Location: Jelgava
Top Restaurants in Jelgava
Top Things to do in Jelgava
Jelgava Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Jelgava
Jelgava (pronounced [jælɡava] ( listen); German: Mitau; see also other names) is a city in central Latvia about 41 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of Riga with about 63,000 inhabitants. It is the largest town in the region of Zemgale (Semigalia). Jelgava was the capital of the united Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1578-1795) and the administrative center of the Courland Governorate (1795-1918).
Things to do in Jelgava
1. La Tour de Marie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
The restorant is located on the 8th floor of recently renovated Tower of Trinity Church of Jelgava. In the Church Tower you have the possibility to visit interractive and exciting historical expositions, to see the Panorama of Jelgava from the 9th floor sightseeing platform
Reviewed By Roberts M - Riga, Latvia
I was positively surprised in this place. It has not only very interesting architecture but also really tasty food. I loved the location, the restaurant is located in old tower, so you could see the clock from the inside. Moreover, they had a great stuff and tasty food. I chose pasta and sorbet. Both of them was well prepared. I really enjoyed this place, so I am looking forward to the visit.
2. Restorans PARKS
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew B
Hercogs is a family restaurant, so you can expect to find the kids there in the corner, but it is more sophisticated than you might expect. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual and the service is good. There's an excellent choice of Latvian and "international" dishes on the menu and the servings are generous. If you like pork, I can highly recommend the "Duke's Sail".
3. Krievu Pirts
4. Kafejnica Zemnieka Cienasts
Overall Ratings
4 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Mark D - Aylesbury, United Kingdom
I was taken to this restaurant by some Latvian friends who live locally, so it is well-known for its quality. They pride themselves on having all home-grown produce, and fresh.
We enjoyed solyanka soup (as soup of the day) which was excellent. The main dishes were extremely attractively presented, and very tasty - from tiger shrimps to chicken in blue cheese. The Baked Alaska was also Gordon Ramsay-esque in presentation.
But prices are very attractive too!
We had a room on an upper level, which meant peace and quiet to talk.
(only one gripe - the WC - needed unblocking!)
5. Plate
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By SigneZZZ
Bar - restaurant "Plate" is a very nice place in hotel "Jelgava". You can enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner with your family or friends there. Food is fresh and tasty. Menu is full of different dishes for different tastes. Also there is playground for children and outside area with several small private lounge houses where you can enjoy your meal. Inside interior is beautiful and ceiling is covered with paintings. It's definitely worth to see it and taste it.
6. Chocolate & Pepper
Overall Ratings
5 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By TraveIIerUK - Isle of Man, United Kingdom
I came to this place with my girlfriend. Immediately when we came in, we were greeted by lovely and friendly staff. The service throughout the whole meal was simply fantastic. It's a beautiful contemporary-modern feeling place too.
I had Veal cheek, and my girlfriend had a delicious salad. Both meals were delicious, however the Veal cheek was obviously cooked by a truly accomplished chef. It was literally melt in the mouth, and the gravy had obviously been made in the proper way - out of the meat juices. The portion was HUGE too! Seriously, I eat out a lot, and that was the best meal I had in a long time!
We would STRONGLY recommend anyone Reading this review to go visit this place - the price are perhaps mid-high end for Jelgava, but based on my experience, you wouldnt be hungry, and you get a FANTASTIC meal! 6/5 stars!!
7. Tea House "Silva"
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Richard K
Tea House was new when I spent my time in Jelgava, however I used a lot to read there, cuz I lived 2 minutes away. The coffee is quite good - avarage I would say, nice service and view to rivers -Lielupe and Driksa.
+Service
+Place between rivers
-music on Terrace (it is so depressing you want to jump to the river, and say good bye to this cruel sad world! )
8. Bistro "Silva"
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Mike K - London, United Kingdom
Convenient2bus stn,cheap&tasty beer&food with street Terrace offering wider beer selection.
We three British middle-aged guys are on our last week of a touring LV and LT. We'd heard about this interesting university town and booked JLC Hostel room ahead based on B.c reviews and prices. Jelgava is not a touristy town. We arrived from Rundãle at 12:43 after the bumpy 1.5hr bus journey on Monday 3/7/17.
We could only check in at 15:00 so found a left luggage place in the bus station (70cents for three items, which closed at 16:30), looked up restaurants on TA using the free (ubiquitous and very useful!) Lattecom wifi in the bus station and found Silva Terrace nearby in the main pedestrian street to have a beer in. The Terrace was deserted and the barman was idle obviously. He cheered up as we three tourists arrived to refresh ourselves at the only outdoor place in town it seemed and good for people watching.
The beer was a very good price too and he had bottled dark beers which we preferred for €1.75 each (.5l draught at €1.70).
We ended up chatting with the otherwise bored barman whose English was very good and had travelled Europe and usually worked in Riga (so knew all about Stag Parties). This was his home town and he was helping out the canteen style restaurant by holding the fort on the Terrace bar. He explained that the canteen people owned the street land opposite and it was a money loser if anything in this cool and windy weather. We were grateful, however, and talked about many things. He was obviously too good for this job!
We checked out the canteen, good prices and decor with lots of locals and no tourists. No doubt it is full of students too. The chap from the tower was eating there (after recommending we eat in the new Pilsetas Elpa on the island). I reassured him this was a snack before we ate there. We ended up eating at the cheaper and more established Istaba restaurant by the new bridge near the church tower.
After our beers we explored the town and returned for a late light lunch and another beer at 16:25. We were hoping to eat properly later so this was a snack really.
The canteen decor was bright. There were two big rooms for lunch (the far one closed in the afternoon) and there were conference rooms upstairs too!
The canteen had a good range of food, including salads that my veggie friend appreciated. The server explained the options in reasonable English. I had a simple marinated fish (in tomato and onion sauce) from the cold cabinet and cake whilst he had a battered fish fillet and Russian style salad. Our friend had potato pancakes and another Russian style salad too with kompote. The whole lot was €14.30 which was fine. It was not fine dining but did the job.
My friend did not really like his fish fillet and we swapped half way through. He like the tastier marinated fish fillet more (although it seemed to be the battered fish from yesterday just marinated instead. No problem as it had all been refrigerated! My cake was not very chocolatey and a bit dry as it was on display in the open. I should have chosen the better cakes in the cabinets; my fault. The beers were plain draught as they had no bottles inside. The outside Terrace is more if a bar in good weather, although you can take your food to it. Best to do that if you want a better range of beers. It is a covered Terrace so OK in the rain.
Overall it was quite tasty and did the job at a good price.
9. Rosso Pizza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
The real Italian pizzeria in Latvia
10. Cili Pica
Overall Ratings
3 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By nastyakuga - Bristol, United Kingdom
Poor service, girls are rude and they doesn't respect no one. If you ask about something they will angry look at you. So at the last time we ordered food, we waited about 30 minutes, drinks 've been served after food... Soo... Very sad, because 5 years ago Cili Pica had a good reputation, but now every meal looks very cheap and taste is nothing similar from the past Cili Pica.
