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The Riga nightlife is deservedly considered amongst the best in Eastern Europe - and even on a par with the celebrated Tallinn nightlife. So what is it exactly that makes Riga's party scene worth travelling for? Well the high concentration of pubs, cafes and bars in the Old Town (many with outside seating in summer) is certainly a major draw and newcomers to the city will have plenty of fun if getting the drinks in is a top priority. British style boozers and Irish Pubs rub shoulders with swanky bars and trendy cocktail lounges so you're almost bound to find a place to call home. For our money the Orange Bar is worth a look in, whilst PuPu can be great fun on the right night and the popular Skyline Bar in the Central District is rarely less than heaving. Meanwhile Martini on the main strip of Kalku iela boasts gogo dancers wiggling their botties on the bar. There's usually something going on here if nowhere else, although the manager is clearly aiming to draw in as many drooling stag lads as possible! For a more comprehensive guide to Riga's watering holes check out our nightlife directory. 
Of course no nightlife connoisseur will want to leave Riga without first having sampled some of the clubs. There's a decent number and range on offer, although discerning party-goers will have their choices limited by their own good taste. If you are something of a club snob then Nautilus is probably the best bet for you. There are the inevitable posers and hangers-on but underlying is a core of funky youngsters who actually know the difference between house and techno, adding some much-appreciated authenticity to a night out here. Meanwhile Club Essential is a bit bigger and cheesier, but well worth a visit, especially if they've booked a big name DJ. The likes of Deep Dish and Lee Coombs have manned the wheels of steel this summer! Bigger and cheesier still is La Rocca - a favourite with Riga's Russian community. The music policy is a bit more commercial, but you can't turn your nose up at Ferry Corsten who graced the decks there recently. The antidote to all this thumping bass is Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta. Riga's most reliable nightlife player for 15 odd years, 'The Colonel', as it is affectionately known, has an atmosphere that's hard to beat and stays busy even during the week.
If conventional nightlife holds about as much appeal to you as a dip in the Daugava river in December, then you'll be pleased to know that Riga also has a scattering of hip alternative venues. Kick back and relax at the I Love You cafe or John Lemon bar, amongst fellow bohemians, before jumping up and down in a deranged fashion at the legendary Depo club. Mayhem guaranteed.
Bars galore, clubs rammed with beautiful people, and a small but healthy alternative scene... Are there any downsides to Riga nightlife? There certainly are. With an increasing number of cheap flights making Riga accessible from almost anywhere in Europe, more and more tourists are heading to this Northern gem. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting locals, and possibly you too, a large number of these additional tourists come in the form of British stag groups - drawn by the irresistable double whammy of cheap beer and good-looking women. These guys may just be here for some harmless fun - but class they ain't. If you don't want to spend your night talking to Bazza and his thirty drunken mates you should consider coming to Riga out of season, partying during the week, or at least sticking to the harder to find venues.
Meanwhile the Riga powers that be, who seem happy to speak out against stag tourism in order to appease weary locals, should perhaps think about closing down some of the many strip bars, go go joints and brothels that appeal to 'lads' in the first place - if they don't want their city to become famous for the wrong reasons. As stags bring in a considerable amount of money to the city however, the temptation is always to sell out for the quick buck, without thinking of the long-term ramifications. | | | |
 | | "Hate to say it but Riga as a city is very beautiful indeed while their attitude towards tourists and foreigners is really something you don't want to encounter. Possibly because of all the stag parties etc. have made them feel hatred and racism towards any foreigners the atmosphere you get when you ask a waiter/waitress something is very unpleasant. Surely enough they want to rip off any money they can get from the tourists. We also made the wrong turn of walking into Groks because it started to rain and found ourselves being almost forced into buying drinks for the ladies at ridiculous prices. We quickly then gulped down our beers and chose the rain. And if I had to make a choice between Riga and Vilnius for example, the latter is definitely number 1 in my books now." | Nick
Finland
May.05.2008
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "is it really that bad? planning to go next 9-12 may ...and honestly was expecting better reviews than these ones..." | mark
Spain
Apr.29.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Stay away from Groks! A mixed group of 14 of us went there on New Years Eve. We paid to go to the 'disco' but on entering the women in our group were immediately assaulted by a group of prostitutes. Groks - a lethal place in an unbelievably dangerous city !" | Brian
Ireland
Apr.15.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Riga - never again! I wish I'd read some of these reviews before booking our tickets. Expensive place, unfriendly and rude and racist locals all out to rip you off, beggars and prostitutes, crappy restaurants and bars - why bother?" | L
Sweden
Apr.12.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "Don't go to Riga its a total rip-off but if you do have to go avoid at all costs a bar called Groks near the square its full of hookers who will try to lure you into the back Disco bar where you will get a hefty bill for whatever drink you buy. This place deserves to be fire-bombed." | Pat
Ireland
Mar.24.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "People why would you go to Riga?! It's bloody expensive and not that much of entertainment as in Vilnius, Lithuania. Come to see my city! You'll really like it!" | Mynde
Lithuania
Mar.11.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "night life in Ryga for mee is good. But I think so in Poland in Warsow and Cracau night life is beter:)" | J.B
Poland
Jan.02.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I have visited Riga 10 times and all the people are friendly. But ofcoz, I am not from England. I really understand why local girls/man don't like them. They are always yelling and drunken. I am happy i am not from England." | Renaat
Belgium
Dec.23.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Riga has some of the best night life in the region!! It was difficult to return to San Diego." | Eric Dobbs
United States
Dec.11.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Dear all!
Never again!
This will be the first and last time we come here. We came from Spain with 5 friends, just to have a nice time.
We tried everything. La Rocca, Essential, etc...
People are rude, unfriendly. And it is the same price that going out in London, Paris or Madrid.
As I said, never again.
Probably they are tired of foreing people just coming here for party.
We do the same in Barcelona, Mallorca, Ibiza, Marbella in Spain, and I believe that we are nice to people, because for a lot of people is his way to life.
Here they do not care about you.
Of course, every situation people here will try to get from you as much as I can.
Never, never, never again.
a 3000 Km trip to come to a country where people are not welcome.
Miguel" | Miguel
Albania
Dec.08.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "hii ý were live in Riga to 12 April..
" | Kayhan
Turkey
Nov.04.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "very exspensive ona night out.my mate got handcuffed int he nightclub and we had to pay them off." | frank the tank
Ireland
Sep.18.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Simply don't go,save your money. Maybe its because all the stag parties have pissed people off. I don't know, but they are the most unfriendly scamming group of people i have ever encountered. Don't think I saw a latvian smile once - although they are happy enough to take copious amounts of your hard earned cash. As for the SS, I mean Riga police - corrupt and violent - give them a wide berth. " | Irish
United Kingdom
Sep.14.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "im currently sat in my apartment with four friends...i cant even be bothered going out again after the supremely awful time we had last night! this place is ridiculously expensive, everyone...i mean everyone tries to rip you off and they have to be more miserable than people from yeovil (and thats saying something).
Riga painted a picture of a 'nice place' however in reality its a dump...in terms of the way you are treated anyway.
i will never return and my advice to you is dont even waist 1p on an easy jet or ryanair flight...your money would be better spent in skegness or blackpool!!
" | david
United Kingdom
Sep.14.2007
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "Riga nightlife was superb. I heard there's been a big backlash against stags, and probably if you get drunk and you're British a few unscrupulous bar staff will try and rip you off. Generally the ordinary Latvian people are very nice though if you treat them and their city with respect - which let's face it most British guys on holiday don't do. Go during winter maybe, and in a smaller group, if you don;t want to be tarnished with the stag brush" | Craig K
United Kingdom
Jul.02.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Nightlife was not bad, but the Prices were outrageous, and people the unfriendliest I have ever met, if you spoke English they automatically assumed you were on a stag night and blanked you accordingly. Give it a miss, nicer and friendlier cities out there" | Gary
United Kingdom
Jun.14.2007
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "SUPER!!" | gay2
Poland
Feb.09.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "This city rocks! Nautilus is awesome!" | Martin Geere
United Kingdom
Jan.16.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
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