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Just a stone’s throw away from the restaurant reviewed a flea’s jump away above is Vecmeita ar kaki.

This tiny old town eatery has, for many years, been one of vecriga’s undiscovered gems. (Yes, there’s the ‘u’ word again.) To be fair, during the summer months you wouldn’t exactly describe it as ‘undiscovered’ but – as is the case with Piligrims – its location on the quieter side of the old town means that you can enjoy a decent amount of peace and quiet while you dine here. And that is essentially why it is deserving of a review in our August paper. The delightful terrace here will, after all, be gone in a month or two and Vecmeita will once again disappear off the radars of most Riga diners; especially those who aren’t too keen on ducking down the stairs into the restaurant’s subterranean cellar.

There is a nice choice of international dishes on offer - even a couple of veggie options including a potato pancake, mushroom and asparagus combo (Ls 4.40). On the downside I can only assume that the owners of Vecmeita have jacked up their prices for the summer season, as even a pint of Lacplesas will set you back Ls 2.20.But this is Riga, and jacked up prices are the norm these days, I’m afraid.

Back to the plus points, Vecmeita commands lovely views of the Presidential Palace and the pretty Catholic church a few metres away. The name of this restaurant translates as the ‘Spinster with her cat’. Well, the spinster’s cat was obviously spending a lot of evenings out on the tiles a few months back because one cat has now become half a dozen. Not that we are complaining because the presence of said kittens and toms only adds to the laid back atmosphere sat outside here on a late summer’s evening. Even if you live in Riga, an hour or two spent here will leave you with the sense that you are actually on holiday. And that is always worth an extra lat or two.