Hilton Kuala Lumpur

Hotel Kuala Lumpur is located in the KL Sentral district. This is my first time staying at a Hilton hotel. The location is strategically convenient, with the airport express train just a stone’s throw away. I love the layout of the room. The rooms are well equipped. I especially like the tub and the rainforest shower. The pool area is connected with Le Meridien, so it’s quite spacious.

On my first night at the hotel, I ordered room service. I got myself fish soup noodles for dinner. The soup and the noodles came separately. The soup was in a steel jug. I thought that was a creative touch. The noodles came garnished with sea bass, asparagus, shiitake, Choi sum, fried onions, and a sprinkle of white pepper. The umami broth was rich and savory. The ingredients were fresh.

For breakfast the next day, I ordered pancakes and a Cappuccino. The pancakes were decent. The Cappuccino tasted like it came from a coffee vending machine. The flavor of the milk was more prominent than the coffee, and too much milk froth. That was a real disappointment.

The buffet breakfast is located at Vasco’s restaurant. The staff was friendly and helpful. The view from the restaurant was not as fantastic as it is facing the main road.

The breakfast had a good spread of western and Malaysian cuisine. I was impressed with the flavor authenticity of the Malaysian dishes. I had Nasi Lemak (coconut rice), Roti Canai (Indian flatbread), teh Tarik (pull tea), and Nyonya kuih (Malaysian dessert), and it tasted authentic.

There is a juice bar serving freshly squeezed juice, and guests can also request a custom juice.

Overall, I thought the food was excellent, especially the Malaysian cuisine.

Hilton Kuala Lumpur

Website: http://life.hiltonkl.com/#

Telephone: +603 2264 2264

Address: 3, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A taste of Punjab

Singh’s is an Indian restaurant boasting authentic Northwestern Indian and Punjab cuisine. There are three branches in Riga. I went to the one on Ģertrūdes street. There are two floors. The 2nd floor has three dining halls suited for private dining and events. The decor has a subtle Indian yet modern flair with dark wood leather upholstered chairs, red, orange, green, and white square ceramic tiles, and three big black and white pictures on the wall of what seemed like India during colonial times.

The service was good, but the waitresses lacked emotion and connection.

I ordered a plain papadum (2.50 euros), Murgh Makhani (pieces of chicken cooked with tomato and ground cashews in rich buttery sauce) (9.95 euros), plain basmati rice (2.95 euros), and a coke (2.50 euros).

The papadum was huge. The biggest papadum I have had was the size of a teenager’s hand. It was a new papadum-eating experience for me. Some dips came along with the dish (three different types of chutneys and an onion salad). I have only eaten papadum either on its own or with rice and curry.
I wanted something spicy, so I asked the waitress if they could make the curry spicier. The waitress told me that it was quite spicy, and I assured her that I could handle the heat (having the stereotypical thinking that it’s Europe, they don’t eat spicy food… how spicy can it be?). True enough, it was spicier than I expected. The chicken pieces were tender; unfortunately, the buttery tomato sauce was not prominent. I have had spicy curries in the past, and they were full of flavors.

Honestly, I was not blown away by the food, and I was not a fan of the price either; it was a little high.

Singh’s

Website: http://www.singhs.lv/

Telephone: +371 66 220 000

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 23:00 p.m.

Friday 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Address: Ģertrūdes iela 32, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1011, Latvia

Rocket Bean Roastery: A Must-Visit Café Near Riga’s Art Nouveau District

Rocket Bean Roastery is a specialty coffee house in Dzirnavu, just a block away from the Art Nouveau district. The café has a chill vibe, with big glass windows and retro, rustic decor. Soft electronic music plays in the background.

Rocket Bean Roastery’s main branch is located on Miera Street and is also the coffee production site. The main branch occasionally organizes coffee cuppings, training, and educational trips. Rocket Bean Roastery roasts its own coffee, which can be purchased at both cafés. Lunch and dinner menus are available.

I got to the café around 11:00 a.m. I wanted to order a pancake, but they were no longer taking breakfast orders at that hour. The glass display case had one last open sandwich with arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, pickled cucumber, and an egg. The guy behind the counter suggested that I could order that. So I got the sandwich (3.50 euros) and a Cappuccino (3.40 euros). The Cappuccino was aromatic, intense, creamy, full-bodied, and bitter without being overwhelming. At the bottom of the cup is a picture of a thumbs up with a phrase ( Vella milti, ku’ labs). I tried looking up what the phrase means but had no luck. I found that the word “labs” means good in Latvian. If I had to make a guess, it could probably mean’ good job for finishing the coffee.’
The sandwich was light and healthy. Fresh ingredients on rye bread with sesame dressing.

A cool place to hang out and have a great cup of coffee.

Rocket Bean Roastery (Dzirnavu)

Website: http://www.rocketbean.lv/

Telephone: +371 27 337 746

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Saturday to Sunday (closed)

Address: Dzirnavu iela 39, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia

Rocket Bean Roastery (Miera street)

Telephone: +371 20 215 120

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m.- 21:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 9:0 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Address: Miera iela 29, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1001, Latvia

Lido Riga: A Local Favourite for Affordable Latvian Cuisine

My local tour guide and Airbnb host recommended this buffet restaurant chain for Latvian cuisine. It is where the locals go, especially for lunch. There are 16 branches in Riga, and the locations are available on their webpage. The biggest and most impressive Lido restaurant is the Lido Leisure Center. It is located in a three-story log building with a garden, a winter skating rink, and an amusement park. The restaurant’s basement is the brewery, the ground floor is the buffet restaurant, and the third floor is for fine dining.

The Lido restaurants serve almost the same food, with bigger branches offering a more extensive range of choices. There are salads, starters, poultry, meat, fish, potatoes, drinks, desserts, etc. Not only is the food impressive, but the price is reasonable. I was amazed at how cheap it was for the variety and amount of food I ordered. The ingredients were fresh and of good quality. The flavors of the food have both Western and Eastern European influences.

Lido Vermanitis is the largest chain near the old town. I ordered three different kinds of salad (beet salad with pickled cucumbers, spinach salad, potato salad with yogurt dill dressing), chicken pilaf, fried boiled potato, turkey meatballs in carrot tomato sauce, and solyanka soup. All of these cost me 10.50 euros, a pretty sweet deal! It was truly a satisfying lunch!

Lido Ģertrūde is a bistro restaurant that also serves breakfast. It has a small selection of food. As my apartment was close by, I came here for dinner. I did not want anything too heavy, so I went vegetarian. I ordered the basmati rice with vegetables, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables, and it cost me only 5.50 euros. The mashed potato was creamy and smooth. The rice was savory and sweet (from the raisins)… delicious!

I highly recommend this place for affordable, mouthwatering Latvian food. Visit the larger branches, such as Vermanitis and Leisure Center, for more food selections. As they are also more popular, it may be difficult to find a table during lunch hour. If you decide to go for lunch, try to go early or after 2 p.m. (my experience).

Lido

Website: https://www.lido.lv/en/

Lido Vērmanītis

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

Telephone: +371 67 221 318

Lido Ģertrūde

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m.

Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Saturday 24 hours

Telephone: +371 27 800 633

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

Finding Sweet Comfort at Kūkotava, Riga

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

A Taste of Uzbekistan in Riga: Discovering the Flavours of Uzbekistana

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.uzb ekistana.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 Café: A Cozy Local Gem for Coffee Lovers in Riga

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

The Dome Fish Restaurant: Where Fresh Seafood Meets Culinary Art

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!