Stockholm School of Economics in Riga Students' Magazine

Route 66

In the previous Insider issue we started series about probably unknown places in the Old Riga or near it, which may not be so popular as Shot Café or French Bar but still worth visiting. Last time we travelled to the charming Amelie Café with its fresh breeze of France. This time we want to wander in a little bit different direction – America.

In a 10 - 15 minute walk through the park from SSER, between the National Theatre and the Faculty of Biology (University of Latvia) there is a small place which at least from the outside may look a little bit like a small storage house from the 80’s. However, if you look more carefully, on the wall there is a painted mark “Route US 66”.

The place was opened about 7 months ago. It has only one room with a bar, so probably it may not be suitable for a large crowd. On the other hand, the positive side is that you always feel really comfy, almost like at home and not in a public place. Along the walls you can find comfortable couches or armchairs. It looks like they are collected from different garage sales, but surprisingly they perfectly suit this wonderful place.

The best part of the bar is that it has no real restrictions. The owner just sniffs when asked about the opening hours and responds that “he opens the place in the morning when he wakes up and closes it in the evening when there is no fun anymore.” Also, you cannot find any menu in this place. Basically you should know what you want and you will be told whether you can have it. If you ask about the prices, the response sounds like, “a beer is around 1 LVL and anything else – 2.5 LVL”.

During Fridays or Saturdays one can also find live music or a DJ in the house. Usually the main themes of the music are rock or country.

Basically you can go there, sit in your most favourite chair, order whatever your heart wants, chat or just chill with your friends without any hint of a real formality and feel like in any friends’ apartment. One tip from the owner – they do not welcome business suits there. Also “buddies” with tracksuits are on their own responsibility. For the guys I can also whisper that from time to time one can find a really hot female bartender there, too.

by Laura Danberga

Space Dog

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

I am very excited to announce that starting from this issue I have the honor to write about the Pub of theMonth. But enough with the chit-chat. This article will be about pubs, bars and other places you wantto go to, when you just want to have a beer with your friends. If you’re interested in clubs then stopreading NOW – due to the fact that no-one cares about clubbers (well, joking:)).

For my first choice I have chosen the bar “Space Dog”. If you’ve been there a few times and talked withpeople, you will know that this is the place current “First gymnasium’ist” go to. And it’s also here, wherethey created the Frankenstein of alcohol – the shot “Goodbye” . The shot is so dangerous that it isn’t inthe menu, and when you ask the barman to make it, he makes an evil grin. The shot consists of absinthand rum – meaning that it can knock out horse with a couple of shots (why else did you think theycall it “goodbye”).The general atmosphere is very alternative, so if you listen to psychedelic rock, you’lllove the place. You can easily guess which age of people very much enjoy the place. If you answeredteens then you get a virtual cookie from me and a hug from the charity club. Sadly the beer costs 2.00Ls which is quite expensive (They say that there is special discount for regular customers - half pricefor everything). Another good reason to go there is that they have table football. Since this is a fieldSSE Riganians are very good at, showing the bar locals how to play could be very fun.

by Mārtiņš Zvejnieks