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On the shortlist · Riga
Riga
Grand Palace Hotel Small Luxury Hotels of the World
★★★★★
Pils iela 12, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia
Engine scores
·Newness ≈2013
·Location 4.7
·Bedbug mentions 0 in 641 reviews
Member rate
€—,———
Booking.com shows the public rate for the same room and dates
Members see this rate in full. It is typically lower than the public price on this property — the same room, the same hotel, the same confirmation.
What guests love
Exceptionally attentive and caring staff who remember guest names and preferences, proactively anticipate needs, and go above and beyond to resolve problems—from arranging airport transfers to mailing forgotten items home. (85×)
Perfect location in the heart of Riga's Old Town, within steps of the Christmas market, Cathedral, and all major attractions, yet positioned on quiet streets away from main nightlife noise. (78×)
High-quality gourmet breakfast served in a stunning atrium-style room with fresh pastries, pancakes, made-to-order eggs Benedict, omelettes, and complementary Prosecco or freshly squeezed juices. (72×)
Spacious, elegantly decorated rooms with period charm blending classic European style with modern comfort, very comfortable beds with quality linens, and pristine cleanliness with twice-daily housekeeping.(68×)
Sophisticated bar and lounge with expertly crafted cocktails, premium cigar selection, and refined old-world ambiance with crystal chandeliers and velvet furnishings.(45×)
Charming hotel parrot 'Misha' present during breakfast and around the atrium, providing delightful entertainment and becoming a memorable highlight of guests' stays.(12×)
Thoughtful evening turndown service with complementary water bottles and chocolates left at bedside each night, plus welcome letters and gift treats upon arrival.(28×)
Michelin-listed Seasons restaurant on-site offering innovative, beautifully plated cuisine at reasonable prices, with professional service and an impressive wine selection.(18×)
5 more positive findings visible to members.
Watch-outs · 8 recorded
Smoking allowed in bar and restaurant causes overwhelming cigar and cigarette odor that permeates the main floor and seeps into rooms and hallways, making the space unusable for non-smokers. (12×)
Outdated bathrooms with low showerheads unsuitable for tall guests, bathtubs with awkward high steps, poor water pressure, and aging fixtures that don't match five-star standards. (11×)
Check-in parking procedure failure: guests not told parking pass must be placed in car immediately or they will be ticketed within 5 minutes; staff gave pass after check-in, leading to fines. (3×)
Hotel attempted to forcibly relocate guest to different room without cause; when guest refused, manager threatened to call police; problem only resolved when guest insisted police be called.
(2×)
General maintenance issues including crumbling plaster in bathrooms, spider webs in corners, leaking faucets, broken gym equipment, and overall building showing signs of age and wear.
(7×)
Very small gym facility with only 3-4 machines including one broken treadmill; sauna requires advance booking and is frequently fully booked, making it inaccessible.
(6×)
Limited room views with most facing inner courtyards or neighboring buildings; high ceilings in bathrooms with only two extreme lighting options (full brightness or complete darkness).
(5×)
Poor customer service recovery from restaurant reservation cancellation: hotel cancelled Christmas Eve Michelin restaurant reservation 10 days prior without solutions; replacement restaurants were wrong quality level.
(1×)
5 more further watch-outs — including the two most frequently reported — are visible to members.
Flags & notes
Parking note. Problematic — Parking pass confusion led to tickets; 5-minute limit without pass enforcement was not clearly communicated at check-in; difficult taxi access due to location.
Review history 641 dated reviews · 2013-03 → 2026-08
Monthly average (1–5)Smoothed trend
Review counts: 641 Google
54 month(s) with no reviews — possible closure/renovation gaps (shaded on the chart).
What the trend suggests
Possible review removal2013-04 – 2013-1075% confidence
A 7-month gap (Apr–Oct 2013) with minimal delta (5.0 → 4.33, Δ−0.67) suggests reviews were removed or suppressed rather than a renovation. The modest post-gap rating decline is inconsistent with a reopening after refurbishment, and the extremely sparse review count (1 review per month pre-gap, 0 reviews during gap) indicates suppression or a dormant listing period.
Issue resolved2017-04 – 2026-0872% confidence
AC/cooling complaints appear sporadically in Q2–Q3 2017–2018 (e.g. 'air conditioning didn't work', Apr 2022 review mentions AC issues), but are absent from Q3 2023 onwards despite consistent high-season summer bookings. Suggests either infrastructure repair or selection bias in recent reviews; the absence of any temperature-control complaints in 2024–2026 summer months (when such complaints would be most likely) is consistent with resolution.
Emerging issue2023-01 – 2026-0878% confidence
Smoking/cigar bar complaints rise notably from 2023-Q3 onwards (1★ review, 3★ review citing cigar smell), recur in 2024-Q1, 2025-Q1, 2025-Q2, and 2025-Q4 (multiple mentions of cigar/smoke odor deterring guests). This pattern is absent from 2020–2022 reviews. Suggests either a policy change enabling smoking in the bar, or increased awareness/sensitivity among recent guests, but consistent emergence of a recurring grievance.
What guests report
View
Most rooms face inner courtyards or neighboring buildings with limited views; very few rooms have pleasant vistas over rooftops or squares
Bed & mattress
Very comfortable, high-quality mattresses and pillows praised; some guests found pillows too firm and requested softer alternatives
Bathroom & water
Showerheads positioned too low for tall guests (under 180cm challenge); bathtub with high step awkward; water pressure sometimes weak; old-fashioned split AC units make odd noises; no kettle/coffee facilities
Wi-Fi
Works well; no complaints documented
Breakfast
High-quality gourmet spread with fresh pastries, pancakes, eggs Benedict, omelettes à la carte; complementary Prosecco; high-quality ingredients and varied selections; pricing varies (€18 cold buffet, €25 with egg service)
AC / heating
Works perfectly in most rooms; some reports of extreme temperatures (too hot) at night with unclear control instructions; one room had cold-related heating concerns
Elevator
Available
Hotel team
ŠB
General Manager
Šimon Bečka
JN
Sales Manager
Jondža Nura
LK
Revenue Manager
Linda Kone
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Local knowledge
Request room away from street level and front entrance to avoid noise and staff footsteps.
Arrive early with luggage—no porter service; heavy doors at entrance; ask staff for help if needed.
Confirm parking pass placement immediately upon check-in and clarify 5-minute limit rule to avoid tickets.
Book sauna in advance as it fills up quickly; it requires pre-booking and is not available on demand.
Tea/coffee refills are chargeable in rooms; bring your own supplies or use breakfast room for free beverages.
If sensitive to smoke, avoid the bar entirely; smoke smell permeates the main floor and nearby restaurant.
Bring earplugs for light sleep; old building has thin walls and can transmit hallway/overhead noise.
Breakfast pricing varies by components (cold buffet €18, with eggs €25); clarify before ordering à la carte.
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Room intel
Quiet rooms / wings: Rooms away from street level and front entrance recommended; Higher floors generally quieter
Noisy rooms to avoid: Ground floor rooms near breakfast area and reception affected by staff footsteps; Rooms overlooking street can hear nightlife and construction noise from Old Town; Front-facing rooms near entrance exposed to traffic and activity
Extra charges guests were surprised by: Tea/coffee refills chargeable in rooms; Sauna booking requires advance reservation (not included in room rate); Parking surcharge €30 on top of hotel rate (separate from city parking tickets); Early check-in has charges; Breakfast à la carte eggs service charges additional €7 over buffet-only price; City tax or resort fees not explicitly itemized in some reviews but charged separately
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Design & character (3% of reviews mention design): Historic 1877 bank building converted to hotel; old-world luxury meets modern comfort; Ornate interiors with crystal chandeliers, velvet chairs, art on walls, opulent lobby and bar; Gründerzeit (Founders' Era) architecture with period elegance and tasteful contemporary furnishings
Rooms & categories
3 room types
8 photosBEST VALUE
Superior Room
Superior Room
HeatingNon-SmokingTelevisionChampagne serviceHeight-adjustable showerheadHand-held showerhead
7 photosOPTION 2
Deluxe Room
Deluxe Room
HeatingNon-SmokingTelevisionChampagne serviceHeight-adjustable showerheadHand-held showerhead
8 photosOPTION 3
Junior Suite
Junior Suite
HeatingNon-SmokingTelevisionChampagne serviceHeight-adjustable showerheadHand-held showerhead
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