Latvia brands itself as the ‘Land that Sings’, it is therefore quite appropriate that its Riga is rapidly becoming the party capital of Europe. The vibrancy, diversity and style of Riga’s nightlife culture rivals, if not superior, to its neighboring European counterparts. Milan’s design, London’s variety, Berlin’s atmosphere, Paris’ chic – Riga has the cosmopolitan mix that any serious party-goer
will revel and be blown away by. From deep funky house to dirty drum ‘n bass, smooth jazz to hardcore techno – whatever your pulse you can certainly feel the beat! And the beauty of Riga, is that unlike many other European city’s, you can access all these hot spots with relative ease. There is no need for planes, trains and automobiles to cruise from bar to club. Although, after a few drinks the old town can appear to all look the same – therefore it can be advantageous to gain the assistance and knowledge of a guide or a local. Experience it! Whilst on the topic of walking the streets at night – do exactly that – keep to the streets! There have been incidents recently, where people have been mugged in the parks for their money and personal possessions. You can avoid this happening, by keeping to the lit pathways. Avoid the temptation to take a short cut through a park, this could save you some time, but also could cost you a lot of money and some cuts and bruises. In general, Riga is a very safe and hospitable city, if you treat the people and environment around you with respect and courtesy your time here will be one of enjoyment and engagement! Start stepping out of line and you might not be so warmly welcomed! One must appreciate and understand, that incredible transformations have occurred to Latvia in the last 15 years, this sense of flux has given the city its truly vibrant and electric atmosphere. But please be sympathetic to the nature of dealing with change, there are always some adjustments and compromises that have to be made. Everyday Latvia and its people are gaining new experiences. Riga marvels itself as one of, if not the, cleanest city in Europe. Lets keep it this way! Cigarette butts, your cheeseburger wrapper – find a bin. There are enough of them!!! This cleanliness does not only apply to litter – recreational drugs are not common domain in Riga. You will be refreshed to see that in clubs and bars people do not need a superficial high to have a good time. The music, atmosphere and awesome cocktails are certainly sufficient. Where can one go to soak up the Riga’s fantastic nightlife juices….a good place to start is the Skyline bar on the 26th floor of the Hotel Latvija. The view is breathtaking, especially watching the sun set over Parduagava. During the winter months I would recommend, frequenting the Skyline to thaw out by supping on a Balzams with hot blackcurrent. This excellent viewpoint will allow you to almost trace your footprints in the snow on where you went that day! If you simply want to wind away a few hours supping a beer and listening to the Blues – Bites Blues Klubs is the key. It will certainly unlock your little box of rhythm from within. Riga has a reputation of being a city that never sleeps…..or is it simply a case that one cannot sleep in Riga?! Either way I would have to agree with both statements. The nightclubs here do not seem to shut and it is very difficult to pull yourself away from hedonistic vibe unique to Riga. For a dark and dirty underground club, Depo is the venue! Live bands and alternative music create the foundations for this inimitable framework of noise. Anything goes here and it is very easy to be drawn deeper and deeper in to the tunnel of pulsating lights and extra ordinary beats. Ask any local where the best club in Riga is and I can almost guarantee their answer will be ‘Pulkvedis’. A club that words cannot do justice to describe – I simply have to say that you must ‘experience it to believe it!’
The club that is currently riding high on a crest of wave is Club Essential. The club’s electric atmosphere and vibrant intensity hits you like a bolt of lightning. As you swim amongst the tide of party-goers, between the 3 rooms, one forgets that occasionally you need to stop to catch a breath of fresh air. You cannot prepare yourself for this encounter; one should enjoy the ride and let the wave take you to paradise. As you stroll round the old town you will be handed countless number of fliers for the many st******se bars that are emerging in Riga. Representatives will endeavor to entice you in to the glowing neon lights and glamorous hot spots. But be warned entertainment of these sorts does not come cheap – you are expected to pay up to 30 LVL for a drink and a chat with one of the establishment’s personnel. Riga’s nightlife is symbolic of the country as a whole – exciting, diverse and vibrant. Latvia is very keen to promote and welcome visitors to enjoy the sites and highlights of its bar and club culture. But please remember that you are representatives of your country and positive relations between Latvians and overseas visitors are made and broken in these situations. Lets work together so that everyone can party in harmony and take pleasure in the eclectic and unique nightlife scene Riga has to offer.
