Riga with its historic center belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage List and not being overcrowded with tourists is a hidden gem on the map of Europe. It is a gem also because it is loaded with restaurants/bars/shops offering local Latvian cider, which is usually made using dessert apple varieties resembling a semi-sweet white wine full of fruity aromas. But how to search for cider in Riga? When going through a menu at a food establishment of your interest, look for the local word for cider, which is “sidrs” in Latvian. Younger generation that usually works over the counter speaks good English and will be able to help you to order the most appealing cider for your palate. Just bear in mind that there is no really dry cider in Latvia. This is because by the Latvian law a product can be called a cider if the ABV is below 6%. With the ABV above 6%, a product can still be called a cider but it falls into a higher tax category.
Although cider can be found almost all over Riga, I compiled a list of cider spots in Riga where you can meet and greet the locals over a glass of craft cider. Let me give you a brief tour through the Riga’s bars, restaurants and shops offering craft cider.
Bars/Pubs/Restaurants
- Sidrerija (Peldu iela 24, Old Town Riga, LV-1050)
As you can guess by looking at the name of this place, Sidrerija is a bar dedicated to cider. It is located in Riga’s beautiful Old Town, just a few steps from the historic centre. It is a cosy place that offers cider on draught from a local cider producer Murbudu. Apart from their regular line up, they offer also experimental or seasonal releases of Murbudu such as Gin Botanical. Bottled cider is also available but only from Murbudu. No cider by the glass is available, unfortunately, although you can find products of this cider maker in Murbudu in 75cl bottles. I wish there was more variety in terms of cider but if this is your first time in Riga, Murbudu’s portfolio will keep you busy for a while. Also, if you get hungry, you can order a pizza or a burger from their extensive food menu. During my visit there, I wanted to order their fish&chips burger but it happened to be a pizza day so no burgers were served. I guess I need to come back to Riga and to Sidrerija.
- Miezis un kompānija. Vecrīga (13. Janvāra iela 21, Centra rajons, LV-1050) is another cider spot located in the Old Town of Riga. Miezis is located literally only a block away from Sidrerija and is a craft beer bar owned by a local brewer called Labietis. Labietis have in total four locations around Riga incl. the famous Central Market but Miezis un kompānija Vecrīga is the only one offering craft cider both on draught and bottled. Despite the very central and one could say a bit touristic location, many locals visited this place. Click here to check, which cider is available on tap today. It’s usually no#6. During my visit they poured a very nice cider from a Latvian craft cider producer Herbsts. In bottles, cider from Lauskis is available.
- The Armoury Bar (Vecpilsētas iela 11, Centra rajons, LV-1050) is also located in Riga’s Old Town and is just a 5 minute walk away from both Sidrerija and Miezis. It is a good place if you are into guns as there are guns on literally every wall. Personally, the idea of being surrounded by various machine guns and pistols or even by people holding them (you can examine the guns yourself ) is somehow disturbing to me as it is not how I want to spend my evening. But this may be exactly the reason why so many visitors head to that place. As they have a cider from a local cider maker Abavas on tap, the place is worth a visit. The don’t carry any bottled craft cider.
- LOWINE (Dzirnavu iela 43, Centra rajons, LV-1050) just outside of the Old Town, when you go up the Krišjāņa Valdemāra street and while doing so admire some of the beautiful Art Nouveau style buildings (there are around 800 of them in Riga!), you may pass by a natural wine bar and kitchen called LOWINE. LOWINE is as they call themselves low wine intervention shop. Interestingly, in contrast to other places that I have visited in Riga, they don’t offer any Latvian cider but a French cidre Amour Brut from Normandy by Maison Herout. It is available in a 33cl bottle. LOWINE has a beautiful garden area just in the rear of their premises. I must say that I enjoyed sitting there on a warm September evening and sipping a delicious and not that sweet French cidre. I haven’t had a chance to try anything from their food menu but I hear that it is very tasty. I will definitely come back next time I’m around to try the food.
- Čē (Dzirnavu iela 82, Centra rajons, LV-1050)- when I first visited that cider spot, I wasn’t sure if I found the right address as from the outside Čē doesn’t look like a bar at all but like a regular building. And, there was no any sign indicating that this is the place. But when I noticed a few chairs and tables in front of the building and even some people sitting around I thought that this must be the place. Čē turned out to be a really authentic and nice place where you can sit down and sip a cider either inside our outside if the weather allows and slow down a little. As for their cider offer, you can choose from their selection of bottled Latvian craft cider from such cider makers as Mr. Plūme, Zilver, Lauskis or Murbudu. Also, they have a cider from Mr. Plūme on tap. I must say that I enjoyed the time spent there and even though it is located outside of the Old Town, it is really worth a visit.
- Mañana restaurant (Stabu iela 10, Centra rajons, LV-1010) – I noticed this Mexican restaurant while heading to Kanapes (scroll down for the more detailed description of that place) as it was packed with locals. After taking a look at the menu, I discovered a selection of bottled cider from the Latvian cider maker Abavas. There is a pleasant outdoor area where you can hide with a bottle of cider seeking shelter from the heat. Can’t speak for the food but the reviews I’ve read were positive.
- Gimlet Nordic Cocktail Bar Baznīcas iela 37, Centra rajons, LV-1010). Similarly as in the case of Manana, I wasn’t planing to visit Gimlet Nordic Cocktail Bar, a cocktail bar, which was just opposite the afore mentioned Mexican restaurant. Gimlet Nordic Cocktail Bar, interestingly, offers a cider based cocktail based called Barbarian that is made with hedonya gin, Abavas apple white vermouth, quince cordial and Abavas Caraway Cider. I didn’t have enough time to walk in but I felt very attracted by this cocktail so next time I’m in Riga, I will check it out. And, that Caraway Cider! This must be good!
- Nisha Craft Riga (Ģertrūdes iela 14, Centra rajons LV-1011) in the close proximity of Gimlet Nordic Coktail Bar and Manana you can find also Nisha Craft Riga, a craft beer bar. Apparently, Nisha Craft has a number of craft beer shops and bars in a neighbour country Lithuania. Only a few months ago they expanded to Latvia and opened a new branch in Riga. As for the Nisha Craft Riga, in the summer, you can sit outside in the street and enjoy the nice weather sipping either bottled French cidre from Val de Rance or canned Latvian cider from Talavas. Both you can find in the fridge inside. I had a hopped cider from Talavas and as I was sitting outside I could watch people passing by and observe the nightlife of Riga. Surprisingly, it wasn’t very crowded on a Saturday night but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
- Kanepes Kulturas centrs (Skolas iela 15, LV-1010) is another spot for cider lovers that is also located close to Gimlet Nordic Cocktail Bar, Manana or Nisha Craft Riga. It is a very lively cultural center offering many activities for the local community. As per their website, for fifty years it used to be a dormitory of the Art Academy until Kanepes moved in to empty premises. Cider-wise, only bottled cider is available here from a local cider maker Abuls. When I asked for a wine glass for my cider instead of a longdrink glass, they said they don’t have any wine glasses and that they also serve wine in longdrink glasses here. So I had a hopped cider from Abuls served in a longdrink glass. Anyhow, I liked the vibes of that place.
- Aleponija (Ernesta Birznieka-Upīša iela 22, Latgales priekšpilsēta LV-1050) is located in Latgale suburb also known as Moscow District. Latgale is a neighbourhood that most tourists usually don’t really visit as it is a bit away from the Old Town. However, on the way there I passed by amazing buildings in the Art Nouveau style and old wooden houses just next to them so Latgale is truly worth the trip. As for Aleponija, again, I couldn’t find the entrance to it as there was no sign on the door but after a couple of minutes of searching, I noticed that someone is using a fence gate and is walking into the building. Aleponija was different to previously visited spots as it was filled with young Latvians, no tourists in sight at all. I liked it. So if you are looking for an authentic place in Riga, this is the place to go. In terms of cider, they have bottled Latvian cider from Mr. Plūme and Lauskis.
- Nurme Bar (Avotu iela 53 Latgales priekšpilsēta LV-1009). Also, located in Latgale, if you keep walking east, you may pass by another craft beer bar called Nurme Bar. Yes, the craft beer scene is very strong here in Latvia. Nurme is a name of a local craft beer maker so Nurme Bar is basically a place where they also sell their beers. It is a nice cosy bar where you can meet local craft beer lovers. They also have bottled cider on offer from Mr. Plūme, Murbudu and Lauskis.
SHOPS
- Klavinu Gastronoms (Marijas Street 25, Centra Rajons, LV-1011) is actually located in Latgale but from the Old Town it is just a short walking distance away to reach Klavinu Gastronoms. It is a shop with high-quality food products from around the world such as wine or cheese but also with products from Latvian producers. I would have been really surprised if they hadn’t had any Latvian cider. But of course Klavinu Gastronoms carry Latvian cider and has an extensive selection of ciders from such Latvian craft cider producers as Herbsts, Abuls, Murbudu, Talavas and Lauskis. I felt like I was in a candy shop. Highly recommend this place if you want to purchase a bottle of Latvian cider.
- Lauvas Alus (Tallinas Street 30, Centra rajons, LV-1001) is a craft beer shop that is located a bit further away from the city center but because of their nice selection of Latvian cider from Zilver, Sabiles, Abuls, Murbudu and Mr. Plūme it is worth the visit. And, again, on your way there, you can admire those beautiful art nouveau buildings that can also be found in the area. Interestingly, this was the only place where I couldn’t communicate in English as the seller didn’t speak English. But the customers helped me to obtain answers I was interested in. BTW, they also have also an online-shop.
- P.S. If you didn’t manage to stock up on your Latvian cider and you arrived to Riga by plane, don’t worry! In the duty free area of the Riga airport, you can still purchase Latvian cider from Abavas or Sabiles.
I would like to thank Maris at Mr. Plūme and Janis at Abuls for their guidance re. cider places to visit in Riga. Without your support I would have missed a few gems. Thank you!
If there are more cider spots in Riga worth mentioning, just drop me a line! I would be happy to update my post
Cider Explorer 
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