Cafés in Maskavas forštate

The Central Market

The Central Market covers 72,300 m², with five pavilions as its main structures and more than 3,000 trade stands; retail sales began on 10 November 1930.² Siļķītes un dillītes is at Centrāltirgus iela 3 k-3, and a Coffee Tower counter at Centrāltirgus 3 k-2.

Spīķeri and the river

Behind the market, the red-brick Spīķeri warehouses, about 150 years old, stand on a riverbank that has had a wharf for cargo ships since the 14th century. The quarter took shape in the second half of the 19th century; one warehouse was called the Hanf-Ambaren, German for hemp warehouse.³ The riverside became a promenade when improvement work finished in summer 2013, and it is about 15 minutes' walk south of the Old Town.³

The Academy of Sciences and the old streets

The Latvian Academy of Sciences, built between 1951 and 1961, rises 108 m and was the republic's first skyscraper; locals call it "Stalin's birthday cake", and a 17th-floor balcony at 65 m is open for viewing.⁴ The Grebenshchikov Old Believer House of Prayer, described as the largest in the world, is in the same district.¹

Under Nazi occupation the neighborhood was made a ghetto for Jews, and memorials now stand at the site of the Great Choral Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery.¹ Nearby, Katkevich is at Lāčplēša 114 and Nata Cafe at Lāčplēša 106 k-1.

Brunch, bakeries and student cafés

Firss, at Firsa Sadovņikova 20, serves brunch daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with Wi-Fi and vegan dishes. Sviesta pika, at Elijas 8E, opens 10:00–16:00 on weekdays and takes cards. On Lauvas iela, LU SZF kafejnīca is at number 4 and TSI kafejnīca at number 2.

Out along Latgales iela, Dhama at 174A is a vegan café open 10:00–18:00 from Monday to Saturday. Dārziņu virtuļu namiņš, at 256A, opens 08:30–19:00 on weekdays, and 1/2 dienas, at 240, opens 10:00–16:00 on weekdays. Šeherezade is at Ogres 1A.

Iļģuciema, at Latgales 250 k-3, opens 08:30–19:00 on weekdays and 10:00–17:00 at weekends, and has toilets. Caffeine, Costa, Sala and Cofyz all have counters at Latgales 257. Closer to the river, Rāmkalni is at Krasta 36, and Daily, Double Coffee and Sala share Krasta 46. Enhars has two cafés, at Mazā Krasta 83 and Rītupes 2.