From July 4 to September 13, the “Home Café Days” event showcased the flavors, traditions, and stories of hosts from Latvia’s regions at 40 locations. The number of visitors to the event reached 84 041, a 3.6% increase compared to last year. This year, 568 home cafés welcomed guests, covering all of Latvia’s cultural-historical regions.
“It is important for regional businesses that visitors discover a variety of local offerings during their trip. A home café often serves as the starting point for travelers to visit local producers, attractions, lodging, and other tourism service providers. In this way, a single visitor’s trip generates demand for various local services and strengthens the region’s business community. Homestay café days give hosts the opportunity to showcase what they have to offer and attract new customers,” says Ieva Jāgere, Director of the LIAA.
An initial survey of the hosts shows that two participants, who had not planned to start a business before taking part in the Home Café Days, are now considering this possibility. In addition to the meals, visitors’ survey responses also mentioned the surrounding nature, live music, tours, and the opportunity to explore the farms.
This year’s offerings included both ostrich meat dishes at “Mazzariņi” in Glūda Parish, Jelgava County, and lamb meals along with a farm tour at “Jēru klubs” in Skaņkalne Parish, Valmiera County. At “Herbsta Dārza Svētki” in Ziedoņi, Priekule Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality, the hosts shared stories about local apples and the cider-making process.
In Jersika Parish, Līvāni Municipality, the home café “Daugava Festival on a Raft” offered fish dishes and a meal in the middle of the Daugava River; demand exceeded the number of available spots on the raft.
“We’re delighted that we were able to offer our guests something special—fish dishes and an unforgettable meal on a raft in the middle of the Daugava,” say the owners of the “Daugava Festival on a Raft” café.
“Participating in the Home Café Days allows hosts to test their ideas and gauge guest interest. For some, this experience can be the start of a regular tourism or dining service. Latvia is a rich country, as each region reveals its own culinary traditions, flavors, and stories. During Home Café Days, you can discover them at the hosts’ table, and your journey may also lead you to other local businesses,” says Asnate Ziemele, president of the Latvian Rural Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs".
Data from the Central Statistical Bureau show that the number of trips taken by Latvian residents within Latvia increased by 28.4% from 2021 to 2025 – from 8.28 million to 10.63 million. Home Café Days offer travelers the opportunity to explore the regions through the tables, traditions, and stories of local hosts.
Homestay Café Days are organized by the LIAA in collaboration with the Latvian Rural Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs” and regional partners. This year marked the sixth consecutive year that Homestay Café Days have been held throughout Latvia. The event will continue in 2027.
About the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA)
The Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) is a government agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Economics that helps Latvian companies grow in international markets, attract investment, and foster innovation. LIAA supports companies in exporting, entering new markets, implementing investment projects, and strengthening Latvia’s competitiveness in the global economy.