Gastronomic Experiences in Riga

If you’re looking to gain an introduction to Latvia’s capital, foodie’s will agree there’s no better way to do it than through your taste buds. From pickled vegetables to creamy cheeses, beetroot wine and fresh fish caught in the Baltic Sea, Latvian cuisine is varied, and exciting for anyone interested in north-eastern European cuisine.

Food and wine experiences in Riga allow you to explore the history behind the country’s most beloved dishes, and fill your rumbling stomach with a myriad of new flavors

Food Tours

Those looking to dive headfirst into Latvia’s culinary scene should consider participating in a food tour in Riga. You’ll gain a heaping dose of culture as you discover Europe’s largest market, lined with 3,000 stalls selling a range of goods, from juicy fruits to smoked meats and pickled vegetables.

With a local foodie accompanying you, you’ll try all sorts of Latvian cuisine, which differs from tour to tour. However, you can expect to try traditional cheeses, such as Jānis, as well as one of the country’s main delicacies — pickled fish. Other dishes you may sample include potato dumplings, black rye bread and pork cutlets.

Beer Tastings

Whether you’re planning a bachelor party, celebrating a birthday or are simply searching for a lighthearted way to spend an hour or two on vacation, choose a beer tasting in Riga.

While you can select a traditional beer tour, during which you’ll wander from bar to bar sampling the city’s best tipples, many prefer the fun that comes with hopping onto a beer bike and pedaling around the city as they indulge in a frosty pint.

This is an ideal way to gain a feel for Riga as you pass by a multitude of monuments and landmarks with your favorite music blaring, surrounded by your loved ones. And, if someone in your party isn’t keen on beer, they can simply swap to prosecco or cider instead.

Wine Tastings

While not traditionally known for its sumptuous reds and crisp whites, Latvia is an up-and-coming wine region, which you can discover for yourself on one of the available wine tours and tastings in Riga.

These generally take place underneath the city in a medieval cellar where you can explore the vinification roots of the country, which date back to the 16th century, and learn about traditions related to the process.

Latvians often include unusual ingredients when creating their wines, from sea buckthorn to dandelion, beetroot, and everything in between, and you’ll have the opportunity to try several unique blends.

Cooking Classes

Gaining a skill while on a trip is the perfect way to keep your vacation alive for years to come. The best way for any foodie to do this is to participate in a cooking class in Riga and learn the techniques behind creating Latvia’s most consumed dishes.

You’ll cook beside a local family, which provides an authentic experience, as they teach you how to prepare a variety of foods, including Sklandrausis — a sweet pie made using cumin, potato and carrot — as well as fried herring.

The best part of this type of culinary lesson is that you can devour your own masterpiece alongside your friendly hosts once you’ve cooked up a storm.

Dinners

Travel back in time by booking a medieval dinner in Riga. You’ll head to a restaurant, which has been transformed into a traditional banquet room, and spend an evening clinking tankards, and feasting on foods that are known to have been on a typical Latvian menu 800 years ago.

These themed meals make a dining experience more fun than a standard dinner, and are bound to make for a memorable night, as you laugh together in the candlelight, and try new foods that you may have never heard of before.