Riga with kids. Help please!

[BestThingAtThisParty]

Travelling to Riga soon with 3 DC. Would love any recommendations for family food places please, both restaurants and casual/takeaways/markets, and a bit of getting around help.

We haven't got long there so I want to hit the ground running - we'll really only have time for the zoo and a good mooch around the old town and the Art Nouveau area. Plus hopefully lots of bakeries.

I'd like to get a taxi from the airport due to time restrictions and being on my own with the DC. I've looked into private transfers (booking ahead) which is around €60 return, or is it easier/cheaper to use Bolt? I've downloaded the app but can't seem to get a price without risking making a booking as I have to upload payment details first.

We'll likely be eating out fairly late to pack in as much as possible - are there any areas better for this / less likely to be overrun with stag parties? I want to enjoy the atmosphere, but also feel safe with the kids.

Lastly, how easy is public transport to use, to get about the city? Are there signs in English? Is there an app or similar anyone would recommend for directions, beyond Google maps?
TIA!

Weird AI response there!

I'm just dashing out so I'll come back later about restuarants but just quickly, yes, use Bolt

Yes defintely use Bolt. My brother lives in Riga, it's a lovely city. Quite compact though, so when I went sight seeing I did a walking tour which was great. Would the kids be interested in that? You can do the city tour or there are a few others to chose from including the art nouveau one. Book before though to check on the days and times although I know the city one is on every day. Loads of bakeries and restuarants to chose from, my brother owns one of them!!

That AI reply has given me the heebjeebs. Bog off!

Thank you both - will look forward to the recs!

@Dozycuntlaters you may not want to say but we'd happily seek out your brother's bakery if you can share!

I hadn't thought of a walking tour. That would be great - the problem is the flight times only leave us one full day even though we're there for 2, so I imagine they'll be too long for us. Have you done the zoo? If we aren't there the whole day and they do evening ones we could perhaps squeeze it in though. Which would you recommend?

The Bolt ride is about £16 from the airport, or the bus. It’s not a huge place and you can get around by foot, depending on kids’ ages. The Art Nouveau is beautiful.

Oh wow that's mega cheap then with Bolt. Thanks!

Also good to hear it's easy to navigate on foot. I love a mooch, with tea and pastry stops.

Are there plenty of places to eat in the Art Nouveau area @GoldenSunflowers?

Lots of places to eat, bakeries, cafes, pub-type places etc. It’s such a beautiful place.

We were there for 2 days and on the first day did the Big Red Bus tour (I think). Honestly it was brilliant! Lasted a couple of hours but got to see all the best places. Not that cheap but saw things we wouldn't have if we'd have been walking.

Can't recommend food places but lots of cafes and bakeries that were good. Riga is a lovely little city.