Intrigued to explore the charming capital of Riga, Latvia - awarded the honour of European Capital of Culture 2014 - to report on this beautiful, historical city, I chose a hotel that reflects the elegance and sophistication of Riga: Gallery Park Hotel.
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The entrance to Gallery Park Hotel Riga, tucked in a discreet quiet thoroughfare just off the main road and beside the Russian embassy.
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A 5-star luxury boutique hotel in a stunning location in the affluent centre of town, Gallery Park Hotel is the only hotel in Latvia with the prestige of being a member of Châteaux & Hôtels Collection. Formerly a mansion owned by a yacht magnate and a 19th century historical building listed as a UNESCO World Heritage sites, the hotel opened in 2009 after a grand restoration and in a short space of time was awarded the Best Hotel in Latvia.
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| The rich, woody tones of Gallery Park Hotel lobby felt warm and welcoming, not unlike that of a dear friend's country house. |
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| Sourced from auction houses from around the world - Sotheby's, Christies, and the like - every bit of furniture was rich in detail and had a story of its own. |
I've always loved luxury boutique hotels as larger chain hotels can feel 'soulless'. Gallery Park Hotel felt personal and cozy - after all it was once someone's home - rather like staying at a friend's place. And how personal it was! From even before my trip (a month before we arrived) the wonderful Olesja went out of her way to accommodate my requests; the staff at reception stand to attention when so much as your foot crosses into the vast lobby, making you feel like your every need is anticipated and attended to, the service was impeccable (I've lost count how many times I've had to call the front desk for extra adaptor plugs to be brought to our room, yet the staff delivered before I could even put down my room phone), and Olesja was kind enough to give me a tour of every corner of the hotel with an explanation on the fascinating history behind every bit and bob that goes into each room. For example; the guest rooms and suites are decorated with antique furniture and original works of art purchased from the world's leading auction houses - Sotheby's, Christies, etc. and the anecdote of a Korean tv series filmed in the Imperial Suite even though the series was actually set in Berlin!
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| A (Superior) Room with a view. My windows faced the twinkling, postcard-prettiness of a main road yet it was so peaceful and quiet - I slept like a baby even though I was only on the 2nd floor! |
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| The modern, masculine bathroom was a contrast to the classical European decor of the Superior Room. |
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| Holiday uniform - hotel bathrobe and matching slippers, naturally. |
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| Every morning I looked forward to breakfast, especially for this beauty of a bread basket. |
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Gallery Park Hotel Deluxe Room
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| Gallery Park Hotel Royal Suite |
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Gallery Park Hotel Imperial Suite - a popular filming and photography location.
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Truly, my stay in Gallery Park Hotel was one of hospitality, luxury, grandeur, and convenience. The hotel location enjoyed that incredible privilege of being in a 'quite zone' yet minutes walking distance from the town centre. While the setting was decidedly historical - just seconds from the opulent Art Nouveau district and surrounded by international embassies - the amenities of the hotel were happily modern with the most deliciously warm underfloor heated bathroom tiles (that I may or may not have spent too much time standing on to warm my feet after a cold day out and about in minus temperatures), Frette bed linen, and Thalgo toiletries. My only regret was that I didn't have the time to use the jet-stream pool, sauna, or have a massage at the spa, but I think I made up for any lost-spa time by sampling the gourmet Baltic cuisine at their award-winning restaurant Renommé. I'll be reviewing Renommé restaurant and show you the hotel bar in my next blog post about Gallery Park Hotel, so stay tuned!
I thoroughly recommend Gallery Park Hotel Riga for an intimate, luxurious, and convenient stay in Riga - the staff are impeccably attentive (even organising for me to go on a husky sled ride today, which I can't wait for!), the history and aesthetics of the building is fascinating and stunning with gorgeous details everywhere, the location is perfect for those who want to walk around the Old Town and Art Nouveau areas of Riga, the Latvian bread basket (complimentary at breakfast) is a work of art (hehe), and those suites are a dream! A stay in the Imperial Suite would be a perfect romantic getaway for Valentine's Day.
Photos 1, 3, 13, 14, 15 courtesy of Gallery Park Hotel Riga. I was a guest of Gallery Park Hotel Riga but all words and opinions are, as always, audaciously and honestly mine.
