastery
Rocket Bean Roastery – 29 Miera Street
Stars Coffee
Rocket Bean Coffee House
Zvaigzne Cafe
Andrito & Gemoss kafe
Andrito & Gemoss kafe — 73 Mukusalas Street
Kalve Coffee
Kalve Espresso room — 38 Stabu Street
Šī ir mazā zemes ĀBECE. Burtu grāmata, veidota no krāsainām un garšīgām lietām, kuras izaudzējamas tepat Latvijas zemē.
Augļi, ogas, dārzeņi, garšaugi un zaļumi – pirmās garšas, ko iepazīst mazais cilvēkbērns, augot Latvijā.
Latvijas dabas bagātību ābece
Zemes garša
Mazā zemes ĀBECE ir stāsts par Latvijas zemes atklāšanu no jauna. No jauna atklātu mīlestību pret iesētu sēklu un rudens ražu.
Par pilsētnieku atgriešanos dārzā. Par bērniem, viņu vecākiem un kopā pavadītu laiku, iepazīstot mūsu dabas bagātības.
Kāpēc Kvinoja nevis Kartupelis?
Veidojot mazo zemes ĀBECI, pie katra burta piemeklējām lietas, kuras atbilst trīs kritērijiem – tās visas ir ēdamas, izaudzējamas tepat pie mums Latvijā un pēc iespējas dažādas un netipiskas.
Mēs paši mīlestību uz zemi atklājām tieši caur šīm Latvijas dārziem netipiskajām lietām — arbūziem, sparģeļiem, fizāļiem, zīdkokiem un valriekstiem.
Šī mazā burtu grāmatu ir mūsu centiens šo mīlestību nodot tālāk gan pašiem mazākajiem, gan viņu vecākiem, tantēm un onkuļiem.
Kā top bērnu grāmata ?
Stāsts par to, kā tapa šī gramata. No idejas, dizaina un ilustrāciju skicēm līdz gatavam grāmatas maketam, izdevējam un izplatīšanai. Un viss cits pa vidu.
Par autoru
Esam sagatavojuši svaigu pārsteigumu - mazās ĀBECES krāsojamās lapas.
Ievadi savu e-pastu, lejuplādē, izdrukā un krāso
This is "Mazā zemes ĀBECE" (The Edible ABC book).
The Latvian language letter book is made of tasty and colorful things that can be grown locally in Latvia.
Plenty of fruits, berries, vegetables, spices and green plants that the little ones will taste for themselves growing up in Latvia.
The fruitful Latvian nature
Taste of the earth
"Maza zemes ĀBECE" is a story about the Latvian soil from a new perspective. It captures the sense of city dwellers coming back to the love of the private garden.
The book is an experience that connects children to their parents while they learn about the possibilities of Latvian nature.
Why quinoa not a potato?
How a children's book is made?
About the Author
We've prepared a surprise for you — mazās ĀBECES coloring pages.
Submit your email to download, print and colour
Latvia’s independence was a process developing over many years, but the culmination of it was during the World War I.
In 1915, the Latvians organized the first Latvian Riflemen battalion to fend off the invasion of the German army.
In total, about 60 000 troops were drafted and fought to retain Latvia’s borders and key areas.
2nd Regiment of Riga Latvian Riflemen,
Photo — The Latvian War Museum
True Perseverance In Our Blood
In October of 1916 a special distinction of the Latvian endurance was formed by the 2nd Riga Latvian Riflemen regiment, as they defended their position on Death Island.
The German army used the first Gas weapon attack in the Latvian territory to drive the defenders of freedom out of their positions. Nevertheless, the Latvians held their ground for 8 days.
A Latvian Rifleman in shooting training,
Photo — sargs.lv
The Christmas battles — Fighting in -35°C
One of the most defining pages in the history of Latvian was written in the swamp of Tīrelis during the Christmas time in 1916. The goal of this massive battle operation was to capture the key city of Jelgava.
The courage showed by the Latvian Riflemen was moving. After the war, the German army officer Emil Harold wrote: “In the Christmas Battle the Russians had bear hunters, Siberians, and twice as dangerous — Latvian Rifleman. The Latvians made hard sacrifice and it shows in the many graves near Babīte. The Latvian riflemen were the main reason the front was broken.”
2nd Regiment of the Latvian Riflemen oath before the Christmas battles,
Photo — sargs.lv
A Flag That Captures More Than Words
In 1917, the hope for a sovereign nation and free Latvia was still alive. During this time many companies of the battalions captured and expressed their identity through slogans and flags.
“Bez Cīņas Nav Uzvaras” ("No Victory Without A Fight") was the slogan designed for the 3rd Company of the 2nd Regiment of the Latvian Riflemen by Ansis Cīrulis (1883-1942).
Ansis Cīrulis was one the first Eastern European designers — greatly contributed to the shaping of Latvia’s national identity. His heritage is characterized by letters with asymmetric widths, sliced cuts and various intrinsic features.
Historical Words in Contemporary Take
Today, the 1917 historical flag slogan is available in a new design that is based on the historical handwriting of Ansis Cirulis. The design prints and the T-shirts made of 100% organic cotton are available in our online shop.
We Share Endurance
Graphic Print — BCNU (White & Gold Edition)
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