Leonid Andronov
Leonid Andronov

Kosher and Jewish Life in Riga

TJT’s guide for kosher and Jewish travelers in Riga. Information about kosher restaurants, cafes, shops, bakeries or delis, kosher near me location based (GPS) search, & Jewish points of interest, such as shuls, mikvahs, kosher and observant friendly hotels and Jewish community centers in Riga, Latvia.

About Riga

Riga, Latvia’s capital and largest city, is a cultural center with museums and concert halls known for its wooden buildings, medieval Old Town and art nouveau architecture. Set on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava, it offers a wide range of water activities, from canal boat tours to beach swimming. Riga is home for more than 700,000 inhabitants and is the largest city in the Baltic States. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is −5 °C (13 °F). The proximity of the sea causes frequent autumn rains and fogs. Continuous snow cover may last eighty days. The summers in Riga are warm and humid with the average temperature of 18 °C (64 °F), while the temperature on the hottest days can exceed 30 °C (86 °F).

Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Riga

The History of the Jews in Latvia dates back to the first Jewish colony established in Piltene in 1571. Today's Jewish community traces its roots to survivors of the Holocaust, Jews who fled to the USSR to escape the Nazi invasion and later returned, and to Jews newly immigrated to Latvia from the Soviet Union. The Latvian Jewish community today is small but active. In the early 2000s (decade), after a decade of mass emigration, around 9,000 Jews remained in Latvia, mostly in Riga, Rabbi Natan Berkhan, Chief Rabbi of Riga and Latvia, runs the Central Synagogue, Riga’s only synagogue. There is a kosher meat restaurant, Café L’Chaim, in the basement of the JCC.

Weather In Riga

30 Mar

Shabbat Candlelighting Times for Loading...

Please note:

Shabbat times on this page are based on the common Candle lighting formulas - in most locations it is 18 minutes before sunset. If you have any comments or questions regarding Shabbat Times on this page, please contact us

What Is *JOFY?

JOFY, or "Jewish Observant Friendly" Establishments are lodging establishments offering special services for Jewish Observant guests such as Shabbat meals, accommodation on lower floors and regular keys for the rooms. It can also be a NON KOSHER establishment located in walking distance from the local Shul, community or kosher restaurants area.

Please note - *JOFY does NOT mean that KOSHER food is served on the premises!