"Sunday Opening" Restaurants in Latvia
The former fire station is now bright and minimal, offering a calm backdrop for unexpected food and drink pairings. Led by Māris Jansons, one of Latvia's finest chefs, the restaurant alone justifies a trip to Cēsis.
This iconic Italian restaurant improves with age. A long, varied menu is prepared with consistency and care, supported by a wine list designed to encourage guests to return again and again.
This restaurant serves fresh seafood, either raw or grilled, alongside an impressive wine list and exotic cocktails. Despite being busy from morning to night, the atmosphere remains cozy and inviting.
This family-friendly restaurant serves a wide range of Italian classics. Children’s entertainment is a clear focus, while the striking interior has made it one of Riga’s most photographed dining spots.
Goats are the emblem of this restaurant, where rustic details meet modern design. Led by chef Vadims Jevsejevs, the kitchen presents contemporary Latvian cuisine whose flavors feel as current and confident as the interior.
Once a lively country house, this restaurant is shaped by its surroundings. Much of the menu comes from the chef’s garden or a nearby village, while the drinks list rivals those of many capital restaurants.
French and Scandinavian cuisines meet in the kitchen of chef Kaspars Barsukovs. The daily menu follows market finds chosen that morning, keeping the cooking personal, distinctive, and constantly evolving.
It is easy to walk right past Vietnamese brasserie Madame Mei - only two small windows adorned with modestly sized logos next to a door give notice of the restaurant's location. Go through the door, follow the few steps down, and the space opens up into two warm dining rooms packed closely with tables. Visiting the restaurant when it is busy - which is most of the time as Madame Mei is the latest of Latvia's most glamorous restaurant group, The Catch Family - can give a very different impression from when it is quieter. When it is very busy, it has the atmosphere of a fast-food restaurant, with dishes arriving at speed, as soon as they are ready. Slower eaters may see the next dish arrive before they have finished their first, and diners with empty glasses will need to get the attention of wait staff to request a refill. However, when there are fewer customers, those same waiters demonstrate their extensive knowledge of the food and drink offerings. The excellent selection of teas and cocktails will tempt patrons to spend more time here. But whether fully booked or more quiet, the kitchen maintains the same standard: impeccably prepared dishes inspired by Indochine French cuisine and made from carefully selected ingredients. Madame Mei offers a good value-for-money dining experience, whether for a quick crispy pork belly báhn mì (Vietnamese baguette sandwich) or a warming bowl of pho (noodle soup), or a hedonistic evening sampling a wide range of dishes and drinks. Either way, diners will likely want to return.
Snatch is a lively Riga venue defined by industrial design and high-energy music. An Italian menu centered on pasta and seafood offers good value, matching the restaurant’s youthful, club-like atmosphere.
This Nikkei restaurant pairs an impressive interior with a focused menu of minimalist dishes. A copper gong from Asia anchors the space, while cocktails, outdoor seating, and weekend DJs shape the atmosphere.
This popular restaurant focuses on a cuisine based on clearly sourced local ingredients, with origins listed on the menu. Natural wines dominate the selection, reflecting a Nordic-style concept still rare in Latvia.
Chef’s Corner sits at the junction of two streets, styled like a modern butchery. The kitchen specializes in meats from around the world, with local grass-fed beef standing out as a highlight.
Located between the Statue of Liberty and the Opera House, this spacious restaurant is a central meeting place. An extensive wine list fuels conversation, while discreetly prepared food supports it.
Pure flavors and fair prices have shaped this restaurant’s popularity from the start. The minimalist menu relies on few ingredients, with Baltic Sea fish as the central element of the kitchen’s approach.
Set an hour and a half from Riga, Nurmuiža Manor combines tranquillity with ambitious cuisine. Global influences meet local flavors, while the vineyard, herb garden, and on-site rooms complete the stay.
Named for the conversations it sparks, this Valmiera restaurant remains an insider address. Using nearby ingredients, the kitchen delivers food many consider the town’s strongest talking point.
Riga’s most stylish address for breakfast and lunch, this restaurant does not serve dinner. Champagne, mimosas, and international breakfast flavors define mornings, while chicken schnitzel is a lunchtime favorite.
Located on Jurmala Beach near Riga, this long-established restaurant is known for its romantic character. The kitchen focuses on honest cooking, supported by a broad selection of classic wines.
This French brasserie in central Riga offers an extensive menu rooted in classic cuisine. A strong French wine list supports the concept, with selected international bottles adding variety.
With warm, personal service, this restaurant makes guests feel at home. The kitchen relies on techniques refined over 20 years in Rome, resulting in dishes whose flavors and atmosphere are unmistakably Italian.