SUNBEAM DESIGN APARTMENT

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard “design apartment” I was expecting some pretentious minimalist cube with uncomfortable furniture and no personality. But SUNBEAM actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s tucked away on Akmeņu iela, which is one of those quiet residential streets that feels properly Rīgan without being touristy. You know what I mean? Like, you’ll hear actual conversations in Latvian from your window instead of tour groups shuffling by at 7 AM.

The apartment itself has this warm, lived-in design sensibility that somehow manages to feel both stylish and actually comfortable – which is honestly rare. The morning light situation is genuinely spectacular (hence the name, I suppose), and I found myself drinking coffee by the windows way longer than planned. The kitchen is properly equipped too, not just some sad mini-fridge situation, which matters if you’re staying more than a night or two. I mean, Rīga’s food scene is incredible, but sometimes you want to grab groceries from the Rimi down the street and make breakfast without spending 15 euros. The whole place feels like someone’s actual home that they’ve opened up to travelers, rather than a corporate rental unit – there are books on the shelves, decent art on the walls, that sort of thing.

What really sold me on the location was how easy it is to get around from there. You’re walking distance to both the Old Town (about 15 minutes if you don’t mind a pleasant stroll) and some of the cooler neighborhoods that most tourists skip entirely. The 22 and 11 trams stop nearby, which honestly makes getting to the airport or central station pretty painless. Plus – and this is key – parking isn’t a nightmare if you’re driving. I’ve stayed in Old Town places where finding a parking spot felt like solving a puzzle designed by someone who hates cars. Here, there’s actual street parking that doesn’t cost a fortune, and the neighborhood feels safe to walk around at night. The only minor thing I’d mention is that the building entrance is a bit tricky to find the first time (it’s one of those Rīga apartment buildings where the door numbers aren’t immediately obvious), but once you figure it out, you’re golden. That 9.2 rating makes total sense – it’s the kind of place that delivers on what it promises without any unpleasant surprises.