Ex Factory apartments

You know what caught me off guard about Ex Factory apartments? The name made me think I’d be staying in some sterile converted warehouse, but honestly, this place has way more character than I expected. It’s right on Ģertrūdes iela – and if you’re not familiar with Riga, this is actually one of those streets where you get the real feel of the city without all the tourist chaos from Old Town. I mean, you’re still close enough to walk to the medieval stuff (maybe 15 minutes if you don’t get distracted by the Art Nouveau buildings), but you’re in a neighborhood where actual locals live and work.

The apartments themselves are pretty well thought out – someone clearly put effort into making these feel like actual homes rather than just hotel rooms with kitchenettes slapped in. The kitchens are properly equipped, which I appreciated since Riga’s food scene is incredible but eating out every meal gets expensive fast. Plus, there’s something satisfying about hitting up the Central Market (it’s walkable, by the way) and cooking with local ingredients. The Wi-Fi actually works well, which matters if you’re trying to work remotely or just want to video call home without pixelated faces. I stayed during shoulder season and barely heard any street noise, though I imagine summer nights with the windows open might be different – Ģertrūdes isn’t exactly a quiet side street.

What really sold me on this place was the little details that show they get what travelers actually need. The check-in process was straightforward – no standing around a fancy lobby waiting for someone to find your reservation. The building has this interesting industrial-meets-residential vibe that works better than it sounds on paper. And here’s something I didn’t expect: the area has some genuinely good coffee shops within a few blocks, including this place called Miit Coffee that locals actually go to (not just tourists following Instagram recommendations). The tram connections are solid too, so you can get around the city easily without dealing with parking or expensive taxis. Look, it’s not going to blow your mind with luxury amenities, but if you want a comfortable base that feels authentic to Riga – somewhere you can actually live for a few days instead of just sleeping between sightseeing marathons – Ex Factory delivers on that promise. The 8.9 rating makes sense once you’ve been there.