(27 October 2025) - The Michelin Guide has published its new ratings for restaurants in Latvia. The selection for 2026 adds three new restaurants, bringing the third edition of the guide's recommendations to a total of 34 restaurants: 27 of them are located in Riga and seven outside the capital. In total, the Michelin Guide Latvia 2026 recommends two restaurants with one star and five restaurants with a Bib Gourmand for their excellent value for money.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, said: "We are delighted to welcome three new restaurants to the Michelin Guide Latvia 2026 - the highlight being SMØR Bistro, which is included in the selection with a Bib Gourmand for its value-for-money cuisine with French and Danish influences. This, combined with its warm atmosphere and stylish ambience, also makes it a deserving winner of our "Opening of the Year" award.

One star

Stars are awarded to restaurants that offer outstanding cuisine. Five universal criteria are taken into account: the quality of the ingredients; the harmony of flavours; the mastery of techniques; the personality of the chef reflected in his cooking; and, equally important, consistency both across the menu and over time.
JOHN Chef's Hall and Max Cekot Kitchen in Riga retain their star for 2026.

Bib Gourmand

The Bib Gourmand award highlights restaurants in the selection that offer high quality food at a good price. For 2026, one new restaurant will be added directly to the guide with the award, and another will be promoted from the main selection.

The newly added SMØR Bistro in Riga, located just down the road, is a stylish spot where warm terracotta tones and marble-topped tables set the tone. The menu combines classic French recipes with international influences - particularly from Denmark, with open smørrebrød sandwiches taking centre stage at lunchtime. Dishes to share, such as whole turbot, are also on offer - at prices that are just as impressive as the dishes themselves.

Already featured in the main selection, H.E. Vanadziņš in Cēsis offers more than meets the eye. Behind the traditional façade is a surprisingly modern restaurant with a cosy atmosphere and a spacious, hidden terrace at the back. The clearly laid out menu emphasises regional products - a claim that is also reflected in the bar, where home-made ingredients enhance both the non-alcoholic drinks and the cocktails. Add to this fair prices and cosy rooms - and you have an all-round successful offer. These restaurants join the three existing Bib Gourmand restaurants, all of which have retained their award from last year:

• Milda, Riga
• Shōyu, Riga
• Snatch, Riga

Recommendations

27 restaurants are represented in the main selection this year, two of which are listed in the guide for the first time. Tucked away in a vaulted cellar under a brick ceiling is The Catch in Riga, a lively offshoot of the Bib Gourmand-winning Snatch restaurant. The atmospherically lit main room with a view of the marble sushi counter offers plenty of atmosphere, but you can also retreat behind a curtain to an even cosier area. The varied menu presents Japanese-inspired classics, from tender sushi and crispy tempura to warming soups and dishes from the robata grill. The friendly and efficient team ensures a smooth service, while the skilfully mixed cocktails underline the lively atmosphere.

Located in the heart of Riga's city centre, Māsa has a clean interior in muted greys, beiges and light wood tones - a calming colour palette that contrasts nicely with the restaurant's vibrant, youthful energy. Carefully crafted cocktails and small dishes to share are the perfect prelude before diners move on to the more substantial main courses. While local ingredients form the basis of the menu, its spirit extends beyond Latvia, drawing on Mediterranean and occasionally Asian influences to create a culinary experience that feels both cosmopolitan and locally rooted.

Green Star

The Green Star recognises restaurants that are at the forefront of the industry in terms of sustainable practices - restaurants that combine culinary excellence with initiatives to reduce their environmental impact. These restaurants are a source of inspiration for both foodies and the catering industry as a whole. Pavāru māja was first recognised at the launch of the Latvia Guide 2023 and continues its sustainable initiatives today.

Special awards

While the Michelin Guide's culinary awards are given to a restaurant as a whole, the special awards go to outstanding individuals and teams who, thanks to their endless passion and considerable skill, make a visit to a restaurant an unforgettable experience. This year's winners are:

• "Opening of the Year" award - Kaspars Barsukovs at SMØR Bistro in Riga. SMØR means butter in Danish and is a nod to the chef's time spent in Scandinavia and his love of French cuisine with butter. After returning home to open this very friendly brasserie in the heart of the city, he now shares the fruits of his time abroad with the people of Riga, offering them smørrebrød at lunchtime and classic French dishes in the evening.
• Young Chef of the Year Award - Timofei Monahhov at Seasons in Riga. This magnificent restaurant fits in perfectly with the luxurious Grand Palace Hotel in which it is located. As the name suggests, the menus are closely aligned with the seasons, and creative chef Timofei ensures that the menu never gets boring. He is a master of his craft and treats his ingredients with care and respect, bringing classic flavours into the modern day. He draws inspiration from the world's greatest painters - such as Mark Rothko - so the dishes are, as you would expect, colourful and visually stunning.
• Service of the Year Award - Sergejs Šiporovs and the team at The Catch in Riga. This Japanese izakaya makes for a successful evening thanks to its tempting cocktails, subtle lighting and cosy atmosphere, but above all thanks to the warm and friendly service team. The food is perfectly timed and served with care, and the whole experience flows effortlessly from course to course.
• Sommelier of the Year Award - Ivars Kalninš at Riviera in Riga. This traditional brasserie exudes Mediterranean flair, and the menu reflects the same warmth and simplicity. There is also an extensive wine list with over 1,000 bottles from all over the world, making it one of the most complete wine cellars in the city. Ivars is not the type to keep his knowledge to himself, so for once he has shared his expertise with the entire service team. This means that no matter how busy the restaurant is, every guest is always well advised.