Day-by-day eating plans for Riga: weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.
Day-by-day plans
Riga weekend: rye, sprats, Black Balsam and one Michelin
- ★ 4.6
- 2 days
- First-time visitor, two days
A weekend built around Riga's defining table: a market morning at Centrāltirgus, a Latvian lunch in Old Town, a cellar beer evening, and one starred dinner.
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Day 1Friday: Centrāltirgus zeppelin hangars, Old Town lunch, cellar evening
- Morning
- Rocket Bean Cafe Miera at 09:00 for a filter coffee and a pastry, then walk to Centrāltirgus by 11:00. Spend an hour through the five zeppelin hangars; buy pīrāgi, smoked sprats and rye bread to take home.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Milda on Grēcinieku at 13:00: grey peas with bacon, pelmeni and a glass of cold kefir. The Bib Gourmand value is the room's argument. Walk Old Town in the afternoon, stopping at Black Magic Bar on Kaļķu for a Black Balsam tasting.
- Evening
- Dinner at Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs from 19:00: a Latvian craft beer flight, pelēkie zirņi and the cellar's live folk music. Stay through the 22:00 set.
StopsRocket Bean Cafe MieraRīgas CentrāltirgusMildaBlack Magic BarFolkklubs ALA Pagrabs
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Day 2Saturday: brunch, Pārdaugava market, one-star dinner
- Morning
- Brunch at LOWINE on Dzirnavu at 10:30: farm eggs on sourdough with a glass of natural wine. The wine-led morning sets the tone for the day. Walk down Dzirnavu after.
- Afternoon
- Cross the Daugava by tram to Kalnciema Quarter Market for the Saturday-only farmer's market. Walk through Āgenskalns wooden houses; lunch at the market stalls or at a Pārdaugava bistro.
- Evening
- Dinner at JOHN Chef's Hall on Ausekļa at 18:00 for the €210 tasting menu, the city's strongest one-Michelin-star experience. Book three weeks ahead. Stay for the full menu.
Riga three days: the full Latvian table
- ★ 4.6
- 3 days
- Food-led visitor, three days
Three days deeper into Riga's food culture: both Michelin stars, the craft-beer district, a Pārdaugava market, and a Gauja Valley day-trip.
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Day 1Day 1: Centrāltirgus zeppelin hangars, Old Town classics
- Morning
- Rocket Bean Cafe Miera at 09:00 for filter coffee. Then to Centrāltirgus by 11:00 for the full market walk: fish pavilion, dairy pavilion, pīrāgi counters and the gastronomy pavilion's Labietis taproom.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Pētergailis on Skārņu at 13:00 for the canonical 1978 Latvian room: karbonāde, grey peas and a maizes zupa dessert. Afternoon walking Old Town to Black Magic Bar for a Riga Black Balsam tasting.
- Evening
- Dinner at 3 Pavāru Restorāns on Torņa at 18:30: the six-course modern Latvian set in the 18th-century Jacob's Barracks. Walk the canal afterwards.
StopsRocket Bean Cafe MieraRīgas CentrāltirgusPētergailisBlack Magic Bar3 Pavāru Restorāns
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Day 2Day 2: Pārdaugava market, craft beer district, one-Michelin-star dinner
- Morning
- Brunch at Innocent Café on Blaumaņa at 10:00: eggs Benedict on rye and a flat white. Walk to Big Bad Bagels on Baznīcas if you want a second snack.
- Afternoon
- Cross to Pārdaugava on tram 5 for Kalnciema Quarter Market (Saturday only) or LIDO Atpūtas Centrs (any day) for the wooden-castle Latvian buffet. Walk Āgenskalns wooden quarter.
- Evening
- Riga Beer District on Aristīda Briāna: a flight at Labietis Culture Taproom then a second pour at Valmiermuiža Beer Embassy. Dinner at SMØR Bistro on Krišjāņa Valdemāra at 20:00 for the new Bib Gourmand room.
StopsKalnciema Quarter MarketLIDO Atpūtas CentrsValmiermuiža Beer EmbassySMØR Bistro
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Day 3Day 3: Sigulda day-trip and one-star Michelin dinner
- Morning
- Coffee at Rocket Bean Cafe Dzirnavu at 08:30, then take the 09:30 train to Sigulda (50 minutes) for the Gauja Valley castle and forest walks. Optional cable-car across the gorge.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at a Sigulda castle tavern with sklandrausis pies and Latvian beer. Return train to Riga by 17:00. Quick rest at the hotel.
- Evening
- Dinner at Max Cekot Kitchen in Pārdaugava at 19:00 for the 15-course tasting menu, Latvia's first-ever Michelin star. Book three weeks ahead. The room runs Thursday to Saturday only.
Riga coffee and bakery crawl
- 1 day
- Coffee lover, one day
A single-day Riga walk threading Rocket Bean Roastery, MiiT Coffee and Kalve Coffee with the Latvian bakery anchors at Liepkalni and Big Bad Bagels.
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Day 1Day 1: Miera coffee, bakery loop, dinner
- Morning
- Open at Rocket Bean Cafe Miera at 09:00 for a pour-over and a Latvian rye breakfast.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Big Bad Bagels on Audeju with a beetroot-and-cheese bagel. Coffee at MiiT Coffee in the Latvian Academy of Art quarter.
- Evening
- Aperitif at Lowine in Berga Bazars. Dinner at Milda on Kungu with the Latvian tasting and a glass of Latvian craft cider.
StopsRocket Bean Cafe MieraBig Bad Bagels AudējuMiiT CoffeeLOWINEMilda
Riga on a budget: Centraltirgus and LIDO under 30 EUR a day
- 2 days
- Budget traveller, two days
Two days of Latvian classics held under 30 EUR a day across Centraltirgus pirosaki counters, LIDO Atputas Centrs buffet and Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs cellar.
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Day 1Saturday: market breakfast, cellar lunch, brewery dinner
- Morning
- Breakfast at Centraltirgus market with pirosaki and coffee under 8 EUR.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs in the cellar with grey peas and Latvian beer under 15 EUR.
- Evening
- Dinner at Labietis brewery in the Riga Beer District with a flight and pretzel under 18 EUR.
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Day 2Sunday: bagel breakfast, LIDO lunch, dive bar dinner
- Morning
- Breakfast at Big Bad Bagels on Baznicas under 8 EUR.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at LIDO Atputas Centrs across the river for the wooden-castle Latvian buffet under 15 EUR.
- Evening
- Dinner at B Bars Restorans for the modern Latvian small-plates menu under 20 EUR. Late drinks at Kanepes Kulturas centrs.
StopsBig Bad BagelsLIDO Atpūtas CentrsB Bārs RestorānsKaņepes Kultūras centrs
Riga Michelin and fine dining weekend
- 2 days
- Fine dining lover, two days
A weekend threading Riga's Michelin and fine-dining anchors: Max Cekot Kitchen (Latvia's first Michelin star), 3 Pavaru Restorans, Domini Canes and Snatch.
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Day 1Saturday: brunch, market lunch, Max Cekot tasting
- Morning
- Brunch at Innocent Cafe with eggs Benedict on rye.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at Centraltirgus market with the gastronomy pavilion plates and a Labietis pour. Coffee at Kalve Coffee.
- Evening
- Dinner at Max Cekot Kitchen in Pardaugava with the 15-course tasting menu and Latvian wine pairing.
StopsRīgas CentrāltirgusKalve Coffee RoastersMax Cekot Kitchen
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Day 2Sunday: 3 Pavaru tasting, Domini Canes Italian, SMOR finish
- Morning
- Coffee at MiiT Coffee Roastery.
- Afternoon
- Lunch at 3 Pavaru Restorans on Tornu with the six-course modern Latvian set in the 18th-century Jacob's Barracks.
- Evening
- Aperitif at Garage in Berga Bazars. Dinner at Domini Canes on Skarnu with the Italian tasting, or SMOR Bistro for the Bib Gourmand menu.
StopsMiiT Coffee3 Pavāru RestorānsGarage Wine BarDomini CanesSMØR Bistro
Book food experiences in Riga
Plan the trip
Making a trip of these plans? Where to stay in Riga, what to book ahead, and a car for the day trips. Prices and availability open on each partner's site.
- Zen HotelsPlaces to stay in Riga · from USD 53 a nightSee stays
- HoliduPlaces to stay in Riga · from USD 34 a nightSee stays
- LateRoomsPlaces to stay in RigaSee stays
- GoWithGuideTickets and tours to book aheadSee tickets
- VIP CarsCar hire for the day tripsSee cars