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Beer gardens & Pagan festivals
Latvians have had a tough six months. Although the rest of the world has also felt the global financial crisis, few countries have seen their GDP decrease by 18% or their unemployment rate jump to double digits. Typically dark Baltic days were made darker by the economic gloom. But the summer sunshine is finally having an effect on Riga’s inhabitants. It really is amazing what a little vitamin D can do. That said, a chilled mug of ‘vitamin B’ can also make a huge difference. Yes, beer gardens have popped up all over the city and despite the sad financial climate, by our count there are even more this year than in 2008. To find out where to get the cheapest brew, the best selection or which summer terraces to avoid read our mouth-watering feature.Latvia’s favourite pagan holiday is also on the horizon and anyone who hasn’t experienced a rain and beer drenched heathen fertility ritual in the wilds of Latvia shouldn’t pass up a chance to do as the locals do. For everything you need to know about Midsummer’s Eve, or Jāņi, click on our feature.
OUR Riga HIGHLIGHTS
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Pharmacy Bar
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Columbine
The oldest continuously running hotel in Riga is also home to Columbine, an upmarket restaurant with old world elegance. Expect hanging chandeliers, crisp, white tablecloths and a fresh flower on eve
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Reval Hotel Latvija
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Latvian Ethnographic Museum
100 hectares of life as it used to be. Farmsteads, windmills, fishing villages, churches and other historic structures have been moved here and preserved for posterity. Watch craftsmen perform variou
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Latest Riga Comments
During my recent visit to Riga June 28, me and my friend was seriosly robbed at the Cognac bar on 1a/3 Baznicas street.My mobile phone was stolen from my jacket and about 60 Lati was taken from my pocket. Something must have been put in the drinks b[...]
wonderful food, sweet waitress.PERFECT!!![...]
hello'i would like to get info about travel from Riga to Frankfurt or other German cities.or some travel agency in Riga in English i like to travel in Europekind regardsVeronica[...]
You have no idea why the place has been opened... And the beer isin't old at all. It's exactely the same beer as in other places. It's just not a rip off place. Everybody is treated the same there. The reason why there are so many youngs[...]
This same shit happened to me and my mate. We were on our way back to hotel and it was around 4am. Then met 3 "Lithuanianian" girls who asked the way to Sky Bar. Told em that is closed lol, and then we all "decided" to go for a one to the nearest ba[...]
And if u go downstairs, the food gets even hotter.all in all its quite a friendly, safe & homely place.[...]
My wife and me had dinner there on August 13, 2008. Nice atmosphere,unfortunately spoiled by a group of very noisy German(Bavarian)guests. Service polite and efficient. Some of the food (sausages) not quite up to our expectations, but excellent cabb[...]
Ice cream tastes simply fantastic![...]
Food was really good and meal was big. Service was quite quick and those breads and other things came automaticly.I recommend this place...[...]
A friend of me , who refused to pay and didn't had his wallet with him (he only had 50 euro cash) was kicked so hard that we didn't recognised him when we saw him back the next day , he was dumped in a wood far away from the centre, a story [...]
In the good old days, circa 1998, Lord's pub, aka Groks, was an ok place, a dirty little crowded bar packed with hot russian chicks and stupid bozos downstairs, with greasy seating and menu upstairs. Not a bad place, and the worst you could expe[...]
This place is definitely inexpensive, but don't expect authentic or even remotely Spanish tapas! The menu consists mainly of Russian style zakuski with the occasional olive. The food wasn't bad at all, but the service was typically abysmal.N[...]
I had dinner there. One of the best restaurants for Latvian food in Riga. Service polite and fast. Very nicely and elegantly furnished. I can only recommend as one of the nicer eating places in Riga.[...]
We were absolutely shocked at the truly awful service we received at this restaurant.Bad food quality!It was absolutely disgraceful. Dont go here![...]
Basically, we have a review for this club for two reasons: 1. As a warning to tourists and expats that it's probably not worth the effort. 2. For the Latvian diaspora from the States, UK, Australia, etc that might want to check it out and that w[...]