What is the Highland capital's newest hotel AC by Marriott like?
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WITH Friar's Bridge being on my commute to and back home almost daily, I was rather curious about the building that, in the past year, has been slowly surging next to the riverside.
The curiosity grew as the neon lights of the bar started showing off in the dark on the quiet backdrop of the River Ness.
Add to this the promise of tapas and a focus on cocktails. So, expectations and curiosity were high as I entered the new AC by Marriott on Glebe Street, not for the first time but for the first time as a guest.
RELATED:
- AC Hotels by Marriott opens in Inverness today – the 191 bedroom venue is in Glebe Street and will be managed by Hotel Co 51
- PICTURES: A look into Scotland's first AC Hotel by Marriott as new venue is set to open soon on Glebe Street in Inverness
- WATCH: Take a look inside the new AC by Marriott Hotel in Inverness
First one needs to mark the location and how the building is nestled in a corner between the bridge and the streets leading to te city centre: architects have done an excellent job at shielding the main entrance from the busy A82.
One can't help but appreciate the attention to detail when entering: a small hairy cow next to the reception, small touches of decor and a neat and sleek design for the rest of the interior, which acts as lounge, tapas restaurant, cafe, breakfast area and working space for anyone in need of a comfortable place away from home where to write. With a variety of illustrated books and newspapers scattered around the tables, it feels like a great place for ideas and inspiration.
Bright and airy by day, the lounge turns to warmer and softer lights at night, which allow for a lovely night view of the river. There is a nice terrace just outside, which will serve well the guests in the warmer months.
With 60 seats in the all-day restaurant, there is a good space between tables, some of which are provided with chargers – really practical both for those wishing to work here during the day or for tourists who have been out for the day and that need a last-minute smartphone charge.
The ambience is really soft, and at dinner having a mellow volume of music in the background and dim lights makes it a very relaxing experience. A place which feels great for long post dinner conversations, leading to some intriguing business ideas, or a new theatre play's script. A great setting to try some of the cocktails on the menu.
Our choice went for mint and smoke: a classic mojito and a smoky Manhattan did not disappoint, a good balance of flavours and alcohol content – you can feel it in the background but it blends with tee other ingredients.
The hotel's menu has a curated selection of tapas and main dishes mixing Scottish tradition (haggis, fish&chips) to more European flavours, a short but fairly comprehensive selection which sits between comfort food and finer dining.
My favourite bite of the night are the crispy and salty hassleback potatoes: definilely a comfort food dish, but with a good amount of flavors and textures going on. The baba ghanoush was nice and creamy and served with some lovely hot flatbread slices.
The haggis&tatties bonbons tasted nice although they lacked a bit of the characteristic haggis spicyness, flavours were more towards a nice potato croquette, but very pleasant nonetheless.
For good measure, we also tried one of the mains, and the fish and chips had – both – a good crunch to them (if a bit oversalted). Thumbs up for the tartar sauce which seemed freshly made and added a lovely freshness to the dish.
One aspect which I feel needs some work on are desserts: the options were cranachan, cheesecake, macarons and cheese platter and therefore lacked of a warm or non-fruity dessert. A bit of a missed opportunity thinking of all the wonderful options among European dessert menus, but we'll see if there will be any new additions in the future. Those with a sweet tooth can however have a refill at breakfast: the selection is pretty wide, from British staples to continental and the pastries section is well re-filled.
There is a rather drastic separation between the ambience of the lounge and the corridors leading to the bedrooms, which are 191 in total. In fact it feel a bit like a maze once you are in the corridors, but everything feels pleasantly quiet when we are in.
Before going in the elevators, a lovely stand dispenses sachets of lavander to place under the pillow to help you have a better night of sleep (that, together with the raw honey frame at breakfast and the books scattered around the lounge, was one of the small but lovely highlights of the night).
The rooms are mostly provided with a king-sized bed (aside from twins) and a nicely wide TV screen. The design and spaces are minimal but cosy, clean, functional. A place where you can happily relax and stay a short while but which is not meant for long stays.
Despite being right next to Friar's Bridge, the night was quiet and peaceful, the dark curtains doing their job nicely (only a wee disruption from the flashing light of the smoke alarm if you are very sensitive to lights in the room).
The beds are extremely comfortable, with great support in pillows (which for one who likes to read at night and who had a bad cough that night was particularly appreciated) – it was difficult not to fall asleep straight away.
A good spacious walk-in shower was equipped with fresh and citrusy toiletries from dispensers, for good measures on avoiding single-use plastic bottles.
We left after breakfast to head to the Christmas Markets at Eden Court, fresh from a good night sleep and a good breakfast.
I can see how this new hotel will become easily popular among tourists (for quality of stay, price point and location) but also as a place where locals can go for a coffee and just sitting in a really relaxing and charming space.
