Latvian restaurants are in a difficult situation at the moment - Jenzis

2026-01-21
LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Restaurants in Latvia are currently in a difficult situation, Janis Jenzis, head of the Latvian Restaurant Association (LRB), told LETA.

He said that another Michelin-recommended restaurant, Barents, has announced its closure, confirming that the catering industry and restaurants are in a difficult situation at the beginning of the year.

Jenzis added that entrepreneurs in the catering industry are facing difficulties not only in the fine dining segment, but several restaurants are closing "quietly and peacefully." He said that this could continue, as it is currently the off-season and entrepreneurs have no hope that anything will change, as there are no discussions at the political level about the critical situation in the industry and support for it.

"High-quality products that are loved and frequented by guests cannot survive and cannot continue to operate. This means that something is wrong with the overall system," said Jenzis.

Therefore, the LRB, the Latvian Association or Bars, and the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association (LVRA) have agreed on the next steps, including a picket in September this year, said Jenzis.

He said that there is currently inaction at the political level, as well as several challenges in the context of the industry, including few tourists, declining purchasing power, a high tax burden, one of the highest value-added tax (VAT) rates in the European Union (EU), and the highest labor tax burden in the Baltics. Thus, according to him, there is no "light at the end of the tunnel" and no support is being expressed for the sector.

As reported, the Barents restaurant and bar, included in the international Michelin Guide, will close on Smilsu Street in Riga's Old Riga.

The restaurant and bar's last day of operation will be January 31.

This will be the second Michelin Guide restaurant in Latvia to close in January this year. As reported, the seafood restaurant Tails on Antonijas Street in Riga closed on January 12 this year.