Timeline
14:45
Grab a bite at Vermanitis, a regional restaurant right near Esplanade Park. The menu offers a fantastic range of Latvian food in an authentic environment. With prices like fried fish for €3 and half chicken for €2.50, it is a great way to fuel up before the evening.
15:30
Walk over to Esplanade Park. Designed by Georg Kuphaldt, this green space offers a quiet spot to wait. Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset to find a good vantage point. The sun sets toward the SW, and the park orientation allows you to watch the light fade.
16:15
Watch the sunset. At 16:15, the day ends with golden light fading into twilight. The park is a calm place to observe the transition, especially given the historical context of its designer.
17:00
Head to Skyline Bar, just a 4-minute walk from the park. It offers a perfect view at sunset, and while the sun has set, the atmosphere remains. Finding a table next to the windows might be difficult after 23:00, but at this hour, you can still enjoy the ambiance. Beer costs €3-5 and cocktails range from €6.50 to €12.
Local tip
Vermanitis is open Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00 and Sa 10:00-23:00, so this plan works perfectly on weekdays. Skyline Bar is open Su-Th 15:00-00:00, so ensure you arrive before closing if you are visiting on a Sunday through Thursday.
Check before you go
- Vermanitis hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-21:00.
- Skyline Bar hours: Su-Th 15:00-00:00; Fr 15:00-02:00; Sa 12:00-02:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Riga (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).