Matställen i Riga

American Café
Radisson-SAS, Kugu 24, tel. 706 11 11. Open 07:00 - 23:00. (10Ls)
Most of the cuisine is now international, with the exception of the all-American banana split. Spoil your taste buds with a burrito or choose any of their delicious Chinese stir-fry dishes (we recommend the duck). Break-fast buffet for 9.50Ls and a businessmen's lunch for 8.50Ls.

Arve
Aldaru 12/14, tel. (+371) 722 06 49. Open 12:00 - 23:00. (7Ls)
This small vaulted cellar's low ceilings by the Swedish Gate may not be ideal for basketball players, but it's certainly a good choice for diners who enjoy a good meal in a charming, purple atmosphere. Tasty Latvian specialities.

Charlestons
Blaumana 38/40, tel. 777 05 73. Open 08:00 - 24:00. (7Ls)
The latest dining sensation by Elmars Tannis, this trendy restaurant and cappuccino bar would be exceptional in New York, San Francisco, Riga or Charleston for that matter. Delicious international fare in a warm, yet elegant setting. Start with the salmon bisque. Breakfast until 12:00 in the coffee bar.

Kolonna
Skunu 16, tel. (+371) 722 38 07. Open 10:00 - 01:00. (4 - 6Ls)
Classy restaurant serving up good European cuisine and great views of Dome Square. Bring a date here for a romantic candle-lit dinner and take a seat by a window.

Livonija
Meistaru 21, tel. 722 80 93. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (7Ls)
Tucked away in a quaint, vaulted cellar in Old Riga, its inspiring medieval décor will send you back centuries into the past. Great Baltic dishes and a sublime ancient atmosphere. Try the rabbit ragout or, if you're lucky, freshly caught game.

Melnie muki (Black Monks)
Jana seta 1, tel. 721 50 06. Open 12:00 - 02:00. (3 - 5Ls)
What was once a medieval cloister is now one of the most popular restaurants in Riga. The ancient brick walls and arches have been successfully blended with modern elements of style and the menu, which includes seafood and t-bone steaks, is surprisingly reasonable.

Mezoniga Plume (The Wild Plum)
Gertrudes 79, tel. (+371) 724 41 60. Open 12:00 - 01:00, Sun 13:00 - 01:00. (5Ls)
One of the few restaurants in the city with a long Western style bar, the Wild Plum offers an extensive and creative menu. Reserve a table under the plum tree.

Oaze
Alunana 2a, tel. (+371) 732 19 20/732 19 38. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (7Ls)
Navigate your way to the blue and gold halls of the oasis for excellent Baltic and Russian cuisine. The wide selection of cocktails and great service are not a mirage. A favourite of Russian businessmen.

Ordenis
Jana Seta 5, tel. (+371) 722 84 23. Open 10:00 - 24:00, Sun 12:00 - 24:00. (6Ls)
Cosy bar/restaurant tucked away in the Jana seta in Old Riga with a number of tasty vegetarian and fish dishes as well as the widest selection of quality Scotch and whisky in town. Dine by the light of crazy croissants.

Palete
Gleznotaju 12/14, tel. (+371) 721 60 37. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (7Ls)
Perfect for an evening of romance and fine dining, the Palette on Painters Street offers one of the most extensive international menus in town. Spoil your own palate with the swordfish or the shark steak.

Parlaments
Smilsu 1/3, tel. 941 62 01. Open 10:00 - 01:00. (4 - 6Ls)
This relaxing restaurant on Dome Square has huge windows which allow you to observe beautiful sights (and people) while enjoying spicy chilli tortillas or delicious pasta dishes. The Buffalo wings served with Chinese noodles have no doubt raised a few eyebrows.

Piano Bars (Vernisaza)
Terbatas 2, tel. (+371) 728 82 30. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (9Ls)
Raimonds Pauls' Piano Bar has an elegant setting with beautiful views of the Vermanes garden. Live music every night and Sundays from 13:00 - 16:00. Try the duck soup followed by the stuffed chicken breast.

Raibais Balodis (Colourful Dove)
Koventa Seta, Kaleju 9/11, tel. (+371) 708 75 80. Open 07:00 - 10:30 for breakfast. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (8Ls)
Simply decorated in pleasant shades of blue and white, the dove displays its true colours with delicious European dishes and excellent service.

Sirdsmila
Aldaru 11 (entrance from Troksnu), tel. (+371) 921 81 19. Open 11:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 23:00. (5Ls)
Once one of Riga's smallest restaurants, the Sweetheart has now expanded to include a beautiful enclosed glass atrium which houses a small waterfall and hanging plants. Try the stuffed trout.

Vagners (Richard Wagner)
Skunu 4, tel. (+371) 722 94 95. Open 11:00 - 01:00. (6Ls)
This quiet restaurant named after Wagner, a one time resident of Riga, is stylistically reminiscent of a Vienese cafe, but don't be deceived. Its impressive menu lists much more than coffee and cake. Sample delicious pastas, seafood, vegetarian dishes and breakfast food.

Alus Arsenals
Pils laukums 4 (Entrance from Arsenala), tel. (+371) 732 38 96. Open 11:00 - 24:00. (3Ls)
This Latvian beer cellar below the Riga In Your Pocket office serves hearty local fare for a good price. On weekend nights it's hard to find a free oak stump to sit on.

Alus Seta
Tirgonu 6 (Entrance also from M. Monetu 3), tel. (+371) 722 24 31. Open 11:00 - 01:00.
Yet another rustically decorated restaurant from the Lido people. Grab a tray and watch your shashlik cook while you wait in the queue. Order the traditional Latvian gray peas with bacon and onions and quench your thirst with a cold Uzavas draught.

Dzirnavas (The Mill)
Dzirnavu 76, tel. (+371) 728 62 04. Open 08:00 - 23:00. (2Ls)
This rustic Lido eatery dishes out tasty food from giant iron kettles. Sadly, the wonderful variety of the buffet makes the chow line a bit confusing. A Latvian saying over the exit proclaims that he who belches while eating will eat in the same place next year!

Kalanda
Jana 8/10, tel. (+371) 722 97 75. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (8Ls)
Named after the 14th-century fraternal society who once gathered here, this elegant courtyard restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious dishes named after historical figures and sights of Riga. The menu includes such delicacies as bulls' balls. Live music after 19:30.

Kekis (The Cookhouse)
Kengaraga 3, tel. (+371) 713 49 30. Open 09:00 - 23:00. (2 - 3Ls)
The setting of Latvian wooden farm buildings amidst ugly suburban high rises is bizarre, but the atmosphere inside is lively and friendly. Take tram N°7 or 9 from Aspazijas to the Kengaraga stop.

Lielais Kamielis
Vecpilsetas 3, tel. (+371) 721 26 14. Open 12:00 - 23:00. (6Ls)
Elegant restaurant in the cellar of what used to be a 17th century warehouse for Eastern spices (hence the camel symbol). Discover authentic Latvian dishes, such as grudenis (stewed pig's head with barley, beans and peas), which are rare today even in the countryside.

Rozamunde
Maza Smilsu 8, tel. (+371) 722 77 98. Open 11:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 23:00. (7Ls)
Soak up the pre-war atmosphere of this restored fraternity restaurant and experience 1920s Riga. Sample Latvian nouvelle cuisine and original dishes from Duke Jacob's time (17th century). Live music every night.

Sena Riga
Aspazijas bulv. 22, tel. (+371) 721 68 69. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (7 - 10Ls).
Fun basement restaurant arranged into four cottages representing the four regions of Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale. The waitstaff wear traditional costumes to serve hearty portions of Latvian food. Patrons dance to the music played from a stage that looks like a pirate ship.

Staburags
Caka 55, tel. (+371-2) 29 97 87. Open 12:00 - 01:00.
In this maze of old fashioned, oak furnished rooms you will find traditional Latvian fare served in ceramic pots. The atmosphere will transport you to Latvia's distant past for a surprisingly reasonable price. A word to the wise: local Rigans often share their food here, because portions are so ridiculously large that Henry VIII would have a hard time cleaning off his plate.

Vermanitis
Elizabetes 65, tel. 728 62 89. Open 08:00 - 01:00. (3 - 4Ls).
Lido has opened yet another ethnic, Latvian eatery with a few noted improvements. Quality Argentinian steaks, cooked to order, have been added to the immense buffet and the rustic interior is bright and provides spectacular views of Vermanes Garden.

American Café
Radisson-SAS, Kugu 24, tel. 706 11 11. Open 07:00 - 23:00. (10Ls)
Most of the cuisine is now international, with the exception of the all-American banana split. Spoil your taste buds with a burrito or choose any of their delicious Chinese stir-fry dishes (we recommend the duck). Break-fast buffet for 9.50Ls and a businessmen's lunch for 8.50Ls.

Aragats
Miera 15, tel. (+371) 737 34 45. Open 13:00 - 22:00. Closed Mon. (6Ls)
Travel to Yerevan without leaving Riga! Allow David and Lubova to treat you to mouth-watering hashlama (mutton & vegetable soup) and delicious shashliks. Your hosts will even chop up your food for you. Don't leave without trying one of their special wines or coffees.

Arba
Gertrudes 33/35, tel. 737 40 81. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (1 - 4Ls)
A must see, this casual restaurant is entirely enclosed within a glass atrium on the top of a building. The tasty Armenian food is cheap and the interior consists of hanging vines, rock ledges and a wooden farmer's cart which doubles as a salad bar (1Ls).

Kurmis (the Mole)
Merkela 9, tel. (+371) 722 45 14. Open 10:00 - 24:00.
Dimly-lit cellar restaurant decorated with realistic looking grape vines and sketches of moles fishing and playing ball on the walls. Tasty dishes and shashliks galore, even salmon on a stick, all served with fresh lavash(thin pita bread). The cheesy pop music is a bit annoying.

Zangezurs
Rupniecibas 5, tel. 732 60 46. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (3 - 5Ls)
The first thing one notices about this cosy cellar restaurant is the gigantic bear skin on the wall. Enjoy delicious shashliks, hashlama (mutton soup), dolma (minced meat in grape leaves) and other Armenian favourites for a good price.

Asia
Marstalu 6/8, tel. (+371) 722 53 05. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (10Ls)
This expensive Chinese restaurant has a fountain in the main dining hall and specialises in banquets and business dinners. Their extensive menu lists such exotic dishes as frogs' legs in garlic sauce.

Don Fa
Avotu 33, tel. (+371-2) 27 61 01. Open 12:00 - 23:00.
The first step inside reveals a canopy of realistic looking vines and flowers hanging from the ceiling, as well as Chinese lanterns and even a parakeet. The food is OK, but a bit pricey. Don Fa is also the name of the house specialty, a perch dish. Rice costs extra!

Šan - Dun
Mukusalas 41, tel. 761 35 80. Open 12:00 - 23:00. (7Ls)
The location across the river may be discouraging, but the cuisine is worth the trip. Pass by the stone lions guarding the entrance and walk over the wooden foot bridge to sample sweet and sour fish, delicious garlic broccoli and other dishes exotic to Riga. You can rent the elegantly decorated rooms in the back for 10Ls/h.

Sanhaja
Grecinieku 26, tel. (+371) 722 84 62. Open 12:00 - 22:00. (6Ls)
Great for dinner or a business lunch, this restaurant serves excellent Chinese food which will please the palate without breaking the bank. Try the spicy calamari or the sweet and sour pork. Sit on the couch by the window and watch the House of Blackheads come to life across the street.

Zelta Panda (Golden Panda)
Kaleju 54, tel. (+371) 722 80 09. Open 12:00 - 21:00. (5Ls)
The dishes lack a little spice, but the cuisine is great for the price. Try the succulent Gunbao chicken and the fried caramel bananas for dessert.

Verdins
Maza Pils 11, tel. 722 13 39. Open 11:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 23:00. (4 - 6Ls)
It's worth coming here for the atmosphere alone. Dine in one of Old Riga's most beautiful and secluded courtyard restaurants and sample savoury bouillabaisse or veal escalopes in Dijon sauce. Soothing live solo guitar music accompanies your meal in the evening.

Mimino (The Falcon)
Barona 78, tel. (+371) 731 06 41. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (4Ls)
Cosy little cellar restaurant where you can watch your shashliks and kebabs cook over an open flame in a brick fire pit next to the bar. Order the sand-boiled coffee with dessert.

Rioni
Brivibas 226, tel. (+371-2) 56 83 82. Open 08:00 - 23:00.
Definitely the most elegant Caucasian restaurant in Riga, Rioni serves Georgian and Armenian favourites such as hashlama and dolma. If you call ahead they'll roast an entire suckling pig for 60Ls. Complimentary oranges after the meal are a nice touch.

Jever Bistro
Kalku 6, tel. (+371) 722 70 78. Open 10:00 - 03:00, Sat 11:00 - 03:00, Sun 11:00 - 01:00. (10Ls)
One of the first restaurants to pop up after the iron curtain fell, it serves delicious dishes from Hamburg and Bavaria. It would be a completely Teutonic experience if only the waiting staff could speak German!

Grieku Restorans
Skarnu 10/20, tel. (+371) 721 10 26. Open 12:00 - 24:00.
Gourmet Greek food in the heart of Old Riga. Start with, of course, the Greek platter and then move on to authentic moussaka or souvlaki. Dine inside or relax in the white-washed courtyard to experience the Mediterranean in Latvia. Waiters are courteous and attentive, but the prices are a bit steep. Very popular in the evening, so be sure to reserve a table! Owned by Andrejs Zagars, the director of the National Opera and father of Osiris and Symposium.

Bollywood Chutney
Torna 4/3B - 2 (Jekaba Kazarmas), tel. 732 10 10. Open 12:00 - 23:00. (6 - 8Ls)
Just follow the scent of exotic spices which pour out onto Torna iela to find Riga's only Indian restaurant. Listen to Indian music while feasting on delicious tandoo-ri, murgh and other classic dishes. The secret to their success is that almost everything, from the spices they use to the furniture you sit on, is imported from India.

Dublin
Vagnera 16, tel. (+371) 722 35 87. Open 12:00 - 02:00.
Riga's 'other' Irish pub may not have been the first, but it is certainly not the least of its genre. Football paraphernalia compliments the décor which is everything one would expect from a purveyor of Guinness and Harp. Their extensive menu is excellent and has something for everyone.

Murphy's Pub
Teatra 12, tel. (+371) 721 69 61. Open 24hrs.
Murphy's Stout on tap but otherwise far removed from the Emerald Isle. Get lucky on the slot machines.

Paddy Whelan's
Grecinieku 4, tel. 721 02 49. Open 10:00 - 01:00, Fri 10:00 - 02:00. (3 - 4Ls)
Riga's first Irish bar offers good pub grub, including build-your-own sandwiches, and breakfast served until 20:00. Cheaper than upstairs (see below), it is a magnet for scruffy students and anyone out for fun. Often show sporting events on a big screen TV.

Roisin Dubh (The Black Rose)
Grecinieku 4, tel. (+371) 721 02 49. Open 12:30 - 01:00, Fri 12:30 - 02:00. (5Ls)
Located directly above Paddy's, this bar is the undisputed favourite hangout for Riga's foreign community. Join Riga's English-speaking expats for a Guinness and a great time. The kitchen serves tasty Irish and Italian dishes.

Tim Mc Shane's
Tirgonu 10, tel. (+371) 722 54 81. Open 09:00 - 01:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 01:00.
This Irish pub provides a warm setting where one can order a Guinness without stepping over the carcasses of fallen students. Good, classic Irish meals and live bands occasionally play in the cellar. Unfortunately, the service is slow and it gets smokey in the evening.

1739
Skarnu 6, tel. 721 13 98. Open 12:00 - 23:00.
Enter this historic 18th century house and discover one Riga's best kept secrets. In addition to delicious Italian dishes like mushroom filled ravioli, 1739 serves such international delights as Australian steaks and Hungarian paprika chicken.

Giuditta
Barona 2, tel. 707 09 37. Open 10:00 - 22:00. Closed Sun. Bar open 10:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (2 - 6Ls)
This authentic Italian buffet and pizzeria is certainly a welcome addition to Riga's dining scene. The delicious, freshly made pizzas are the best deal at 1.50 - 3Ls. The fruit and salad bars are also a good option, but if you're really in the mood to splurge, try their pasta or perhaps the pork escalopes in wine sauce.

Lolo Pizzeria
Elizabetes 51, tel. (+371) 728 13 39. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (6Ls)
Over thirty thin crust pizzas from 2 - 4Ls and dozens of tasty Italian pasta, meat and seafood dishes. The scents wafting from the oven are inviting, but the prices are a little bit exaggerated. The horrible techno music does not aid digestion.

Mamma Mia
Caka 26, tel. (+371) 731 22 10. Open 11:00 - 23:00.
What do you get when you mix two Italian-Swedes and a restaurant? Excellent food! Try their delicious thin-crust pizzas, calzones and pasta. If you're looking for authentic, freshly made Italian cuisine for a great price, this is the place to go. The prices will pleasantly surprise you.

Marco Polo
Maza Smilsu 17. Open 11:00 - 24:00. (2 - 4Ls)
Relax in warm peach coloured surroundings and choose from a variety of light, healthy dishes including Italian favourites. Cheap businessmen's lunch. Don't leave without tasting the Egyptian flower tea.

Roma
Pulkveza Brieza 6, tel. 948 03 48. Open 08:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 11:00 - 21:00. (2 - 3Ls)
For such a tiny restaurant, it has a fairly impressive menu. Take a gander at the beautiful pictures of Rome, order pizzas, pastas and mains and read Italian press. The food doesn't make you scream 'buono' but it's not too bad.

Zilais Putns
Tirgonu 4, tel. (+371) 722 82 14. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (5Ls)
The Blue Bird provides an excellent view from its perch on and above Dome Square. Riga's oldest Italian restaurant won't disappoint with a wide variety of tasty pizzas and delicious dishes which would make Pavarotti proud.

For cheap pizza see Pizzerias.

Café Do
Arhitektu 1, tel. 722 00 20. Open 11:00 – 23:00. (3Ls)
A Japanese restaurant in Riga? Well… not really. This Japanese ‘style’ café, owned by the president of the Latvian Judo Association, serves some dishes with Japanese names, but most of the tasty mains are international or Baltic in nature. Unique black and orange interior. Good for a cocktail and a canapé.

Shalom
Brivibas 158, tel. (+371) 736 49 11. Open 12:00 - 23:00.
Latvian (not kosher) food with Jewish names but still a focal point of the local Jewish community. So have a beer and drink to life ! Mazeltov!
"Some English spoken, good food, reasonable prices and a live Yiddish singer on Sabbat if you are lucky."
Claus Buryn, Riga

La Kukaraca
Audeju 16 (Centrs department store, top floor), tel. (+371) 701 80 18. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (3-5Ls)
This restaurant serves original dishes from south of the border, not the fast food which is so popular north of the Rio Grande. The food is excellent, but the service can be a bit slow at times. Sip a Corona and take a well-deserved siesta.

Orients
Blaumana 5a, tel. (+371) 728 09 36. Open 09:00 - 23:00. (5Ls)
Difficult to classify, this establishment, both oriental and occidental, is a restaurant, bar, cafeteria and sweet shop which serves pretty much anything foreign or domestic. Choose any of the grilled Caucasian specialities from their lengthy menu.

Traktieris
Antonijas 8, tel. 733 24 55. Open 11:00 - 23:00.
At last the city with a Russian-majority population has a decent Russian restaurant! The decorations, music, friendly service, low prices and great food, from mouth-watering borsch (red beetroot soup) to spicy mains, make it well worth a visit. They have also opened a take away place next door for those who need a quick fix of Russian food.

Divi Lasi (Two Salmons)
Tirgonu 8, tel. (+371) 721 34 70. Open 11:00 - 01:00. (2-3Ls)
Slide your tray along and grab fried calamari, dried anchovies, breaded fish flllets and seaweed salad. Food is sometimes cold, but it's OK for a moderately priced lunch and one of the few seafood places in what purports to be a port city.

Zivju Restorans
Vagnera 4, tel. (+371) 721 67 13. Open 12:00 - 24:00. (14Ls)
Expensive fish restaurant has mussels, oysters, lobster, sole, cod, salmon and even shark, as fresh as can be so far from the ocean.

Missed the Soviet Union before its demise? These are the places to go.

Arhitekts
Amatu 4, tel. (+371) 722 61 51. Open 11:00 - 04:00. (3 - 4Ls)
Dark cellar restaurant whose classic Soviet-style interior hasn't changed much since the 1980s. The menu and service, however, have greatly improved. Cheap cocktails.

Marrutku Maizites (Horseradish sandwiches)
Kramu 4. Open 10:00 - 23:00.
The students are back and so is their favourite hangout. Apparently it's hard to keep a commie down! Join Marx, Lenin and many a drunken 'scholar' for a drink of vodka and contemplate the materialist evolution of mankind.

Nellija
Pils 13/15, tel. (+371) 722 64 06. Open 12:00 - 24:00.
Commrades! This place puts the 'oh' back in Soviet! Dark brown interior, lots of unused space, typical Soviet disco in the back and, of course, the banquet hall has a sauna.

Nostalgija
Kalku 22, tel. (+371) 722 23 38. Open 10:00 - 02:00. Disco Thr, Fri, Sat 19:00 - 05:00. (4 - 5Ls)
A former Soviet fashion studio has been lovingly restored in all its optimistic, tasteless, socialist realist grandeur! From the marble walkways over the waterfall to the murals on the ceiling, it's completely over the top and very funny. Average meals and good coffee.

Tower
Smilsu 7, tel. (+371) 721 61 55, e-mail: office@tower.lv. Open 11:00 - 03:00, Sat, Sun 12:00 - 03:00.
This lively, casual restaurant is decorated with portraits of screen stars and musicians like Bob Marley and Elvis. You can order anything ffrom pasta and Tex-Mex tacos to t-bone steaks and paella. Try their lunch specials which include salad bar for 2.90Ls or the classic American breakfast of eggs and sausages.

13 Kresli (13 Chairs)
Jauniela 11. Open 11:00 - 01:00. (5Ls)
This tiny pub and steakhouse offers a warm, cosy atmosphere and is a great place for an intimate date. The steaks are tasty, but aren't exactly big and bloody like an American would expect them to be.

Boulevard N°20
Aspazijas 20, tel. (+371) 721 60 33. Bar open 11:30 - 00:30, kitchen open 12:00 - 23:00. (5Ls)
This elegant cellar restaurant serves steaks of both the T-bone and sirloin variety. At lunch time the place is full of well-dressed professionals which the staff cater to in a variety of languages. Also known for their pizzas.

Dnipro
Alunana 6, tel. (+371) 722 28 58. Open 10:00 - 21:00. Closed Sun. (2 - 3Ls)
Named after Ukraine's largest river, Dnipro reminds this editor of his grandma Kuzma's home cooking. Excellent vareniki (potato dumplings) and borsch (red beet soup) as well as other dishes. Slavic newspapers and even a painting of Taras Shevchenko!

Pie Kuma
Caka 65, tel. (+371-2) 29 88 11. Open 11:00 - 22:00, Sun 11:00 - 18:00. (3Ls)
Cellar restaurant with quaint Ukrainian decorations. Sample delicious vareniki (potato dumplings) and the spiciest borsch (red beet soup) in town for under 1.50Ls!

Several restaurants have vegetarian dishes on their menu, but strict vegetarians should note that some menus also list cheese entrees as vegetarian. This one is definitely vegetarian and cheap too:

Kirbis
Doma laukums 1, tel. (+371) 949 54 09. Open 09:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 23:00. (2 - 3Ls)
Go to the Pumpkin for good veggie dishes and fresh-squeezed juices. The stone walls ironically display cave paintings of ancient hunts and extinct animals. Are you daring enough to sample the tofu chop?

Rama & Svamidzi's Space Station
Barona 56, tel. 27 24 90. Open 09:00 - 21:00, Sun 11:00 - 18:00. (1Ls)
Get a full meal and a lesson in Eastern religion for 1Ls at the Hare Krishna temple Rama. One of the few organisations in town that feed the poor and homeless free of charge. A student favourite.

Lotoss
Elijas 7. Open 09:00 - 19:00, Sun 09:00 - 17:00.
Very cheap, small, shabby café where you can find vegetarian plov and soya meals.

Hanoja
Barona 93 (entrance from Tallinas), tel. (+371-2) 27 23 24. Open 11:00 - 24:00. (5Ls)
Decorated with oriental lamps and paintings of dragons on the walls, Hanoi serves up flavourful meals which are more Eastern European than South East Asian. The service is good, but the prices are a little steep.

Saigona
Dzirnavu 87, tel. (+371) 728 53 03. Open 10:00 - 02:00. (4Ls)
Seating in a bright room or in dark private booths in the back. The food is not spicy and not that great, hence not very Vietnamese. Order a ginseng tea and meditate on what you're doing there.

Ai Karamba!
Pulkveza Brieza 2, tel. (+371) 733 46 72. Open 08:00 - 24:00.
Leave it to a Canadian to open an authentic American diner. You can select a dish from an extensive menu which includes everything from omelettes to good old fashioned meatloaf. For all you Yanks who are hungry for a little slice of the States, this is the perfect place to go for a burger and an American brew. Friendly service, popular with expats. Gets very full at peak times.

A. Suns
Elizabetes 83/85 (Berga Bazârs), tel. 728 84 18. Open 11:00 - 01:00. (3 - 5Ls).
Trendy new restaurant whose American feel is reminiscent of a classy Southern roadhouse (if such a thing exists). The menu displays a combination of cuisine ranging from spicy Tex-Mex favourites to classic American burgers with a wide selection of toppings. Daily specials are listed on a blackboard. They now serve breakfast too!

Bobs Tavs Onkols
Blaumana 38/40 (entrance from Pçrses), tel. 777 05 72. Open 10:00 - 22:00. (1 - 2Ls).
This trendy, orange sandwich shop and pancake house in the restaurant Èarlstons' courtyard has quickly become a favourite hangout for lunch. What's their secret? Great food, Western service and atmosphere and a menu that doesn't have a single item over 1.50Ls.

Cita Opera
Raina bulv. 21, tel. (+371) 722 07 70. Open 12:00 - 05:00. (3Ls)
One of the premier hotspots in town, the 'Other Opera' is the place to go for a night of craziness or just for a good dinner. The dimly-lit cellar bar and dance club is praised by some as the place to meet and greet and referred to by others simply as Riga's 'other central meat market'.

Lidojosa Varde (The Flying Frog)
Elizabetes 31a, tel./fax (+371) 732 11 84. Open 10:00 - 01:00, Fri, Sun 10:00 - 03:00.
A stone's throw from the centre, in the beautiful Jugendstil district, hopping distance from most of the embassies, this is another winner from Canadian-Latvian Elmars Tannis. Great food for a full dinner or just a snack - finish with the artistic Piccasso cake. Super friendly waitresses dressed in frog green.

Melnais Kakis (The Black Cat)
Meistaru 10/12, tel. (+371) 721 10 21. Open 09:00 - 07:00.
Are you looking for a place to go when the rest of Riga wants to sleep? Stroll down to the "Black Cat" and enjoy an excellent meal and a drink for a reasonable price. If you're not hungry try your hand at billiards, pinball, darts or the slot machines.. See also Food after 01:00, Casinos, Sports.

Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta (Nobody Writes To The Colonel)
Peldu 26/28, tel. (+371) 721 38 86, fax (+371) 782 14 24. Open 12:00 - 03:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 05:00. Fri, Sat cover: 1 - 3Ls.
After a month of renovations the Colonel, Riga's hippest, underground club/restaurant, still packs in its loyal crowd of artists, expats and angry youth who consider it an oasis from cheesy pop and techno clubs. New additions include bright indigo walls, a salad bar, California-style sushi and a cheesy disco ball.

Put, Vejin! (Blow Little Wind!)
Jauniela 18/22, tel. (+371) 721 22 91. Open 11:00 - 23:00. (4 - 5Ls)
A favourite of expats, this restaurant, housed in a 17th century building, is divided into three sections. The upstairs is the ritziest of the three, the ground floor serves burgers, pastas and nachos and the cappuccino bar next door serves delicious coffee, cakes and brownies.

Slepenais Eksperiments (Secret Experiment)
Skunu 15 (entrance from Amatu), tel. (+371) 722 79 17, e-mail: mozums@elva.org.lv. Open 12:00 - 05:00, Fri, Sat 20:00 - 07:00. Admission: 2Ls, 1Ls after 04:00. (3 - 5Ls)
Climb down into the depths of this restaurant, grab a designer seat and sample the salad bar for 1Ls or choose a savoury meal from their menu. At night hungry professionals are replaced by teenagers eager to sweat to the latest techno.

Sams
Brivibas 40, tel. (+371) 728 82 56, fax (+371) 782 12 30. Open 11:00 - 24:00. (4 - 5Ls)
Well hidden, it's well worth the extra effort to find this popular bar. Enjoy savoury dishes from their impressive menu or choose one of their daily specials. Krissy, the Canadian chef, won't disappoint you. Tuborg on tap. Occasional live music.

Jenku Pica (Yankee Pizza)
Brivibas 70, tel. (+371-2) 29 94 44. Open 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 11:00 - 21:00, Sun 11:00 - 21:00. (1Ls)
This busy fast food joint doles out small squares of edible pizza, French fries and American Bud out of the bottle. Ugly decorations from across the pond. Popular with locals.

Little Johnny's
Elizabetes 91/93, tel. (+371) 728 83 62. Open 08:00 - 02:00, Sat, Sun 09:00 - 02:00. Negu 7, tel. (+371) 722 38 70. Open 08:00 - 18:00, Sun, Mon 08:00 - 16:00. (1 - 2Ls)
Lively pizzeria serving palatable frozen pizzas fresh from the cardboard box. Wash down the aftertaste with a cocktail from their well stocked bar. Hard to get a seat around lunch time.

Manhattan Pizza
Caka 52, tel. (+371) 731 24 69. Open 24hrs. (2Ls)
The pizza isn't exactly New York in style or flavour, but is still quite tasty. Italian entrees such as meatball sandwiches and local Baltic dishes. A banquet hall is available for children's parties.

Pizza Lulu
Gertrudes 27, tel. (+371) 736 12 34/936 12 34, e-mail: lulu@com.latnet.lv. Open 08:00 - 24:00. Other outlets on: Valdemara 145/2. Open 09:00 - 23:00. Nometnu 55. Open 08:00 - 22:00. Highway to Jurmala (Viada petrol station). Open 24hrs. (2Ls) Also delivery: order on-line
Trendy, colourful pizzeria which is considered by many to serve the best pizza in town. Owned by the famous Canadian-Latvian duo of 'Rugelis & Tannis'. English speaking staff.

Do you want to order pizza, but you're not exactly sure who you should call? On July 29, 1998 at 19:30 the new staff at Riga In Your Pocket® conducted a pizza test to find out which pizza delivery service was the best taking into consideration the speed of delivery, cost, weight, temperature, and overall taste of the pizza. We ordered a mushroom and a Hawaiian pizza as well as several bottles of beer in English from Lido, Manhattan Pizza and Pizza Lulu. The results were surprising!
Manhattan Pizza had the fastest delivery time at 43 minutes and the highest pizza temperature (71°C), but it should be noted that we unintentionally ordered the 5cm thick 'Manhattan special' for 10.41Ls, because the person taking the order could speak neither English nor Latvian and our Russian is not the greatest. All other pizzas came at an ambient temperature of around 50°C.
Pizza Lulu delivered the coldest beer, straight out of the fridge (10°C), but Manhattan Pizza's warm beer was almost 50% cheaper. Of the 16 people who attended our little party eleven chose Pizza Lulu as the best tasting pizza. Perhaps the other places should avoid the Baltic curse of adding a pound of dill to every meal.
Although all of the pizzas were considered to be large, Lido's measured in at 50cm, Pizza Lulu at 44cm and Manhattan Pizza at 41cm.
Pizza Lulu's delivery was free of charge, while Lido and Manhattan Pizza charged 1Ls. Manhattan also charged 0.20Ls for the box. Finally, Lido brought paper plates, plastic cups, knives and forks for free.
The results are in, but the choice is yours! Be warned do not expect pizza within 30 minutes! Due to bad weather conditions such as rain, sleet or ice the delivery times will last accordingly and the pizza will probably be colder in the winter.

Bebella service
Tel. (+371) 737 84 53.
Delivery: 11:00 - 22:00. A service which delivers for Zelta Panda. Free delivery for orders over 7Ls.

Café Xpress
Tel. (+371) 770 19 43.
Delivery: 24hrs. Russian and Latvian spoken. Charge: 1Ls.

Jautrais Maiznieks
Tel. (+371) 731 08 73/738 34 68.
Delivery: 10:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun. The Jolly Baker will bring sandwiches straight to your office.

Lido
Tel. (+371) 722 13 18.
Delivery: 11:00 - 20:00. Charge: 1Ls for delivery. Latvian heavy pizzas from Havaii to Pikanta and Vegetara between 26 - 50cm diameter. It should be noted that Lido also provides a full menu ffrom which includes other dishes beside pizza such as shashliks and gyros.

Manhattan Pizza
Tel. (+371) 731 24 69.
Delivery: 24hrs. Charge: 1Ls (+ 0.20Ls for packing).

Pizza Lulu
Tel. (+371) 736 12 34/936 12 34.
Delivery: 24hrs. Free of charge. Order via the Internet: www.lulu.lv.

Subway tel. 750 38 42.
According to Subway, they will begin delivering in the fall. Prices have not yet been established.