Catering

Saloons, cafes and other places in small towns and the countryside which offer tasty dishes made of local products and on the basis of traditional Latvian recipes – ones which differ from region to region.

  • Special programmes are offered to visitors, with meals, stories about holiday and everyday traditions, and songs. Sometimes visitors are involved in preparing the food.
  • Menus use local names for dishes along with explanations and a discussion of the local dialect.
  • Providers of Latvian foods also use ethnographic styles for interior design, as well as dishes, furniture, textiles, etc., from local craftspeople.
Overview Details

Latvia

The “Karlamuiza” guesthouse

Located in Kārļi, the guesthouse is in a building that used to serve as the servant’s home for the former noble estate. It mostly uses local ingredients and only prepares meals on the basis of individual orders that are filed in advance.

Latvian cuisine: Roast meats, apple bread, homemade ice cream, bread soup, cranberry fool, wild mushroom sauce, homemade wine.

Special foods: Trout from the Kārļi stream.

Distance from countries capital city70 Active season months1-12 Accepts individual travellers Pre-order required Accommodation available Accepts tourist groups
Facilities  appropriate for children

Latvia

The “Putelkrogs” café

This family-run café is on the edge of the Jelgava-Tērvete road, at the historic Pūteļi dairy processing plant.

Latvian cuisine: Goat’s cheese, cold beet soup, grey peas with bacon, herring with potatoes and cottage cheese, roast pork, veal with wild mushroom sauce, pork roast in heather honey, crepes with heather honey, rye bread, birch juice, cranberry beverage, vodka, local beers.

Special foods: Zeppelins a la Pūteļkrogs, served with wild mushroom sauce, chicken filet stuffed with tomatoes, goat’s cheese and dried tomatoes.

Distance from countries capital city65 Active season months1-12 Accepts tourist groups This destination has specific opening hours which you must determine in advance Accepts individual travellers Accommodation available
Facilities  appropriate for children

Latvia

Pub MEKE

Opened on June 21, 2011, at the 51st kilometre of the Tallinn-Riga highway, the MEKE KROGS pub is a typical example of the roadside pubs which used to be built along the sides of roads and near homesteads, castles, mills and windmills. This particular one is located into renovated cattle shed that is more than 100 years old – a lovely log building that is named after the former baron of the local estate, von Mecke. Alongside it is the handsome parish building which was erected in 1907 with red bricks from Tūja.

Latvian cuisine: Sorrel stew with grits, cold soup, pounded beef, mutton and vegetable stew, grits with smoked meat and mushrooms, herring with cottage cheese, bread soup.

Special foods: Porridge with bacon bits and Meke spicy sausages.

Distance from countries capital city51 Active season months1-12 Internet access Accepts tourist groups Accepts individual travellers This destination has specific opening hours which you must determine in advance
Place for tents Facilities  appropriate for children
PICT0115
Latvia

Upenite

The “Upenite” country house is located on the southern shore of Lake Ciritis. This farm nurtures Lettigalian traditions, serves Lettigalian foods, produces dairy products (including cheeses), grows local plants (which you can purchase), and offers a chance to visit a proper Lettigalian black sauna. The owners themselves will serve as the sauna masters. Master’s classes in the baking of tortes are offered.
Latvian cuisine: Farmer’s soup, potato dumplings, potato sausages (grated green potatoes with dried pork and onions), black currants with whipped cream, caraway seed sticks, herbal teas, cottage cheese with cream, curdled milk pancakes.
Special foods: Oven-baked carp or tench from the local pond.

Agri Heritage Fishing Horseback riding For parties Distance from countries capital city229 Active season months1-12 Accepts individual travellers Pre-order required No pets allowed Must register in advance SPA Optional meals Accommodation available Accepts tourist groups
FireplaceSteam bathFarm animalsBirch besomRooms for  festivities20pers.Place for tentsNo smokingLiving room available to guests FishingSwimmingBoatsHorseback ridingFishing - winterFacilities  appropriate for childrenBerry and mushroom pickingTour guide servicesBoat tourPicnick areaNature trailNature watching Nearest restaurantNearest town Hosts speak GermanHosts speak RussianOther languagesHosts can meet at the nearest stationMassageProfessional sauna-consultant
Terase 2
Latvia

Brewery VALMIERMUIZAS ALUS

Tourists can learn about the history of the estate and the brewing of beer, beginning with raw materials and ending with finished products. The visit is enriched by tastings of live beer and stories about Latvia’s traditional holiday beverage. Alongside the brewery is a store which sells live beer, homemade goodies and selected souvenirs.

The “Valmiermuižas alus virtuve” saloon popularises Latvian beers and uses beer in various dishes. A modern approach to homemade products is used to prepare foods and beer-based snacks. There is a beer garden during the summer, and the saloon merges traditional things with modern ones.

Latvian cuisine: Smoked pork, filet of pike from Lake Burtnieks, green pea mash, with loganberries, quince, pumpkin birch juice and mushroom sauce as accompaniments.

Special foods: Slice of pork marinated in unfiltered winter beer.

For parties For children and teenagers Local lifestyle Seminars Distance from countries capital city111 Active season months1-12 Accepts individual travellers Must register in advance This destination has specific opening hours which you must determine in advance Accepts tourist groups Optional meals
BBQRooms for  festivitiesRooms for seminars Horseback ridingRide in horse driven sledgeFacilities  appropriate for childrenTour guide servicesPicnick areaSouvenire shop Nearest town Hosts speak EnglishHosts speak RussianOther languages

Latvia

The Dzirnavu saloon of the Birini Castle

The saloon is in the park of the Bīriņi Castle alongside a lake. It offers a lovely view from the summer terrace. The saloon is in the old windmill building, with antique objects preserved in the interior.

Latvian cuisine: Grey peas with bacon, herring with potatoes, sautéed chicken and potatoes, chanterelle sauce, sautéed cabbage with hunter’s sausages, apple tart.

Distance from countries capital city55 Active season months1-12 Accepts individual travellers Accepts tourist groups Accommodation available This destination has specific opening hours which you must determine in advance
Facilities  appropriate for children Nearest town

Latvia

House of traditions "Zvanitaji" in Rucava

The wooden building was erected in the late 19th century and features a museum which demonstrates the way in which people lived more than 100 years ago.  Exhibits include household objects, the Rucava folk costume, socks and decorated mittens.  Various events involving discussions, singing, games, dancing and weaving are organised, as are cultural and educational programmes such as “Evening Activities” and “A Rucava Banquet” with local foods from lower Kurzeme.

Latvian cuisine: Buns, sourdough porridge, homemade bread, honey, herbal teas.

Distance from countries capital city259 Active season months1-12 Must register in advance Accepts individual travellers Pre-order required Accepts tourist groups

Latvia

The Klajumi horse farm

The farm features twelve friendly horses from Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus, as well as three eager dogs of various species, along with rabbits, chickens, cows and cats. Here you will feel the true country spirit in four adjoining farms – Klajumi, Ganiņi, Ķemeri and Krasti. The location is near the “Rings of the Daugava” Nature Park, and you can go horseback riding along the border between Latvia and Belarus.

Latvian cuisine: Schnitzel of mushrooms, potato dumplings with dried mushrooms or meat, cream sauce and onions, baked chanterelles with new potatoes, sautéed vegetables and mushrooms, strawberries with ice cream, moonshine liquor.

Special foods: Cranberry fool a la Klajumi

Active leisure Beautiful sights Agri Heritage For children and teenagers Horseback riding Distance from countries capital city275 Active season months1-12 Accepts tourist groups Must register in advance Accepts individual travellers Accommodation available Accepts individual travellers Pre-order required Optional meals
FireplaceSteam bathFarm animalsOutdoor firepalceBBQBirch besomNo smokingLiving room available to guests TV Video FishingSwimmingHorseback ridingHorseback riding instructorRide in horse driven sledgeFootball fieldFacilities  appropriate for childrenCross-country skiingTour guide servicesBicycle trailIce skatingNature trailNature watchingSouvenire shop Nearest restaurantNearest town Hosts speak EnglishHosts speak RussianHosts can meet at the nearest stationProfessional sauna-consultant
Lauku labumi1 sklandrausi
Latvia

Baking carrot buns "Usi"

The farm is located in the north-west of Latvia, which was historically inhabited by Livonians and, nowadays, is often called the Livonian coast.  Farm is one of the first homes in Kolka, 1.2 km from Kolkasrags, the furthest northern point of Courland separating the Baltic Sea from the Gulf of Riga.

The owner of the farm demonstrates the way in which the traditional Northern Kurzeme dessert that is a carrot bun and is known as a "sklandrausis" is prepared. Sklandrausis is registered in the EU food quality scheme as a product with traditional speciality guaranteed. Hikers can take a tour to see the industrial history of Kolka, complete with theatrical elements and tasting of Latvia’s best sprats.

Latvian cuisine: Porridge with fried onions and meat, kefir, herbal teas.

Special foods: Carrot buns.

By the sea Agri Heritage Distance from countries capital city160 Active season months4-10 Pre-order required Accepts tourist groups Must register in advance Accommodation available Optional meals
Facilities  appropriate for childrenPicnick area Nearest bus stop0.5kmNearest restaurantNearest town Hosts speak EnglishHosts speak Russian
FGC 0110
Latvia

The “Kucuru dzirnavas” guesthouse

The windmill building (1875) is now a museum and offers well known wedding traditions. Guests can catch fish in the local pond and then cook them.
Latvian cuisine: Sautéed cabbage, pork ribs, homemade steak haché, onion rings, Kučuri tortes, natural juices, berry beverages.
Special foods: “Kučuri rescue soup” – solyanka for hangovers.

Distance from countries capital city150 Active season months1-12 Pre-order required Accommodation available Accepts tourist groups
Facilities  appropriate for children