Chessboard apartment in old town Riga, Coffee included

Chessboard apartment in old town Riga, Coffee included Overview

You know what caught me off guard about this place? The name actually tells you everything you need to know – and I mean that in the best way possible. The Chessboard apartment really does have this quirky chess theme going on, but it’s done thoughtfully, not like some cheesy tourist trap. When I walked in, there were these subtle black and white patterns everywhere, and honestly, it felt more sophisticated than gimmicky.

The location on Smilšu iela is pretty much perfect if you want to be in the thick of Old Town without dealing with the absolute chaos of the main tourist strips. You’re literally a two-minute walk from the Town Hall Square, but far enough down the street that you’re not hearing drunk tourists stumbling around at 3 AM. I actually discovered some of my favorite little cafes just by wandering around the neighborhood in the morning – there’s this tiny bakery on the corner that locals hit up before work, and you’ll smell the fresh bread from the apartment window. The building itself is one of those classic Riga structures with character (translation: creaky wooden floors and stairs that have seen better days, but in a charming way).

What really sold me on this place was how the owner actually thought about what travelers need. That coffee setup isn’t just instant packets thrown on a counter – they’ve got a proper machine and decent beans, which honestly saved me probably 15 euros a day. The apartment has this lived-in feel that’s way better than sterile hotel rooms, with enough space to actually unpack and settle in for a few days. The Wi-Fi works well, which isn’t always a given in these old buildings, and there’s decent natural light from the windows facing the street. I will say the bathroom is compact – typical for Old Town apartments – but everything works and the water pressure is surprisingly good. The 9.1 rating makes sense when you consider you’re getting genuine local character at a reasonable price point, plus the owner responds quickly to messages and actually knows the area well enough to give solid recommendations. If you’re the type who wants to explore Riga like you live there rather than just checking boxes on a tourist list, this spot works really well as a home base.

Chessboard apartment in old town Riga, Coffee included Accommodations

Reviews of Chessboard apartment in old town Riga, Coffee included

• Perfect – Aliaksandr from Poland – 14 June 2025 (10/10)

  Location
  
  What could be improved: Everything good

• Exceptional – Hans from Germany – 28 May 2025 (10/10)

  A great place, very conveniently located, spacious and quiet. Perfect for my weekend trip!

• Tom helped us greatly. Definitely recommend – Simeon from United States – 3 May 2025 (10/10)

  The place was extremely clean. Tom met us with the key and was very informative in where to go in Riga. Right in the heart of downtown.

• We're satisfied in general, could recommend the place to other people. – Renata from Poland – 6 July 2025 (8/10)

  The location is perfect, good and prompt contact with the owner, good and clean place for a short city break in Riga, good value for money
  
  What could be improved: The place is rather dark as its windows don't get any sunlight, because they're overlooking a kind of inner court. A bit more coffee would be nice

• Very good – Estebanbri from United Kingdom – 5 July 2025 (8/10)

  Location was incredibly good
  The host was very nice and helpful
  Artistic Design.
  
  What could be improved: Light, it was quite dark.
  The curtain didn't close in full to separate the bedroom from the dining area.
  Perhaps so minimalist, if you rent an apartment you need more kitchen.

• Exceptional – Dainius from Lithuania – 16 June 2025 (10/10)

  Vieta,viskas ranka pasiekiama.Parkingas patogus ir netoli.Ramu ,švaru,erdvu.Savaitgaliui praleisti idealus variantas.
  
  What could be improved: Nera

• Все очень прекрасно – Sevastianov from Ukraine – 6 May 2025 (9/10)

  Нахождение в самом сердце Риги)))

• Exceptional – Peter from Hungary – 1 July 2025 (10/10)

  Vadonatúj apartman a lehető leginkább központi elhelyezkedéssel, mindennel felszerelve. Egy éjszakára ~80 euróért nagyon jó ár/érték arányú volt. A szállásadónkkal nem találkoztunk, de telefonon, whatsappon azonnal elérhető és segítőkész volt.
  
  What could be improved: A hálószoba és a nappali valójában egy helyiség, egy jelzésértékű fél függönnyel elválasztva.

• Lage ausgezeichnet, ansonsten naja. – Martina from Germany – 15 June 2025 (7/10)

  Die Lage ist ausgezeichnet.
  
  What could be improved: Die Ausstattung ist ausgesprochen billig. Die Betten sind von schlechter Qualität. Die Handtücher fusseln, so dass man die ganzen Wollfäden auf der Haut hat. Es gibt nur eine Kochplatte, kochen kann man eigentlich nicht. Die Möbel sind im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes an die Wand gemalt.

Surroundings

Facilities