Riga Old Town is small, largely car-free and packed with bars – from vaulted cellars with Latvian beer on tap to bars built around Black Balsam. These are well-known places worth a stop, plus two just outside the Old Town.
Riga bars at a glance
<1 km²
Old Riga – most bars are a short walk apart
€4–7
indicative price of a pint in central bars
45%
Riga Black Balsam, the national liqueur
1752
year the Black Balsam recipe was created
14
Latvian beers on tap at Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs
Well-known bars worth a stop
Old Town · Peldu iela 19
Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs
A huge vaulted cellar with 14 Latvian beers on tap, Latvian food and live folk music several nights a week. Book ahead at weekends.
Old Town · Kaļķu iela 10
Riga Black Magic
An apothecary-style bar built around Riga Black Balsam – Balsam cocktails, Balsam hot chocolate and tastings.
Old Town · Audēju iela 11
EasyWine
Self-service wine bar: load a card and pour tasters or full glasses from around 80–100 wines.
Old Town · Torņa iela 4
Kaķis Maisā
A small bar pouring independent Latvian craft beer.
Centre · Aristida Briāna iela 9a
Labietis & Valmiermuiža
Two craft-beer taprooms in a former factory complex, a short ride from the Old Town. Labietis brews with local herbs and honey.
Centre · Galleria Riga, 8th floor
Herbārijs
A greenhouse-style rooftop bar with herbal drinks and views over the city.
How to avoid the tourist traps
🛑 Ignore street invitations
If a stranger invites you into a bar, walk on – it is the classic Riga overcharging scam.
📋 Prices first
Ask for the menu and confirm prices before you order.
💶 Pay per round
Pay as you go instead of running a tab.
💳 Card in sight
Pay where you can see your card, and check the bill.
🍸 Watch your drinks
Never leave drinks unattended – spiking has been reported in Riga bars.
Latvian beers to order
🍺 Aldaris
Riga’s big brewery, founded in 1865 and now part of Carlsberg.
🍺 Cēsu
Calls itself Latvia’s oldest and largest brewery, with roots going back to 1590.
🍺 Valmiermuiža
Popular beers from Vidzeme, now part of the Cēsu group.
🍺 Labietis
Riga craft brewery known for local herbs, honey and mead.
🍺 Užavas
A small brewery near Ventspils, brewing with just water, malt, yeast and hops.
Book a bar night
FAQ
Where are the best bars in Riga for a stag do?
Most are in the Old Town, a few minutes’ walk from each other. The craft-beer taprooms on Aristida Briāna iela are a short ride away.
How much is a beer in Riga?
Expect roughly €4–7 for a pint in central bars (indicative). Tourist-facing Old Town bars are at the top of that range.
What is Riga Black Balsam?
Latvia’s national herbal liqueur: 45% alcohol, 24 natural ingredients and a recipe from 1752. Drink it neat, in coffee or in a cocktail.
How late are bars open?
Many Old Town bars and clubs stay open until the early hours at weekends. Check each venue, as hours change.
