Last Updated on 17 June 2025 by Vanessa
If you judge a city by how many cats it celebrates, Riga might just be one of the most lovable places on earth. This capital city offers several cat-centric spots that feline enthusiasts will appreciate, including street art, cat statues, cat cafés, and shop cats. Here’s your must-do, must-see, totally pawsome Riga itinerary.
This Riga itinerary is 100% cat-approved!
Cat House (Kaķu Nams) – Vecrīga (Riga Old Town)
Address: Cat House, Meistaru iela 10/12, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia.
We’re starting our Riga itinerary in the Old Town, with one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The so-called Cat House in Old Town Riga is absolutely iconic and has become the unofficial symbol of the city.
Built in 1909, this historic, custard-yellow building is famous for its two sculptures of black cats on the rooftop.
Rumor has it that the owner, a wealthy merchant, placed the cats with arched backs and raised tails facing the Great Guild (a prestigious merchants’ association) out of spite after being denied membership. After legal disputes, the cats were eventually turned in a more neutral direction.
Black Cat Souvenirs – Vecrīga (Riga Old Town)
Address: Black Cat Souvenirs, Mazā Jaunavu iela 8, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia
This shop in Old Town is easy to spot because there’s a human-sized black cat statue at the entrance.
Inside, you’ll find handmade Latvian items: textiles, wood carvings, and ceramics. The cat references Riga’s famous Cat House, which is a little bit further down the street.
The Black Cat Souvenirs shop is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 07:00 pm.
Cat Sculpture on the Town Hall Square – Vecrīga (Old Town Riga)
Address: House of the Black Heads, Rātslaukums 7, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia.
A statue of a cat sits on Riga’s Town Hall Square, right outside the House of the Black Heads. It was built in the early 14th century and served as a guild house for the Brotherhood of Black Heads (a guild of unmarried foreign merchants and shipowners). Just like the Town Hall, it was destroyed during World War II and later re-constructed. It now serves as a museum and event space.
Many visitors stop here to snap a photo of the cat statue with the historic Town Hall as a backdrop. You’ll also find fridge magnets and souvenirs featuring this little feline.
Mr. Kotoffski Cat Café museum – Vecrīga (Riga Old Town)
Address: Mr. Kotoffski Cat Cafe museum, Miesnieku iela 14, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia.
At this cat café in Riga Old Town, you can relax with friendly rescue cats, enjoy a coffee or tea, and explore quirky cat-themed exhibits. The space also hosts workshops, art displays, and events focused on animal welfare.
Mr. Kotoffski Cat Café Museum was originally located in Daugavpils, but relocated to Riga in late 2023.
Elizete – Cats and Flowers – Central Riga
Address: Elizete – Cats and Flowers, Elizabetes iela 25, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia.
Elizete is a flower shop at Elizabetes iela 25. The store is home to four cats—Sanita, Roze, Lillija, and Morics. They lounge among the lillies, roam through the greenery, and charm every visitor. You can also grab a coffee, sit with the cats, and soak up the cozy cat-lady vibes.
If you’re starting at Mr. Kotoffski Cat Cafe museum, it’s roughly a 15 to 20 minute walk or 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) away.
Flow Cat Statue at the RIGA Sign – Brīvības bulvāris (Central Riga)
Address: Flow Cat Statue, Brīvības bulvāris, Central District, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia.
Riga has a new landmark—a black cat perched on the “A” of the famous RIGA sign. It was installed in 2024 to celebrate Flow, Latvia’s first Oscar-winning cat movie.
It stands in a prominent public plaza, so it’s easy to spot and snap photos with both the monument and the city name behind it. It’s about a two to three minute walk from the edge of Riga Old Town. The Freedom Monument marks the boundary between Old Town and the city center, so the statue is easily accessible from both areas.
KIWIE’s Flow Mural Kaķis Straume – Teika neighborhood
Address: KIWIE’s Flow Mural Kaķis Straume, Ropažu iela 15, Vidzemes priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1039, Latvia.
There’s also a large mural of Flow‘s main cat character on Ropažu iela 15. Street artist KIWIE painted it in his usual bold, chunky style.
It’s located in the Teika neighborhood of Riga, a mostly residential district just northeast of the city center (a little over three kilometers away from the RIGA sign).
From the center, you can take a tram (Line 1 or 7) and stop at Ropažu iela. The ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes. From there, it’s only a short five-minute walk to KIWIE’s Flow mural.
Persiks cat mural – Āgenskalns neighborhood
Address: Purrral Persiks, Nometņu iela 18, Zemgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1048, Latvia.
In September 2024, artist Ēriks Caune, in collaboration with local resident Gatis Zamurs, painted a giant mural of a ginger cat at the forefront of iconic Riga landmarks. You can find it on Nometņu iela 18.
This mural honors Persiks (which means “Peach”), a ginger cat who lives nearby. He’s a well-known and beloved figure in the Āgenskalns neighborhood. Locals say he “supervised” the painting and “approves” the final result.
The artwork was a community project, created for local residents. However, visitors are welcome to stop by and meet the cat behind the art.
Minka Cat Café (Closed)
Minka was a cat café where people drank coffee and met rescue cats. It’s closed now, but it helped many cats find loving homes. Many locals and tourists still remember it fondly.
Your Riga itinerary
1. Cat House (Kaķu Nams), Meistaru iela 10/12 (Vecrīga / Old Town)
↓ ~250 meters, 3-minute walk →
2. Black Cat Souvenirs, Mazā Jaunavu iela 8 (Vecrīga / Old Town)
↓ ~400 meters, 5-minute walk →
3. Cat Sculpture on Town Hall Square, Rātslaukums 7 (Vecrīga / Old Town)
↓ ~200 meters, 3-minute walk →
4. Mr. Kotoffski Cat Café Museum, Miesnieku iela 14 (Vecrīga / Old Town)
↓ ~1.5 km, 15-20 minute walk →
5. Elizete – Cats and Flowers, Elizabetes iela 25 (Centrs / Central Riga)
↓ ~900 meters, 10-12 minute walk →
6. Flow Cat Statue at the RIGA Sign, Brīvības bulvāris (Centrs / Central Riga)
↓ ~3 km + tram ride (~15-20 min tram + 5 min walk) →
7. KIWIE’s Flow Mural Kaķis Straume, Ropažu iela 15 (Teika neighborhood)
↓ ~6 km by public transit or taxi (~20-25 min) →
8. Persiks Cat Mural, Nometņu iela 18 (Āgenskalns neighborhood)
Final thoughts
If this cat-filled Riga itinerary sparked your wanderlust, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with your friends or post it on social media!
Already visited one of these feline-friendly places? We’d love to hear what you thought. Drop a comment below and tag us in your cat photos.
Unfortunately, despite Riga’s clear love for cats, the city—and Latvia as a whole—still struggles with a serious overpopulation of stray cats, largely caused by abandonment and lack of sterilization.
To learn more about the issue and how locals are helping, check out Feral cats in Riga: from struggle to resilience and Look into abandoned cats’ eyes: photographer from Riga captures homeless cats around the city.
Top photo: a black and white tuxedo cat, staring at the camera in the Riga Central Market (Riga Centraltirgus).
Did you love the Latvian movie Flow?
If you loved Flow or other movies where cats take the spotlight, be sure to check out the book Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies. It features over 200 films from 40 countries—ranging from spooky thrillers to sweet animated adventures. It’s not just for horror fans. There’s plenty of charm, mystery, and fantasy too. Whether you’re into ghost stories or magical cats in faraway lands, this book is full of feline movie magic worth exploring.
Pin this Riga itinerary for cat lovers!
One Response
Thanks for sharing, these places looks a great place to visit, if you are a cat lover 🙂