Specialty coffee and cafés
Riga takes coffee seriously. The scene is led by Rocket Bean Roastery on Miera iela, right by our Miera and Stabu residences, which roasts its own beans and doubles as a relaxed workspace. Around the centre you will find dozens of independent cafés perfect for studying, most with fast Wi-Fi, good pastries and long opening hours. Miit and Kalnciema Kvartāls are other favourites. A flat white here costs a fraction of what you would pay in western Europe.
Eating well on a student budget
The single best trick for cheap lunches is the daily set menu, the 'biznesa pusdienas', offered by many restaurants on weekdays, a starter, main and sometimes dessert at a low fixed price. For hearty portions, the LIDO canteens serve traditional Latvian food cafeteria-style, where you point at what you want and pay by weight. It is filling, tasty and very affordable.
The Central Market
Housed in the old Zeppelin hangars behind the train station, the Central Market is the cheapest and most authentic place to eat and shop. Buy fresh bread, cheese, smoked fish, pickles and seasonal berries, or grab street food from the stalls. It is also the best place to try Latvian specialties like dark rye bread and grey peas with bacon.
Latvian food to try
Don't leave without tasting a few classics: rupjmaize (dense dark rye bread), skābputra, cold beetroot soup in summer, smoked fish from the coast, and Rīgas Melnais balzams, the famous herbal black balsam, usually mixed into a drink or coffee. Latvian honey, berries and dairy are excellent and cheap.
Bars and nightlife
Latvia has a booming craft beer scene, with taprooms like Labietis and plenty of bars in the Old Town and around Miera iela and Kaļķu iela. Student nights and happy hours keep weekends easy on the wallet, and most of it is within walking distance of our residences.
Markets and quarters
Beyond the Central Market, look for the weekend markets at Kalnciema Quarter across the river, with local food, wine and live music in summer. It is a lovely way to spend a Saturday and to eat like a local.
Our picks on the map
These are some of our favourite spots in Riga. Open our full curated Google Maps list to see every pin on the map and navigate straight there from your phone.
- Rocket Bean Roastery — The city's best-known specialty coffee, on Miera iela
- Central Market — Cheap, authentic food in the old Zeppelin hangars
- LIDO — Generous Latvian canteen food, pay by weight
- Kalnciema Quarter — Weekend food and craft market across the river
- Labietis — Craft brewery and taproom
- Miit — Relaxed café and bike shop, great for studying