Tourism & Hospitality | Thursday 17 May, 2018 5:47 pm |

I spent five days in Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, Latvia’s first five-star luxury Hotel, in a relaxing vacation through which I toured the entire capital city, Riga on foot.

 

With the famous Latvian National Opera House by its side and the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at its feet, the hotel presents a whole new level of comfort and elegance to both city guests and locals. Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga features 141 first-class rooms and suites, two restaurants and two bars, six spacious meeting rooms, including the Grand Ballroom, a world-class SPA and wellness facility. Breath taking panoramic views of the capital, refined service and a rich cultural experience await guests from around the globe.

 

"Originally built in the 19th century and opposite the famous Opera house, this landmark looks back to a long history. The new Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga will provide an exceptional guest experience through living our passion for European Luxury and making the hotel the place to be in Riga again.” said Leon Baum, General Manager of Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga.

The alluring location of Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga is not just a coincidence; nor is the revival of the former Hotel Rome site, the most modern accommodation in Riga, dating back to the 1880s. The original building was almost entirely destroyed during WWII, but it took just a few years to rebuild it from scratch. The newly open Hotel Riga then housed the first-ever bar in Latvia and served the first cocktail in the whole Soviet Union, where Hotel Riga was considered to be among the best hotels in the whole republic. Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga opened its doors for visitors from around the world in October 2017, celebrating the rich history of its great building, in the very heart of Old Riga, reclaiming its position as a social hub that fully meets every guest’s needs. 

Artistic Luxury!

The hotel’s modern rooms and suites start at 37 sqm for the Superior Rooms and go up to 278 sqm for the Presidential Suite. Each room features contemporary wooden furnishings, splendid murals, beautiful French artworks and polished marble flooring. Each of the 141 rooms and suites showcases a unique set of pastel tones, while the large windows in some rooms overlook the Freedom Monument, the Opera, it’s Park and Pilsetas canals. Here guests can enjoy their breakfast at the all-day-dining Amber Restaurant in the morning, the traditional afternoon tea at Lobby Lounge, a glass of pre-opera champagne at Grand Bar, or a relaxing smoke at Cigar Lounge. The glittering Amber Restaurant with its open show kitchen offers a unique blend of contemporary Latvian and international cuisine with respect to the most distinguished local dishes. Located on the panoramic top floor is Stage 22, a stylish rooftop restaurant and bar that is an ideal spot for savouring some ingenious, locally-sourced drinks and snacks and relishing the city sights with some inspiring music in the background. The restaurant also offers an à la carte menu with the finest Nordic dishes infused with local ingredients. Guests may also bring a little piece of Kempinski home, paying a visit to Berthold Delikatessen. The aromatic downstairs bakery spoils its customers with a great selection of fresh pastries, excellent coffee and gourmet takeaways.

Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga is a suitable locale for large, international conferences, or strictly intimate celebrations. The majestic Grand Ballroom with its high windows and bright daylight can accommodate up to 300 persons and three events at a time. The hotel also offers five stunning, fully equipped private meeting rooms with daylight, named after famous individual musical movements – Sonata, Solo, Symphony, Andante and Allegro. For a more personalised service and more private atmosphere, guests are welcome to book the Kempinski VIP room on the 8th floor, adorned with full-length glass

windows, private terrace and natural daylight. To make the stay even more memorable and carefree, a 24/7 concierge and parking service is always available upon request.

Exquisite Spa

"located on the basement floor is the Kempinski The Spa – a luxurious 1300 sqm wellness spa with four single treatment rooms, one double treatment room and the unique ‘Pirts Suite’ inspired by the traditional Latvian bathhouse. Wellness facilities feature a luxurious bathing journey of various heat experiences overlooking the vitality pool. Through the ‘Rasul Mud Experience’ guests can benefit from local Latvian muds famous for their healing properties" Baum added. 

The spa also includes a state-of-the-art gym and the ’Beauty Lounge’, a place to relax, socialise and enjoy various beauty treatments while sipping a glass of champagne. Reflecting the European cycle of the seasons and the Latvian culture, every element of the Spa has been designed to provide its guests with infinite moments of relaxation and inner wellbeing. The Spa is open daily not only for hotel guests but also for outside visitors.