5 bars worth the trip across Latvia, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Latvia guides.
Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs ★ 4.5 · Riga
vecriga · Peldu iela 19, Rīga, LV-1050
Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs is Old Town's deepest cellar bar, 32 taps of Latvian beer and cider with live folk music five nights a week and Wednesday dancing.
Tip: Open until 04:00 on Saturday; the cellar acoustics mean folk music nights book up.
Skyline Bar ★ 4.4 · Riga
centrs · Elizabetes iela 55, Rīga, LV-1010
Skyline Bar sits on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Latvija on Elizabetes, the city's most-cited rooftop view with cocktails and Asian-leaning bar food.
Tip: Sunday brunch with live music; DJ sets Friday and Saturday from 21:00. The lift queue moves slow on summer nights.
Black Magic Bar ★ 4.3 · Riga
vecriga · Kaļķu iela 10, Rīga, LV-1050
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.
Tip: Sells bottles, hand-made chocolates and souvenir gifts; the cellar tasting room is the way to sample the full range.
Kaņepes Kultūras centrs ★ 4.2 · Riga
centrs · Skolas iela 15, Rīga, LV-1010
Kaņepes Kultūras centrs on Skolas is Riga's longest-running cultural-centre bar, an 1895 building hosting 300 to 400 art events a year with a working bar.
Tip: Check the event calendar before going; the bar's character changes per night, from poetry to jazz to DJ sets.
B Bārs ★ 4.0 · Riga
vecriga · Doma laukums 2, Rīga, LV-1050
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.
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.