After an intense day at their conference centres, business travellers often want to relax and get to know the local culture, including by enjoying national food and drink traditions. Riga offers a wide range of options for learning about the culinary attractions of Latvia – from Riga Black Balsam tastings and craft brewery tours to chocolate workshops, specialty coffee tastings and market visits.
The following article presents information on tastings and tours. These offers are suitable for evenings after work because they are easily accessible within Riga and can therefore be completed within a few hours.
Black Balsam and Beer Tastings
Riga Black Balsam – a legendary liqueur
One of the most iconic Latvian flavours is Riga Black Balsam – a herbal liqueur with 45% alcohol by volume, the recipe for which is passed down from master to master. In Riga, tastings are available at the Black Magic bar in the Old Town, which also offers factory tours. The Latvijas Balzams factory offers group visits – a sightseeing tour of the production workshop with guide narration about the history and creation of the drink, followed by a tasting of an exclusive extract and different types of balsam. This tour lasts about 1.5 hours and is only offered for adults. The tasting halls of Old Riga also offer classic black balsam and more modern interpretations – blackcurrant and cherry balsam – and teach visitors (ideally small groups) how to make cocktails with this drink. The guide also leads events in English. Visits to the Latvijas Balsams factory must be booked in advance. However, for tastings at the Black Magic bar, we recommend that you reserve a table if your group is larger.
Aldara beer workshop – beer museum and tasting
The Sarkandaugava neighbourhood of Riga is also home to the Aldaris beer museum – the most modern museum of its kind in the Baltics, which opened its doors in 2015. The premises of the historic Aldara brewery feature an interactive exhibition about the development of beer culture and the brewing process. A guided tour introduces you to the raw materials, nuances in beer taste and secrets of production. After visiting the museum, enjoy a tasting of various Aldara beer varieties – each beer has its own character and aroma, which allows you to experience this beverage in all its diversity. Tours are offered for groups of up to 15 people, and guided tours are also conducted in English. Such tours take place on specific dates and times, so book your spot in advance.
Labietis beer workshop – craft beer tasting
The Labietis beer brewery has been a cult location in Riga for several years, where you can taste special types of craft beer. Beer is brewed here by experimenting with local raw materials – the brewery uses more than 20 medicinal herbs collected in Latvia, local honey, as well as berries and fruits from Latvian gardens, creating unconventional flavours. Visitors are offered tastings of different types of Labietis beer, while the master brewer shares his knowledge about the history of beer and the nuances of brewing. The tasting takes place in the brewery hall in an informal atmosphere, and in the summer there is an additional spacious outdoor terrace to enjoy a drink. This activity is ideal for small groups of friends or colleagues (2–10 people), and tastings can also be organised in English. Tasting times must be booked in advance.
For Those with Special Tastes
Laima Chocolate Museum – a sweet tooth’s paradise
Chocolate lovers in Riga should make sure to visit the Laima Chocolate Museum. In the interactive exhibition, you can see and touch cocoa beans, smell chocolate and taste hot chocolate. Visitors learn how the cocoa bean is used to make chocolate candy, see Laima candy packaging over the company’s 150-year history and can even touch the cocoa bean wall to understand how long it takes for a cocoa tree to grow. The museum also has a creative chocolate workshop, where visitors can pour and design chocolate candies to take home, beautifully packaged. The exhibition is open every day. For larger groups, a private evening tour with tasting can be organised by prior arrangement. Group tours are also held in English, and registration for a chocolate-making master class is also available.
Manas Garšas – discover and create your own spice bouquet
In the heart of Old Riga, the cosy and aroma-filled interiors of Manas Garšas offer a unique experience: the opportunity to design your own spice blend. During the two-hour master class, participants will learn about more than a hundred different spices and ingredients, from classic pepper, salt and herbs to exotic combinations that enrich meat, vegetables or sweet recipes. Each participant will create personal spice blends as unique culinary souvenirs.
The Magic of Coffee
Rocket Bean Roastery – an exciting coffee tasting
Coffee enthusiasts in Riga should definitely visit the Rocket Bean roastery, where “cupping” or coffee tasting sessions take place. Cupping is a ritual used by coffee professionals to evaluate the quality of the roast and bouquet of aromas. Rocket Bean masters teach visitors to recognise differences in the flavours of freshly roasted coffee, smell the nuances of different beans and properly taste different types of single-origin coffee. During the tasting, you can try several preparation methods and brewing tools, gaining a better understanding of how different flavours are obtained via alternative methods. Tours are held in small groups of up to 10 people. They are also held in English, and reservations are required. The roastery also has a café corner, where after the tasting you can continue savouring the evening with a cup of your favourite coffee.
Kalve Coffee – global coffee with a local flavour
Kalve Coffee is a specialised coffee roastery and café chain in Riga, where high-quality coffee delights connoisseurs of this drink. They organise public cuppingsregularly, allowing visitors to compare different coffee varieties and vote for their favourites. Group events and visits to the roastery also give visitors a behind-the-scene look into the world of coffee, featuring in-depth information on roasting, the tasting process and brewing history.
A One-Stop Shop for Latvian Delicacies
Pienene green studio
In Old Riga, the Pienene unique concept café combines a Latvian design goods store and a cosy cafeteria with a variety of local products. Tastings of Latvian flavours are specially adapted for foreign guests with narration in English. The tasting programme includes various fruit and berry wines produced in Latvia, which are served alongside a selection of local cheeses. The hostess also treats guests to traditional delicacies – Riga Black Balzam, hemp butter buns and the famous honey cake, so that guests can sample Latvian culinary traditions. The intimate café atmosphere is perfect for conversation and asking questions about each product. Groups of up to 20 people can be accommodated.
For the Ecologically Minded
Getliņi EKO – a stop for environmental gourmets
The Getliņi EKO modern greenhouse and circular economy centre is the largest landfill in the Baltics, where household waste is converted into energy and heat, and it offers free educational tours, also in English. Take a bus trip up the garbage mountain, and receive an introduction to greenhouse technologies and the use of biogas. The Tomato and Cucumber festival is also held here, featuring chef master classes, fun challenges and the opportunity to taste and buy vegetables grown in local greenhouses.
Riga’s Largest Markets
Riga Central Market – new tastes in a historic location
Riga Central Market is housed in a series of 20th-century aircraft (zeppelin) hangars and is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Riga Central Market offers tours, also in English, allowing visiting to learn about the history of the market, its architecture and even the tunnels under the hangars. Tastings for both small groups and corporate events can also be booked in the Gaļas paviljonas tasting area, giving participants the opportunity to taste traditional local products – from fresh bread and cheeses to smoked meats, fish and balsamic drinks.
Āgenskalns tirgus – a journey through the history of taste
In the renovated historical pavilion, which has been granted the status of a cultural monument, Āgenskalns tirgus offers a Gastro tour, an hour-long guided walk with seven delicious tastings, including cheeses, smoked meats, artisan bread and drinks made according to family traditions. The guide shares stories about Latvian culinary traditions and market life from the past to the present. The tour is suitable for corporate events.
Riga is a city where even a few hours after work is enough to embark on an unforgettable journey of flavours, from legendary drinks and craft breweries, and the magic of chocolate and coffee, to the fascinating world of spices and the delights of local markets. Such experiences allow you to see Latvia through the prism of tastes and smells, ensuring you return home with not only souvenirs, but also unique sensations.
