Ala Wine Bar
Ala Wine Bar operates in a restored medieval cellar on Peldu iela, bringing a different energy to a street known for beer and cocktails. The space is small, holding perhaps 40 people across a vaulted stone room with candlelit tables and a short bar. The wine list curates selections from across Europe, with a focus on Baltic-region producers alongside French, Italian, and Spanish labels. Natural wines get significant representation. Cheese and charcuterie boards pair with the wines and source from Latvian producers where possible. The sommelier, usually behind the bar rather than on the floor, knows every bottle and will guide you through unfamiliar Baltic wine regions without being condescending. The pace here is deliberately slow. This isn't a place to grab a quick glass; it's designed for lingering, conversation, and working through a bottle with someone you enjoy talking to.
What to Expect
A quiet, candlelit medieval cellar with stone walls and vaulted ceilings. Soft background music. Small groups at tables talking quietly over wine. The kind of place where time disappears.
Intimate, quiet, and romantic. The medieval cellar setting does the work without any forced ambiance.
Ambient and classical background music. Barely noticeable, which is the point.
Smart casual. The setting calls for something a step above jeans and a hoodie, but nothing formal.
Wine lovers, couples on a date, and anyone looking for a calm alternative to the bar and club scene. Excellent for a first or second date.
Cards and cash accepted. EUR only.
Price Range
Wine by glass 5-12 EUR, bottle 20-60 EUR, cheese boards 8-14 EUR, charcuterie 7-12 EUR
Wine by glass ~$5-13, bottle ~$22-65, cheese boards ~$9-15
Hours
Tue-Thu 16:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-01:00, closed Sun-Mon
Insider Tip
Ask the sommelier to pick a wine based on your preferences. The Latvian cheese pairings are worth ordering with any bottle. The cellar stays cool year-round, so bring a layer even in summer.
Full Review
Ala Wine Bar proves that Vecriga's cellars can house more than beer halls and loud bars. The space is genuinely old, with stone walls and arched ceilings that predate most buildings in the city. The current owners have kept the renovation minimal: candles on tables, a few carefully placed lights, and simple wooden furniture. The effect is elegant without pretension.
The wine list is curated rather than exhaustive. Around 80 to 100 labels at any time, with a rotation that follows seasons and availability. Baltic wines from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania get shelf space alongside better-known European regions. The natural wine section is strong and reflects a genuine interest rather than a trend-chasing impulse. Prices by the glass are fair; bottles carry a standard restaurant markup that doesn't feel punitive.
The cheese and charcuterie program lifts the whole experience. Latvian producers supply most of the dairy, and the pairings are thoughtful. A smoked cheese from the Latvian countryside with a glass of skin-contact white wine from an Estonian producer tells you something about the Baltic food world that you won't learn from a tourist menu.
The space seats about 40, which means it fills on Friday and Saturday evenings. There's no reservation system, so arriving early secures the best spots. The cellar temperature stays naturally cool, which is pleasant in summer and requires a sweater in winter. Staff are knowledgeable without being pushy, and they'll leave you alone to enjoy your wine unless you ask for guidance.
The Neighborhood
Peldu iela is becoming Old Town's quality drinking street, with Ala Wine Bar, Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta, and Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs all within a two-minute walk of each other. Starting with wine at Ala, moving to cocktails at Pulkvedim, and finishing with live music at Folkklubs makes for one of the best evenings in Riga.
Getting There
Peldu iela in central Vecriga. A 4-minute walk from Livu laukums. The entrance is a stone stairway descending below street level, easy to miss if you're not looking for it.
Other Venues in Vecriga (Old Riga)
Coyote Fly
Riga's largest nightclub with multiple rooms, international DJs, and a regular weekend crowd. Located on Valnu iela in the heart of Old Town.
One One
Underground electronic music club focused on techno and house. Draws a serious clubbing crowd to its dark, warehouse-style space.
Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta
Quirky cocktail bar with a Soviet-themed interior and creative drink menu. The name translates to 'Nobody Writes to the Colonel.'
Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs
Massive cellar venue beneath Old Town serving Latvian beer and hosting live folk, rock, and blues acts. A Riga institution since 2001.
Labietis
Craft brewery and taproom with dozens of experimental Latvian beers on tap. Industrial decor and a young, local crowd.
Cuba Cafe
Long-running Old Town bar popular with tourists and locals. Latin-themed decor, rum cocktails, and salsa nights on weekends.