Nightlife in Latvia

A bar right on the beach at the Baltic Beach Hotel: grilled meat, seafood and cocktails with sea views. Sit at the bar or rent a sun bed on the sand. Open 12–22.

A laid-back sports bar on Jomas iela with an industrial, steampunk-style interior and a summer terrace. Burgers, wings, cocktails and Latvian and foreign draft beer, with sport on screen. Weekdays 18–23, weekends 12–23.

A cavernous Old Town cellar bar with affordable Latvian beers and spirits, traditional Latvian food and a changing line-up of folk bands. Open until 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays; book a table at weekends.

A two-floor bar and event venue in Cēsis with separate bars, a dance floor and a stage: live music, DJs and themed nights. Usually open Friday and Saturday 22:00–04:00.

A karaoke club in the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel with professional sound and lighting, a host and backing vocals, spread over several areas. Good for birthdays and company parties. Open 22:00–06:00.

A gastro-bar in a glass-and-steel greenhouse on the roof terrace of Galleria Riga. Cocktails built on herbs, fruit, berries and teas, a seasonal local menu and sunset views over the centre.

A late-19th-century villa turned culture venue. In summer there is live music in the courtyard every week, the M/Darbnīca bar-club gives artists a stage, and the hip-hop club De Flou is on the villa square.

A concept bar from the TEIKA brewery in the Old Town, pouring beer from independent Latvian craft breweries, with a view of Riga’s historic fortifications.

Riga’s first “Kiwi pub”: a big bar with Latvian and foreign beers, sport on several screens, pub food and a summer terrace.

A modern pub on Rīgas iela in central Daugavpils with an industrial loft interior: classic European beers and bold Baltic flavours, plus tastings, masterclasses, theme nights and gigs. Closed on Mondays.

A summer beach bar and café at the end of Peldu iela: coffee and doughnuts by day, drinks, sunsets and reggae in the evening.

A themed Old Town bar built around Riga Black Balsam: Black Balsam cocktails, chocolate and pastries.

The highest bar in Riga, on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel, with a 360° view over the city. Signature cocktails and an Asian-inspired menu.

An Old Town beer bar with Latvian and international beers chosen from digital screens above the bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows onto medieval Skārņu iela. Closed Monday to Wednesday.

A bar in an old wooden house with a low-key entrance: Latvian craft beer, a big courtyard terrace and antique furniture in a relaxed, alternative atmosphere.

A craft brewery with its own tavern in Teika, the first Riga microbrewery to open a taproom outside the Old Town and centre.

A beer cellar on Kuģinieku iela in Liepāja with Latvian and foreign beer on tap.

A nano-scale brewery and bar in Avoti with ten 200-litre tanks. Known for an unusual mead made without hops, malt, juice or tea.

Riga’s first speakeasy, set in a former video-game shop: a dark courtyard interior and simple, well-balanced cocktails.

A classic interior with modern touches in the Art Nouveau district, an expressive cocktail list, rare whiskies and parties.

A craft beer bar and bottle shop with a regularly changing tap list from small Latvian and international breweries; bottles and cans to take away.

A laid-back Old Town bar that doubles as a collection of film, fantasy and comic memorabilia, with an arcade game and a terrace. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

A premium cocktail bar with fine spirits, food and a high-end sound system. Table booking recommended; entry from age 21.

A music club and lounge in central Liepāja with DJ nights; in summer it also runs its own beach bar.