Lāsīte Restaurant Riga

We had a wonderful evening at Lāsīte restaurant in Old Town Riga, Latvia.

We visited in low season (in late February) but I'm sure during peak tourist season this place would be packed.

Everything is served in traditional clay dishes. We ordered lemonade for the kids and they liked the clay cups.

The ambiance is lovely and service was excellent. The staff were friendly and answered any questions we had about the menu.

You feel like you are really eating in an old medieval pub with your family. The restaurant is spacious and we were able to bring our stroller in and park it by our table which was very helpful. 

There was some construction going on nearby, so the restaurant posted signs directing customers to the main door. 

We started the meal with some delicious Latvian garlic bread made from Rye. It's a traditional dark bread called Rupjmaize. 

The duck and lamb dishes we ordered were both tasty! Great for sharing.

The chocolate dessert we ordered was also delicious! 

There was ice cream for the kids but unfortunately, no sorbet if you're dairy free.

After 6pm they usually have live music. There was a guitarist who came in to play and they was very good. It was a bonus to have live music as we were having our meal.

If you're visiting Riga, Latvia and want to enjoy a nice medieval dinner with some good food, visit Lāsīte. We had a lovely dining experience with the kids!

Don't forget your snacks!

Viduslaiku restorāns LĀSĪTE

Ieeja no, Pils iela 13 un Aklās ielas krustojums, Ieeja (reāli atrodas) no Aklās ielas, Aklā iela, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Riga with Kids

We had a wonderful time visiting and exploring the Latvian city of Riga with the kids!

Our visit was in late February and it was mostly cloudy and no snow. This meant we were able to be out with the kids and they didn't get too cold. 

We stayed in the city center near Old Town at Avalon Hotel and it was a great location. If you're visiting Riga, stay on the side of Old Town and not across the river. This way you are near everything and can easily walk around the city. 

Getting into the city

We took the city bus #22 from the airport to a stop near our hotel. The cost was under 4 Euros for 2 adults. The ride was about 25 minutes but it was unfortunately crowded on the bus into the city. 

There are also taxis available and the hotel told us it could cost around 25 Euros if they booked one for us. 

The kids loved exploring the city and finding new playgrounds. There were so many different playgrounds and lots of green space in the city. It's great to walk around then sit at a bench to have a coffee or snack.

We had a couple of days where it was raining for a few hours. We decided during that time to take kids to a museum for our indoor activity. 

Museums

There are quite a few museums in the city! We took them to Cosmos and the National History museum of Latvia.

Cosmos adults 10€, children under 6 are free and kids are 6€. Here the kids really enjoyed all the illusions. It was great that the museum wasn't busy when we visited so we could take our time at each of the rooms and stations.

National History museum is 4€. There is a search and find activity board you can pickup at the start and quite a few drawing stations around the exhibits. It's probably more interesting activity for older kids but we lasted an hour in there!

Coffee breaks!

Kids of course love to take coffee breaks or fika as we refer to it in Sweden. Riga has many different cafes and we enjoyed trying a few places.

Some of the kids favorites: 

Crumble cake - check out my blog post

Molberts - a nice ice cream shop

Coffee Academy - check out my blog post

We also really enjoyed trying traditional Latvian food.

Some restaurants we found to be family-friendly and had good dining experiences were

Lasite and DOM were very nice dining experiences even with the kids.

There is also a chain called LIDO where you serve yourself cafeteria style. Check out my blog post on LIDO. 

Cherry Fix - good for snacks after playing at the park

Playgrounds

We visited this amazing playground area that had so many areas for different ages! There were climbing structures, slides, trampoline, zip line and more. Kids loved it.

Near this playground there's this cafe called Yohoho Cafe. Check out my blog post on this cafe. 

There is a lot of green space in the center of the city and quite a few play areas along the canal and nearby. We visited a different area each day during our trip.

Overall, our visit to Riga was enjoyable and manageable with young kids. We stayed a week, but we enjoy traveling slow. 

Note: we flew in both directions, but you can also get to Riga as part of a cruise from Stockholm. 

Don't forget your snacks!

Yohoho Cafe Riga

We found a huge kids playground on the map about a 30min walk from city center and the kids were getting cold and hungry. Fortunately,  we found Yohoho cafe! With drinks and food for both parents and kids it was a lovely spot to recharge before more outdoor play.

There was a variety of items to choose from, including a few Latvian dishes and burgers. It was quiet when we visited but I'm sure during the weekend or spring/summer season this cafe can be popular.

Kids menu items included sausages and mash potatoes!

The owners, parents themselves, tried their best to cater to kids. From the baby change area and potty in the bathroom to a seating area for kids with toys, games and even a kids table. Parents can let kids enjoy until their food is ready or when they're done eating but parents need a bit longer to finish up.

If you're looking for a great cafe option before or after outdoor play that is also kid-friendly, check out Yohoho cafe!

Don't forget your snacks!

Yohoho Cafe

Aleksandra Čaka iela 129, Latgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1012, Latvia

Check out their instagram for more info.

Dom restaurant Riga

We had such a great dining experience at Dom restaurant in old town Riga, Latvia. 

The restaurant has a beautiful exterior and makes it a great photo spot in old town.

The food was tasty, the ambiance was lovely and service was really good!

It was an amazing dinner out with the kids and they enjoyed their food too! The kids shared a delicious noodle dish for their main and they even had ice cream for dessert.

If you're visiting Riga and looking for a really nice dining experience in Old Town, check out DOM. You won't be disappointed!

Don't forget your snacks!

DOM

Jauniela 16, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their instagram for more info. 

LIDO Riga

A nice and affordable way to try local Latvian cuisine while in Riga, is to visit a LIDO restaurant!

A chain cafeteria style restaurant, with many locations around Riga, Lido offers drinks, soup, lunches and dessert that are perfect for budget travelers, families and just about anyone who wants a bite to eat in Riga.

It may be "Cafeteria-style"where you serve yourself the drinks, soup and dessert but the food quality is much better than we expected. Food was delicious, traditional Latvian dishes like garlic butter rye bread, typical salads and grilled meats and stews.

The staff help dish out the meat, fish or veggie dish you choose. They don't ask how much you want, but you can tell them.

The customer serves themselves the drinks like LIDO Beer or Mead, wine, coffee and even fresh squeezed orange juice (soo delicious and kidapproved)!

Depending on the location you visit, there is usually lots of seating in the restaurant too!

You don't need to stop for a meal, you can even just come for a coffee and dessert to enjoy.

If you're looking for a quick, affordable lunch, snack or dinner option in Riga, check out a LIDO location! It's kid-friendly and a great option for budget travelers as well!

Don't forget your snacks!

LIDO

Elizabetes iela 65, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their website for more information.

Coffee Academy Riga

Located in Riga, Latvia, Coffee Academy is a pop-up cafe in a shopping center that offers delicious drinks, chocolate and other snacks.

We visited on a weekday evening and had a really nice Coffee break after a day strolling around the city.

The staff were friendly and helped with recommendations. There are a lot of different menu items to choose from at this cafe and chocolate shop. They also had Oat milk available!

Try a chocolate paired with a coffee, like a latte macchiato, or a cookie with a hot chocolate for a nice treat.

We tried the lilikoi and bailey's chocolates and they were delicious!

The cafe is spacious with plenty of indoor seating.

You can buy all things related to coffee making (italian supplier) and speciality chocolate gifts like Easter bunnies or Heart chocolates.

It was a nice spot to relax for a bit and they close at 7pm on most days.

Kids enjoyed the visit too and that's always a big plus. There was adequate space for a stroller and comfy places to sit for the little ones.

If you're in Riga, or just visiting the city, stop by Coffee Academy for a lovely coffee break with delicious drinks, chocolate and treats. It's always great to support small businesses too.

Don't forget your snacks!

Coffee Academy 

Entrance also from Ridzenes street, Audēju iela 16, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their website for more info

Mikla Bakery Riga

Rainy days during traveling can't always be avoided but we try to make the best of them.

After some indoor time at a museum and a short walk, we found ourselves at Mikla bakery located in the city center of Riga, Latvia.

There are 2 locations of this cafe that we visited and both offer delicious drinks, pastries and friendly service! They also offer a few different milk alternatives including oat milk and pea milk (Sproud brand).

The larger location that had ample indoor seating with tables spread out around the cafe. The smaller one, closer to the Freedom Monument, has a few tables but is mostly a great spot to grab your coffee to-go. 

The first location we visited even had a place to hang jackets, which always helps in the winter when we have our thicker jackets on.

Our visit was on a weekday afternoon but the cafe was busy and bustling with customers.

They also had little budgies on display in their little cage. Kids loved seeing these birds and they also enjoyed their drinks and snacks!

There is space indoors for small strollers and it's nice to sit by the window with a group.

Feel like something more to eat? In addition to a few savory pastries, there are some salads and sandwiches that are pre-packaged available to buy as well.

We had a wonderful visit to both locations of this bakery cafe! If you're in Riga or visiting the Latvian city, mark a Mikla location on your map! With delicious pastries and coffee, you'll definitely enjoy your coffee break! 

Don't forget your snacks!

Mikla bakery

Dzirnavu iela 42, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Check out their instagram for more information.

Crumble Cake Riga

While wandering the cobblestoned streets of Old Town in Riga, we found ourselves at a lovely cafe called Crumble Cake! 

After another great day out with the kids full of park time, walking around and checking out a museum, we were ready to sit and relax. We happily settled into a cozy corner in the cafe that even had a "family table" for 3+ people. 

We tried a couple of cakes along with coffee and everything were delicious!

The Signature Cake made with apple, brown sugar and flour is also nut-free and it was a hit with the little ones! They enjoyed it so much and ate it up!

The cherry, dark chocolate crumble cake was also really nice! The delicious homemade crumb cakes were served warm which was a nice touch.

You order your cakes and coffee at the front and pay before you leave. They bring your order to your table so you can put jackets and things down and relax. 

The coffee comes with cinnamon cookie. Those homemade cookies are so good we had to buy a bag to take with us!

Really great, friendly service (even with tired kiddos) and they explained what each of the cakes were before we ordered.

The cafe staff said they usually have more cakes out, but it was nearing the end of the day. 

They also have seasonal cakes! In the Summer, they've had Strawberry yogurt cheesecake. Pumpkin spice in the Fall, and even black currant or Plum cake.  

There are some rules for being at the cafe - which they have at the tables, so it's good to respect them. They are an independent cafe and depending on the day can get busy. 

Are you visiting Riga or maybe live in the city and enjoy coffee breaks or delicious homemade cake? Visit cozy cafe, Crumble Cake in Riga's Old Town! You won't be disappointed. It's always great to support local businesses.

Don't forget your snacks!

Crumble Cake

Jāņa iela 14, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their Instagram for more info

KURTS coffee Riga

We tried KURTS coffee during some outdoor play with the kids in Riga, Latvia. This coffee stand was located by a lovely park called Vērmane Garden or Vērmanes dārzs in Latvian. 

KURTS coffee was established to help support a little boy with a rare genetic disease that means he can't speak, walk or play like other kids. 

All proceeds from the coffee shop go towards the support necessary to have Kurt's needs met. Everything from rehabilitation and medical equipment to his daily life. I can't imagine how challenging it is taking care of a child who has this rare non-curable disease. We were happy to support this cafe!

In 2023, on Kurts' 12th birthday, they were able to open a new cafe location at 

Tērbatas iela 56, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1001, Latvia! 

We have only tried the hot drinks so far, but they also offer cookies and cakes for your coffee break.

The Matcha latte was delicious and the coffee stand was in a perfect location so parents could grab a coffee to-go to enjoy on a park bench while watching their kids play. 

If you're in Riga or visiting the city, be sure to check out one of the KURTS coffee locations for some good coffee and support this great cause! 

Don't forget your snacks!

KURTS coffee

Tērbatas iela 2J, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Check out their Instagram