Shopping
Shops selling groceries usually open from 7 or 8 am, whilst the majority of others open at 10 am and close at 7pm. Grocery shops usually close around 10pm, although a number stay open until the early hours and some never close. Opening and closing times are usually displayed on the door. Saturday is a normal working day, although some shops may close a bit earlier. Grocery shops and supermarkets open as usual on Sundays, as do a small number of shops in the centre. Check opening days on the door.
Over the last few years a number of large shopping centres have been built around the city, which all contain a variety of shops and one large supermarket. Most are open from 10am until 10pm 7 days a week.
Dotted around town are also kiosks, which usually sell ‘essentials’ such as beer, cigarettes, crisps, sweets, soap and washing powder. More common when there weren’t so many shops, they can still be useful if there is nothing else nearby.
Most of the western cook’s needs are catered for, with various ‘foreign’ foodstuffs, herbs and spices available in the supermarkets, although they can be relatively expensive. This can be said of most imported brands. Kellogg’s Cornflakes, for example, are ludicrously priced for a tiny packet, which would barely see you through four breakfasts.
Although not as good as it used to be, the Central Market is the place where you can buy just about everything, from fake designer sportswear and pirate CD’s to bread and milk. Reputedly the largest in Europe with around 3000 traders. There are five huge food halls housed in old zeppelin hangars, selling meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, dairy produce and bakery items. Also a good place to buy herbs and spices.
Supermarkets
There are several large supermarket chains in Rīga all offering a wide selection of foodstuffs and other goods.
Rimi (open 8-9-10am until 10pm) In several of the shopping centres and on K.Valdemāra iela. Sells everything you’d expect a supermarket to. In store bakery, takeaway section with hot food and salads, fish, meat. Electrical goods and clothing in the larger stores.
City Market (open 9am until 10pm) Pulkveža Brieža 33. Well stocked, western style store. In store bakery, takeaway section with hot food and salads. Electrical goods, clothing .
Stockmann (open 9am until 10pm) 13 Janvāra 8, on the ground floor of the large department store. Welcome recent addition to Rīga. Excellent selection, including many western products not available elsewhere in town.
Maxima (open 9am until 10pm) Domina Centre. Aso in Purvciems and Imanta. Large Hypermarket with about half the floorspace taken up by goceries. Excellent delicatessen and cheap takeaway section.
All locals drink bottled water and, as it is relatively cheap, many use it to make tea and coffee. Cleaning your teeth with tap water is perfectly safe though.
Bookshops
Jāņa Rozes Grāmatnica, K.Barona 5 and in many of the shopping centres is the biggest chain in Riga. It has mainly Latvian and Russian books, but has a reasonable selection of English language paperbacks.
Globuss, Valņu 26. A big supply of foreign language coursebooks, dictionaries, grammar books and some novels.
Valters un Rapa, Aspazijas 24. A large selection of books and a cafe to sit and read them in.
