Hipster Riga And How To Decorate In Hipster Style

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I don’t know when and where exactly I heard the word “hipster” for the first time. Most probably it was in one of those TV programs talking about popular contemporary subcultures. Whenever it was, from that time I had a certain image of a “hipster” in my had: a very young man with slightly oafish appearance: skinny jeans, mandatory checked shirt, huge plastic framed glasses, Elvis Presley hairstyle or weird hat.

When I moved to Riga I was very surprised to see that this calm and sleepy (at first glance) city is literally flooded with hipsters, or at least with people looking like them. It seems that to be in mainstream is not really fashionable here. Every now and then I hear the word “hipster” in different context, such as “hipsters love it”, or “this is a very hipster place”, so I understood that my idea of this subculture is quite superficial. I started to learn more about it and I discovered these curious facts:

hipsters are very cultural, read a lot and know many interesting stuff from many different aspects of life
they love cinema and especially art-house movies (am I a hipster?)
they listen to newly emerging, indie and independent music
they are hang over heels for all things vintage, re-used and recycled, care about our planet and support green movement.

Much more refined portrait, right? Intrigued, I decided to explore the subject in detail and headed to the most “hipster” street in Riga – Miera Iela. I don’t know why exactly this place was chosen by fans of this movement (the reason must be in the name as “Miera” means “Peace”) as externally it looks like dozens of other streets in the centre of the city: ramshackle wooden houses, old factories, surrounded by metallic fences. The only difference, perhaps, which immediately reveals its “subcultural belonging” is colourful graffiti on the walls.

The first place I stepped in was a shop selling things made of recycled glass bottles. You can find here glasses, ashtrays, clocks, candle holders and many other original items. No doubt, hipster spirit is in there:

The second stop is right in the next building, a small coffee shop. Bright paint on the walls (I am not sure if person who painted them ever bothered about colour theory), striking graffiti, mismatched vintage furniture and drawings of animals resembling tattoo on the ceiling (must be one of the current trends in Riga as have seen them already in several places). One of the walls is given to display the works of a Latvian artist, who for some reason has a thing for pelicans and other birds. In one word, everything is very cozy and very-very hipster….

By the way, the place is called “Taka”, if you decide to visit.

hipster-interiors-3 — Don’t know why but in this place even my husband looks like hipster…

Going to the next building: inside is an art gallery with objects made by Latvian artists. Not many things in there, but it feels that all of them are made with love and great taste.

At this point I already feel like every building on Meira street has something interesting to show. Even an ordinary bicycle repair workshop looks so ….hipster?? While waiting for your bike you can relax on the sofa, pat the golden retriever sleeping right next to it and chat with the owner about vintage bicycles.

One more place to visit if you would like to join hipster society is the beer pub called “Alus Darbnica”. It is not very easy to find it: that is really the place which is usually called “for those who know”… You can find here dozens of different beer and … no food at all! (but there is no problem if you bring it from a tavern located nearby). The interior… I held my breath! However, judge yourself: