A Baltic Bounty

Most of the world’s Zeppelin hangars have disappeared since the deadly explosion of the Hindenburg abruptly ended the airship era in 1937. But five of them, originally built for German war dirigibles, have long been a point of local pride in Latvia’s cosmopolitan capital of Riga, where they’ve been converted to a higher and more peaceful purpose: food.

Riga’s Central Market is a playground for the serious food shopper. This vast bazaar houses hundreds of stalls in the airship pavilions, each of which specializes in a different category of fresh produce: meat, dairy, breads, fruits and veggies, and fish. Step inside any one of them and you’re met with an environment so lively and authentic you’ll be eager to claim your spot among the haggling locals.

Exploring the entirety of this enormous market would take hours, but you will quickly home in on traditional Latvian delights like fragrant rye bread and piragi, a baked roll filled with bacon. In the meat pavilion, beef-carvers exchange banter while elsewhere honey vendors capitalize on Latvia’s rich history of beekeeping. They actively court passersby with samples drawn, for instance, from buckwheat blossoms.

In the open area outside, you can buy fresh flowers, browse traditional crafts such as Latvia’s signature amber jewelry, and celebrate the unexpected bounty the Zeppelins left behind. www.centraltirgus.lv/en/rct