Villa Santa in Cesis

There should be a feature were can give 6 stars for those Fantastic hotels because this is one of them. We had wonderful time.

really nice villa in country side of Cesis. great stay with a very good forest view

Villa Santa is a magical place surrounded by a forest, in the most beautiful town of Vidzeme. Every time I return there, I feel like home. The restaurant serves excellent food. In this place, every detail has been thought out for the well-being of the guests.

Beautiful old hotel nicely adorned with multiple buildings to stay in. Dinner was great and they easily adapted to our food sensitivities. Breakfast is more than ample with many choices for hot and cold. Don’t forget to do the sauna. Both regular and steam saunas in the hotel to go back and forth in or sit for a few minutes and enjoy the view of the forest.

Highly recommended!! Amazing huge rooms, high quality finishings, located on a beautiful estate property that’s peaceful. The staff were so nice. Loved this place would stay again. 10/10

Wonderful place and beautiful location. A bit of a walk from town but not a problem with a car. Really peaceful and a nice break from some of the cities we visited. Great restaurant!!!

Villa Santa is a beautiful place to stay – very clean, well-maintained, and comfortable. The staff were exceptionally helpful and welcoming, always ready to assist with anything needed. A peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, highly recommended for anyone visiting Latvia.

The Restaurant:
Villa Santa’s restaurant is an absolute gem — and a whole vibe. Hotel restaurants can be hit or miss, but this one is genuinely fantastic. The menu is small, but everything is done right: a thoughtfully curated drinks selection, including a solid range of non-alcoholic options and a respectable wine list.

The food is grounded in classics but reimagined with creativity — never overly fancy, just smart, well-balanced cooking. There are vegetarian and vegan options, though the menu isn’t specifically focused on them. Presentation is playful and visually striking, and the service strikes the perfect balance between charming and relaxed, yet attentive.

The restaurant space itself is lovely: large windows with scenic views, bold commissioned artwork, and, as a delightful touch, original chandeliers from the Riga Kempinski. Prices are more than fair for the quality.

The Hotel:
Villa Santa feels like it’s inventing a new hotel category — call it the Baltic Forest Villa. It offers the quiet elegance of a boutique hotel with the calm and seclusion of a woodland retreat. The rooms are bright, spacious, and tastefully minimalist. Many of them are deliberately TV-free, which adds to the sense of peace. Some buildings don’t have air conditioning — typical for this region, but something to note for American guests used to climate control. And once again: this place is not that expensive and well worth it.

This is a place to unwind — subtle, serene, and effortlessly stylish.

One thing to note: The entire complex is nestled in the forest. That means birdsong, trees, fresh air, and tranquility — but also gravel paths, mosquitoes, and the need to be a bit disciplined with open windows in the evening.

This is a special destination and one we would not have missed even though the Villa is outside of town in a marvellous location. The facilities, room and ambience is second to none. Superb beds, wonderful bathroom and parking right alongside the property was a bonus. The only slight snag was that on arrival we were told the restaurant was closed due to our not immediately having been able to confirm earlier in the day that we would reserve a table but would need to wait and see before arriving later in the afternoon. So, this was rather disconcerting but no worries - a recommended restaurant in town was superb. Breakfast choice was unbelievable.