New Year after-party in the brand new Riga nightclub RAЙ (Rai), which name could be translated as Paradise. Rai was open few weeks ago in place of the former ultra-popular club La Rocca, which is connected to Studio 69 Apparently Rai is an affiliate of Moscow club with the same name.
Nightclub The Club is located in Old town. To be precise it is in the same premises on Kungu iela as former Steam Club and even more former Nautilus club :) It was open in June 2010.
Yesterday in all Riga Clubs was a costume party devoted to Halloween. Just (to feel) is a new club in Old Town in the place of the former Zebra club, just across Coyote Fly. It is like a drain club of Coyote Fly. Almost all the people who couldn't get into Coyote go to Just Club :)
Morkovka (carrot) is colloquial name for shopping center located on the crossroads of Ilukstes & Deglava streets. It was built in the end of 1980s and painted in absolutely irregular color for Soviet times - the orange one. Nowadays the whole area around this building is called Morkovka, although it is not so orange as before. Morkovka is also kind of nightlife center. Some main residents of the building are Enigma nightclub, Fortuna casino and Deli cafe.
Another interesting name belongs to a nightclub located in Old Town on Aspazijas blvd next to Riga Gallery. Although Opium Dance Club is much more popular and reputable than Capsule After Party Club. Opium is a regular night club for both locals and tourists where regular visitors are between 18 and 22 years old. 2 stages with regular R&B and Dance music. Regular prices and no entry fee.
Club First Dacha or simply First Club is one of the most prestigious nightlife places in Riga. It is located in Andrejsala harbour, which is quite remote area from all other party places in Riga, hence here are no random visitors, if you don't have a yacht, of course :) I couldn't take a good picture during the night, therefore here is the morning after dark.
Bright Colours is the topic of regular Monthly theme and I was too late to take a good photo on time :) For a couple of days I couldn't find in Riga anything brighter than Piena Svetki (Milk Fest), which was held on 1st of August in area next to Piens club. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
Despite the full name of Naktsklubs Kapsula (Capsule Nightclub) it is a true morning club. The club was opened few months ago and it is located on Audeju iela across the night drugstore. Most of the visitors come here after 4 o'clock in the morning from regular clubs for after party. Rare case for places in old town, but this bar has entry fee.
Whitehouse Party at Vernissage Cafe is kinda Latvian replica of Sensation White. Electronic music, many DJs and the most important that everybody dressed in white (except shoes)
This morning I was quite surprised to see so many people next to Nightclub Godvil. In fact it was one of the final rehearsals before New Wave song contest.
Pulkvedim neviens neraksta (Nobody Writes to the Colonel) is a famous nightclub in Old Town named after the eponymous novella by Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It was opened in 2001 and it is located just across the bohemian Kabata club. These both places definitely can't be called mainstream clubs. Although it is not total alternative ones. Pulkvedis is just an good old small nightclub.
Nightclub Piens (Milk) is famous for its bohemian public and very friendly atmosphere. Although it is quite difficult to get into the club. Bouncer must know you, otherwise there is no way in. Luckily there is next door Kefirs club, which has no such strict rules to enter.
I've heard many drastic stories about this place, but I never knew that it is located in the very center on Matisa iela. Purvs (Mire) is a nightclub for sexual minorities, mostly for lesbians and gays. Purvs with its dark room has the reputation of the most lecherous place in Riga.
Pulse is a tiny nightclub located in the basement of the building at Citadeles street. Electronic music like Trance and Drum and Bass is very common in Pulse. Also it is being rent for private parties quite often.
Crystal Club is located on Lacplesa iela, in place of former cinema Kino 52. Since the opening in 2008 it's gaining some popularity among people from high society, mostly Russians. Despite free entrance, all Crystal's visitors look fancy and glamorous.
Colonnade is a nightclub in Riga. It is located on Dzirnavu iela, just next to Hotel Latvia and Essential club. It was opened in 2008, just after fire in La rocca, therefore a lot of "party people" moved to Colonnade. Despite free entrance, good location and good house/dance music, Colonnade didn't become one of the most popular Riga clubs.
La Rocca is the biggest and one of the most famous night clubs in Riga. It is located on Brivibas iela. La Rocca was opened in 2000 in the building of former Operetta Theatre. In 2007 La Rocca was on fire, but since the end of 2008 La Rocca is open again. La Rocca consists of 3 dance floors Red Square, RnB Bar and Main arena with different music styles. Also it shares the same roof with Studio 69 and many other entertainment facilities. Although you can visit it for additional entrance fee. Regular LaRocca visitor's age is between 16 and 21, hence prices in bar are relatively low if we compare them to other Riga places. The main disadvantage of La Rocca is the fierce security guards and distance from other night clubs.
Updated: Larocca club is closed down. Since December 2010 club Rai is located here.
Last night Armin van Buuren had live performance in Essential Club Riga. It was already his 4th visit in Riga. Thanks to his own unique project A State of Trance his popularity is growing drastically in the recent years, therefore Armin is said to be DJ #1 in the world 3 years in a row. Thanks to Sunwave for close-up photo :)
Coyote Fly or simply Kojoti is officially the second most busiest place in Riga, after French Bar naturally. Kojoti is also the most Latvian place ever. Foreigners are traditionally banned. In order to get into club you have to show Latvian ID document or be fluent in Latvian language. Very fluent! Pros: Always busy Good Location, just next to Embankment Lots of nice ladies, who dance on the bar Strict face control Unique toilets for guys Cons: Prices are a little bit higher than in average place Slow Service Usually no place in wardrobe No place to dance (no place to fall down neither :))
Nightclub Scandal (former name Martini) is located on Kalku iela, just next door to Malibu. Scandal is one of the biggest clubs in Old Town, it has two dance floors and a lot of chilling sofas, so it looks more like a lounge bar. Pros: excellent location almost always packed free entrance Cons: minimal face control, hence many drunk people looking for problems. sometimes very strange music
I have never been a big fan of blues, jazz music nor live music in general. Before I visited Bites Blues Club. I was invited by Lynne Jordan, who were not just performing here tonight, but also brought me a souvenir magnet from Chicago :) Her stage performance turned me into a new fan of live music, where an artist controls and interact with the public, making jokes, etc. Basically she behaves like an absolute leader and makes fun even with relatively quiet and passive crowd. So you can easy feel the energy exchange :) The club itself has a great atmosphere, nice design, it is without high prices and with enormous collection of blues artists' photos performed here, in Bites blūza klubs.
Salsa became an ultra-popular leisure activity worldwide and particularly in Latvia. Tens of clubs and study groups offer relatively cheap and qualitative salsa classes in Riga. I guess nearly everyone in Riga dances or had danced Salsa, Mambo, Bachata or Reggaeton. Do you dance? :)
Penthouse is a new nightclub in Old Town, which is being promoted as the only place in the Baltic States, where you can watch sensual and spicy shows in our erotic theatre. Why no spicy photos? I just didn't get any invitation for the grand opening ceremony :) BTW, Lounge 8 was located in this building before.
Foxy Lounge is located in the same building as Fashion club, Vegas Casino and Push Club. Despite trustworthy neighbours Foxy Lounge is blacklisted bar in Riga. When I was taking this photo I almost get in troubles with angry security, therefore there is definitely something wrong in this business.
Kabata (Pocket) is a small underground theater and bar with dance floor at the night time. This place is favourited by many artistic personalities of Latvian community. Initially it was opened as the first non-government-controlled Latvian theater in Soviet Union, hence its full official name has prefix Independent theater.
Original Tequila Boom aka Tequileria is located on Maza Pils iela. This place is known by everybody and has a household name, but only few know where it is located exactly ;) Recently opened another Tekila Bum in a very center is often perceived as this place.
Steam is the recently opened club in south part of Old Town at Kungu iela. In fact it is the same Nautilus club, which had resided in this building previously. Also Steam organizes daytime disco which is very popular among teenagers, who are not allowed in nightclubs.
Disko 21 is certainly a night club on Raina boulevard in the very center of Riga. It is not a posh place like Studio 69 or recently opened blazing Push, Disko 21 is more for people around 30 or older, who knows what the scene is. BTW, I guess this is the only night club in Riga where you can sing Karaoke :)
Tekila Bum is another place in Old Town to go out for drinking in Riga. By the way it is a night club as well. This place is sequel of another Tequila Boom. How fast are you able to drink one meter of Tequila? :)
Grūst (Push) is not anymore just a simple writing on some door on Merkela street. Push is the most recently opened night club in Riga, hence people without invitation are waiting in line for some new feelings and inexperienced emotions. The building, which Push is sharing with Fashion club, is still famous under another former club's name Vernissage.
Studio 69 is not only a night club, but a whole entertainment complex, which includes, different bars, restaurants, casino, hotel. And on top of that Studio is connected to Rai with its 3 dance floors and hundreds of regular visitors. Studio 69 has reputation of relatively expensive place for middle and upper-income workers. In fact here are a lot of people just pretending to be rich and the atmosphere of the club is very simulated. Pros:
Good music
A lot of nice looking girls
Sushi Bar
Shisha Bar (aka Hookah or water-pipe)
Cons:
A lot of rich people poor in spirit
Cheap young girls looking for a sponsor (for somebody it could be more pro rather than con :))
Enigma is one more blacklisted club in Riga. This place change name so often, that you can't track all of them. The most recent former names of this place were Puzzle and Pink Panther.
Radio Bars (Radiobar) is another Riga place of good reputation. Radio Bar is located on Zirgu iela in Old Town. Smoking kills and it is forbidden almost everywhere in Riga, including night clubs. Such law makes people gather next to doors of any club. The best thing about this club is chic and sexy bartender girls. And the worst thing is that they never respond :)
Kaļķu Vārti (Kalku's Gate) is cafe and restaurant at day time and nightclub at night. It is located next to another good place Mad House. Kaļķu Vārti is one of my favorite places in Riga, nice service, considered design and a lot of fun guaranteed :) The best time to visit Kalku varti is during the summer season, because of lovely open terrace. When you get bored of dance music in underground, you can always go upstairs, plop down on a couch, listen soft chill-out music and have a good cocktail. see also photo of bar of Kalku Varti :)
Mad House is relatively new place in Old Town. It was opened about 1-2 years ago just opposite Babylon club. Despite entrance fee is free, Mad House is a little bit more expensive than regular place in Riga. It is located in the most touristic area on Kalku street. A lot of foreigners, glamour girls and nice people can be met here. Unlike most of the Riga clubs, Mad House is open every night and has blameless reputation.
Essential is one of the biggest and the busiest clubs in Riga. Sometimes the club queue is veeeery loooong :) Working days from Thursday till Monday and 4 arenas filled with different music styles make this club beloved by many locals and foreigners. Essential Club is a good place to go out and to show off. This photo was taken last night on crossroads of Elizabetes and Skolas, in fact that was Thursday night.
Parachutist Camp at Griva airfield near Daugavpils city, 230 km from Riga. Since Riga skydiving club had moved its dropzone, everyone who would like to jump from a plane has to go to Daugavpils. A price to get dropped out of the aircraft is 35 Ls (45) EUR, training included :) BTW, maybe some of you are interested to make Riga city air tour.
Babylon is a recently opened club in Old Riga at Kalku street. In fact it is the same infamous former club Roxy. Everything is kept changeless, e.g. design of arenas, gloomy stuff, overpriced drinks and even the atmosphere. I guess "splendid" club's owners decided to make rebranding because of many accuses of cheating. Also please check full list of blacklisted places in Riga.
There is an interesting word consummation, but I am sure that you get me wrong. Working girls in Riga bars/clubs are often called as consummaters (консуматорши). It means that they do almost everything just to get you buying them a drink. Of course house shares some profit with such girls. Sin city is one more Riga place, where it is almost impossible to meet not working girl. Drinks in such places are usually cost up to 20 times higher than somewhere else. Luckily this place, located on Dzirnavu iela, is not blacklisted.
Updated: this photo was used as cover sheet of Vi Menn magazine.
Bakery is an untypical club/bar located on Bruninieku iela 73. Electronic music of all kinds could be heard here. Incredible friendly atmosphere, low prices and family design makes this place looking tempting to be visited. It seems that everybody knows each other here, but in fact almost all people came here by chance. Bar menu is unprecedented for Riga. It includes even some drugs, which are not forbidden in Riga yet. Just have a look at this girlish mirror with teddy bears next to toilet :)
Unfortunately there is no many places to go out in Riga during the working days. Roxy nightclub is one of the places, which operates every day, but I wouldn't never advice to go there. Despite that Roxy has very good location, in the very center of old town, on Kalku street, it is blacklisted place. Roxy is widely known for ripping off the foreigners and even locals. Keep clear of this "night club". Be aware that since July 2009 Roxy has a new name - Babylon club.
Do you know that Latvia is almost less religious country than any other in the world? The percentage of people living in Latvia who said that they "believe there is a God" is less than 30%. This picture has been taken in Essential club this Easter holidays. As you can see that even during Holy Week the Riga clubs are full.
After a fire in La Rocca and 1 year of being renovated, the biggest club in Riga continued to work. Thousands of people came to the new La Rocca last night to have a party. Actually the atmosphere of the nightclub is the same as 1 year ago. Due being under schauffe, I couldn't take any better picture that night than this one :) The big screen with aliens watching party people - quite good idea ;)
Check also Studio 69, another dance floor, which is connected to La Rocca.
Kaļķu vārti is one of my favourite night clubs in Riga. Sometimes there is a spontaneous performance by regular visitors. Obviously the club is located on Kalku iela, just next to Mad House ;)
XXL Video Bar is a nightclub opened in year 1999 within Riga Center Area. The dance club is famous and popular among the Riga's gay community. Together with Rainbow Sauna and Sex Video Cabins located next door, and Riga Gay Hotel placed just opposite, XXL made Alfreda Kalniņa street as known as Gays Street in Riga.
Sometimes Riga people can see lasers drawing something in the night sky. Usually, it is advertisement of some Riga club, in this case Essential club. This one is scanning sky, like radars scan all around them.
On day before yesterday the biggest club in Riga was La Rocca club. Saturday morning, when all visitors left the club, the roof started to fire.. Preliminary investigation discovered that the cause of the fire was a roof repair work. La Rocca club hosted about 2-3 thousands of people every weekend night, so this news touched almost all young people in Riga in less than an hour, becoming an event greater than elections of the President :) After 1 year, La Rocca open its doors again.
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