Kūkotava — Restaurant in Riga

First, please be aware there are actually two separate places under the same room and name. One, under the sign, sells baked goods, desserts, and drinks. The other, next to it, is more of a bistro that has quiches and salads in addition to some baked goods. I had no idea and visited only the bakery side 2 times while visiting Riga.

I’ve been to Riga many times and am very familiar with typical baked goods. I’m also not a stranger to French baking traditions and have visited many bakeries in several countries.

Kukotava has very nicely appointed interior, with a typical old world charm. The ladies at the register were polite and attentive when I visited. The display of baked goods looks amazing and I had hard time choosing. The prices are very steep, it’s comparable to the artisan bakery in the US. Less than what you’d see at a fancy Manhattan bakery but much more than what I’d expect in Riga.

I really wanted to like this place but, sadly, quality of items I got was all over the place. The meat stuffed pastry was OK. The cheese pastry (biezpiena platsmaizite) was absolute God tier level. Fresh, creamy, with plump dried fruit - the best I’ve ever had (and I must have eaten dozens of them as they’re one of my favorite items). This is the only reason why this is 3 stars.

The caramel “horn” with red currant was… odd. It looked just like a croissant, so I expected puff pastry with filling. But it was chewy, like a cheap croissant you’d find at a grocery store in the US. I didn’t take the picture but there were no defined layers in the dough and there was definitely some problem inside because it looked like underbaked and underproofed dough would. Sort of congealed chewy mass rather than holes or crumbs or layers. I was curious how would caramel work with red currant, which has rather delicate flavor. But it didn’t work at all. The filling was just a cloyingly sweet mess with no distinct taste. A blob of red currant jelly was hanging in just one corner of the pastry. It was edible but not worth the calories and just a hot mess. (Honestly, removing caramel would significantly improve this pastry.)

However, the last blow was delivered by what was supposed to be creme brulee covered in white chocolate (see photo). After breaking the chocolate shell, the filling just… leaked all over the place like melted ice cream. The texture was curdled and sorry to say, but other than unremarkable chocolate shell and sour blackberry, it was just inedible. And it cost 6 EUR.

I guess if you want to have a good time, stay away from these last 2 items. But then at a high-end bakery, I’d expect every item to be...

I recently had the absolute pleasure of discovering a breakfast haven in Riga, and let me tell you, it’s simply superb. From the moment you step in, you know you’re in for a treat.

The selection of croissants is nothing short of amazing. Flaky, buttery, and filled with deliciousness, each bite is a little piece of heaven. The salads and unique creations are fresh and bursting with flavor, making it hard to choose just one dish.

The coffee? Oh, it’s top-notch. Smooth, rich, and expertly brewed – exactly what you need to kickstart your day on a high note.

But the true star of the show? The croissant with caviar and shrimp. It’s a masterpiece, the kind of dish that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about breakfast. Bravo to the chefs for this culinary triumph!

If you’re in Riga and looking for the perfect breakfast spot, this is it. Fresh, delicious, and utterly delightful – breakfast doesn’t get any better than this. Hats off to the team for creating such a...

⭐ One star is too generous There is no Google entry yet for the new Kukotava in the Quiet Center, so I’m posting this here for visibility.

I go to Kukotava on Tērbatas iela almost every day. I loved it. Until today.

It’s a sunny Sunday and I wanted to show my visiting family the new location. Big mistake. The service was shockingly rude. I walked up to the counter — clearly accompanied by three others — and politely ordered four cappuccinos and four cakes. The woman behind the counter looked at me like I’d asked her to carry a piano upstairs. Her exact words: “Oh my God, so many!” — in the most unpleasant tone imaginable. No smile. No welcome. Just pure hostility.

This kind of behavior kills any brand — no matter how good the coffee is.

As someone who professionally advises small businesses on how to create outstanding customer experiences, this was a masterclass in how to destroy one.

I will not return — not even to my once-beloved Kukotava ....