Nirvana — Restaurant in Riga

I liked Nirvana before for their conscious approach towards nutrition, spiritual ambiance, and overall quality offering of food. I have to say it’s more of an acquired taste; not all dishes are extraordinarily delicious, but they are well prepared. However, the last visit has changed my opinion. Today they had their version of Tom Yum on the lunch menu. I have a newly discovered allergy to cashews, so I don’t yet carry an epi-pen but make sure to check ingredients. Neither their Facebook page nor the menu on the physical board had cashews listed. They mention allergens for each dish, but nuts were not indicated for this soup. Overall, the cashier/waitress was not rude; her demeanor was generally positive. However, I was frustrated with the way the allergy issue was handled: it felt like a total lack of care. When I approached her about the amount of cashews in the soup, the first thing she replied with was that I should have told them I have an allergy. How could I do that if I had no idea their specific “Tom Yum” had cashews? Not typical, for sure. At least she offered to ask the cook about it, only to discover the one who made it had already left. In the end, I asked her to forward the information to the employees in charge of menu management. Nut allergies are extremely serious and even one or two nuts can cause anaphylaxis and death, and it’s very easy for a client to not notice them in their dish. Listing allergens accurately is crucial for any restaurant. I get that it might have been an honest mistake; however, no apology, refund, or at least basic human concern was offered. I was only saved by the fact that my allergy attack this time wasn’t as severe as before, but that might not end up being the...

As a backpacker Yoga instructor from India - I found a hidden gem like Cafe Nirvana in Riga was a delightful surprise, but the true treasure I discovered was Anna, the cafe's culinary artist and resident philosopher. From the moment I stepped in, she exuded warmth and genuine hospitality, making me feel instantly welcome.

As a vegetarian, I often face limited options, however what I received was a weaved symphony of flavors on my plate, each bite fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and a touch of magic that only comes from someone who truly loves what they do. The ginger tea was a revelation, and the vegetables with rice , oh my, the dessert l! It was chunky, flavorful, and a testament to Anna's skill with dough.

But beyond the culinary mastery, it was Anna's conversation that truly elevated the experience. We delved into life, yoga, the beauty of travel, and the fascinating tapestry of cultures. Her perspectives were refreshing and insightful, leaving me with a newfound appreciation for the world around me. She spoke with such passion and authenticity that it felt like I was having a conversation with an old friend, not just a café chef.

Cafe Nirvana, thanks to Anna, is more than just a place to eat, it's a space for connection, for discovery, and for experiencing the joy of simple things done with love and passion. If you're ever in Riga, do yourself a favor and seek out this hidden gem. Ask for Anna, and prepare to be enchanted by her food, her spirit, and the magic she creates within the walls of...

We saw that Nirvana Raw is 100% vegan, EVERYTHING is vegan, even the 'milk'. We are not vegans and we find a lot of places that say they offer 'vegan' options basically give you meat and 2-veg without the veg so we thought we'd give this place a try to see what a proper vegan kitchen can produce. We know a bit about how good this can be by discovering Café N years ago in Copenhagen - sadly now closed.

Anyway, we had the sea-buckthorn pancake and mushroom soup with lattes made with 'green pea milk' and a slice of cake (sheer greed that last slice).

It was all, All, ALL delicious. I have read recent reviews from people who must have been drunk when ordering/eating/writing as they do not describe the food we had. People have different tastes and I confess that I would not be able to live without meat but every now and again a vegetarian or vegan meal suggests itself to me and if you are in Riga and the same occurs to you then I recommend you to try the Nirvana.

I would describe the prices as 'mid-range' because you can spend less elsewhere and you can also spend a lot more even an ordinary restaurant (especially the ones that think vegan food is meat and 2-veg without the meat). Well...