New in Latvia: Announcing the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga

By Mary Winston Nicklin Oct 19, 2017 9:24am

The largest of the Baltic capitals has a lot to love— from the art nouveau architecture and vestiges of the U.S.S.R. to the cobblestone streets and the happening bars. And now there’s a new luxury hotel where you can rest your weary head after taking in the sights of Riga. The Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga opened its doors this month as the first five-star Kempinski hotel in Latvia. Situated next to the Latvian National Opera House, the hotel has Riga’s UNESCO-listed Old Town at its doorstep.

The building itself is a city landmark— formerly the Hotel Rome back in the 1880s, it was mostly destroyed during the Second World War and then rebuilt from scratch in just a few years’ time. As the Hotel Riga, it was considered to be one of the best hotels in the Soviet Union, serving the U.S.S.R.'s first cocktail at Latvia’s first-ever bar. In this historic setting, the new Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga hopes to “reclaim its position as a social hub."

There are 141 guest rooms and suites, starting at 37 square meters (nearly 400 square feet) for the Superior Rooms. Top digs: The Presidential Suite, sprawling across 278 square meters (nearly 3,000 square feet), has 24-hour butler service, walk-in closets, and views overlooking the National Opera House.

Facilities include two restaurants and two bars (including the rooftop bar called Stage 22), six meeting rooms, including the Grand Ballroom, and a state-of-the-art gym.

The Spa deserves a special mention. On the lower level, Kempinski The Spa has multiple treatment rooms including the “Pirts Suite” which was inspired by the traditional Latvian bathhouse. The wet facilities include a circuit of pools heated to different temperatures. Local immersion: Try the “Rasul Mud Experience” showcasing the Latvian mud that’s famed for its healing properties.