Skapis: where Russian language and voguing create unity
If you ever asked yourself where is the best LGBTQ-friendly bar in Riga, on a Friday night, do yourself a favour and wander into Skapis, the city’s relentless vibrant LGBTQ haven. This isn’t just a bar; it’s a kaleidoscope of colours, joy, and a sandbox for self-expression. The electric atmosphere feels like a warm embrace. Skapis is a sanctuary for those seeking laughter, freedom, and a break from the world outside.
The show was beautiful under the neon lights and next to the pride flag (faces have been blurred for obvious reasons)
A not-so unexpected twist
From the moment you walk in, the energy hits you. The room glows under neon lights that bounce off the progressive pride flag hanging proudly on the wall. Then the crowd fills every corner, faces illuminated by nuances of red, blue, and purple. It’s a global gathering, with people from every corner of Europe and beyond. In addition, one of the host was a trans woman from Estonia, and some of the participants were from the United States of America. However, here’s the not-so unexpected twist: everyone is speaking Russian!
In Skapis, Russian flows as easily as the drinks. For that reason, it binds strangers into friends with every shared laugh and clink of a glass. There’s something surreal about this place. Even though we live in a world that often feels divisive, Skapis has flipped the script. In fact, it transformed a language often (wrongly) seen as loaded with tension into one of warmth and unity. As a result, whether it’s a local, a tourist, or someone with just a few words of Russian in their vocabulary, everyone’s drawn into the same melody of laughter and light-hearted banter.
(faces have been blurred for obvious reasons)
A place to feel relieved
It’s like a common code that makes everyone feel like they belong. And there, smiles are everywhere, and they’re the genuine kind, the ones that stretch wide and reach all the way up to the eyes. In Skapis, there’s no fear of judgment, only an overwhelming sense of freedom. People laugh, cheer, and dance like they’re casting off every worry they carried in from outside. It’s a shared celebration of being exactly who they are. Skapis isn’t just a bar, it’s a reminder that joy, connection, and self-expression can flourish, even in a world that often feels cold. Here in Riga, amid neon lights and a symphony of Russian laughter, Skapis has created a language of love and colour that everyone can understand.
Raffaël, currently studying Russian at Liden & Denz Riga
