Hello from Riga, Latvia! We visited this friendly and historic capital city for a glorious week in the summer, and we couldn't have asked for nicer weather, or a more welcoming atmosphere... From the vast market to the quaint Old Town Streets we found the city really accessible and interesting, a real joy to visit!
Eating Vegan in Riga
“Dievam trīs lietas patīkamas. (All good things come in threes)" - Latvian Proverb
There are many good reasons for us to go back to Latvia, and I have no doubt we'll return at some point in the future. The most exciting of these reasons, though, is the food! This was the place where we first tried aukstā zupa (beetroot soup) and kartupeļu pankūkas (potato pancakes) as well as so many INCREDIBLE plant-based international dishes. Read on, and watch the video at the end of this page, to hear all about our three favourite places to eat vegan in Riga!
1st: Kozy Eats
Blaumaņa iela 34, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1011, Latvia
Kozy Eats easily took the crown of our favourite place to eat vegan in Riga. Not only did the food taste amazing, it also looked incredible! We felt so at home in the restaurant too, where the welcome was warm, the service was friendly, and the ambiance was perfectly chill even though there were lots of customers!
On our first visit I tried the wok fried noodles with soy fillets, which cost €9.50 (approx. £8.29 or $10.05). These noodles were really delicious, probably the best I’ve had outside of Asia! The sauce was really flavoursome too, with a touch of sweetness (don’t be deterred by the spicy note, it really only had a tiny kick!) The soya fillets were just like the ones we tried in Southeast Asia too, with a little bit more of a toughness than the ones we get back home in the UK - and that is definitely a good thing! The dish included a massive range of crunchy and tasty veggies, it left me really impressed!
On our second visit, I chose the Caesar Salad, which also came in at €9.50. I was feeling very indecisive, since there were so many things I wanted to try, so I actually asked the waitress for her recommendation - and I am so glad I did! I loved how the lettuce was soaked in that accurate and delicious plant-based take on Caesar dressing, making the whole dish so flavoursome. The croutons were big and crunchy, and the vegan mock chicken pieces added some lovely warmth to the dish. A special mention to the tomatoes too: they were so sweet and juicy!
Now, Mike was so impressed with the Farmer's Style Loaded Fries (€8.90 - approx. £7.76 or $9.42) that he tried on our first visit that he actually ordered them again when we came back! These fries were simply heavenly: this was dirty fries but it didn’t feel unhealthy! This incredible photogenic dish consisted of generously served helpings of pickled veg, tomato, lettuce and vegan mayo. The potatoes were cut into cubes and fried to perfection before being topped with melty vegan cheese, and the star ingredient. Kozy Eats' meat free sausage reminded him of a cross between frankfurters and the more Eastern European style - and he just could not get enough of it!
We finished off our second meal here with a sweet treat: I picked the chocolate and caramel cake (€3.40 - approx. £2.97 or $3.60) whilst Mike went for the brownie (€2.80 - approx. £2.44 or $2.96). While the cakes were sweet and tasty, for us they didn't quite live up to how delicious the mains were; they were perhaps a little over refrigerated! Regardless though, the dishes we ate at Kozy Eats will always remain legendary in our memories, and we would go back here in a heartbeat!
2nd: Mazā Terapija
Baznīcas iela 15, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia
Mazā Terapija is another fantastic vegan restaurant where we filmed a whole video focused on a plant-based version of a traditional Latvian dish. In this case the dish we tried was auksta zupa, or cold beetroot soup! This soup, which cost €7.20 per portion (approx. £6.28 or $7.65) really stands out with its special statement pink colour! We were impressed by the tofu imitation egg that featured on top too: this dish really did look very special. Unfortunately this was where the positives ended for me as i really wasn’t a big fan, finding it overwhelmingly beeroot-y. However, Mike enjoyed the soup and even helped me to finish mine! So if you like beetroot, I'm sure you'll be a fan of this dish too!
We were so impressed with Mazā Terapija, the atmosphere of the quaint restaurant in a traditional wooden building, and their comprehensive and mouthwatering-sounding vegan menu that we headed back the next day for lunch! I tried the kebab bowl (€10: approx. £8.72 or $10.63), which was absolutely delicious. The soya kebab was a highlight, tender and flavoursome, but the crispy potatoes and the smooth and creamy green sauce really were the best bits for me! This was a really beautiful dish with lots of bright colours, and there was a whole host of pickled veg to keep you feeling healthy whole tucking in!
While I was enjoying my kebab bowl, Mike was devouring a soy chicken burger (€9.50: approx. £8.28 or $10.10). This burger was really nice but huge, a little too big to fit in his mouth! It was a beast to eat, and very messy too: it definitely had 'the slip'! The homemade mock chicken was really good: and it is very rare that we find a vegan chicken burger that comes with cheese, so he really enjoyed that as it melted well. The potatoes were crispy and yum, as was the mayo that he dipped them in.
We liked the food at Mazā Terapija so much that we decided to treat ourselves to dessert too. Honestly, when we looked at the cakes in their counter we couldn't stop thinking about them: they were so beautiful and there was so much choice too! I tried the cookie dough cake, which cost €3.90 (approx. £3.40 or $4.15) and had been on my mind since the moment I spotted it! Overall, the cake was really dense and a little hard from the fridge, slightly too sweet and overwhelming for me. However I loved how beautiful it looked, and the raspberry on top added a really nice touch both to the looks and the flavour!
Mike on the other hand, chose the Valentīna Cake (€2.60: approx. £2.27 or $2.77) - and wow, this cake is probably one of the most memorable vegan desserts we've tried. This was absolutely the best chocolate cake. Soft and fluffy, with a yummy icing that subtly enhanced the chocolate flavour, it looked beautiful too and the raspberry was a really yummy touch! We really recommend visiting Mazā Terapija while you're in Riga, for some tasty Latvian food, incredible chocolate cake, or some international classics made vegan too.
3rd: MiiT Coffee
Lāčplēša iela 10, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia
We headed to MiiT Coffee for a small brunch snack before heading out to explore Latvia. This veggie-vegan cafe is a really cool and sociable place to hang out, and they have not only excellent coffee, but a fridge full of veggie and vegan bakes and treats, as well as a comprehensive hot food menu too!
Mike was looking for a savoury brunch, and chose the vegan sausage and carrot ‘bacon’ sandwich, which cost €3.50 (approx. £3.05 or $3.72). The bread was soft and the sausage was tender and tasty, in a more pepperoni-like style. It had good flavours: the carrot bacon was interesting and made things a little more exciting. While this was a standard vegan sandwich, it was really good value and we wouldn’t say no to popping and trying one of MiiT Coffee's other sandwiches!
While I went in with the intention of having a savoury brunch, I simply couldn't resist trying one of the mouthwatering-looking plant-based bakes in their cabinets! I chose the strawberry tart, which cost €4 (approx. £3.49 or $4.26). And wow - this tart was light, fresh and creamy, I absolutely loved it! The strawberry cream was smooth and sweet (but not too sweet!), with the strawberries on top adding a fresh and cool twist. The case was soft and a little crunchy with coconut pieces, and I loved the surprise layer of jam underneath the strawberry cream! If you're looking for something for breakfast or lunch, or even just a coffee and a cool place to relax in Riga, MiiT Coffee is the place for you!
Where is your favourite place to get plant-based food in Riga? Are there any new places or old favourites that we've missed? Leave us a comment to let us know (and others who might be visiting too!)
Recommendations
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Where should I stay?
Riga is a really beautiful city, with plenty of places to stay to suit all tastes and budgets. If you're looking for a hostel atmosphere with a more luxurious feel, check out Blue Bird hostel, where the rooms and amenities are much more bougie than your standard hostel! For a more high octane vibe, The Naughty Squirrel Backpackers offer very sociable accommodation, brightly coloured decor, and a good time for all guests.
Tours & Experiences
If you want to experience the best of Riga, why not join this Riga Old Town walking tour with an expert local guide? With opportunities to try local spirits and hear all about the history that contributed to the incredible city you see before you - and keep an eye out for those black cats!
If that's not for you, check out Riga's most popular tours and activities in the box to the left; from pub crawls to castle visits, there's something for everyone!
Please note that the tours displayed on the left are automatically selected for their popularity by Viator, not chosen or recommended by us. Please check whether any food or drink based tours are suitable for your dietary requirements, and any animal-based experiences are ethical, before booking!
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