Grand Poet Hotel and SPA by Semarah

You can probably guess from the name that Riga, Latvia’s Grand Poet Hotel by Semarah isn’t afraid of the occasional artistic flourish. It’s set just across from the canalside Bastejkalna Park, close to the historic Old Town, and occupies a stately 19th-century building. But once you’re inside you’re introduced to a postmodern fantasy of Belle Époque grandeur, made bigger and bolder with graphic murals and an eye-popping contemporary color sense. The rooms and suites are lavish, the Hedonic Spa is aptly named, and the restaurant, Snob, is ironically named, serving artful modern dishes in a stylish space that’s nevertheless anything but pretentious.