Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Radisson Blu Latvija is waking up on the tallest tower in Riga to a window full of Old Town's red roofs, then heading down to soak in the biggest spa in the Baltics — best value if you land a high floor and use the spa hard.
Radisson Blu Latvija is waking up on the tallest tower in Riga to a window full of Old Town's red roofs, then heading down to soak in the biggest spa in the Baltics — best value if you land a high floor and use the spa hard.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The real reason to stay here is the view from a high floor. The hotel has 571 rooms stacked up a narrow tower, so rooms from around the 15th floor start to get good views and anything from the 20th up is genuinely memorable. Open the curtains in the morning and you get Old Town's red roofs, the dome of St. Peter's, the wide Daugava river and its line of bridges; the other side looks over the Art Nouveau district out to Bastejkalna park. Rooms wear the Scandinavian-modern look the Radisson Blu brand is known for, in grey, white and beige, with soft beds, clean linens, thick sound-absorbing carpet and floor-to-ceiling windows that open up the whole view. Bathrooms are simple and smart; most have a separate bathtub and shower, with ESPA shampoo and shower gel. Book a Business Class floor room up top and you get a private lounge with free snacks and drinks all day, which works for couples after a postcard view and for business travellers who want a quiet corner to work.
Food and amenities
Two things set this place clearly apart from other Riga hotels: ESPA Riga and Skyline Bar. Start with the spa. ESPA Riga runs to 4,400 square metres, the largest in the Baltic region, taking up a whole floor in a warm Nordic palette of stone and wood. The heart of it is an 18-metre indoor pool you can soak in all day, ringed by a jacuzzi, fountains, experience showers and relaxation walkways. Next door is a full sauna zone: a Finnish-style dry sauna, a traditional Latvian wet sauna, a steam room and a dim-lit relaxation room to lie back in. Plenty of reviewers say you can use it all day and not get bored. Guests get in free with no limit; massages and bespoke treatments need booking and cost extra. Right at the top of the tower is Skyline Bar on floor 26, a glass-walled cocktail bar with a full 360-degree panorama of the Riga skyline you won't find anywhere else: Old Town's red roofs, church domes, the Daugava and the city lights at night. Drinks sit in the mid-range for a rooftop bar. Go up before sunset, around 17:30, to catch the light change. Reviewers call it the best moment of the stay.
Location and getting there
The hotel stands on Elizabetes street in Centrs, the district locals call the Art Nouveau District because it's ringed by Art Nouveau buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Step out of the lobby and you're into a stylish slice of Eastern Europe: cafe fronts, pastry shops and pastel buildings worth photographing. Old Town is about a 10-minute walk through Bastejkalna park, and the central rail and bus stations are around 15 minutes on foot. Riga Airport (RIX) is a 25-30 minute drive. The lobby itself is open and high-ceilinged, in dark grey tones with warm wood, more modern than the tower outside, which still carries its Soviet-era feel.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. Even with several renovations, the 1979 building still feels its age in places: some corridors, the occasionally slow lifts and parts of the tiling show their Soviet-era roots, and if you want bold modern design it can feel plain for the size and name. Second, the front-desk service is inconsistent, and reviewers agree on this. When a tour group or a big conference rolls in (this hotel takes on a lot of events), check-in can drag and some staff aren't as switched-on as you'd hope, so if you want quiet and staff who remember your name, this isn't a boutique. Third, the breakfast buffet has variety and is fine, but some reviewers find it ordinary for the class and you may queue at busy times. Last, rooms facing Elizabetes street at the front can pick up a little traffic noise, so if you're a light sleeper ask for a high floor facing Old Town.
Our take
Reading through the real reviews on Agoda (8.6) and Booking (8.7), and the comments from both tourists and business travellers, Radisson Blu Latvija sells the view from the tallest tower in Riga, the biggest spa in the Baltics, and an Art Nouveau location that walks into Old Town in minutes. If your trip in your head is waking up to Old Town's red roofs, soaking in the pool and sauna before heading out, then closing the day with a cocktail on the 26th floor at sunset, this is great value at roughly $90-185 a night. It suits couples, business travellers and anyone after an icon building with everything in one place. But if you want a small boutique with sharp modern design and staff who know your name, it may feel big and busy. We score it 8.6/10 and recommend it without hesitation for anyone who puts view, spa and a walkable base first.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- At 90 metres, 27 floors and 571 rooms, it's the tallest tower in Riga, and high-floor rooms fill the window with Old Town's red roofs, church domes and the wide Daugava river. Reviewers call it the best city view in Riga.
- Skyline Bar on the 26th floor is a 360-degree rooftop bar open from afternoon to late, and it's a favourite with both hotel guests and locals who come up for sunset cocktails.
- ESPA Riga is a 4,400-square-metre spa, the biggest in the Baltic region, with an 18-metre indoor pool, dry sauna, wet sauna, steam room, relaxation rooms and full treatment rooms. Guests use it free, with no time limit.
- The Centrs location is right in the middle of town: a few minutes' walk to the UNESCO-listed Art Nouveau district and about 10 minutes into Old Town, which works for sightseeing and for work.
- More than 30 meeting and conference rooms make it a solid pick for business travellers, and there's a Business Class floor with a private lounge for guests in the upper rooms.
- The building dates to 1979 and still shows its age. It's been renovated, but some rooms, corridors and lifts keep a faint Soviet-era feel, so if you're expecting sharp modern design you may find it plain for the size and name.
- Front-desk service is inconsistent, reviewers agree. It can be slow and a bit flat, especially when a tour group or a big conference is checking in at the same time.
- The breakfast buffet has plenty of variety, but some reviewers find it ordinary for a hotel of this class, and you may have to queue at busy times.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room on the 20th floor or above facing Old Town. The red roofs and the dome of St. Peter's look their best, and it pays off the moment you open the curtains in the morning.
- Head up to Skyline Bar on floor 26 around 17:30, before sunset, to catch the light changing over the city. Drink prices aren't as steep as you'd expect for a view like this.
- ESPA Riga is free and unlimited for guests on the day you stay, so use it fully, especially the traditional Latvian sauna, and squeeze in a morning soak before you head out to feel fresh all day.