Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia, on the Daugava river near the Gulf of Riga. Known for its UNESCO-listed Old Town, Europe's greatest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture, the vast Central Market and a growing craft-beer and restaurant scene, it blends Hanseatic, Swedish, Russian and Soviet layers into one of the Baltics' most walkable capitals.
Riga has the liveliest nightlife in the Baltics, split between the Old Town (Vecrīga), where cellar bars, craft beer and live folk music cluster around Kaļķu, Grēcinieku and Peldu streets, and the Centre (Centrs), where rooftop views, cocktail bars and alternative venues sit along Elizabetes, Stabu and Skolas streets. Evenings start with dinner and a bar, and Riga Black Balsam, the herbal liqueur, is the local drink to try.
Bars fill from about 20:00; clubs and late bars peak after midnight on Friday and Saturday. Old Town venues have a mix of locals and visitors, and bar staff generally speak English. Bars commonly close around 02:00 on weekends, and some stay open later.
At a glance
- Peak hours
- Bars 20:00-01:00; clubs and late venues 23:00-03:00 Friday and Saturday
- Average drink
- Beer EUR 4-6 (~$5-7); cocktails EUR 9-14 (~$10-16); Riga Black Balsam shot EUR 3-4 (~$3.50-4.60)
- Dress code
- Casual to smart casual almost everywhere; Skyline Bar and similar upscale venues suit smart casual, while Old Town cellars and Kaņepes are relaxed
- Cover charge
- Hours and programmes change with the season; confirm on each venue's website or social media before heading out.
Nightlife districts
Where the action happens after dark.
Old Town (Vecrīga)
Cobbled streets with cellar bars, beer halls, live-music venues and cocktail bars around Līvu laukums, Kaļķu iela and Grēcinieku iela. Quieter on weeknights, loud on Friday and Saturday.
Best for: a first night out, craft beer and live folk music
Centrs (Elizabetes, Stabu and Baznīcas streets)
Cocktail bars, the 26th-floor Skyline Bar and Art Nouveau-district bars a 10-15 minute walk from the Old Town, with a more local crowd.
Best for: cocktails, views and a calmer evening
Skolas iela and the Kaņepes quarter
Kaņepes Kultūras Centrs and nearby bars attract students, artists and a relaxed crowd on the edge of the Centre.
Best for: concerts, DJ nights and budget drinks
Bars & pubs
Where locals drink.
Skyline Bar
Cocktail bar on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel with views over Riga's Old Town and the Daugava river. Reservations are strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Known for: Cocktails with a 26th-floor view of the city
Elizabetes iela 55, Riga LV-1010, Latvia
Gimlet
Cocktail bar on Baznīcas iela in the Centre district, listed among the bars that need a reservation on Friday and Saturday nights. A good stop for classic cocktails away from the Old Town crowds.
Known for: Classic and signature cocktails
Baznīcas iela 37, Riga LV-1010, Latvia
Black Magic Bar
Bar at Kaļķu iela 10 in the Old Town devoted to Riga Black Balsam, the dark herbal liqueur, served neat, in cocktails and with coffee. The most direct introduction to the national drink.
Known for: Riga Black Balsam served neat and in cocktails
Kaļķu iela 10, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
Mākonis
Bar at Stabu iela 42 in the Centre district, one of the neighbourhood bars on the Stabu iela strip popular with locals.
Known for: Cocktails in a local neighbourhood setting
Stabu iela 42, Riga LV-1011, Latvia
Mañana
Bar at Stabu iela 10 in the Centre district, a short walk from the Art Nouveau streets and the Skyline Bar area.
Known for: Cocktails and drinks in the Centre district
Stabu iela 10, Riga LV-1010, Latvia
Labietis
Craft beer bar at Aristida Briāna iela 9A-2 in the Centre district, serving Latvian and imported craft beers.
Known for: Latvian craft beer
Aristida Briāna iela 9A-2, Riga LV-1001, Latvia
Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta
Long-running Old Town bar and live-music venue on Peldu iela, whose name means Nobody Writes to the Colonel. Hosts regular concerts and DJ nights.
Known for: Live music and DJ nights in the Old Town
Peldu iela 26/28, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
Clubs
For dancing into the early hours.
Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs
Underground folk-music club in an Old Town cellar with about 28 beers on tap, the largest selection in Riga according to travel guides. Hosts live Latvian folk and rock bands.
Cover: Free to event-dependent entry
Hours: Evenings; confirm current hours and programme with the venue
Kaņepes Kultūras Centrs
Bohemian cultural centre at Skolas iela 15. Quiet for a beer on weeknights and a large party on Friday and Saturday, with concerts and DJ events.
Cover: Free to event-dependent entry
Hours: Evenings; confirm current hours and programme with the venue
Live entertainment
Music, theatre, and performance venues.
Nightlife tips
Stay safe and have fun.
Order a Riga Black Balsam shot or a Black Balsam cocktail, the signature local drink
Check the venue's Facebook or Instagram page for live-music dates and opening hours before going
Reserve a table on Friday and Saturday at Skyline Bar and Gimlet
Carry photo ID; venues check age at the door and alcohol is sold only to those 18 and over
Use the Bolt or Yandex Go ride-hailing apps after dark, or an official taxi with a visible meter
Smoking is banned indoors; terraces and courtyards are the smoking areas
Watch for overpriced drinks and pushy street promoters in the Old Town; check the menu prices before sitting down