— The hotel
Raina Boulevard Exclusive Design Apartments by the Park
You know what caught me off guard about Raina Boulevard? It’s actually in one of those gorgeous Art Nouveau buildings that Riga’s famous for – I mean, you’re literally staying in a piece of architectural history here. The apartments sit right on Raiņa bulvāris, which honestly feels like you’re in the heart of everything without the tourist trap chaos. I could walk to the Freedom Monument in maybe three minutes, and the old town’s just across the canal bridge.
The “exclusive design” part isn’t just marketing fluff – someone actually put thought into these spaces. The apartments have this clean, Nordic-meets-Baltic vibe that doesn’t feel sterile or hotel-generic. Big windows (thank god, because Riga winters are dark), decent kitchenettes if you want to grab groceries from the Rimi down the street, and the beds are surprisingly comfortable for what’s technically a 3-star place. The 8.9 rating makes sense once you’re there – it’s not trying to be the Four Seasons, but it delivers on what it promises. I stayed during late spring and could hear the trams on Brīvības street, but it’s more of a gentle city hum than annoying noise.
What I really appreciated was the location intelligence – you’re close enough to walk everywhere that matters, but far enough from Vecrīga’s weekend party crowds that you can actually sleep. The park they mention is Esplanade, which becomes this lovely green corridor for morning walks or evening people-watching. Plus, and this is key for anyone doing the Baltic capitals thing, the bus station and central train station are totally walkable with luggage. No expensive taxi rides or figuring out public transport when you’re jet-lagged and confused. The building itself has that solid, pre-war construction feel – thick walls, high ceilings, the kind of place that stays cool in summer and warm in winter. Check-in was smooth (they seem to have their systems sorted), and honestly, for the price point in Riga, you’re getting a lot more space and character than the chain hotels near the airport.
