Vidzeme is the central region of Latvia. It has been the centre of transport, trade and culture for many years, and therefore it is also a gastronomic place where different tastes have met since the very beginning. It is a region where the traditions of Latvian cuisine have been preserved, the features of other countries have flowed in, and innovations are also emerging, both in cafes and restaurants, as well as in farms. Where to look for the most distinct, characteristic and unusual flavours of Vidzeme? We have created a review of places that we recommend for everyone interested and lovers of gastronomic tourism.
“Pavāru māja” in Līgatne
For leisurely gourmets, we definitely recommend visiting “Pavāru māja” in Līgatne. As the owner and chef Ēriks Dreibants says, this is the place to enjoy the brightest flavours of the region. It’s not just a slogan, but a belief that embodies the ever-changing menu, which adapts to the availability of products and is made from seasonal produce available from local farmers and the nature. Here you can pick a four-course (lunch) and six-course (dinner) tasting menu, so that you can enjoy a true adventure of the most pristine flavours currently in the region. You can view the menu and book a table here. It is also possible to buy various products made by the chefs, such as salt made of wild goods, lavender, blackcurrant and other sparkling drinks, as well as various syrups, honey and jams.
Modern and cosy canteen “Zaļā zāle”
You will find modern and global flavours of Vidzeme at “Zaļā zāle” in Cēsis. It’s a place no one will leave hungry. The restaurant’s speciality is savoury burgers, which introduce both local products and foreign trends. It is definitely worth “leaving some room for dessert”, as the restaurant offers delicious cakes. This place is also special for its cosy, southern atmosphere, with a quiet patio where vinyl records are played and an occasional concert in an intimate atmosphere takes place.
Sophistication and details – “Kest”
Restaurant “Kest” is run by a well-known chef in Latvia, Māris Jansons, and as the owner says: “A meal at “Kest” should be a pleasant experience, one that makes you open your eyes wide with pleasure, regardless of whether you taste something classic or something completely new.” The restaurant offers a seasonal five-course menu, as well as an extensive wine and drink list, which can be matched with each dish at the suggestion of the waiters.
“Akustika”
Restaurant “Akustika” is a place where you can enjoy not only food and drinks, but also art and hospitality. “Akustika” has a lot on its plate, for example, it is located in the old post and telegraph building of Valmiera, which has been renovated and furnished to acquire a modern look, but still retains the breath of history. The chefs of “Akustika” have created a new concept menu, from which each guest can create his/her own meal, thus giving the opportunity to enjoy a variety of flavour combinations. Here you will also find a versatile selection of wines, cocktails and other drinks, which will pique the interest even of the most sophisticated drink connoisseurs.
“Tvaiks x ogle”
How do burgers taste in Vidzeme? You will find it out when you visit the restaurant “Tvaiks x ogle”, which is located in the historical railway station in Alūksne. In the summer, two terraces are available – both on the platform and on the street, where the sun changes the lighting and mood depending on its location in the sky. It is a place where a historical environment and modern tastes meet. The menu offers a variety of snacks, homemade burgers, main dishes, inspired by various foreign cuisines, desserts and drinks. You can also enjoy coffee by the local coffee roasters and local craft beer varieties.
Valmiermuiža beer brewery
Valmiermuiža brewery is a place where the best of brewing meets modern methods and flavours. You can spend almost the entire day on the territory of the manor: visit the shop, have lunch in the beer kitchen, where a beer is specially matched with each dish, go on a tour of the brewery or go horseback riding. In addition, the annual fair “Gardu muti” is held on the territory of the brewery, where Latvian artisans and craftsmen are gathered offering the opportunity to taste and buy their produce – various smoked goods, game meat, fresh cheese, bread, fish, vegetables and other products of the nature of Latvia.
Jāņa market in Sigulda
One of the best ways to experience a variety of flavours in one place is to go to the market! At Jāņa market in Sigulda, local Latvian traders and caterers operate under one roof in a pleasant, open and aesthetic environment. It is the place to have a delicious meal, buy local goods and enjoy a modern market atmosphere. The market is open every day throughout the year. It is a place where Latvian taste traditions and local products meet, and local caterers offer their interpretation of world cuisine. At Jāņa market, you can taste local fish, Italian-style pizza, Asian flavours, street food and the best and freshest from farmers’ gardens. If you’re looking for a place to add to your journey of tastes where seemingly everything that gastronomic tourism has to offer meets, Jāņa market should definitely be on your itinerary.
Straupe farm goods market
Is there any place better than the local farmers, owners and producers to taste and get to know the flavours of the region? If you are in Vidzeme, you can meet them all at Straupe farm goods market, which gathers local connoisseurs of tastes on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at Straupe Horse Mail. Straupe farm goods market is the only Baltic member of the international association “Slow Food International Earth Markets Alliance” and has the right to use the logo of this association. This means that the products that come to the market are made according to the “Slow Food” philosophy – they are local, seasonal and of high quality, ethically grown, preserving the diversity of nature and taking care of environmental sustainability.
A stop for sweet lovers – “R Chocolate”
Refined artisan chocolate, created by caring hands and based on cultivated knowledge of the delicate world of chocolate flavours: “R Chocolate”. Although the chocolate is available in several stores both in Latvia and outside the country’s borders, it is created in Trikāta. The factory makes chocolate bars, truffles, medallions, crunchy figures, fruits in chocolate and other products. As the owners say, they want to grow slowly but surely, allowing their gourmets to learn the secrets of making chocolate delicacies, highlighting the positive qualities of chocolate and the varied nuances of taste. And you can discover it all by visiting the chocolatiers. The visit must be booked in advance by contacting “R Chocolate”.
Farm “Zutiņi”
Farm “Zutiņi” is a small family farm in Krimulda region, where farming is done guided by the mind, heart, conscience and ancestral values, as the owners say. They grow natural products, following ancient traditions and popularising and multiplying the types of varieties. In “Zutiņi” everyone has the opportunity to taste and buy herbs, various vegetables, buckwheat, peas, beans, salads, sprouts, juices, preserved food and other delicacies. It is also possible to go on a tour of the farm to explore the farm’s sustainable and ethical approach and taste the produce grown.
Organic farm “Ozolzīles”
“Ozolzīles”, like many other farms in Latvia, is a family business. This farm offers organically grown quince, rhubarb, winter garlic, onions and even garden chrysanthemum seedlings. Rhubarb and quince are distinct Latvian flavours, and both are sour. Quince is often called the lemon of Latvia, and rhubarb is a cold-resistant plant, good for growing, used in traditional Latvian sweet dishes such as plācenis and debesmanna. The farm produces syrups, juices and lyophilised crisps from sour plants, or plants that are freeze-dried in a vacuum. You can buy these unique snacks and syrups at the farm near Valmiera.
“Zilver” winery
Near Sigulda, there is the “Zilver” winery, which was created from apple and pear orchards, and where wines are made from various garden and forest berries, fruits and flowers. A visit to the “Zilver” winery is a great way to get to know the flavours of Vidzeme more closely, while enjoying various drinks. The best way to do this is to book a tasting, where you will enjoy wines and slightly stronger spirits, as well as snacks. Moreover, there’s a unique event happening every summer from the end of May until Līgo or summer solstice festival, apple hunting, where everyone interested is invited to catch their own apple with a bottle. In the summer, when the apples grow, you can get lucky and have an apple grown in a bottle, which later turns into apple brandy – with your apple in the bottle. In autumn, all bottles that have been a success are delivered to their hunters.
