Izbushka

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Izbushka? The name literally means “little hut” in Russian, but this place is anything but rustic. I mean, it’s tucked away on Maskavas iela – which runs parallel to the Daugava River if you’re trying to picture it – and honestly, I almost walked past it the first time because it doesn’t scream “hotel” from the street.

The location is actually pretty clever when you think about it. Maskavas iela gets you into Old Town in about fifteen minutes on foot (I timed it), but you’re far enough out that you’re not dealing with the weekend party crowds stumbling around at 2 AM. The tram line runs right there too, which locals will tell you is way more reliable than trying to navigate those narrow cobblestone streets by car. Parking around here isn’t the nightmare it is closer to the cathedral, and the staff seemed genuinely surprised when I mentioned how quiet my room was – apparently they get that comment a lot.

What really sold me on this place was the attention to those little things that matter when you’re actually living somewhere for a few days. The shower pressure was incredible (you’d be amazed how many “4-star” places get this wrong), and they’d clearly thought about lighting – there’s actually a decent reading light by the bed, not just some decorative lamp that barely illuminates your phone screen. The breakfast setup runs until 10 AM on weekdays, which gives you time to actually sleep in if you’ve been exploring Riga’s bar scene the night before. And here’s something weird but appreciated – the walls are thick enough that I never heard my neighbors, even though I could tell the place was pretty full.

The staff definitely knows their stuff about getting around the city. When I mentioned wanting to check out the Central Market, they didn’t just point me in the right direction – they told me which pavilion has the best local cheese and warned me that Saturday mornings get absolutely packed. That’s the kind of local insight you can’t get from a chain hotel where the front desk person started working there last week. The whole vibe feels more like staying at a really well-run guesthouse where someone actually cares about whether you have a good time in their city, rather than just processing you through efficiently.

I’ll be honest – at first glance, this area feels a bit removed from the postcard-perfect Old Town shots you see online. But after a couple days, I started appreciating how it sits right between the tourist stuff and actual residential Riga. You can grab groceries at the Rimi down the street, there’s a decent coffee place about three blocks away that locals actually use, and you’re still close enough to walk to all the main sights without feeling like you need to plan your whole day around transportation. For a 4-star place with a 9.6 rating, it’s not trying to be the fanciest hotel in the city – it’s just really, really good at being exactly what it is.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $369. Holiday Home with 3 × 1 double bed and 3 × 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Celkově veliká spokojenost. – Václav from Czech Republic – 11 June 2025 (9/10)

  Velmi prostorné, společenská místnost, bazén, sauna, útulné. Poměrně osamocené v bližším centru, takže jsme nerušili sousedy. Obchody a bary blízko. Ideální pro skupinu. Velmi příjemný hostitel.
  
  What could be improved: Jedna sprcha, nedostatek toaletního papíru, velmi jednoduchá kuchyňka, na základní vaření postačuje.

• Ideal um mit Freunden zusammen Riga zu entdecken – Gündner from Germany – 22 July 2022 (9/10)

  Waren als Gruppe unterwegs um Riga zu erkunden, hat unsere Ansprüche auf jeden Fall erfüllt. Cool war der Platz den wir zusammen hatten und die Sauna inkl. kleinen Indoor Pool. Supermarkt und Straßenbahn direkt vor der Haustür
  
  What could be improved: Komfort etwas rustikal, hat uns völlig ausgereicht, aber als Familie ist es vielleicht weniger empfehlenswert. Liegt etwas außerhalb der Stadt, man braucht etwa 20 min. rein.

• Passable – Andris from United Kingdom – 16 May 2023 (5/10)

• Superb – Kaspars from Latvia – 28 May 2025 (9/10)

• Exceptional – Nataliia from Latvia – 5 August 2024 (10/10)

• Exceptional – Romanas from Lithuania – 8 October 2023 (10/10)

• Exceptional – Alexander from Germany – 4 October 2023 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities