Review: Hilton Garden Inn Riga Old Town, Latvia

Riga is the medieval capital of Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries (alongside Estonia and Lithuania) in northeastern Europe. Its first Hilton-branded hotel opened in 2019 and is nestled at the heart of Riga's old town, standing as a gateway to the city's heritage with a prime location just steps away from some of the most popular attractions including St. Peter's Church and the House of the Black Heads. A few years later, the Hampton Riga Airport was launched as the second Hilton-branded property in 2022.

Beautiful enchanting views from the hotel room
Enchanting views from the Hilton Garden Inn Riga Old Town

The Hilton Garden Inn Riga Old Town is a contemporary and comfortable 4-star hotel, with a modern grey facade on its exterior that reflects the city's juxtaposition of old and new. Once inside, guests are welcomed by a spacious lobby with natural light from the glass ceiling above the hotel atrium.

The hotel's modern grey facade
A modern grey facade

Hotel entrance

Hotel lobby

Check-in

Being a small 100-room hotel, there are just two desks at the centre of the lobby. Check-in begins at 3:00 pm and check-out at 12:00 pm. The hotel is served by two elevators serving all floors, which include the guest rooms on the upper floors as well as the fitness centre and parking in the basement.

Front desk

Seating area

More seats in the atrium

Elevators

Atrium view from above

Corridor on the guest floor

King Deluxe with City View

There are five room types in the hotel (king, twin, king deluxe with city view, family king, and king accessible). Connecting rooms are available for some standard king and twin rooms which sleep two people. The other larger rooms feature a sofa bed and can sleep up to three people. All rooms feature air-conditioning, heating and 50-inch TVs.

Room interior

Two bottles of water per stay were provided complimentary for Hilton Honors members.

A chair by the window

The bathroom comes in a white colour scheme and features bath amenities by Crabtree & Evelyn. The bathroom floor is heated which is a nice feature during the colder months.

Bathroom

Sofa bed (left) and king bed (right)

Views of the Old Town

Room interior

A higher floor affords some good views of the old town, with the St. Peter's Church visible from the edge of the windows.

View of St. Peter's Church

The hotel was kind to offer a card and some cake for a birthday celebration, as I had noted in my reservation.

Card and cake for a birthday celebration
Complimentary birthday card and cake

Facilities

A grab-and-go corner is available on the ground floor, which features snacks and beverages, although the prices are exorbitant and certainly not the most economical of options. Being at the heart of the old town, there are many shops nearby and I found Riga to be quite an affordable travel destination relative to the rest of Europe.


Grab-and-go corner

A small laundry room is available for use on the fourth floor, which can be quite practical and useful. 

Laundry room

Also, there is a fitness centre in the basement although it is very basic and does not have any windows.

Fitness centre

The hotel bar is situated just beside the hotel lobby and offers a cosy spot for drinks.

Hotel bar

Bar counter

Breakfast at the Beef Room

A buffet-style breakfast takes place at the Beef Room on the ground floor daily. The breakfast hours are between 7:00 am and 11:00 am on weekdays and between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm on weekends. Breakfast is complimentary for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond members and their registered guests.

The Beef Room

Some of the breakfast selection

It was interesting to see a "Latvian corner" that included items like a parmesan cheese wheel, herring and sprats which pays homage to Latvian traditional cuisine. These local specialities were complemented by a selection of international favourites including eggs, pastries and made-to-order waffles.

The Latvian corner featuring local specialities
Latvian corner

Hot breakfast dishes

Cereal and pastries

Food selection for breakfast
Breakfast spread

Impression

Overall, the hotel is an excellent pick for travellers due to its prime location, modern amenities, and international hospitality standards. The hotel's location in the heart of the old town, providing guests with unparalleled access to Riga's most iconic landmarks at its doorstep, is a distinctive and advantageous feature. Furthermore, in a city with relatively few international hotels, the Hilton Garden Inn provides modernity and comfort to a consistent standard that global travellers have come to expect. These reasons make the hotel a great base for exploring all that Riga has to offer.

Address: Grecinieku 25, Riga, Riga, Latvia
Telephone: +371 67 108 008
Email: info@hgiriga.com

Comments

Popular Posts