Last year, more than 2,300 people chose to spend an August weekend in Smiltene Municipality, making their way from one home café to the next. This summer, the journey of flavours will be even richer – on 8 and 9 August, visitors will be welcomed by 23 home cafés, inviting them to discover the region through local stories, flavours created especially for the occasion, and genuine hospitality.

Home Café Days in Smiltene Municipality have become one of the most anticipated events of the summer. While last year 19 home cafés opened their doors across Smiltene Municipality and welcomed more than 2,300 guests over two days, this year the number of hosts has grown even further. Interest in the event continues to increase, with more and more people choosing to discover Smiltene Municipality at a slower, more relaxed pace.

Home cafés will welcome guests in Ape, Smiltene, Rauna, and the parishes of Bilska, Branti, Drusti, Gaujiena, Launkalne, Rauna, Trapene, Variņi and Vireši. Each home café will offer something different. At one table, guests will be served recipes passed through generations; at another, they will be surprised by creative flavour combinations; elsewhere, the meal will be complemented by concerts, creative workshops, tastings of local products, or the chance to explore the farm and hear the stories of its hosts. It is the people and their hospitality that make Home Café Days so special.

Smiltene Municipality is purposefully developing its slow tourism offer, inviting travellers to discover places in a different way – not in a rush, but by enjoying local stories, flavours and the joy of meeting people.

“Slow down and savour life” – this is the theme with which Smiltene Municipality invites visitors to embark on a flavour journey during this year’s Home Café Days. It is an invitation to pause for a moment, enjoy the hospitality of local people, homemade food, and conversations that often become the most valuable part of the journey. The idea is to find your own place to linger a little longer and truly feel the spirit of the region.

Choose your perfect stop in Smiltene Municipality

Ape

• Home Café “Ringolds”

Open on 8 August, from 12:00 to 20:00.
Smilšu iela 10, Ape

• Home Café “Druvas”

Open on 8 and 9 August, from 12:00 to 20:00.
Druvas 2, Ape

• Home Café “Rafa Pizza”

Open on 8 August, from 12:00 until the last pizza is gone.

Jauncikuži, Ape

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Bilska parish

• Home Café “TAKA”
  Open on 8 and 9 August, from 11:00 to 19:00.

Mēru muiža, Bilskas pagasts

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Branti parish

• Home Café “BIRZĪ”
  Open on 8 and 9 August, from 12:00 to 18:00.
  

Kainaiži, Brantu pagasts

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Drustu pagastā

• Home Café “Prom no visa”
  Open on 8 August, from 10:00 to 20:00.

Stūrariešas, Drustu pagasts

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Gaujiena parish

• Home Café “Garšo ēst!”
  Open on 8 August, from 11:00 to 21:00.

Lauri, Gaujienas pagasts

• Home Café “Meža stāsts”
  Open on 8 August, from 13:00 to 22:00.

Tiltlejas, Gaujienas pagasts

• Home Café “Vaivariņi”
  Open on 8 and 9 August, from 10:00 to 20:00.

Vaivariņi, Gaujienas pagasts

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Launkalne parish

• Home Café “Café Mežs”
  Open on 8 August, from 13:00 to 20:00, and on 9 August, from 12:00 to 17:00.

Vecsprenīši, Launkalnes pagasts

• Home Café “Kukaburra”
  Open on 8 August, from 11:00 to 19:00.

Kukaburras maizes muzejs, Launkalnes pagasts

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Rauna

• Home Café “Leilas Gardumi”
  Open on 8 and 9 August, from 10:00 to 19:00.

Rīgas iela 2A, Rauna

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Rauna parish

• Home Café “Mirdzošais Feju kafijas mirklis pie Lauras Rozes”
  Open on 8 and 9 August, from 12:00 to 18:00.

Saules iela 1, Rozes, Raunas pagasts

• Home Café “Raunas Ceplis”
  Open on 8 August, from 12:00 to 20:00.

Ķieģeļceplis, Raunas pagasts

• Home Café “Vēverīšas izbrauc zaļumos”
  Open on 8 August, from 12:00 to 20:00, and on 9 August, from 10:00 to 19:00.

Lejas Vagaļi, Raunas pagasts

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Smiltene

• Home Café “Purcha Garage”
  Open on 8 August, from 12:00 to 20:00.

Blaumaņa iela 27, Smiltene

• Home Café “Pie Rozīšiem”
  Open on 8 August, from 11:00 to 18:00.

Meža iela 3, Smiltene

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Trapene parish

• Home Café “Bertas Pastas Stacija”
  Open on 8 August, from 11:00 to 20:00, and on 9 August, from 11:00 to 18:00.

Stādzēni, Trapenes pagasts

• Home Café “Fazāni”
  Open on 8 August, from 10:00 to 20:00.

Fazāni, Trapenes pagasts

• Home Café “Sili”
  Open on 8 August, from 12:00 to 20:00.

Sili, Trapenes pagasts

• Home Café “Skursteņslauķu sēta”
  Open on 8 August, from 12:00 to 20:00, and on 9 August, from 11:00 to 18:00.

Stādzeni, Trapenes pagasts

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Variņi parish

• Home Café “Meža taka”
  Open on 8 and 9 August, from 11:00 to 19:00.

Jaunbirzuļi, Variņu pagasts

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Vireši parish

• Home Café “Kalniņš un Vilciņš”
  Open on 8 August, from 10:00 to 22:00, and on 9 August, from 10:00 to 20:00.

Viesturi, Virešu pagasts

This summer, set off on a flavour journey in Smiltene Municipality and discover local people, their stories and hospitality. The full Home Café Days programme, opening hours and menus will be available at www.visit.smiltene.lv and www.majaskafejnicas.lv. Follow the latest updates on social media as well.

Home Café Days are organised by the Latvian Rural Tourism Association “Lauku ceļotājs” in cooperation with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and municipalities across Latvia. In Smiltene Municipality, the event is coordinated by the Entrepreneurship and Tourism Department of Smiltene Municipality Council.

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Written by: Līga Ozoliņa, Deputy Head for Tourism Development at the Entrepreneurship and Tourism Department of Smiltene Municipality Council.