Review: AC Hotel Riga by Marriott in Latvia’s Art Nouveau District

Booking AC Hotel Riga

A visit to Latvia had been on my radar for quite some time, largely because of Riga’s reputation as one of Europe’s architectural gems. The city’s concentration of Art Nouveau buildings, combined with its UNESCO World Heritage-protected Old Town, made it an easy addition to my growing list of European cities to explore. Riga is one of the three Baltic capitals, and for anyone who enjoys architecture, history, or simply photogenic cityscapes, it delivers far more than most travellers expect.

Riga Old Town

Getting to Riga was part of the experience itself. Flights were booked through Aeroplan on LOT Polish Airlines from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) via Warsaw (WAW) to Riga (RIX). The round-trip redemption costs 70,000 Aeroplan points each way in Business Class plus approximately $231 CAD in taxes and fees. The points were earned through spending on my American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card, combined with Aeroplan’s everyday earning ecosystem.

For accommodations, I chose the AC Hotel Riga, the only Marriott Bonvoy property currently operating in Riga. The four-night stay cost €380.80 after taxes, working out to roughly €95 per night or approximately $610 CAD total. Rather than redeeming Bonvoy points, I opted to pay cash this time around. Marriott happened to be running a promotion that awarded an additional 5,000 Bonvoy points for the stay, bringing the total haul to roughly 11,600 Bonvoy points before even accounting for points earned through my Marriott co-branded credit card. Factoring everything together, the return worked out to well over 5.25% in points value. A points redemption for the same period averaged around 16,000 Bonvoy points per night, making the paid rate the better overall value for this particular trip.

AC Hotel Riga – Location and Getting There

From Riga airport, the easiest and quickest transportation option is using the ride-share app Bolt. Unlike many North American cities, neither Uber nor Lyft operates in Riga, so downloading Bolt ahead of arrival is highly recommended.

The ride from the airport to the hotel cost approximately €14–16, while the return trip to the airport came in under €10. For ride-share purchases abroad, I continue to find the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card one of the best cards to use, thanks to its lack of foreign transaction fees and the ability to redeem Scene+ points on travel purchases.

One of the main reasons I selected this hotel was its location in Riga’s famed Art Nouveau district. The property sits roughly a 20-minute walk from Riga’s UNESCO-protected Old Town, though a Bolt ride into the historic core costs under €5 if you prefer not to walk.

Riga’s UNESCO-protected Old Town

Even travellers who are not particularly interested in architecture should make an effort to explore the surrounding neighbourhood. Riga’s Art Nouveau district is genuinely stunning, with elaborate facades, sculptures, ornate balconies, and decorative details covering many of the buildings surrounding the hotel. The area feels almost like an open-air architectural museum. Walking through the district immediately reminded me of the dramatic facades of some of Antoni Gaudí’s buildings in Barcelona. In fact, after taking one of the many free Art Nouveau walking tours available throughout the city, it became clear why Riga is considered one of the world’s most important centers of this architectural movement.

Riga’s UNESCO-protected Old Town

Albert Street and many of the city’s most famous Jugendstil buildings are located within easy walking distance of the hotel, making this an ideal base for exploring Riga beyond the traditional tourist areas.

AC Hotel Riga – Check-in and First Impressions

Entering the hotel through the automatic revolving doors, I immediately felt the layout was modern and efficient in typical AC Hotel fashion. On the right-hand side sits a small business center equipped with computers and a printer, while the reception desk is directly ahead. To the left is the hotel restaurant, where breakfast is served each morning, and behind reception is the elevator bank serving the guest floors.

AC Hotel Riga – Exterior

Check-in was smooth and professional. As part of the Marriott Bonvoy elite welcome amenity, I was offered the choice between bonus Bonvoy points or a breakfast voucher. I opted for the €10 breakfast credit, which effectively reduced the buffet breakfast cost from €18 down to €8 per day.

Check-In desk

The front desk agent also explained one of the hotel’s more interesting sustainability initiatives. Guests who choose to opt out of daily housekeeping through the property’s “Go Green” program receive a voucher redeemable either for a complimentary drink at the hotel bar or 250 Bonvoy points. It was a thoughtful incentive and a refreshing alternative to the increasingly common trend of simply removing housekeeping services without offering guests anything in return.

AC Riga Green Initiative

Staff throughout the stay were friendly and particularly knowledgeable about processing multiple payment methods, which is always appreciated in the points hobby, where stacking credits, offers, and gift cards is common practice.

AC Hotel Riga – Executive King Room

Originally, I had booked a standard Twin Room measuring 194 sq. ft., but upon arrival, I was upgraded to a much larger Executive King Room (387 sq. ft.), nearly double the size of the base-category accommodation.

Hotel elevators

Interestingly, midway through the stay, I discovered that the national football team from Andorra was also staying at the hotel, which explained why most of the suites had already been occupied. The situation amusingly reminded me of a previous hotel stay in Regina, where the BC Lions had effectively taken over the best suites in the property.

The Executive King Room was spacious by European standards and very efficiently laid out. Immediately upon entering, the left-hand side featured an open-concept closet area complete with hangers, an ironing board, and an iron. Opposite this area was a bench for seating, with space underneath for shoes or luggage.

AC Riga Hotel – Executive King Room

Bedroom section

Adjacent to the storage area sat the room safe along with two drawers. One drawer contained complimentary amenities, including a dental kit, shaving kit, comb, vanity kit, and shower cap. The lower drawer housed bathrobes and slippers. There was plenty of storage space throughout the room, making it easy to stay organized during a longer stay.

Further into the room sat a leather sofa that could convert into a sofa bed, accompanied by a side table and lamp. Opposite the sofa was a complimentary coffee machine with a mini fridge located underneath. Waiting on the counter was a welcome amenity consisting of a bar of milk chocolate accompanied by a handwritten welcome note, a small but appreciated touch.

Executive King Room – Sofa

There was no microwave in the room, though that is fairly common across many European city hotels.

The king bed itself was comfortable and framed by reading lights and charging stations on either side. At the foot of the bed sat another leather bench, which added additional seating space. Opposite the bed was a flat-screen television and a small dining or work table accompanied by two grey leather chairs.

Executive ensuite

The ensuite bathroom featured a shower, toilet, and dual sinks with matching his-and-hers vanity mirrors. One of the room’s highlights was unquestionably the view. Looking out toward Riga’s skyline, the room overlooked the Old Town, with its church steeples and domes punctuating the horizon, particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset.

AC Hotel Riga – View from the room

AC Hotel Riga – Breakfast

Breakfast is served daily from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM in the first-floor restaurant opposite the lobby. At €18 per person, the buffet initially seemed somewhat expensive by local standards, though with the €10 breakfast voucher from Marriott Bonvoy status, the effective out-of-pocket cost dropped to a far more reasonable €8.

AC Hotel Riga – Restaurant

The breakfast spread itself was genuinely impressive for a four-star Marriott property. The hot offerings included scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, oatmeal, bacon, sausages, and roasted potatoes. Cold selections were equally extensive with fresh fruits, yogurts, cheeses, cold cuts, smoked fish, and a full salad bar. The dessert and pastry section featured croissants, danishes, donuts, pastries, and an assortment of cakes.

Breakfast spread

Breakfast buffet

Cold options at breakfast

A self-serve coffee machine prepared a wide range of espresso-based beverages, while additional drink options included juices, drinkable yogurt, and various types of milk.

Regardless of dietary preference, there was enough variety available that most travellers would have little difficulty finding something appealing. The quality and range of the breakfast exceeded expectations and easily ranked among the better breakfast spreads I’ve experienced at a Marriott property in the four-star category.

Hotel Amenities

The hotel’s fitness center is located on the 10th floor and operates daily from 6 AM to 11 PM. While not massive, the gym was perfectly functional for travellers looking to maintain a workout routine while abroad.

AC Hotel Riga – Gym

Another interesting feature was the communal ironing room located on the second floor. Initially, this seemed unusual given my room already included an iron and an ironing board. Reception later explained that the standard entry-level rooms are significantly smaller and do not include in-room ironing facilities, hence the shared ironing room for guests staying in those categories.

Ironing Room

The small business center near reception proved useful, offering both computers and a printer for guests needing to print boarding passes or other travel documents.

Business Centre

One notable omission from the hotel was the lack of a pool, sauna, or jacuzzi. Given Latvia’s and the broader Baltic region’s strong sauna culture, even a small wellness facility would have elevated the property considerably.

Takeaway

For a four-star property, the AC Hotel Riga left a very positive impression overall. The upgrade to a significantly larger Executive King Room undoubtedly enhanced the stay, though even beyond the room itself, the property benefits enormously from its excellent location. Situated directly within Riga’s famed Art Nouveau district while remaining close to the UNESCO-listed Old Town, it is one of the best-positioned hotels in the city for travellers interested in exploring both modern Riga and its historic centre.

Service throughout the stay was friendly and efficient, the breakfast exceeded expectations, and small touches like the sustainability drink voucher program added personality to the experience. Additional wellness amenities such as a sauna, pool, or jacuzzi would certainly strengthen the offering, particularly given regional expectations in Northern and Eastern Europe. However, given that the nightly cash rate was below €100, the value proposition remains excellent.

For Marriott Bonvoy loyalists visiting Latvia, this property is an easy recommendation and serves as a very comfortable base for exploring one of Europe’s most underrated capitals. Overall, this stay earns a strong 8/10.