Hotel Indigo York review: A boutique hotel inspired by York's confectionary heritage
Like all Hotel Indigo locations, the interior design is inspired by the surrounding neighbourhood - this time, there's chocolate on the menu
Highlights
- Nods to Yorkshire's heritage throughout
- Friendly staff
- Quiet location in the city
- Excellent breakfast service
Hotel Indigo York Review
Comfortably located with York's city walls, though just far enough away from the main tourist hubbub of Yorkshire's capital is Hotel Indigo. Part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family, the boutique hotel roots you firmly within 'God's own country', combining modern features with nods to the county's rich heritage throughout.
Like all Hotel Indigo locations, recently rolling out its new international marketing campaign 'The World’s Neighbourhood Hotel', the interior design is inspired by the neighbourhood which surrounds it. This time, there's chocolate on the menu.
In York, chocolate-making dates back to the 18th century, with The Rowntree and Terry's chocolate factories both born in the city. Producing famous chocolate brands such as Rolo, Quality Street, Aero, KitKat and Smarties, The Rowntree factory helped the chocolate industry become a prominent part of the city's economy and society.
And that history lives on in the semi-industrial theme and deep chocolate-brown shades found within Hotel Indigo's walls.
Confectionary rooms have sweet-themed features such as Smartie print pillows (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
The hotel has accessible rooms on offer (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
Bathrooms are modern and feature ornate black and white tiles (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
There is the option to book select rooms with a bath (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
The breakfast on offer went above and beyond our expectations (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
The hotel has a small fitness centre (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
Hotel Indigo markets itself as 'the neighbourhood hotel', taking inspiration from its surroundings (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
Rooms have been thoughtfully designed with features that reflect the wider theme of the hotel (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
A swirling staircase leads up to the bedrooms, spread across four floors (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
The reception area is an open plan space (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
The bathrooms come with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
No.88 Walmgate is a great place to stop for a quiet drink (Image: Hotel Indigo York / IHG Hotels & Resorts)
How does Hotel Indigo York compare to other boutique hotels?
Guests will first step foot into the open-plan reception, bar and restaurant area, which comes complete with a display of locally-made confectionary from York-based The Wizards Magic chocolate brand, should you fancy purchasing a sweet treat on arrival.
You can expect to be greeted by staff with that well-known Yorkshire charm, with York having been named as the "friendliest place to live in the UK" by Rest Less. Exposed brick adds a rustic edge, while simple decorations, including bottles of Yorkshire gin and vintage photographs, continue the celebration of the city.
There are a few cosy nooks with chairs and sofas dotted throughout, which are ideal if you find yourself waiting for slower members of your party to get ready for the day.
The Rooms
Rating: 4/5
Both cosy and comfortable, the boutique nature of the hotel means that its 101 rooms are dotted across just four floors. The corridors which lead toward rooms are tucked away behind a door on each floor, which means you won't be disturbed by the sound of the lift or fellow guests venturing down the stairs to breakfast in the mornings.
There are three main room types to choose from, including Standard, King Standard and Premium, as well as three main themes. There is also the option to choose rooms on the ground floor, including accessible rooms, as well as ones with sofa beds or a Premium room with a bath and shower.
Though most rooms are on the cosier side, some of the most spacious are the King Bed Premium rooms (with bath and shower), where we spent the night.
Interior design themes in the bedrooms echo those elsewhere in the hotel. Confectionary rooms feature wall panels, reminiscent of chocolate blocks, lights are antique jelly moulds and confectionary history is illustrated in Smartie dotted pillows. Our room featured exposed brick walls, giving a nod to the industrial factories of the region, along with leather fittings and shades of cocoa throughout.
Wall panels are reminiscent of chocolate blocks, lights are antique jelly moulds and confectionary history is illustrated in Smartie dotted pillows
A large, corner sofa offered somewhere to lounge and watch television, while a more-than-king bed was hard to peel ourselves away from once morning came. Another delicious touch in rooms is the complimentary chocolate from local chocolatier Our Chocolate Story.
Bathrooms are decorated with modern, monochrome patterned tiles and though paintwork and some tiles in parts of the room are a little worn in places, it's nothing that will take away from your stay.
Most rooms feature just a rainfall shower, but the Premium with bath and shower, as the name suggests, also comes with a bath perfect for relaxing in after a busy day exploring. There are also toiletries including the standard soap, plus 'Biology' shampoo, conditioner and body wash fixed to the wall - handy in case you forget any essentials at home.
Dining and Drinking
Rating: 4/5
Hotel Indigo York's bar and restaurant, No.88 Walmgate, keeps things simple but promises a reliable breakfast spot and a quiet place to grab a drink on an evening. If you want to hop out of bed and have breakfast waiting for you, the morning offering goes far beyond what you might expect for a hotel of this price point.
Breakfast combines a continental breakfast buffet made up of local cheeses and cold meats, a selection of bread and pastries, fruits, preserves, yoghurt and cereals, with the option to compliment this with a hot dish from the menu. The restaurant even serves up special dishes depending on the time of year. Coinciding with Mother's Day, during our stay this meant an extra special salmon and cream cheese bagel to mark the occasion.
The menu offers enough dishes to cater to dietary requirements, which means even vegetarians and vegans can tuck into a version of the Yorkshire breakfast. Diners are given a choice of toast with their breakfast, including sourdough. And, of course, other brunch staples such as the beloved avocado and toast are also features.
As day turns to night, the No.88 Walmgate is set to launch a full new menu in April, though for now, has a selection of rustic pizzas to choose from. Pizzas can also be ordered from the room, should you fancy a cosy night in.
There's also a modest wine list, a selection of craft beers and ales and an entire section dedicated to locally-made spirits. We're told that the Indigo Bluebird is the hotel's signature cocktail, a concoction of Tanqueray Gin, Triple Sec, Blue Curacao, and Angostura Bitters topped with lemonade with a twist of Orange Peel garnish.
Amenities
- Bar and restaurant
- Fitness centre
- Family-friendly
- Accessible rooms
- Air conditioning
- Complimentary bottled water in rooms
- Room service
- Off-site car park
- Free Wi-Fi
Location
Rating: 4.5/5
While the hotel is just an eight-minute walk from York's bustling Shambles, the street of Walmgate offers peace and quiet away from the busier spots. Lined with an array of independent restaurants, including the incredible Tabanco by Ambiente which serves up truly delicious rustic tapas, there are plenty of dining options just a stone's throw from your room.
The hotel is also well-located if you want to take a tour of the city's castle walls, which are just five minutes away, or spend a day shopping in the centre of York, less than 10 minutes away.
York Train Station is approximately 27 minutes away on foot, so if you do have luggage you might need to hop in a taxi. The six-minute ride cost us less than £10.
Value For Money
Rating: 4/5
Lead-in rates start at £119 per night and breakfast can be added on for an additional cost. Find rooms and book direct on the Hotel Indigo York, IHG Hotels & Resorts website.
Or, compare deals and prices for a stay at Hotel Indigo York with Booking.com or Hotels.com.
Final Verdict
Hotel Indigo is a reliable hotel chain that sets itself apart from others of a similar price point by paying homage to the neighbourhoods its locations call home, and in York, it is no different.
Quirky nods to York's chocolate-making past often had us reaching for Google to learn more about the significance of confectionary in the city.
And the addition of locally sourced products, be that the cheese at breakfast or the chocolate on sale in the lobby, shows Hotel Indigo's efforts to be a part of the community which surrounds this location.
Though this is a no-frills boutique hotel, the breakfast offering is outstanding compared to other hotels offering a similar experience, and the staff are where this hotel really gains points.
From the check-in desk to your morning toast order, staff are overtly warm and take a genuine interest in your day.
READ NEXT:
- Broom Barn review: Rustic luxury tucked away in the North Yorkshire countryside
- I stayed at the same London hotel as Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan
- This room costs more than my rent! I stayed in one of London's hottest hotel suites
- I visited a beautiful natural island in the Maldives with one of the best house reefs
- Middle Eight review: Covent Garden's music-inspired stay hits all the right notes
