A dark herbal liqueur made from 24 botanicals including wormwood, valerian and gentian, sold by Latvijas Balzams since 1752 as the city's defining drink.
Where to eat it: 4 restaurants across 1 city.
Riga Black Balsam was first formulated in 1752 by Riga pharmacist Abraham Kunze as a medicinal cure for stomach ailments. The drink became Empress Catherine the Great's reputed favourite, securing its survival into the Russian Imperial era. Production passed to Latvijas Balzams during the Soviet era and continues today from the company's Riga plant. The 45 percent ABV liqueur is drunk neat at room temperature, mixed with hot blackcurrant juice in winter, or stirred into cocktails at Black Magic Bar in Old Town. The 24-herb recipe remains a guarded secret.
Tip from the editors. Riga Black Balsam should be drunk slowly. The 24-herb profile reveals itself across minutes, not sips.
Black Magic Bar on Kaļķu in Old Town is the dedicated Riga Black Balsam stop, a medieval-themed bar pouring cocktails built around the city's 1752 herbal.
Signature drink: Riga Black Balsam cocktails
Food: Chocolates, light snacks
Order: Black Pina Colada or Black Mojito to taste Black Balsam in cocktail form.
Tip: Sells bottles, hand-made chocolates and souvenir gifts; the cellar tasting room is the way to sample the full range.
B Bārs on Doma laukums anchors the Old Town cathedral square with classic cocktails, a respected bartender team and a European bistro menu until late.
Signature drink: Classic and signature cocktails
Food: European bistro menu
Order: A signature cocktail at the bar; the bartenders run with the room.
Tip: Cathedral-square terrace is the city's prime aperitif perch at 18:00 in summer; the bar runs to 02:00 Friday and Saturday.
Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs is Old Town's most reliable late-night cellar, 32 Latvian beer taps with folk music until 02:00 weekdays and 04:00 on weekends.
Try: Latvian beer and pub plates
Order: A late-night Latvian craft beer flight with a plate of pelēkie zirņi.
Tip: Open until 04:00 on Saturday is unusual for Riga; the cellar absorbs the post-club crowd around the Old Town.
The Centrāltirgus bakery pavilion runs counter-served pīrāgi at €1 to €2 per piece, anchoring the city's cheapest Latvian breakfast or lunch.
Try: Pīrāgi (bacon-onion pastries)
Tip: Buy three pīrāgi and a kvass for under €5; eat at the market's outdoor benches.
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