Malmaison Dundee

The room was a good temperature, and its facilities were excellent, including large built-in wall screens. The wireless connection to one laptop was unreliable, though. I was here for a business event, and the food was good, although chips on a business-event buffet was a novel touch. There were only a few staff on duty, but they were friendly and helpful. Good, with room for improvement.

The restaurant was excellent, with very good service. Every staff member we met was accommodating, especially when we needed to store things for a luncheon. The rooms were nice and had some nice furniture, plus handy bedside USB A and C sockets. The pillows weren't great.

The worst part was the bed. Its mattress was hard and lumpy, and the protector covered only about half of it, which didn't feel comfortable or hygienic. The whole stay at Malmaison Dundee was extremely disappointing. We usually stay at Premier Inn and decided to splurge this time, hoping for something much more luxurious. It wasn't. The room was tired, dusty and very dark, with an odd, basic layout that made it uncomfortable. A wardrobe partly blocked the TV in the corner, so we could really only watch it from the bed. There was just one chair, and when we asked for another, the hotel said its policy didn't allow it. That felt needlessly inflexible. The corridors smelled strongly of chemicals, like drying paint or cleaning products, and the smell lingered. Sound insulation was awful too. The walls and windows seemed paper thin, and we could clearly hear people talking, moving around and making general noise, so it was hard to relax. Cleanliness seemed lacking in general, and bird droppings on the hotel windows made a poor first impression. It felt like maintenance was being overlooked. Breakfast was a particular letdown at £23 per person. The food came cold and poorly cooked, and didn't justify the price. We skipped it after the first morning and went to a nearby Beefeater instead, where breakfast cost £10.99 and the service was much friendlier. Service was inconsistent, especially in the evenings. Some staff seemed dismissive, and one younger staff member appeared more interested in taking cigarette breaks than helping guests. Customer service didn't feel like a priority. We'd booked this as a treat, but it turned out to be underwhelming. For a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Dundee, we'd suggest looking at the Apex or Premier Inn, which we found far superior overall.

The food was delicious, and everything brought to the table was excellent. The dining room was nicely decorated, quiet and comfortable, and the toilets were clean and tidy. The hotel's entrance looked superb, and it felt warm and inviting inside, though strangely there was nobody around. We only found a server after going upstairs to the dining room. Four of us had booked a table for a meal. Staff were polite, well presented and pleasant when they came over, but getting their attention was difficult. We kept having to flag someone down to order drinks, then wait 15-20 minutes or more for them to arrive. A few times, after asking, we had to approach another staff member because the first one forgot to come back. Cocktails averaged £17 each, so we would happily have bought another three or four apiece during the meal if service had been quicker. It's a lovely place for a treat or special occasion, but service needs to improve to justify the higher prices. The hotel is a short walk from the railway station, with bus routes right outside.