Fashioned out of a landmark 19th century building, Indigo Hotel is a boutique luxury property conveniently positioned in the heart of Glasgow, a five-minute walk from central train station. Once housing the city’s first electric power station built in 1892, architects and interior designers at Ica deserve strong praise for their conversion efforts, which have created a nine-story contemporary hotel while preserving the listed building’s 1920’s plasterwork and ceramics.

Oversized cylindrical metallic ceiling lamps and a vibrant wall painting of civic and cultural leaders greet you upon entering through revolving doors from Waterloo Street. Striking crimson and yellow armchairs and low-slung tables fill the ground floor space opposite the reception desk, offering an inviting  ambiance for informal conversation or business networking; the atmosphere is enhanced by a bar stretching along the back wall.

If you happen to be there on a weekend check out the hotel’s Fizzy Friday promotion which offers discounted prices on Champagne. Honoring the intriguing history of Scotland's largest city, the Indigo has dedicated both individual rooms and corridors to various facets of its growth. Aside from the colorful lobby mural, photographs of buildings, pubs and sculptures of note adorn several floors. In addition, bedrooms are partially decorated with large digitalized images of city scenes and places of interest. The hotel also has a modest fitness studio with two treadmills, an upright bicycle, hand weights, a cross-trainer and a multi-gym.

A member of the Intercontinental Hotel Group, Indigo is perfect for international travelers since it’s not only 30 minutes from Glasgow airport but also a short stroll places like the Theatre Royal, the city’s oldest performance venue; the Gallery of Modern Art with its impressive portico; the spacious George Square with its many statues and the ornate Glasgow City Chambers opposite; and the Style Mile, a collection of shopping malls that includes Argyle Arcade, House of Frasers, Buchanan Galleries, Princes Square, St. Enoch Centre, John Lewis and Debenhams. While the hotel does not have its own parking facilities, there is a convenient car park next door at which hotel residents receive a 25 percent discount.

Rooms on each floor are designed in a different color and ours, on the second floor, was tea green. An upholstered, padded headboard dominated the high-ceilinged room, beside which was a wall-size digitalized image of a city building façade. A border of floral wallpaper around the ceiling granted the room a cozy, intimate feel. Snacks, soft drinks and bottled water in the mini-bar are gratis as well as the Wi-Fi. In the bathroom, the toiletry products are Aveda.

A buffet breakfast is served just off the main reception area, complete with the traditional fare of blood pudding, bacon and flat sausage patties. Healthier options include poached eggs and smoked salmon. Interestingly, portraits of British celebrity chef Marco Pierre White—once the youngest chef ever to be awarded three Michelin stars—are everywhere, highlighting the fact that the hotel’s steak house has his branding.

Transformed from a derelict power station into a modern, comfortable hotel in a convenient downtown location, Hotel Indigo in many ways reflects a key characteristic of Glasgow, the spirit of reinvention.