From July 4 to September 13, Home Café Days showcased Latvia’s regional flavours, traditions and hosts’ stories across 40 destinations. The event attracted 84,041 visitors, an increase of 3.6% compared with last year. This year, 568 home cafés welcomed guests across all of Latvia’s historical and cultural regions.
“For regional entrepreneurs, it is important that visitors discover several local attractions and services during their trips. A home café often becomes the starting point for travellers to explore local producers, tourist attractions, accommodation providers and other tourism services. In this way, a single visitor’s trip generates demand for various local services and strengthens the regional economy. Home Café Days gives hosts an opportunity to showcase what they offer and reach new customers,” says Ieva Jāgere, Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).
An initial survey of participating hosts indicates that two participants who had not planned to start a business before taking part in Home Café Days are now considering doing so. In addition to food, visitors highlighted the surrounding nature, live music, guided tours and opportunities to explore local farms as memorable parts of their experience.
This year’s offerings included ostrich meat dishes at “Mazzariņi” in Glūda Parish, Jelgava Municipality, as well as lamb dishes and farm tours at “Jēru klubs” in Skaņkalne Parish, Valmiera Municipality. In Ziedoņi, Priekule Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality, the hosts of “Herbsta Dārza Svētki” introduced visitors to locally grown apples and the cider-making process.
In Jersika Parish, Līvāni Municipality, the home café “Daugavas svētki uz plosta” offered fish dishes and a unique dining experience on a raft in the middle of the Daugava River. Demand exceeded the number of available places on the raft.
“We are delighted that we could offer our guests something special — fish dishes and an unforgettable meal on a raft in the middle of the Daugava River,” say the hosts of “Daugavas svētki uz plosta”.
“Participation in Home Café Days allows hosts to test their ideas and assess visitor interest. For some, this experience may become the starting point for a regular tourism or catering business. Latvia is a country rich in traditions, with each region offering its own culinary heritage, flavours and stories. Home Café Days allows visitors to discover these traditions at the hosts’ tables, while their journeys may also lead them to other local entrepreneurs,” says Asnate Ziemele, President of the Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs”.
According to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, the number of domestic trips made by Latvian residents increased by 28.4% between 2021 and 2025, rising from 8.28 million to 10.63 million. Home Café Days provides travellers with an opportunity to discover Latvia’s regions through local cuisine, traditions and the personal stories of their hosts.
Home Café Days is organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in cooperation with the Latvian Country Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs” and regional partners.
The event was held across Latvia for the sixth consecutive year in 2026 and will continue in 2027.
