Hotel Review
Hotel Indigo Dundee is a four star boutique hotel set on the site of a former textile mill built in 1822, which still retains its Italianate bell tower.
Location:
Dundee is Scotland’s fourth largest city and is situated on the north coast of the mouth of the Tay Estuary. Edinburgh lies 60 miles to the south and Aberdeen 67 miles to the north. The city benefits from excellent road and rail access with the A90 connecting to Edinburgh. For rail travellers there are regular services from London Kings Cross, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Arrival and check-in:
It was mid-afternoon when we arrived at the Hotel Indigo which is located in a former jute mill in the city centre. The hotel is set back from the main road and benefits from a car park to the front and side. After unloading our luggage we stepped inside the spacious entrance lobby which was bright and cheerful with colourful sofas and nods to the building’s industrial heritage.
We received a warm welcome from the receptionist on duty and after having our dinner reservation confirmed and noting our car registration, we were soon on our way to our room on the third floor.
The room:
We had been booked into the Peter Carmichael junior suite which was located at the end of the corridor. Carmichael was recognised as a an important figure in the industrialisation of the textile industry in Dundee (1809-1891). Our spacious room was decorated in muted shades brightened with pops of colour from the oversized headboard and scatter cushions. Two large windows dressed in Scottish tartan overlooked the city and River Tay beyond.
There was a good sized desk / dressing table with a Nespresso maker/ kettle and a varied selection of teas, coffee, hot chocolate, Scottish shortbread and crisps. The fridge contained a complimentary selection of Scottish goodies including cans of Irn Bru and Tunnocks caramel wafers. Other room features included a 50″ smart TV, retro telephone, comfortable arm chairs, plentiful hanging and storage space, a safe and an iron and board.
Moving into the bathroom, this boasted both a free standing bath and a walk-in rain shower. At our disposal were thick, fluffy bathrobes and fragrant Australian brand Biology toiletries.
Dining:
Dinner is served in the Daisy Tasker restaurant which is connected from the entrance lobby and also has its own exterior door. Named in recognition of Daisy Tasker, a young mill worker from Dundee who was much loved for organising social activities for her fellow weavers. The restaurant is another part of the hotel’s industrial-chic design and although large, there are cosy booths for more intimate dining.
Whilst we were there a group of 14 golfers had reserved one long table whilst couples enjoyed the cosier, small tables around the sides of the restaurant. The seasonal menus highlight Scotland’s finest ingredients and local suppliers, with a wide choice to suit all dietary requirements.
Service was relaxed with friendly chatter from the waiters. After ordering our wine, we perused the menu opting for Scottish starters of crispy haggis truffles and Arbroath smokie arancini’s which set the bar high for what was to follow with their beautiful presentation, texture and flavours. Moving onto mains, I couldn’t resist the Daisy Tasker steak frites with confit garlic butter and Stilton crème. My juicy steak was prepared to perfection accompanied by triple cooked chips and a trio of seasonal vegetables. Across the table, my husband’s pan seared hake fillet with celeriac and sage velouté came highly rated and he was a happy diner.
It was impossible to resist a dessert when Dundee marmalade bread and butter pudding with Drambuie sauce was on the menu. Despite being heavy on calories, it was bliss in every spoonful. I just knew I needed to exercise well the following day. Mr. C. was more restrained, opting for lemon cheesecake which he declared to be the perfect end to his meal with its light zingy flavour.
Breakfast is also served in Daisy Tasker where a generous selection of hot and cold platters awaited us. I started the day with granola, yoghurt and strawberries before moving on to an Arbroath Smokie, one of the restaurant’s cooked to order options. Served on toasted sourdough, topped with lightly scrambled eggs and flaked smoked haddock with mascarpone, it was a delight on a plate and a dish I could happily re-order at any time.
Meanwhile, my husband opted for the full Scottish from the breakfast buffet and we both rounded off our breakfast feast with toast topped with thick cut Dundee marmalade.
Afternoon Tea: is served in one of the cosy lounge corners between the restaurant and bar. We’d arranged to have afternoon tea prior to departure on the Sunday afternoon and what a treat there was in store for us. Rather than a traditional three tier cake stand, Indigo Dundee do things rather differently. Two large breadboards arrived filled with an array of delights. Tucking into the savoury board first, there were warm burger sliders and sausage rolls, delicious finger sandwiches filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese, pastrami, cheese and pickle and egg mayonnaise.
Mini-desserts ranged from macaroons to mini doughnuts with dipping sauce, eclairs and strawberries dipped in chocolate. Alongside these were freshly basked scones served with clotted cream and raspberry jam. There was no way we could clear it all at one sitting so our waiter came to our rescue with dainty boxes to pack the leftovers in for us to enjoy later in the day. Accompanied by several pots of Earl Grey tea, it was up with the best of any afternoon teas I’ve enjoyed.
The Facilities:
Hotel Indigo Dundee features 102 rooms and suites with many offering views of the River Tay. The hotel’s attractive lobby bar, Eighteen 22 celebrates the building’s rich history and marks the year it first opened as a jute and linen mill in the city.
Photos and memorabilia celebrating Dundee abound, showcasing the city’s links to Jute, Jam and Journalism. There’s a gym on site (perhaps I should have found time to use it after all the delicious food I’d worked my way through over the weekend). The lobby is also home to a small shop where snacks and drinks can be purchased. For guests preferring room service then this is available during restaurant opening hours.
Wi-Fi was easy to connect to and provided a fast, reliable service throughout the building. The hotel has its own car park with a daily charge of £14 per night. Alternatively guests can easily find unrestricted street parking nearby.
Out and about:
Did you know that Dundee is Scotland’s sunniest city and regularly experiences more hours of recorded sunshine than any other Scottish city, something to be proud of given Scotland’s reputation for grey clouds and rain. Over recent years the city’s waterfront has been regenerated and the city is now home to numerous world class attractions. Read on to plan your short break in the city.
RRS Discovery
RRS Discovery is a beautiful steamship with a rich past and a unique place in the history of polar research. Launched in 1901 and now a permanent exhibit in Dundee, documenting the story of Captain Scott’s legendary voyage to the Antarctic.
Tickets to the ship also include access to the adjacent Discovery Point museum which tells the story of the iconic ship ‘Discovery’ from her beginnings in Dundee, her amazing Antarctic expedition with Captain Scott and her voyages and uses afterwards. Through extensive galleries, video and film shows both the ship and museum are a must for all ages.
V & A Museum Dundee
The original V&A, named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert has stood in South Kensington, London for more than 150 years and is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design. In 2014, UNESCO named Dundee the UK’s first city of the design and in 2018, the V&A Dundee opened as a celebration as a result of this status. It is the first design museum in Scotland and the first Victoria and Albert museum outside London.
Located at Discovery Point on the waterfront, this imposing building was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The museum has been built out into the River Tay, with a “prow” jutting over the water like a boat, giving a nod to the shipbuilding heritage of the city. The museum is free to visit with its galleries focusing on Scottish design. Suspended from the ceiling in the main foyer the Shylight installation creates a mesmerising experience of flowers opening and closing their petals inspired by plant biology.
Verdant Works Museum
Verdant Works Museum is housed in one of Dundee’s refurbished jute mills. Documenting the story of Dundee’s booming textile industry, a self-guided tour leads visitors through 200 years of history.
Follow the jute on its journey from the east of India to the docks of Dundee with stories of mill working conditions and the roles of men, women and children spending their days in this harsh, unregulated environment. In its heyday, the jute industry in Dundee employed more than 50,000 people and exploring the exhibition areas one can see several of the machines operating to observe the process from raw fibre to woven cloth. Verdant Works Museum
HMS Unicorn
At nearly 200 years old, HMS Unicorn is one of the world’s most remarkable historic ships, and has been preserved as a museum and visitor attraction with four atmospheric decks for visitors to explore. The ship is open to the public throughout the year and is located in Victoria Dock.
HMS Unicorn’s story started in Chatham, Kent where she was built as a frigate. However, she never saw battle and became obsolete before ever seeing service.
The ship served as a gunpowder store before making her way to Dundee in 1873. At that time, she was converted to a drill ship for the Royal Naval Reserve and is now open daily for visits.
Dundee Museum of Transport
Discover the fascinating stories of local transport pioneers and innovators, and explore a diverse range of vehicles from both local and national collections at the museum.
On display are vehicles ranging from horse drawn carriages, to vintage cars, buses, motorcycles and a model railway. The museum is a 20 minute walk from the centre and benefits from a free car park for ease of access.
McManus Art Gallery and Museum
The museum is located in a beautiful Gothic Revival style building designed by Sr George Gilbert Scott. Admission is free and with 8 galleries to explore visitors can witness how a small settlement developed into the City of Dundee as it is today. The McManus collections reflect the story of Dundee and the city’s role in the rich history of Scottish art.
Overall:
With its industrial chic decor complementing the hotel’s heritage as a jute mill, we found the Hotel Indigo to be the perfect place to stay whilst exploring the city. All of the attractions are within walking distance meaning that we didn’t have to use the car from arrival until departure. Members of the Indigo team we came into contact with were all very friendly and helpful and I’d like to give a special shout out to Jamie and Stephen in the restaurant and bar for looking after us so well. Comfortable accommodation, delicious Scottish cuisine and convenient for everywhere – that’s three big ticks from me for Hotel Indigo Dundee.
