Did you know?
- Vodka is typically the drink of choice in these dark northern countries; but the locals have doctored theirs up a bit to create Riga Black Balsam (Rīgas Melnais balzams in Latvian.) These skilled connoisseurs take 24 different ingredients like plants, flowers, oils and berries and soak them in vodka in big oak barrels. This herbal liqueur was created by a local pharmacist, so it’s obviously a health drink. Specifically it’s said to be a good cold remedy and to assist with digestion problems. Riga Black Balsam is black and quite bitter, but some say it has a distinctive sweetness.
- For a small country; Latvia produces quite a lot of original alcohol. There are three breweries in Riga alone and Aldaris is usually a safe beer bet. Besides Riga Black Balsam; the country produces an interesting whiskey called Zvirkavis and their best vodka is Kristaldzidrais. You may also find many LB vodka fans though too. If the Black Balsam isn’t doing it for you, try the caraway-flavoured liqueur, Allazu Simelis.
- And what does all this available alcohol create? The world’s drunkest person! A while back an unknown person was found drunk by police; taken to hospital where tests revealed an award winning blood alcohol level of 7.22 parts per mille. This isn’t a challenge; don’t try to break his record, please.
Riga Bars and Beers Guide
PUBS
You are sure to have heard about Riga’s nightlife – why else would you be here? There wasn’t a whole heck of a lot to do under Communism, so those Latvians kept busy with the beer. Surprisingly, you’ll probably find a decent pub on every corner in the Old Town, and by that we mean one you’d want to go back to.
The PuPu Lounge never disappoints (in Latvian pupu means beans. Or tits) and Lounge 8 is a fashionable place to hang. For cocktails the best can be found at Martini. Yea, during the day the ground floor is a car repair garage; but upstairs at night the place rocks. To make the night last forever get your groove going at some of Riga’s really hip clubs. Roxy Club is the biggest; and Depo might be the naughtiest. Visit Nobody Writes to the Colonel – just ‘cause it’s a cool name for a club
BEER
Yes, Latvia makes beer – haven’t you heard? Aldaris and Piebalgas are good choices, but Tervetes is probably the best. Cesu alus is acceptable but avoid Livu alus. Most breweries make their own variants of lager, light and dark beer. Lots of imports can be found, especially Belgium, German and Czech.
