Grand Poet Hotel and SPA by Semarah

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about the Grand Poet Hotel? It’s actually right there on Raiņa bulvāris – and I mean literally right on it, not tucked away on some side street like half the hotels in Old Town claim to be. The building itself has this gorgeous Art Nouveau thing going on that fits perfectly with Riga’s architectural vibe, though honestly, you might walk past it if you’re not paying attention because it blends so seamlessly with the historic streetscape.

The lobby hit me with this immediate sense of calm – there’s something about the way they’ve done the lighting and the smell (I think it’s subtle lavender from the spa treatments drifting up?) that just makes you exhale. Check-in was smooth, no hovering around waiting for your room to be ready, which is always a relief when you’ve been traveling all day. What really impressed me though was how the staff actually knew the neighborhood – when I asked about getting to the Central Market early to beat the crowds, the concierge didn’t just point me toward a map, he told me which entrance to use and mentioned that Thursdays are usually quieter. That’s local knowledge you can’t fake.

The rooms are honestly beautiful without being fussy about it. My window looked out over the boulevard, and while you do get some street noise (it’s a main thoroughfare, after all), it’s more like a gentle urban hum than anything disruptive. The bathroom was one of those setups where you actually want to take a bath – deep tub, good water pressure, and towels that don’t feel like sandpaper. I mean, for a 5-star place you’d expect decent linens, but these were actually soft. The spa downstairs is where this place really shines though. I wasn’t planning to book any treatments (budget, you know?), but they have this relaxation area that guests can use, and after a day of walking around the cobblestones in Old Town, soaking in their mineral pools was exactly what my feet needed.

What I loved most was the breakfast situation – they’ve got this spread that includes local stuff alongside the usual international options. The rye bread was incredible, and they had this honey that I’m pretty sure was from somewhere nearby because it tasted like nothing I’d had before. Plus, breakfast runs until 11 AM, which is a godsend when you’re trying to recover from exploring Riga’s nightlife. Location-wise, you’re about a 10-minute walk from the really touristy parts of Old Town, but close enough to the National Opera and the parks along the canal that you feel like you’re seeing the city locals actually live in. The 9.3 rating makes total sense – it’s one of those places that gets the details right without making a big show of it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $161. Standard Room for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $191. Standard Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $191. Standard Twin Room with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $233. Park View Premium Standard Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $233. Park View Premium Twin Room with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $255. Superior Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $318. Junior Suite with Double Bed with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $328. Deluxe Suite with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $428. Suite with 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $457. Family Junior Suite with 2 single beds and 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $523. Grand Suite with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Superb – Alicja from Poland – 4 July 2025 (9/10)

  Great hotel near the city center. Friendly staff, tasty breakfasts and charming spa place. I enjoyed the stay.

• 5 nights in Riga – Debbie from United Kingdom – 3 July 2025 (9/10)

  The location is excellent
  Breakfast is very good and staff are helpful.
  
  What could be improved: Smart TV did not work even with a dongle and neither did the landine in the room – even after the engineer fixed it. Not significant enough to impact greatly on our stay but would have been nice to be able to watch a whole film!

• Exceptional – Caspian from United States – 1 July 2025 (10/10)

  Access to the spa included with staying at this hotel. The spa was high-quality!

• Classy hotel on edge of old town – Melvin from United Kingdom – 30 June 2025 (9/10)

  Location
  Staff
  
  What could be improved: Breakfast okay but not great

• Recommended 100% – Georg from Austria – 22 June 2025 (10/10)

  We just felt welcomed and at home from the very first moment on. Your staff makes a difference.

• Superb – Matthew from Switzerland – 22 June 2025 (9/10)

  I stay at this hotel regularly when in Riga, primarily because of its friendly staff, good facilities and excellent location. Breakfast is excellent and rooms are large and clean.

• Great location, facilities and friendly staff – Heli from Finland – 18 June 2025 (9/10)

  Breakfast was excellent with lots of choice. Spa had a nice choice of saunas/steam rooms and the gym was well equipped. Also the massage at the wellness center was really good. Location is super as it's within walking distance from most places.

• Superb – Ina from Lithuania – 16 June 2025 (9/10)

  Breakfast was delicious !!!
  
  What could be improved: Small spa…it was cramped…lots of visitors at the same time and I had a dressing gown and towel "taken away" by visitors 2 times in the spa…not enough hooks for these items.

• Excellent hotel – Thomas from Denmark – 9 June 2025 (10/10)

  Getting a taxi from the airport using Bolt was quick and easy. Check-in was quick and easy because there were three people at the front desk. The room was ready even though we arrived early, that was very much appreciated. The room was beautiful, comfortable, and clean. The bed was comfortable too. The spa was great, and very relaxing. The spa treatments were a lovely experience. The breakfast was great. Good selection of food, and the food was all very tasty. All the staff were friendly and helpful.

• Superb – Sharon from United Kingdom – 9 June 2025 (9/10)

  Leisure facilities were lovely. Great location.
  
  What could be improved: Some of the hot food at breakfast was not very hot but everything else was good and there was a lot of choice.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities