Grand Palace Hotel

The Grand Palace Hotel in Riga, Latvia, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently earns high praise for its luxurious ambiance, exceptional service, and prime location within the city's historic Old Town. Housed in a beautifully restored building that once served as the Central Bank of Latvia in 1877, the hotel seamlessly blends its rich heritage with contemporary boutique luxury.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The Grand Palace Hotel garners an impressive overall positive sentiment, with guests frequently rating it as "wonderful" or "exceptional" with an average rating of 9.1. Reviewers consistently highlight a "five-star experience" and describe it as a "perfect small boutique luxury hotel."

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the Grand Palace Hotel:

• Service & Staff: The attentive, friendly, and professional staff receives near-perfect ratings, often described as going "above and beyond" to cater to guest needs.
• Location: Its central yet quiet location in Riga's Old Town is a major draw, placing guests within easy walking distance of major sights, shopping, and historical monuments.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's elegant and classic design, featuring a chandelier-crowned lobby and meticulously designed public spaces, is frequently admired.
• Breakfast: The "fantastic" and "fabulous" breakfast is a recurring highlight, often served in the beautiful Orangerie Hall.
• Pet-Friendly: The hotel is noted for being very dog-friendly, offering amenities like bowls and blankets for pets.

3. Room Quality

The 56 rooms and suites at the Grand Palace Hotel are described as spacious, comfortable, and elegantly furnished with a timeless decor that blends traditional luxury and comfort. Designed by Andrew Martin, the rooms feature a cool color palette for relaxation. They come equipped with air conditioning, minibars, laptop-compatible safes, flat-screen satellite TVs, and complimentary bottled water. Bathrooms are well-appointed with heated floors, shower/tub combinations, bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary luxurious toiletries. Daily turndown service and housekeeping are also provided.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a notable dining experience:

• Seasons Restaurant: Recognized in the MICHELIN Guide 2025, Seasons Restaurant offers "art-inspired gastronomy" with a menu crafted by Executive Chef Timofei Monahhov, focusing on European and Asian cuisine. The dining space is elegant, featuring richly upholstered chairs, artwork, white linens, and golden cutlery.
• Orangerie Hall (Breakfast): Breakfast, often described as "superior" and "excellent," is served in the bright Orangerie Hall, known for its glass ceiling, chandelier, lush greenery, and even a resident parrot named Misha. It typically includes a buffet with hot items made to order.
• Pils Bar: This cozy and elegant bar is a favored spot for guests, diplomats, and business professionals, offering signature cocktails crafted by long-serving bartenders, along with a menu of soups, appetizers, and main courses.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at the Grand Palace Hotel consistently receives outstanding feedback for their friendliness, helpfulness, and professionalism, often achieving perfect ratings. Guests appreciate the personalized attention and genuine desire of the team to ensure an extraordinary stay. Concierge services are highly praised for recommending restaurants and activities.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Grand Palace Hotel boasts an exceptional location in the heart of Riga's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is just 100 meters from Riga Castle and 130 meters from Doma Square, making it a perfect base for exploring the city's historical buildings and attractions. Other sights like Blackheads House, St. Peter's Church, and the Opera House are within a 7-minute walk. The hotel is located on a quiet cobblestone street, offering peace despite its central position. Riga International Airport is approximately 10 km away, with taxi services taking around 15 minutes. Valet parking is available.

7. Value & Pricing

While the Grand Palace Hotel is considered a luxury property and on the higher end of budgets, many guests feel it offers exceptional value for money, given its sophistication, amenities, and service. Average nightly prices can range from approximately $107 for a Superior room to $244 for a King room, with an average weeknight price of $159 and weekend night price of $179. Prices can fluctuate, with December often being the cheapest month and July the most expensive. Booking directly with the hotel may offer perks like room upgrades.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor recurring issues have been noted by some guests:

• Elevator Speed: One reviewer mentioned the single elevator being a bit slow.
• Check-in Efficiency: One older review from 2018 highlighted a slow check-in process due to a single staff member providing a very detailed city orientation while other guests waited.
• Gym Facilities: The 24-hour gym has been described by one reviewer as "super basic/disappointing."

Sources

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