EBG Rating: 7.5/10

Choice/Quality of Drinks:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
A good selection of beers on tap and in the fridge will draw in any casual to serious beer fans. Decent whisky selection for Latvia.

Style/Décor:
❤️❤️❤️
Small venue out on its own near the museum to Latvian theatre. Inside a small, fairly grey bar room which isn’t of particular interest, but a nice enough lounge room, again plain but with some nice furniture and ceiling art. Terrace to the rear.

Atmosphere/Character:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Not much to speak off earlier on, although a calm refuge, but the evening atmosphere is the reason to go.

Amenities/Events:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Outdoor seating, board games + books, merchandise, PET bottle takeaway.

Value For Money:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Reasonable overall given the going rate across the city.

Description:
The west bank of the Daugava has never been known for its nightlife, but after a refurbishment of Āgenskalns market and an attempt to revitalise the Kancielma quarter (paying focus to its wooden houses), slowly some activity is beginning to emerge. The likes of Vinilbars and Pils (which in Latvian refers to a castle rather than the beer, though it could be clever double meaning) show a neighbourhood that perhaps doesn’t yet have a full scene (as of 2026 anyway), but is showing the potential for an emergence.

Pils is a convenient evening option over 7 days a week from 4pm-midnight and is off the beaten path enough to be a reliable venue for a seat too. The venue is small, purposefully low-key but with some homely furnishings, a hangout rather than a see and be seen place.

A good selection of beers on tap and in the fridge will draw in any casual to serious beer fans.

Due to the plainness of the interior, it’s best to visit here in the evening time, allowing the lighting and ambience to take over, as it can feel a little empty and lacking cosiness earlier in the day. Nevertheless, one to have in your back pocket.

(Added April 2026)