Black Magic Bar - Best Place To Try Riga Black Balsam (2026)!

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Whenever I go to a new country, I’m always researching local cuisines and speciality alcohols to indulge in.

Before my trip to Latvia, I was intrigued to discover that their drink of choice was Riga Black Balsam.

It’s a herb liqueur that was once used by royalty and supposedly helps cure the common cold!

I then made it my mission to find the best place to try some and stumbled upon the mysterious Black Magic Bar.

It’s a medieval, Harry Potter-esque café that not only sells Black Balsam but also yummy chocolates and magical gifts.

I went alone but ended up having the best time. You simply must visit when in Riga.

Here is a complete guide for the Black Magic Bar – the best place to try Riga Black Balsam.

Black Magic Cafe Riga — *Black Magic Café*

Table of Contents

What is Riga Black Balsam?

Riga Black Balsam is a bitter liqueur made out of 24 all-natural ingredients which includes 17 botanicals.

These include common roots and herbs such as Valerian, Bitterwort, Wormwood and Ginger but also rarer things like Peruvian Balsamic Oil.

The ingredients are then whipped up in a cauldron with vodka and poured into oak barrels to age.

The result is a strong tonic called Riga Black Balsam.

As well as being a great drink for recreation, this bitter also has medicinal properties?

A cure for the common cold?

The elixir had its beginnings in Riga and was first crafted in 1752 by Abraham Kunze, a local alchemist who worked in an apothecary.

He originally crafted the drink for medicinal use and it quickly became popular amongst the bourgeoisie as a tincture.

According to legend, Empress Catherine the Great was heading back to Russia when she made a stop in Riga to rest.

She fell ill during her visit and Kunze had the opportunity to offer his cure-all-ills Balsam which restored her shortly afterward.

Following this revelation, word spread throughout Europe about the benefits of Riga Black Balsam and Kunze had exclusive rights to produce it for 50 years.

Even after Kunze’s death, the recipe was top secret for over a hundred years. Only the Head Liquor Master and two of his apprentices knew the exact recipe.

Nowadays, Riga Black Balsam is no secret and 2 million bottles are produced each year! It’s now made in many other flavours like chocolate, cherry and blackcurrant.

Many people drink Black Balsam for fun but also for their health and it’s believed to help cure ailments like the common cold.

Where is the best place to try Riga Black Balsam?

Sampling some Riga Black Balsam is a must when you’re visiting Latvia, but you’re probably wondering where is the best place to try some.

Many bars sell Riga Black in the city centre but there’s only one place that I would recommend visiting and that’s Black Magic.

It’s located in the heart of Riga’s Old Town and it’s a mystical apothecary that serves up the famous liqueur in hot drinks, cocktails and even chocolate!

Black Magic also have a reason to believe that Abraham Kunze created his balsam in their basement – how cool is that?

Introducing Black Magic in Riga

Many people call Black Magic a bar, others call it a café but quite simply put it’s the best place to try Black Balsam in Riga and you must go.

As soon as you enter, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time or been transported into another world.

The entire place has a medieval vibe with its alchemist bottles, apothecary draws, chandeliers, portraits and bookcases.

If you’re a Potterhead, you’ll simply fall in love.

The friendly staff will invite you into the cosy seating areas lit by candlelight where you can browse their extensive menu of potions and treats.

Riga Black Balsam Cocktails & other drinks

The reason why I believe that Black Magic is the best place to try Riga Black Balsam is due to the wide range of cocktails and drinks they serve here.

They have a huge offering of Black Balsam cocktails such as a Black Pina Colada, Black Mojito and Black Iced Tea. Plus, some shots like ‘Black Moon’.

I tried a Black Balsam spritz on my visit that came with a slice of orange and it was absolutely delicious!

It’s quite hard to describe the taste but I would say it tasted very similar to Dandelion & Burdock in the UK.

If you’re not feeling a cocktail they also serve up the elixir in Riga Black Magic Hot Chocolate too.

They also have a wide selection of homemade cakes such as their torte with Riga Black Balsam cream.

There is even a Chocolate Boutique where you can order all sorts of sweets.

Black Magic Chocolate Boutique

If you were looking for some sweet indulgence to pair with your libations, I would head straight for their Chocolaterie.

Black Magic has an entire range of artisan chocolates to choose from in all sorts of flavours and sizes.

Many of them contain Black Balsam and other liqueurs but there are also plenty of options without alcohol and have yummy creme and truffle.

They also have a menu with photos in both Latvian and English should you need it.

I absolutely loved the fact that they had chocolates for all the star signs of the Zodiac as well.

As a Pisces sun and rising, I had to try their Piscean offering which was a dark chocolate filled with orange liqueur.

I was quite shocked at how accurate my confectionery ‘horoscope’ was as chocolate orange is my absolute favourite flavour!

Honestly, Black Magic Café excel at Black Balsam but their chocolates were also absolutely scrumptious.

Fancy doing something fun? Why not join a Chocolate Master Class! Click here for more details.

Don’t miss their secret bookcase door!

During my visit, it was quite busy with patrons inside the bar and so I did wonder where they would even hold any of their master classes.

Well, the answer to my question was revealed when one of the staff opened their secret door in the corner.

The unassuming bookcase not only looks incredible but functions as a doorway that leads down to an alchemist’s laboratory!

The bar believes that this cellar is the place where Abraham Kunze created Black Balsam.

So, you can follow in his footsteps and learn to concoct your own creations.

They run a Chocolate Master Class and the Degustation of Riga Black Balsam where you can create and sample all flavours of the liqueur.

Even if you don’t do a master class, walking through this bookcase is such a treat and makes a fabulous photo opportunity.

I’ve always wanted my own secret bookcase door…one day I’ll make it happen.

Black Magic shop

After you’ve finished your drinks, you must check out their shop which sells all sorts of magical souvenirs.

Of course, you can buy big bottles of original Black Balsam to take home with you. They sell the original and other flavours like cherry and blackcurrant.

But, they also sell some fun ‘magic chocolate’ boxes where you can hide the truffles if you don’t want people stealing them.

Look out for their Key to Riga made completely out of chocolate and their dialectus chocolatus which comes with a fluttering butterfly.

You’ll struggle to choose as there are so many goodies!

Is Black Magic in Riga worth visiting?

100% yes! In fact, I would say that visiting Black Magic should be a priority on your visit to Riga.

Trying the local liqueur of Riga Black Balsam is something you must do in Latvia anyway. But, trying it in a magical medieval bar just makes the entire experience special!

The staff are lovely, the mystical vibes are on point, the chocolate is moreish and the Black Balsam will be flowing. What’s not to love?

Don’t skip the Black Magic Bar in Riga. You, and your taste buds, won’t regret it.

Click here to make a reservation at Black Magic

How to find Black Magic in Riga

Black Magic is really easy to find in Riga as it’s located in the heart of the Old Town on the famous Kalku Street.

I found that Riga was a really easy city to explore on foot as it’s quite compact and the bar was only a 3-minute walk from the famous House of the Blackheads.

There is no public transport that drops you right outside as the Old Town is mainly pedestrianised.

However, you can alight at the National Opera tram stop and then walk to the bar in less than 5 minutes.

Black Magic opening times are 11.30 am – 10 pm seven days a week. I highly recommend a reservation, especially for the early evening.

Black Magic is located on Kaļķu iela 10, Centra rajons. Click here for a Google Pin!

Are you looking for more things to do in Riga?

Riga is hands down one of the most underrated cities in Europe and there are so many things to do here on a weekend.

Firstly, I would explore the Old Town to see iconic sights like the House of the Blackheads, St Peter’s Church, Dom Square, The Three Brothers and Cat House.