Riga Nightlife

Here I feel myself.
You don't pay so much. On ground floor the bar where you can have your drink and meet good people. Underground a small disco where you can have fun dancing!

Everytime I came back from there to my apartment when outside the sun light was up!

Dress Code: No special dress required

It is a cocktail bar, restaurant and nightclub mainly divided in two parts: interior to dance, exterior to drink. Very interesting the radio dial decorations! Cocktails are good. Music by DJs is various so you can have your time to dance.

Dress Code: No special dress required.

To me a 'drop of the black stuff' means a fine pint Guinness. In Riga (although you can get the former drink everywhere) the phrase refers to a somewhat unusual concoction - Balzams. This thick black, almost treaclely liquid tastes somewhat similar to a sickly form of cough mixture.

It can be purchased in allsorts of places, but it is best enjoyed to my mind in the Rigas Balzams bar in the old town. It's a very cozy little affair with more of a cafe-like rather than pubby appearance. During the day when I last visited the staff all seemed to be dressed as pirates. This made my three year old son very happy. When I returned in the evening the female staff all seemed to be dressed as French maids. This made daddy very happy.

The Balzams can be taken straight (if you dare) or in a range of cocktails with Balzams as the base. It also goes very well with coffee.

The essential Club is a superb place, divided into different areas with great music.
The main area plays techo/dance music, some big DJ's perform here every while.
(For example, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren and Matew Dekay.)
A smaller area plays R'nB/rap/hip-hop.
An area upstairs palys mostly music from the 60's to the 90's.

Dress Code: Hip!!
Don't wear sneakers.
Some people can come in, but some don't.

We had once some small celebration and we choose "Cuba Cafe" place. It is quite ok. But not very "warm" place. After some meal I ordered desert, something about warm fruits in balsam or such. After I felt so bad through night... brrr... I don’t know, was it fruits or something other… But after I don’t offer someone go there.

Dress Code: Casual

We are two dutch guys and visited Riga. We had a good time going to the clubs and bars, but als enjouying it's buildings, terras and parks.

We'd recommend anyone to find an appartment in the 'Old-Town'. It's very close to all the interesting things to see and do in Riga.

Luckely we also came across a taxi-driver who brought us all over town to see the good clubs which are also tourist friendly (some clubs ripp off tourists). He also show'd us the places to visit and see in Riga during the day. We'd recommend everyone to give him a ring when you are in Riga and want to have a good time: Max, 00 371 26333248.

Hope you will have as much in Riga as we did!

Greets, two dutch guys.

About 2-3 Years ago Riga was still very famous for its beautiful and 'free' ladies. Riga became renowned for this type of life for visitors, however, the government appear to have sharpened things up and hence the 'night' bars are found to be somewhat empty and life cleaned up to a higher standard now.

The nightlife is great in Riga but be warned, it can be surprisingly expensive!!
There is also a lot of 'face control' at the door - if you dont fit that night, you wont get in.
Fun Friendly FRanks hostel will take you to these clubs each night:

Essential - 3 Lats entry (£3) - classy bar - the cheapest beer is local bottled beer at 4.50Lats! and its warm! get pissed before you go! Its a bit pretentious but worth a visit just to view the women! very much look but cant thouch though.

La Rocca - huge club, playing house music, quality for a great dance night. Again-expensive, beer 4 Lats! Entry 5 Lats. Great night though.

Both are opne til around 4-6am!

The Skybar is a bar up the tallest tower in the city with fantastic views of the city. Just hop in the lift and go up 60 odd floors. Drinks are reasonable, its a bit trendy but worth the look. Free entry.