What better way that to finish your twenties than spending the night in a top rated, ultra-luxurious hotel in the city centre of Glasgow.
Having just recently moved back to Scotland we hadn’t heard of The Dakota Deluxe before hand, which only opened its doors in Spring of 2016.
However, when the Birthday treat was announced the first thing we did was to check out the hotel online, the moment the webpage loaded we were already inquisitive and enticed, the large glossy images filled the foreground of the dark and mysterious page.
Located in a relatively quiet street corner, with the famous Sauchiehall Street a stones through away and only a short stroll to the hub of Glasgow- Buchanan Street, past the up-market area of Blythswood Square, lies the
grey brick façade, black glass windows of The Dakota Deluxe.
The stylish boutique hotel is a far cry from the old brown-bricked Works and Pensions building which formally occupied the Pitt Street/ West Regent Street corner.
From the moment the sliding doors slid open, we were in complete and utter awe of the precise details and the dark ambiance. The friendly Porter welcomed us and smoothly guided us through the dimly lit reception area. The check in was smooth and the girls at check-in even wished me a Happy Birthday (I can only presume mum had mentioned it when booking).
After a quick and easy check-in, we were guided to the elevators which swooshed us up to room 314 on the 3rd floor. We were in a Classic King room, one of the 83 luxury guest rooms and suites available.
I tried for some time to conjure up how we felt when we opened the door to our room, but the truth is, it was just 'WOW WOW WOW' that came out of our mouths.
As we glided through the large dark door to the room, sinking our feet on the soft grey carpet, our eyes were drawn to the ‘New York ' style grey wooden slanted blinds. The walls and ceiling were painted grey too which all led focus to the huge, plus king sized bed and big comfortable chez lounge complete with mohair and 100% pure wool throws (then we realized why it was expensive to stay, the throws would have been worth a fair bit alone!) The comfort and quality moulded us into the perfect night’s sleep, along with the brand-new feel giving that luxurious touch with the plump pillows and soft thick cotton duvet. The handy light switches came with dimmer switch which made the dark room feel more ambient.
And then on to the super spacious bathroom, complete with wide monsoon shower. The shiny grey brick styled tiles on the walls and large tiles on the floor added to the luxury. Along with massive furry white warm towels and the little added extras of soap from The Scottish Fine Soaps Company and cute bottles of shower gel and body wash.
The chic design and sleek décor made you feel encapsulated within a sea of greys and warmth, the writing desk along with the seat were finished off in soft leather. A lot of creativity clearly went into the planning, the gadgets/amenities were second to none with USB ports, Bluetooth and HDMI connectivity, along with the thoughtfulness of not just UK sockets but EU sockets too. The 48” TV complete with full sky package was a huge bonus for Shannon.
Our room was complete with a complimentary range of Jacksons Of Piccadilly teas and Douwe Egberts coffee. The executive rooms also come with a Nespresso machine, mini bar and bath robe.
For this hotel is only rated a 3 Star, it most definitely doesn’t lack in style or comfort, but I think a few touches which would help it raise its ratings would be to have a fridge in every room, a gym and a swimming pool in within the hotel. I also think the hotel is geared up more for business clients as there is a large boardroom and lounge with charcoal grey sofas and yet more comfort.
Whether staying at the Dakota or just in the area, we would highly recommend visiting Jack’s Bar which, like most of the hotel is cosy and masculine, it’s almost like a gentleman’s club with the suave appearance and enchanting atmosphere. After a night out on the town, Jack’s Bar with its cosy candle-lit tables is where I wanted to be when the clock struck midnight on my 30th Birthday. There was an extensive list of malts and cocktails, and I was even allowed to order off menu with the promise if I didn’t like it, it would be exchanged.
After a blissful nights sleep we padded down for breakfast, it was room only, so we paid the extra for breakfast. It doesn’t come cheap though at £11pp for a continental and up to £16 including a cooked breakfast. We opted for the continental, not only for money, but for how large the spread was, the help yourself buffet had a range of fruit juices including freshly squeezed oj, as much smoked salmon as you could take, home-made yogurts, fresh pastries and a selection of fruit, which all left us more than satisfied.
Now, we couldn’t recommend The Dakota Deluxe any higher, it was a perfect getaway, it was more than a home-away-from- home. We almost didn’t want to get out and explore Glasgow as we wanted to stay locked in the room for the duration, however it is not exactly cheap, rooms start at £108 pn, suites up to £240pn and if you wish to have the Grand Deluxe Suite that will set you back £750pn! The higher rated rooms do come with breakfast however.
Website: glasgow.dakotahotels.co.uk
Address: 179 W Regent St, Glasgow G2 4DP