I had no idea the beautiful INNSiDE by Meliá was dog-friendly, so was keen to pay a visit with my partner and little dog in tow.
The relatively new hotel on Old Hall Street first opened in 2021, and is housed in the former Liverpool ECHO building, with the ECHO offices now based just across the road on St Paul's Square. INNSiDE hotels are the product of Meliá Hotels International, and can be found all over the world.
It's an impressive building, with the retro curved lower exterior firmly updated with a classy black paint job, while a glass tower housing the hotel rooms - and a bar - juts upwards towards the sky. Many of the rooms boast expansive panoramic views, with Liverpool providing a beautiful backdrop for tourists and locals alike to gaze out at.
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It's pretty rare for us to stay in a hotel in Liverpool because we live here, so when I have friends or family visiting and no room to spare in my tiny two-up, two-down terrace, I can't often give personal hotel recommendations - a fact I'm keen to change. A tried and tested recommendation is far more reliable than anything else, after all.
The 17-floor INNSiDE by Melia hotel offers 25 studio rooms, 26 townhouse suites and an exclusive condo suite, totalling 207 beds. It's also home to an event space with a capacity of up to 260 people, six fully equipped conference rooms, a 24-hour fitness centre, and a Gino D'Acampo restaurant, complete with a 360 Skybar providing panoramic views across Liverpool.
I've visited INNSiDE by Melia to try the swanky Sky Bar, and the restaurant in the past, but was keen to see what a night's stay would be like - especially after discovering the venue is dog friendly.
The location
Based on Old Hall Street, in the heart of Liverpool's bustling business district, the hotel manages to be in the thick of the action while still being a cosy, peaceful sanctuary. Though it's not as central as some other hotels in the city, Moorfields and James Street Station are nearby making it easily accessible.
It's a stone's throw away from the iconic Royal Albert Dock, and it's easy to access the many tourist attractions and cultural delights Liverpool is so known and loved for. I'm very familiar with Old Hall Street, so it was refreshing to see the area from the new perspective of a hotel guest, instead of a worker bee rushing around with my face glued to my phone screen.
As soon as I stepped through the glass doors and up to the vast and stylish reception area, I felt instantly relaxed and at ease. There's a number of steps up to the reception, but the street-level has been kitted out with a large deck chair making an ideal photo opportunity for guests and excited tourists.
The interiors
When we opened the door to our studio room on the 16th floor, my boyfriend immediately said: "Wow." We were both instantly impressed with the stylish, modern and airy space.
There were three floor to ceiling windows, flooding the room with light - we arrived at around 6pm after finishing a busy work day, and managed to catch the glorious evening sunshine.
The enormous king size bed was in the centre of the room, with a wall divider - complete with a mounted flat screen smart TV - creating separation and the illusion of seclusion in such a vast space. I personally think all hotels should have smart TVs and get irrationally annoyed when they don't.
Behind the wall divider was a desk and chair, while the open plan en-suite flowed from there. The shower cubicle is technically in the main studio space, with the top half of the glass visible from the bed.
I'd worried about privacy - especially in a space with so many huge windows - but the majority of the cubicle is encased in tiles, keeping your modesty well and truly protected.
The décor is complete in a stylish, timeless and neutral colour palette of white, off-whites and greys. The bed was fresh and inviting in clean white, while the surrounding windows offer breath-taking views across Liverpool.
Our studio room fused contemporary design with all the comforting necessities you'd want from a hotel stay. It felt luxurious but homely at the same time - quite the achievement.
I have struggled to sleep my entire life, but the peace and quiet, and the tranquil atmosphere offered at this hotel, combined with the gigantic, comfy bed gave me one of the best night's sleep I've had in a long time.
We also got the 'Pamper Hamper Doggy Box', as INNSiDE Liverpool has collaborated with local independent pet store Natural Pet Shop to curate a range of hampers for guests staying at the hotel with their dogs.
Our little dog was spoiled rotten with a rope chew toy and treats, while we were delighted to discover dog wipes and a fragrance spray also included inside.
I genuinely didn't want to check out the next day, and I will most certainly be booking again. I was also impressed that somewhere so fancy and swanky was dog-friendly, and I hope many other hotels follow suit.
I've recommended the hotel to my parents for their next visit to Liverpool and, after showing them the photos of our room, they're keen to book in and stay.
The food
On the same level as the reception is the vast and impressive Gino D'Acampo restaurant, kitted out with plush booth seating, tub chairs and more, with luxurious touches fused with industrial elements like exposed ceiling piping and concrete pillars separating the restaurant into zones.
It feels posh and swanky, without being pretentious. I was struck by the welcoming feel, which I'd not expected, and could have sat drinking and dining for hours, watching the world go by through the windows looking over Old Hall Street.
Our server was the spitting image of Mikey Madison (Scream 2022 fans, where you at?), which had me momentarily starstruck until my brain caught up with me. She was friendly and attentive, without being overbearing, and offered her opinion and guidance when we wanted.
We tried the new spring menu, and tucked into delicious arancini (£10) and a breadboard (£6) to start. Both were perfectly cooked, generous portions though I would have preferred a little more dip to accompany the breads.
For our mains, I opted for Aubergine Parmigiana (£15.75), which is made with baked layers of aubergine with smoked provola cheese, pecorino cheese, San Marzano tomato and basil pesto. It was rich, fresh and packed with so much flavour that my mouth literally watered as I typed this up.
My boyfriend chose the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli (£16), made with sage butter and toasted pine nuts. This creamy, comforting dish was completely delicious - his only complaint was that he'd have preferred a bigger portion because he didn't want it to end.
To finish, I had the Chocolate Fondant (£8.75), a little cake-style treat stuffed with oozing, melted chocolate truffles, and served with vanilla ice cream. It was incredibly decadent, with the creamy ice cream the perfect partner to the strong, dark chocolate. It was a decent serving too so, as delicious as it was, I couldn't finish it.
My boyfriend opted for the Chocolate and Hazelnut Cheesecake (£8.75) served with Ferrero Rocher and a sour cherry compote. He's not a big sweet fan, but this dessert made his eyes light up. The compote was delightfully sour and zesty, while the cheesecake was "simply amazing".
We had a wonderful meal, which was the icing on the cake of a truly perfect evening. The breakfast the next day was a little underwhelming, but still pleasant enough to set you up for the rest of your day.
Even though we live in Liverpool, we will definitely be booking to stay at INNSiDE by Melia again - I'm already thinking of excuses to do so.
INNSiDE by Melia is based at 43 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9PP. You can book here.
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