Miera Street

Miera iela, the Street of Peace, is Riga's laid-back creative spine, a run of independent coffee roasters, small galleries, vintage shops and cafes that grew up around the historic Laima chocolate factory. It is where Rigans go for a slow morning rather than a monument.

Highlights

• Independent coffee - some of the city's best small roasters and cafes.
• The Laima factory - the historic chocolate works with its shop and, nearby, a small museum.
• Small galleries and shops - design studios, vintage and craft stores.
• The local mood - a relaxed, lived-in creative district away from the tourist core.

When to go

Daytime, when the cafes and shops are open; it is a morning-and-lunch street rather than a nightlife one. Any season suits, since the pleasure is indoors and gentle.

Practical notes

This is a mood and a coffee stop rather than a sight, so come to sit and wander, not to tick off attractions. It is ordinary and a little scruffy in places, which is exactly its charm. A short detour from the art nouveau district rather than a destination in itself.

Nearby

The art nouveau quarter is just south; the great Orthodox cathedral and Esplanade park are between the two.