Probably Riga’s most renowned and popular dance club, Club Essential is an impressive place: well-designed, modern, sleek and full of of fashionable people and eye candy. There are two dance floors and lots of bars. The club has a really cool, party-like atmosphere in that it seems so carefree and fun. They even had a magician on stage at one point. Thursday is R&B night (which is actually rock’n’roll with a few hip-hop samples thrown in) while Friday and Sunday are devoted to dance music. Saturday is event night. There is no overbearing security and the club is mainly free from pretense, although they do delay the opening time to ensure there is always a respectable queue at the door. It’s a bit pricey by Riga’s standards with beers and spirits costing about $5.60 and cocktails about $7.50. Cover starts at about $5 depending on the night. Some girl complained about me smoking next to her – how did Eastern Europe become so irritatingly Western?