Perhaps the city's best seafood restaurant, Le Dome offers trout, eel and lobster straight from the pond (literally, as it is in the restaurant). This freshness is backed up by creative cooking and knowledgeable service, making this a great venue for a culinary splurge. Off the main room are a trio of more private spaces, ideal for those entertaining or looking to tie up business deals. Not cheap, but well worth it.

Sushi is all the rage in Riga, and this restaurant might have something to do with that. Either order off the menu or grab anything and everything that tempts you from the conveyor belt of Japanese cuisine. If you get weary of the strong, heavy local brews, then the light and crisp Japanese beers for sale here make for a pleasant change.

With one of Latvia's most famous chefs, Martins Ritins, at the helm, this is still one of the best places to enjoy creative fine dining in Riga. Local business people and political movers and shakers have been joined over the years by visiting celebrities such as Elton John and Prince Charles. Service at Vincents is as satisfying as the food, though some recent reports suggest tourists are not always treated as well as locals.

For a dining experience that’s a bit different, try Austrumu Robeža. This communist-style restaurant is festooned with Soviet paraphernalia and little seems to have changed here since Stalin shuffled off his mortal coil. The food is as traditional as the décor, although it is perfectly palatable – especially after a few cheap vodkas. Doubling up as a theatre on the weekend, the restaurant hosts some lively performances that are worth checking out.

This is a popular themed restaurant in old town Riga that carries off a medieval ambience better than most. Dine on old Baltic favourites served by costumed staff in an experience that is much more enjoyable than it sounds. Cheesy sometimes, but always enjoyable and great for first-time visitors.

This fun and friendly medieval cellar bar is a great place to pick up some truly traditional Latvian food – and not a sprinkling of dill in sight. The antiquated menu features hearty delights such as smoked piglets’ ears, dried elk sausages and cannabis butter, all of which can be enjoyed by candlelight. Situated adjacent to the Powder Tower, the location is great and, luckily, they haven’t increased prices because of it.

Pelmeni is a doughy Russian dumpling that works very well with the variety of delicious fillings on offer at this unassuming old town eatery. Open until 0400, making it particularly popular with the local club scene, this joint is handy for anyone in a hurry or on a rock bottom budget.