Reborn Dundee is the place for discoveries
THERE’S no doubt about it, Dundee is on the up.
The city of jute, jam and journalism, nestled on the banks of the Tay, has always had attitude and now, with the opening of the Victoria and Albert Museum, it has international-class pull.
If you haven’t yet been to the V&A then mark it on your to-do list, because it’s as fascinating inside as it is eye-catching and out-there outside.
Of course, you’ll want somewhere to stay that matches the V&A’s bold vision, somewhere that tips its baker-boy cap to the city’s rich heritage while planting its tan brogues firmly in hipster territory. Hotel Indigo is that place.
Yes, it’s part of a chain but it’s also proof that chains don’t have to drag you down. That’s due to its industrial-chic style and attention to detail. XXXXXX xxxxxx The stylish reception features displays
Xxxx relevant to the city’s past, present and future – there’s jute and journalism, yes, but also a display promoting Dundee’s globally-recognised videogaming scene.
And then, when we got to our room, there’s detail like the repeating sheepdog commands that ran around the dado rail in our room to tie in with the collection of DC comics and books featuring the canine hero Black Bob.
As locations go Hotel Indigo is well placed – it’s in a quiet side street that’s a five-minute walk to the centre of town and 10 minutes from the V&A and Discovery Centre.
The Italianate bell tower of this converted linen mill, built in the 1830s by the Baxter family, makes it an easy landmark for the wanderer to fix on.
The front desk service was warm and very helpful – parking is at a premium in this area so take the advice of the staff.
Our double room was modern and stylish, with open brickwork that was matched with crisp, clean lines and a superb rainshower-style walk-in shower in the generously-sized bathroom.
Again, the little touches score – the drawer with the teabags and coffee was labelled “drouth?” which, even though I am not a Scot, I knew to mean “thirsty”.
There’s even a Nespresso machine, and fresh milk in the fridge.
We were meeting our children, both students at the city’s universities, for dinner in the attached restaurant, the Daisy Tasker, a delightful place to spend an evening.
When we visited, the menu was due to change within days, so call for an up-to-date guide.
The local influences spread to the dishes on the menu, and we all enjoyed a delicious threecourse meal, with wine and drinks for four, for £100 and change.
Breakfast the next morning was just as good, with buffet-style options and a cooked breakfast, again served in the Daisy Tasker – just what you need to fuel a day’s exploring around this fabulous, thriving city.