Promenade Hotel, Liepāja

Some hotels could be almost anywhere. Change the name above the entrance and little else would give away the city or even the country. Promenade Hotel in Liepāja is quite the opposite. Set beside the Trade Canal in one of Latvia’s most distinctive coastal cities, the hotel feels closely connected to its surroundings, from its old red-brick walls to the working harbour visible outside.

The building itself is a major part of the appeal. Promenade Hotel occupies a historic port warehouse dating back to 1797, which has been carefully transformed into a five-star design hotel. Rather than hiding its industrial past, the conversion makes a feature of it. Brick, timber and metal appear throughout the interiors, complemented by linen and other natural materials. The result is characterful without feeling like a museum.

Its waterfront setting is equally important. The hotel stands directly on Liepāja’s old harbour promenade, overlooking the Trade Canal, yachts and the activities of the port. Today this is one of the most pleasant parts of the city for a walk, but its history is rather different: during the Soviet period, the waterfront towards the sea was a closed military area. Its transformation into a public promenade has given this part of Liepāja an entirely new life.

Despite the historic surroundings, the hotel itself is comfortably contemporary. There are 72 individually designed rooms since May 2026, meaning there is more variation than you normally find in a large chain property. Depending on the room category and position in the building, the atmosphere can range from intimate and traditional to surprisingly modern, with half of the rooms offering wide views towards the water.

One of the details that gives Promenade Hotel a little more personality is its relationship with art. The lobby doubles as an art gallery, displaying work by both established and contemporary artists. It is an unusual addition, and one that works particularly well with the old warehouse architecture. Even travellers who are not staying overnight are welcome to visit the gallery. Exhibition “INTANGIABLE Glass” is their permanent exhibition and it is created by glass artist Artis Nimanis.

Food is another reason to spend time at the hotel rather than simply using it as a place to sleep. Piano Restaurant focuses on dishes prepared with Latvian ingredients, and on Friday and Saturday evenings dinner is accompanied by live piano music. The concept fits the hotel nicely: refined, but not excessively formal.

There is also a small spa on the third floor, with two treatment rooms as well as a sauna and steam bath. A gym is located nearby for hotel guests. The spa is not designed as an enormous resort-style wellness complex, but that actually suits the scale and atmosphere of the property. It offers somewhere quiet to retreat after exploring Liepāja, particularly during Latvia’s colder months.

For business events, celebrations and weddings, the hotel has six conference and function rooms, with facilities for events of up to 150 people. That combination of accommodation, restaurant, waterfront location and meeting spaces explains why the property works for considerably more than weekend visitors.

Perhaps the best thing about Promenade Hotel, though, is that it doesn’t feel detached from Liepāja. Step outside and you are immediately on the waterfront, with boats in the canal, old port buildings nearby and the city within easy reach. Liepāja has always had a strong maritime identity, and staying here lets you experience a small piece of that history rather than simply observe it.

For travellers who prefer independently minded hotels with a genuine sense of place, Promenade Hotel is one of those properties where the building and location are as memorable as the room itself.

For travellers looking for an alternative to Promenade Hotel, Art Hotel Roma is an excellent choice in the heart of Liepāja. Located beside Rose Square in the historic former Hotel de Rome building, it has 29 individually designed rooms decorated with original works by Latvian artists.

The hotel combines classic architecture with contemporary interiors, giving it plenty of character without feeling overly formal. Downstairs, the Romas Dārzs art gallery occupies the building’s former wine cellars, while the popular Beķereja bakery serves coffee, fresh bread and pastries. Its central location also makes exploring Liepāja on foot particularly easy.

Photos provided by the hotel.