The 7 Best Food Tours and Balsam Tastings in Riga

1.Latvian food tasting tour at Riga Central market

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 241 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $44Our pick

Spend about two hours walking through all five historic Zeppelin hangars at Riga Central Market with a small group and guide Guna. You’ll sample Latvian meats, fish, cheeses, rye bread, pickles, sweets, peas, and local drinks. Tastings can amount to a light meal, though the tour is not sold as lunch.

“The meeting place was 500 meters from the market! It would have been easier to meet AT the market. There were too many people (22) and you could not hear most of what was said. The food samplings were: a smoked drumstick, raspberries, a shot of a local liquor, a bottle of water, grey peas and meat, a piece of candy, 2 pieces of cheese, 3 small pieces of bread with spreads (hemp, dried tomato, garlic/cheese, more cheese, pickled vegetables and fish with bubbly white wine, rye truffle and a danish pastry”

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2.Riga Central Market

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $77

Spend two hours with a private English-speaking guide at Riga Central Market, sampling Latvian foods such as sprats, hemp butter, rye bread, beer, and sweets across five pavilions. Guides including Dace and Edgar explain food customs, winter preservation, and local traditions before you browse the outdoor stalls and nearby Spikeri warehouses.

“This was a fabulous food tasting , Dace was so informative she gave us traditional food we would never have tried had we not booked this trip.”

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3.Medieval Experience: Guided Sightseeing and Food Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Meet your English-speaking guide at St. Peter’s Church for about an hour of Riga Old Town sightseeing, then enjoy Latvian food samples and one drink in a traditional medieval restaurant. Guides such as Valentina have led engaging walks, with optional traditional drink tastings available. The private tour ends where it starts.

“We enjoyed our tour of Riga, although were surprised when the guide left us at the restaurant. She was very informative and we enjoyed the tour quite a bit. We had a taste of 2 levels of alcohol shots and then some Latvian foods hat were very good.”

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4.Shared Activity Riga Black Balsam 18th Century Degustation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $138Top rated

At Riga Black Magic Bar, you’ll taste five Latvian drinks, including classic Black Balsam, currant, cherry, chocolate and tropical versions, plus Latvian honey brandy. An English-speaking guide such as Alina or Tatiana leads the 40-minute tasting through an atmospheric bar and mysterious downstairs alchemical laboratory, ending with flavored coffee and a handmade truffle.

“This was so fun! Our host, (Alina?) Was so amazing. She guided us through the tasting and told her really interesting stories about the property and about balsam. She did such a great job of facilitating the entire experience. Five stars is for her! I highly recommend this. It’ll be a very memorable experience and the balsam is very good! You taste five different ones plus some bonus tastings. The facility is very interesting with lots of cool things to look at.”

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5.Riga Black Balsam XO Tasting Exclusive Flavor in Limited Edition

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Meet at Black Magic Bar in Old Riga for a private 90-minute tasting of Riga Black Balsam XO, an 8-year-old French brandy blend aged in oak. Your group of up to 10 also receives flavored coffee and two kinds of truffles in an 18th-century setting, with hosts such as Richard and Eleanor known for lively presentations.

“Luckily, I had had some Balzam before as a co-worker of mine brought me some back from his work trip to Riga. Now, I got to do an exclusive Balzam tasting with my wife in the secret room. The host was brilliant as he was funny and charming. I think I was one of a few who loved this drink. However, it is more about the experience of trying something unique to only one country. I really recommend giving this a try as it is fun and well worth it.”

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6.Private Snowmobile or ATV Safari with Riga Black Balsam Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $164

Leave Riga by private vehicle for a two-hour ATV or quad-bike outing in a pine forest. Your driver provides door-to-door pickup and return anywhere in Riga on request. Safety gear, water, transport, and a private setting are included. Confirm the snowmobile option and Black Balsam tasting details before booking.

“It was a great experience. Service was excellent. It was a beautiful forest scenery! We recommend to everyone”

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7.Fun Walk Private Tour Around Central Market Riga

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $401

Spend about two hours with a private guide at Riga Central Market, where you’ll hear how the market became Europe’s biggest and learn about its 20th-century use. Expect local salads, sandwiches, fresh juices, fish, and other food samples, followed by a walk toward Riga Old Town. The pace can be brisk, so tell your guide if you need more time.

“The guide made us to enjoy the fascinating blend of history and culinary delights at the Riga Central Market. We sampled some incredible local specialties along the way. Big kudos to our guide for making this experience so memorable.”

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