[Photo from liveriga.com]

A 25-minute walk from the Old Town southward along the Daugava river takes you to a place with a creative and historic atmosphere - the Spīķeri quarter and the Daugava promenade. Together with the Central market, the place provides for a rather different experience from that of the Old Town.

Historically, Spīķeri was a warehouse district, which reached its zenith in the 1870s when 58 brick warehouses were built to store cargo from ships and train freights. Only 13 warehouses remain to this day; yet it is enough to feel the historic atmosphere. Like many other post-industrial spaces in cities across Europe, Spīķeri, has become a home to creative industry professionals, restaurants and offices.

What to visit

At the moment, locals most often associate the quarter with the Dirty Deal creative collective, who are active in different disciplines. Dirty Deal organises alternative music events like concerts of reggae and avant-garde jazz music, to name a few. Events also include lessons in experimental dance. Meanwhile, Dirty Deal Teatro stages experimental theatre performances.

Spīķeri is home to the “Kim?” contemporary art centre, which takes its name from the first letters found in the eternal question Kas ir māksla? (What is art?). The centre curates contemporary art shows, performances, lectures and film screenings. (www.kim.lv)

The pride of the quarter is a concert hall that hosts the Sinfonietta Rīga chamber orchestra and the Latvian Radio Choir, one of the world’s best chamber choirs. The venue hosts concerts of different music genres and film screenings. There are many chamber music concerts of avant-garde music, jazz nights and other experimental music events (www.sinfoniettariga.lv)

However, the quarter is also linked to a darker period of Latvian history. During the World War II, this is where the Riga ghetto was located, since the quarter was a part of the so-called Moscow Vorstadt, populated mainly by Russian and Jewish merchants. This history is presented at the Riga ghetto museum, which is also located in Spīķeri. (www.rgm.lv)

In 2013 a promenade was built along the Daugava river, making it a popular recreational spot for locals thanks to an excellent view of the bridges over the river and the Old Town. The gentrification of Spīķeri quarter and its adjacent riverbank has become one of the biggest public space projects in Riga.

Shopping and restaurants

“Dali” art cafe - a place with something of a bohemian atmosphere, whose interior bears a ressemblance to the eccentric art of Salvador Dali.

The Georgian restaurant “Pirosmani” offers authentic Caucasian cuisine.

Restaurant “Dārzs” serves fresh Latvian products in unusual and creative combinations.

Bistro “desa&;co” sells game and products from the “Zemintāni” farm.

The Latvijas Balzams outlet offers products made by the largest alcoholic beverage producer in Latvia.