Nine Italian restaurants in Riga bring a taste of southern Europe

A warm summer evening paired with Italian food — pasta, pizza, bruschetta, tiramisu and an Aperol cocktail — is hard to beat, but a trip to Italy isn't always possible. Fortunately, Riga offers several Italian restaurants whose quality compares favorably to dining in Italy itself.

Rione

One recommended spot is Rione, praised for its genuine southern-European atmosphere and food that tastes remarkably close to the real thing. The restaurant has seating that lets guests watch the chef prepare their pizza. Having visited multiple times, the author says it's worth not skimping on dessert — the affogato and lemon sorbet stood out in particular. A nice touch was a complimentary glass of limoncello offered by the waitress at the end of the meal.

Italissimo

Another of Riga's best Italian restaurants, according to the author, is Italissimo. Its menu is extensive, making choices difficult, so it helps to go with someone willing to share dishes in order to try more of the menu. Dessert impressed here too, with the cheesecake singled out as excellent. A small but pleasant detail was a mango sorbet served between courses to refresh the palate.

The original article covers nine Italian restaurants in Riga altogether, with Rione and Italissimo described in more detail.