Not one for culture as high brow as this, my visit to the opera house was more than a little hesitant. However, it's great. Particularly for opera virgins. Most Sundays they put on a famous show with ballets like the Nutcracker and Swan Lake commonplace. For a tenner you get seats down the front of this incredibly ornate building. Be warned, however, the people around you are likely to be far better dressed than you are.

Aspazijas bulvaris 3; www.lmuza.lv/opera/

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On the 26th floor of what must be the tallest hotel in the centre of Riga is a bar where the beautiful people hang out. The Skyline bar gives you a great view out over the old town – and also of the city's best looking residents dressed to impress.

When there is snow outside, which appears to be most of the year, it makes for a great backdrop to a few cocktails. Beware though, the hotel was planning to renovate the place this winter, so it might be a fruitless ride up the outside glass lift until April.

Elizabetes str 55; www.revalhotels.com/eng/latvija/?

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This is a fantastic cavernous place with flickering candles, earthenware pots and waiters in medieval costume. It could be tacky but it's not as it's set in a authentic 13th century cellar down a narrow alley in the old town.

The menu does not include anything not around in medieval times, which means you get the interesting choice of pheasant soup and rabbit stew among other culinary delights of a bygone age.

It's expensive by Riga standards, but still good value for the experience you get. Especially if you're there on a night when the aforementioned dressed-up staff give impromptu live music performances.

www.rozengrals.lv/

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