Where Old Riga feels like home: inside Carillon Aparthotel

Behind a restored façade on one of Riga’s oldest streets, a 19th-century building has begun a new life. Carillon Aparthotel combines the character of Old Riga with the freedom of apartment living, offering travellers a place where they can stay for a weekend, settle in for several weeks or simply experience the city at a slower pace.

Located at 13 Pils Street, the aparthotel sits within Riga’s UNESCO-listed historic centre, close to Riga Castle, Dome Square, museums and some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Yet once inside, the mood changes. The busy streets of the Old Town give way to bright interiors, quiet corridors and apartments designed to feel private and self-contained.

Carillon Aparthotel has 61 apartments, but the building’s historical layout means they do not feel like repetitions of the same hotel room. Some are compact and practical, while others offer separate living and sleeping areas, French balconies or terrace. Each apartment includes a kitchen area and workspace, creating an environment that can function as both accommodation and a temporary home.

That distinction matters most during a longer stay. A kitchen offers the freedom to make breakfast without watching the clock, prepare dinner after a late meeting or maintain familiar routines while travelling with children. Workspaces, storage and laundry facilities make it possible to live with fewer compromises, especially for visitors staying in Riga for business, study or an extended holiday.

The idea is simple: guests should not have to choose between the privacy of an apartment and the convenience of a hotel. At Carillon Aparthotel, they can work at their own desk, cook at their own pace and return to a space that feels personal, while still having access to hotel services and on-site facilities such as a gym and laundry area.

The building, however, is more than a practical shell for modern apartments. Its story begins in 1870, when archival records first mentioned a two-storey rental house on the site. Around 1905, Latvian merchant Alexander Mentzendorff commissioned Baltic German architect Alfred Aschenkampff to expand it into a larger complex of five- and six-storey buildings.

Over the decades, the property changed together with the city. It housed residences, commercial premises, a printing house and a theatre, among other uses. Later, after years of neglect, it stood in need of extensive reconstruction. Work began in September 2023, and the building eventually reopened as Carillon Aparthotel, welcoming its first guests in December 2025. Its official opening followed on May 21, 2026.

The renovation did not attempt to erase the building’s previous lives. Instead, traces of them were carefully brought forward. Historic ceramic tiles, wooden structures, railings and decorative details were restored, while the original ground-floor windows were preserved. The upper-floor windows, each with different proportions and shapes, were recreated according to individual drawings.

Among the most striking survivors are eight original tiled stoves. Once functional parts of the building, they now stand inside selected apartments as sculptural reminders of its residential past. Historic ceiling details and staircase elements continue the story in shared spaces, giving the property a character that could not be reproduced in a newly built hotel.

The interiors draw inspiration from two styles closely associated with Riga: Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Instead of heavy ornament, the design uses clean lines, balanced proportions, natural wood, soft fabrics and a muted palette of warm, earthy tones. Glass partitions allow light to travel through the rooms, while rounded furniture and dark accents add rhythm without overwhelming the historic setting.

Natural light is one of the defining features of the apartments. Large windows open the interiors towards the surrounding Old Town, and in selected rooms, French balconies create a closer connection to the street below. Guests can hear the city beginning its day, watch the light move across historic rooftops and then close the doors on the bustle when they need quiet.

Modern systems have been integrated discreetly into the historic structure. Energy-efficient heating, upgraded engineering networks and quiet ventilation and air-conditioning systems provide contemporary comfort without becoming the focus of the interiors. The basement has also been repurposed to accommodate technical areas, a gym and laundry facilities.

Outside, the city is immediately accessible. Riga Cathedral, the Three Brothers, St Peter’s Church, the House of the Blackheads and the Latvian National Opera are all within walking distance. But the appeal of the location is not limited to major sights. It is also found in smaller routines: buying coffee on a cobbled side street, discovering a hidden courtyard or returning home through the Old Town after an evening performance.

Carillon Aparthotel is part of Keystone Collection, established in 2023, which also includes nearby Konventa Sēta Hotel. The two properties are only a short walk apart, but their approaches differ. Konventa Sēta Hotel offers a more traditional hotel stay, while Carillon Aparthotel is built around greater independence, more space and the possibility of living in Riga rather than simply visiting it.

As travel becomes more flexible, the line between a hotel, a workplace and a temporary residence is increasingly blurred. Carillon Aparthotel reflects that change. It offers the practical qualities of an apartment, the reassurance of hotel services and something more difficult to define: the feeling of inhabiting a small part of Riga’s history, even if only for a few nights.