Latvia, Riga

BARS

(Riga is a major nightlife destination for tourists and bars here are often open later than those in other European cities. On average, bars in Old Town will charge 2LVL per beer and bars outside of Old Town will charge 1 LVL per beer. A specialty liquor is Riga Balsam, which is an acquired taste)

Cuba Cafe, (15 Jauniela).
Very good atmosphere! No fights happen there, live music in weekends and a dance floor that can get quite crowded. Open until late night. Population: Mostly Latvians, Less Russians, few tourists. Music: different every day, some times live DJ, anything BUT boring mainstream.



Key Bar, (Skarņu iela 2, Old Town).
Owned by three Latvians: Kaspars, Gatis and Frank. The chairs, lamps, and most of the internal design of the bar is all hand made by Kaspars.The bar offers also food like hot sandwiches, there are live shows. Occasional special evening of watching sports games with special price for drinks.



Leningrad (www.leningrad.lv).
A bar with a retro Soviet interior of assorted communist relics and furniture. The beer might not be as cheap as it was in Gorbachev’s time, but for Old Riga the local Brengulis and Czech Kozel are remarkably affordable. The beefy bartender with the shaved head and trimmed beard looks like Lenin on steroids.



Mojo Cafe Bar, (Pils iela 7).
Interior of red and yellow walls, wooden furniture and a chill out section in the back with couches, a record player and TV all circa 1970. Summer terrace. Mojitos, Caipirinhas: 3LVL; Lāčplēsis beer: 1.50LVL.



Orange Bar, (5 Jāņa sēta)
Located in the center of old town.
Cozy atmosphere, music and drinks.
Friendly crew.
The bar is open in weekdays from 5PM to 2AM and on weekends until 6AM



Pulkvedis (www.pulkvedis.lv).

A trendy place popular with a younger crowd. ALL of the barmen are very good and the speed is superb. The basement offers techno-ish and/or alternative sounds. Upstairs which is the busiest area with a mix of pop/dance occasional rock music. It is a very busy place on Thurs/Fri/Sat and is closed on Sunday. Beer: 2 LVL, vodka orange: 2.75 LVL, vodka coke: 2.50 LVL, Cocktails: 4-5 LVL.



Skyline Bar, (On the top of Reval hotel in Riga).
Just perfect view at sunset. Finding a table next to the windows might be difficult after 11PM. Beer: 2.20 LVL; Cocktails: 4-5 LVL.



Sunset from Skyline Bar



French bar, ( Maza Jaunavu Iela 8, Old Riga)
French bar is a bar that was opened 8 yours ago by a French Tourist. At first it was a restaurant and some time later switched into a bar (finding out that people have no interest in food in Riga but Drinks is another story...)
The place offers drinks and is probably one of the cheapest places in the city for drinks. beer costs here 0.70 LV
Open every day of the week, on Fridays and Saturdays there is a live DJ.
The population is basically everybody: local Latvians, Russians, Tourists, Students, and everybody else that likes cheap drinks.



Ala Folk Club, (11 Audeju iela )
Ala Folk Club is a Latvian Traditional Bar and Restaurant located in the old town.
The place offers Latvian Cuisine, Beers, Music (Latvian Traditional)
There are two large Floors: the ground floor (the entrance floor) and the underground floor that is also a smoking area. TV Projector shows sports channel on the ground floor. Beers: Aldaris, Zelta, Kuiesu, very recommended by the barman is a filtered beer Tervetes Alus and two non filtered "Gaisais" and "Tumsais". The place was opened at the end of 2009. Every Friday there is a live traditional Latvian music. Every Wednesday there is teacher in the place that teaches the guests the Traditional Latvian dances (starts at around 21:00). On every Saturday there are different musicians that play live music. On Mondays and Tuesdays a chance for local unknown bands to perform.



Pharmacy bar, (Maza miesnieku iela 1-1)
The pub is decorated as pharmacy. Music: alternative Latvian.
Jukebox on the place: put a coin and choose your favorite song to play.
Occasional LIVE Latvian underground music bands.



Mad House, (11 Kalku iela)
Restaurant, club and bar with very interesting interior and dance floor.
LIVE DJ on weekends from 22:00
The place offers more than 300 different cocktails! Beer is the most popular drink among the tourists.
There is a "food happy hour" between 21:00 and 23:00 when people get special deals for meals (it's possible to order the dishes that are marked with red star on the menu)
There is a TV in the place where people can watch LIVE sports games.
A smoking room is available.
Very rarely problems happen here (fights)
There are cameras placed in every room to protect people from thefts. The Most popular beer in the place is Zelta (made in Riga) the price is 2LV until 22:00 and after 22:00 3LV
Another popular beer in the place is the Czech beer "Pilzener" (same price as Zelta).
Special parties occasionally.



CLUBS

Essential (www.essential.lv)
Club Essential is one of the largest nights clubs in Riga, the club has five different halls and dance floors that offer different types of music.
The halls are located in different heights and connected by stairs for corridors
Night in Club Essential is a real experience, after drinking a couple of drinks and wondering around in the place, a person starts loosing his sense of orientation, seeing the huge numbers of pretty girls, the music, the different rooms.
Population: Tourists, Latvians, Russians



Godvil (http://www.godvil.lv/en/club/)
Completely new format entertainment place in Riga.
It is two-in-one- large concert hall with the high capacity of arranging large scale concerts like DE PHAZZ, UMA2RMAN as well as the night club. Club includes large dance hall, as well as cosy VIP room and cigar room - it is the same as jazz and rock, dance music and classical music. We have established this concert show club not just because we wanted so, but also because we’re all made of god and devil.



Space dog ((www.spacedog.lv))
It`s simple and realy nice place :)




Pussy lounge (www.pussylounge.lv)
Music: pop. Population: posh Latvian people. Review: don't let the name fool you, Pussy is NOT a strip club or anything like this, it's a night club and discotheque with pop music, young people (avg age is 20) and many pretty girls.



Babylon (Kalku iela)