• Rating: 7/10
• Rooms at Grasshoppers start from $83 (£70) a night
• Check current rates and availability
On route to the Scottish Highlands to climb the mighty mountain of Ben Nevis, I made a quick stop in Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow, to pick up a hire car. It was a slightly frosty but sunny morning and finding the hotel, right in the middle of Union Street overlooking the city's central train station, was easy enough once I realised the hotel unfolded across a single floor of an old Victorian office block. Ideal for a quick sleepover in the city, Grasshoppers is moments from Princes Square and a short cab ride from the hip area of Finnieston, with its fun restaurants and cool bars.
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| Grasshoppers hotel lounge, Glasgow |
What’s the vibe at Grasshoppers hotel?
Grasshoppers feels like a secret sanctuary, hidden high above the bustling streets below. Once through the main doors at street level, there’s an old school metal lift that takes you up to the sixth floor where the hotel is situated. The 30 bedrooms are each decorated uniquely, some with bright printed wallpaper on a feature wall behind the bed, some with wood panelled walls, they’re all fairly bright and some have views out across the train station with it’s huge glass panelled ceiling that’s rumoured to be the largest in Europe. For my visit, in the midst of the 2020 pandemic (once travel was briefly allowed), the place was pretty quiet and relaxed, but the hotel did a great job of ensuring everything ran smoothly for my short stay.
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| One of the bedrooms at Grasshoppers |
How are the rooms at Grasshoppers hotel?
The 30 rooms run off two long parallel corridors that are covered with bright modern art, giving the place a calm but fun feel. I stayed in a twin room which was fairly simple, but warm and quiet at night. I wouldn’t describe the room as ‘luxury’, but for a three-star hotel and its lowish price ($83/£70 a night), Grasshoppers is one of the best options in the city. The only other hotel I've reviewed at a similar price point is the Soul & Surf India hotel, and that didn't disappoint either. My room featured two single beds, grey and red abstract poppy wallpaper and a couple of simple bedside tables and lamps plus a desk with complimentary cakes, bottles of water and rolos (cute) on top. The bathroom was a sectioned-off cube within the room that I found slightly weird at first but it worked for a short stay and the shower was good.
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| My twin room |
What is there to eat and drink?
Breakfast is served in a central kitchen area and choices range from a selection of cooked breakfast items to cereal and croissants. I ordered the cooked breakfast which was pretty delicious but the coffee was a little bitter for my liking. I don’t believe the hotel serves lunch or dinner but with so many options in Glasgow, it doesn’t really need to. I booked a table at Gloriosa, an open-plan modern restaurant that serves a selection of sharing plates created by Rosie Healey who picked up her skills from renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi. My friend and I shared the homemade focaccia which was doughy, yet light and melt-in-the-mouth delicious, alongside glasses of biodynamic white rioja, before digging into a plate of salt cod, black olive and aioli which arrived spooned over lightly fragranced lentils. Next up was a dish of onglet with celeriac remoulade (filling and pleasing), and a Barnsley chop served with smoked aubergine and chilli butter, which was sublime but left room (thankfully) for a deep-fried Mars bar on the way home.
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| Dinner at Gloriosa |
Any highlights?
The sun-filled lounge at the hotel is a delightful room to sit and relax before heading out to dinner and the price is pretty dreamy too.
Anything they could improve on?
For the price, everything was pretty much spot on.
Check current availability at lastminute.com
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