"This hotel does not live up to its 5-star rating. It feels more like an Ibis housed in a beautiful historic building than a true luxury property. While the location in Old Town Riga is charming, it’s also inconvenient — cars can’t get closer than a block away, which means dragging your luggage through cobbled streets, even in the rain, if you’re catching a Bolt or taxi.
The hotel is currently undergoing construction. Although there’s an attempt to conceal it, it’s hard to miss the workers hauling rubble through the halls, leaving dust in common areas, and generating noise. It creates an overall sense of disorganization and neglect.
Staff interactions were underwhelming. Most seemed disengaged, perhaps worn down by ongoing complaints. There was no effort to explain, apologize, or even smile — just passive listening followed by inaction.
The room was another letdown: very basic, poorly ventilated, with a strong odor of recently painted wood. The decor was non-existent, the bathroom was worn and dated, and despite using the “Do Not Disturb” sign, housekeeping knocked anyway, saying they wouldn’t be able to clean later.
The only redeeming feature was the breakfast — generous variety and good quality. However, even that lacked the atmosphere you’d expect from a 5-star experience.
If you’re expecting high-end service and comfort, this isn’t the place. I would not stay here again."
