Not quite restaurants, but not bars either, the following cafés in Riga are laid back places where you can sip a coffee and check your email without receiving dirty looks from the staff. Although Riga no doubt had plenty of historic cafés before WWII of the kind you might see today in Prague or Vienna, Soviet communism ensured that none have survived to the present. On the bright side, this means that many of the cafés you’ll find in Riga are modern, hipsterish places embracing contemporary trends and dripping in style. In short, proper French croissants and macarons are quite common in Riga’s cafés and bakeries, not to mention gourmet, fair-trade coffee that was brewed in an expensive Italian machine that probably cost more than your first car. Most of these places also provide ample outside seating in the summer months should you prefer your cappuccino al fresco. Some of the cafés listed here also serve brunch at the weekend. Cafés are permitted to operate until 24:00 and can seat four people at one table indoors (not from the same household) or more people outdoors.