Caffeine roasters

Caffeine roasters, also known as Caffeine LV, serve freshly brewed coffee, cakes, snacks, and salads. Depending on the coffee, some come in one, two, and three sizes. For example, milk-based coffee drinks come in three sizes (small, medium, and large).

I made my way over to the Caffeine Roasters located on Brīvības 76 for breakfast. The cafe was spacious and not cluttered with furniture. There are leather couches in the front of the cafe. The place looked a bit old and did not feel inviting. The other branches of Caffeine Roasters have a more modern, attractive decor. The service was okay, and the staff who took my order was not warm.

 

 

I ordered a vegetable quiche for 1.95 euros and a medium Cappuccino for 2.15 euros. The Cappuccino was good, and the quiche was decent. Unfortunately, there was a lot of cottage cheese (Latvians love cottage cheese), which overpowered the other flavors. I was looking forward to a more eggy, savory quiche.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caffeine LV ( Brīvības 76)

Website: https://caffeine.lv/

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Friday 7:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Saturday to Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Telephone: +371 27 757 341

Address: Brīvības iela 76, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

A cozy cafe for the sweet tooth

Kūkotava is located a few shops away from Lido Vērmanītis. This cozy and warm cafe offers a variety of cakes, pastries, pies, and cookies. As you wait for your order, you can watch the bakers work in their open-plan kitchen behind the counter.

I visited the cafe for two consecutive days, each after a long day of exploring the city. The attitude of the staff behind the counter was not welcoming. He had a serious look and sounded impatient. I don’t recall seeing a menu, and there were no English labels for the food. I had to point out and ask about each cake or pastry. As people were behind me, and I did not want to hold the line, I chose a few to ask and picked the one I liked best.

I ordered a pistachio mousse cake (3.50 euros), a berry cake (3.50 euros), and a cup of hot cacao (2.45 euros). The hot cacao was kind of like a latte, light with a bit of foam. It is also sugar-free; thus, it was the perfect pairing for the cakes. Both cakes were tasty; I especially enjoyed the pistachio mousse cake. It was rich and creamy, with a hint of pistachio flavor; it reminded me of a pannacotta. The berry cake had a creamy gelatin texture with a more fruity sour taste.

I love this cafe because it is relatively quiet and has many more dessert choices than other places.

 

Kūkotava

Website: https://www.kukotava.eu/en/

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m. , Saturday to Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 18:00 p.m.

Telephone: +371 67 283 808

Address: Tērbatas iela 10/12, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Uzbekistāna

Located in a quiet neighborhood, in a charming house with a cozy outdoor seating area, Uzbekistana serves traditional Uzbek dishes like shashlik and pilaf. Uzbekistana’s menu offers an array of soups, salads, hot dishes, snacks, and desserts. The interior walls are decorated with Uzbek elements such as instruments, pictures, ceramic plates, and tubeteikas (Central Asian caps); the floor is covered with vivid red Uzbek carpets, bamboo ceilings, Uzbek music playing in the background, and staff dressed in traditional Uzbek clothing. When you enter the restaurant, it’s like being transported to Uzbekistan. Kudos to the owner for the beautiful decor, which gives customers a glimpse into the culture.

The waitress who served me was nice. She spoke in a friendly tone with a smile. I visited the restaurant for dinner.

I ordered a Borscht (3.95 euros) and a lamb pilaf (9.95 euros). The cream came separately with the Borscht, which was perfect as I did not want too much cream in my soup. The soup was sweeter, but the natural sweetness that comes from vegetables was somewhat different from the Russian Borscht.

The pilaf was aromatic and delicious; the mutton pieces were tender. The rice was a bit too oily; however, the fresh tomato slices and cucumber were a great palate cleanser. Initially, I did not think much of the dish, but the more I ate, a gentle crescendo of flavors slowly unfolded in my mouth.

This is a good place for those who would like to try something different from European cuisine. I would be interested in coming back to try the other dishes.

 

Uzbekistāna

Website: http://www.uzbekistana.lv/en/

Telephone: 

Opening hours: 12:00 p.m. – 23:00 p.m. Daily

Address: Bruņinieku iela 33, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1001, Latvia

Miit, a vegetarian cafe

Once a bicycle workshop, this trendy hipster cafe is now a popular hangout spot for the locals. Miit offers vegetarian food and freshly baked cakes to go with your coffee. The baristas at Miit are young and professional. The cafe uses specialty coffee beans from small coffee-growing farms worldwide and uses different brewing methods to make your desired cup of coffee. There are also live music performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. Coffee beans and various teas are available for purchase as well.

Brunch is offered on weekdays for 5 euros. It was a simple spread of waffles, various salads, potatoes, omelets, jams, and bread when I was there. It was okay; the waffles were a bit dry because they were out in the open, and the salads were slightly salty. My favorite is the coffee. I loved the coffee so much that I returned for breakfast the second day. I am a fan of Cappuccino. The Cappuccino here has a slight intensity tempered by a mild sweetness accompanied by cocoa-like aromatic notes. Personally, my most enjoyable cup of coffee. After having coffee here, I stopped adding sugar to my coffee and learned to enjoy and savor the natural flavors of the coffee.

An excellent place for healthy food and a good cup of coffee!

 

Miit

Website: http://www.miit.lv/

Opening hours: Monday  7:00 a.m. – 21:00p.m. , Tuesday to Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m., Friday 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.,  Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 18:00 p.m.

Telephone:+371 2889 1351

Address: Lāčplēša iela 10, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Lunch at the magnificent Rundāle Palace

Located in the basement of Latvia’s most outstanding baroque architectural monuments -The Rundāle Palace, is the Café Ozollāde. As one of the three restaurants on the premises, Café Ozollāde offers Latvian cuisine at an affordable price. It is an ideal place for a quick bite or a coffee break. The palace is situated in the village of Pilsrundāle, 12.5 km from Bauska.

I was on a private tour of the palace. I arrived around lunchtime. My guide and I stopped by the cafe to grab a bite before commencing our tour. The waitresses were dressed in Latvian folk dress. You order at the counter, and food will be brought to your table. However, there is quite a wait when it gets busy because the waitress who takes the order also makes the coffee. So if a customer orders a coffee, she will make the coffee first, pass it to the customer then take the next order. This practice is quite common in cafes in Latvia.

There are five different menus – A’la carte, kids, snacks, tourist groups, and those in a rush. Details of each menu can be found on their website.

My initial plan was to get a coffee and a slice of cake. However, as I was waiting to order at the counter, I saw a waitress holding a dish of what looked like some pancake. My tour guide told me it was potato pancakes, a traditional Latvian dish. We both ordered the potato pancakes with cranberry jam (€ 3.80), and I also ordered a Cappuccino (€ 2.50).

The Cappuccino was served in a pretty floral porcelain teacup. A poached pear filled with cranberry jam sat atop the potato pancakes, garnished with a sprig of red currants and microgreens. The pancakes were not too bad; they were quite filling.

During peak season, there are a lot of tour groups. I recommend going early or later to avoid the crowd. If you plan on lunch, I suggest having lunch first before exploring the palace because it is quite a big palace.

Café Ozollāde

Website: http://www.ozollade.lv/beginning.htm

Telephone:  +371 29105356

Opening hours:  Monday – Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.

Address: Rundāles Pils
Pilsrundale, Latvia LV-3921

An elegant experience at The Dome Fish Restaurant

The Dome Fish restaurant, located in the old town of Riga within The Dome Hotel, serves delicious fish dishes prepared by Chef Sergei Siporov. Chef Siporov, trained in Michelin-starred restaurants outside of Latvia, uses fresh seasonal ingredients sourced directly from small local fisheries for most of the restaurant’s dishes.

The restaurant is elegantly decorated with dark wood furniture, upholstered chairs accompanied by a seat cushion, and dark wood tables draped with a pristine white tablecloth. The warm color palette of the interior, along with soft lighting and jazz music in the background, created an atmospheric ambiance. There is a small alfresco dining area with two tables.

Aside from the A la carte menu, the restaurant offers business lunch during weekdays and dinner on the rooftop terrace from April to October. Their daily business lunch menu is available on their Facebook page.

The staff was well-mannered and attentive; they laid out the table with care and grace. When I was about to leave, the waiter who served me apologized for the poor service, which took me by surprise because I thought the service was excellent.

I decided on the 2-course business lunch for 10.50 euros. For the 3-course, it would be 13.50 euros.  I had the catch of the day with pumpkin puree, bulgur nut salad, lemongrass, and lemongrass coconut sauce. For the dessert, I went for the Balsam panna cotta with berry sauce and granola.

I was served bread accompanied by a black rock creatively adorned with whipped butter. The bread was hands down one of the best I have had in a restaurant. It was fresh and tasted like sweet rye bread. The crust had a slight crunch with a firm but soft inside.

Each dish was like a piece of art, each one beautifully plated. The catch of the day was the orange trout. It looked simple but packed with sophisticated, nuanced flavors. The trout is beautifully cooked with perfectly crisp skin. The sauce was deliciously savory and sweet, but umami. The addition of chervil added a lovely minty-like taste that accentuated the flavor of the dish. The panna cotta was refreshing. The sourish berry nutty flavor (from the sauce with the granola) was an excellent accompaniment to the sweet custard.

The lunch was intensely satisfying. I got to savor an interesting and creative combination of tastes. An elegant, memorable gastronomic dining experience!

 

 

Le Dome Fish Restaurant

Website: https://www.domehotel.lv/en/restaurant

Telephone: +371 67 509 010

Opening hours：Weekdays 7:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m.  Weekends 8:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m.

Address:

Rozengrāls, medieval restaurant

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According to the restaurant’s website, the scripts mentioned the premises in 1293 as the most ancient wine vault and festival place of the Riga City Council! It is a favorite tourist spot, and a lot of tourists frequent it to take photos. However, do not mistake this place as a tourist trap.

As I descended the candlelit stairs, a strong sense of suspense and anticipation came over me; this being my first experience in a medieval-themed restaurant, I was in awe by the décor and authenticity – vaulted ceiling, terracotta and wooden flooring, wall niches with decorative items and candles, banners, square and rectangular wooden tables, Savonarola style chairs and rustic chandeliers. It’s like being taken to another era. The restaurant is lit with candles, giving you a strong sense of medieval times. The waiters wore medieval time outfits.

Each dish on the menu has a short historical story to it. The prices are slightly on the high side. I ordered the sea bass stuffed with cheese and horseradish served with a side of barley and lentils (€ 15) and a pumpkin pie (€2.70).  Bread wrapped in linen was served as I waited for my food. It was quite fragrant with a hint of sweetness. The food was served on a charcoal ceramic plate. The presentation of the sea bass was simple and honestly not appealing. I would have preferred it to be a fillet instead of a whole fish. The dish’s overall flavor was bland and drab; it lacked seasoning. The pumpkin pie was decent.

My waiter was cordial, attentive, and always had a smile on his face. He would come periodically to check on me. Being in Latvia for almost two weeks, he was the friendliest and most smiley waiter I’ve encountered. He deserves a waiter-of-the-year award!

Overall, I highly recommend this place for the experience.

 

 

Rozengrāls

Website: http://rozengrals.lv/

Telephone: +371 67 220 356

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday (12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.)

Address: Rozena iela, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Best French Bakery in town

Cadets de Gascogne is the first French bakery in Latvia, opened by two French men. The bakery is known for its croissants, which are made fresh every day and are said to be the best croissants in town. There are six branches in Riga, and I have been to three. The menu varies from store to store, but all three stores had croissants, canelés, and macaroons. Each store had a different décor, but the three that I have been to have had a simple and old-fashioned décor. 

I had the cheese croissant and butter croissant. The crust was flaky, and the inside was soft and chewy. The cheese they used had a lovely mild nutty flavor. The croissant wasn’t overpowered by the taste of butter like many I have had in the past. The bakery on Gertrudes Iela 30 had these delicious pizza slices. The pizza slice was served cold, but it was still really good.

This is a great place to go for quick coffee and French pastries in the morning. A coffee and a croissant would cost less than 5 euros. 

 

Cadets de Gascogne on Ģertrūdes iela 30

Ģertrūdes iela 30

 

Cadets de Gascogne on Krišjāņa Barona iela 52

Krišjāņa Barona iela 52

 

Cadets de Gascogne on Brīvības iela 73

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Cadets de Gascogne

Website:http://www.cadets.lv/#home

Telephone:+371 28 394 063

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday (7:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.) 

Address: Ģertrūdes iela 30, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1011, Latvia

 

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday （7:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.）

Telephone: +371 20 393 131

Address: Brīvības iela 73, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Koon Kee Wantan Mee, childhood nostalgia

After renewing my IC at UTC, Pudu, I took a stroll down Petaling Street (Chinatown) to find a place for lunch. I passed by Koon Kee and saw that they serve Wantan Mee. Since I haven’t had Wantan Mee for quite some time, I thought I give this place a try. Many would find the restaurant’s exterior appalling at first sight -it looks like a decrepit dirty shed. Koon Kee has been around since 1947, which explains the state that it is in now, but it would be nice if they could do some touch-ups to make the place more pleasant. There are only ceiling fans inside the restaurant, if you are seated inside, it’s pretty cool but the outside (under the shed) can be somewhat hot.

I ordered the classic Wantan Mee, which consists of char siew (bbq pork), choy sum, a bowl of soup with wontons, and pickled green chili. The noodles were perfectly cooked and springy. The sauce (a mixture of dark soy sauce, soy sauce, and oyster sauce) was aromatic, and the char siew was tender. The wontons had delicate and smooth skin. My first bite instantly evoked nostalgia from my childhood. The flavors were the same as what I had when I was a child. The Wantan Mees that I have had from my past visits were disappointing as they did not have that childhood flavor.

After doing some research online to write a review about this restaurant, it is touted that Koon Kee serves one of the best Wantan Mee in town. I haven’t had enough Wantan Mees to concur with that statement, but I don’t disagree either.

Despite the dirty surrounding, this Wantan Mee is the best I have had in a long while. If I’m in the area, I will definitely go back for more.

 

Koon Kee

Telephone: +60 3-2078 6554

Opening hours: Sunday – Monday (10:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.)

Address: 95, Jalan Hang Lekir, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Lavo

The day I went to Lavo was a big night for Manchester United football fans. It was the English premier league, and Manchester United was up against Manchester City. My friend, a Manchester United fan, tried persuading me to go watch the game with him. As I was quite tired and seeing that the match was at midnight, I insisted that I would rather go back to the hotel and rest.  My friend said that he had already made reservations at the lounge, so I would go for one drink.

I can see why my friend brought me to this lounge. With a 200-inch full-HD display, it was the ideal place to watch the game. In addition, the lounge has a big outdoor and indoor dining area.

Lavo is a modern avant-garde resto-lounge located in the hip and upscale Tropicana. The place is very well-ventilated. People were smoking inside, but there was no cigarette smoke smell. It was quite packed when I was there, but the noise level was not too loud.

One thing sort of put me off. I was seated at the bar, and I noticed two bartenders drinking from the glass used for customers, then rinsing it with water and putting it back.

Other than that, this is a good place to hang out with friends.

 

Lavo

Website: https://www.lavomy.com/

Telephone: +60 3-7803 7333

Opening hours: Sunday to Monday (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m.)

Address: Lien Hoe Tower Sdn. Bhd., Menara Lien Hoe, Lien Hoe Tower Sdn. Bhd., G.,, Jalan Tropicana 1/1, Tropicana, 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia