diff --git a/minari/dataset/minari_storage.py b/minari/dataset/minari_storage.py
index 0c56135f..9edbda47 100644
--- a/minari/dataset/minari_storage.py
+++ b/minari/dataset/minari_storage.py
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ def __init__(
         self._action_space = action_space
 
     @classmethod
-    def read(cls, data_path: PathLike) -> MinariStorage:
-        """Create a MinariStorage to read data from a path.
+    def read_raw_metadata(cls, data_path: PathLike) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Read the raw metadata from a path.
 
         Args:
             data_path (str or Path): directory where the data is stored.
 
         Returns:
-            A new MinariStorage object to read the data.
+            metadata (dict): metadata of the dataset.
 
         Raises:
             ValueError: if the specified path doesn't exist or doesn't contain any data.
@@ -55,6 +55,22 @@ def read(cls, data_path: PathLike) -> MinariStorage:
             raise ValueError(f"No data found in data path {data_path}")
         with open(metadata_file_path) as file:
             metadata = json.load(file)
+        return metadata
+
+    @classmethod
+    def read(cls, data_path: PathLike) -> MinariStorage:
+        """Create a MinariStorage to read data from a path.
+
+        Args:
+            data_path (str or Path): directory where the data is stored.
+
+        Returns:
+            A new MinariStorage object to read the data.
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError: if the specified path doesn't exist or doesn't contain any data.
+        """
+        metadata = MinariStorage.read_raw_metadata(data_path)
 
         observation_space = None
         action_space = None
@@ -85,7 +101,7 @@ def read(cls, data_path: PathLike) -> MinariStorage:
         from minari.dataset._storages import get_minari_storage  # avoid circular import
 
         return get_minari_storage(metadata["data_format"])(
-            data_path,
+            pathlib.Path(data_path),
             observation_space,
             action_space,
         )
@@ -180,8 +196,7 @@ def _create(
     @property
     def metadata(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Metadata of the dataset."""
-        with open(self.data_path.joinpath(METADATA_FILE_NAME)) as file:
-            metadata = json.load(file)
+        metadata = MinariStorage.read_raw_metadata(self.data_path)
 
         metadata["observation_space"] = self.observation_space
         metadata["action_space"] = self.action_space
@@ -215,8 +230,7 @@ def update_metadata(self, metadata: Dict):
         assert isinstance(metadata.get("author_email", set()), set)
         assert isinstance(metadata.get("minari_version", ""), str)
 
-        with open(self.data_path.joinpath(METADATA_FILE_NAME)) as file:
-            saved_metadata = json.load(file)
+        saved_metadata = MinariStorage.read_raw_metadata(self.data_path)
 
         forbidden_keys = not_updatable_keys.intersection(metadata.keys())
         forbidden_keys = forbidden_keys.intersection(saved_metadata.keys())
diff --git a/minari/storage/hosting.py b/minari/storage/hosting.py
index d77c7a15..705509be 100644
--- a/minari/storage/hosting.py
+++ b/minari/storage/hosting.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from gymnasium import logger
 
 from minari.dataset.minari_dataset import gen_dataset_id, parse_dataset_id
-from minari.dataset.minari_storage import METADATA_FILE_NAME
+from minari.dataset.minari_storage import METADATA_FILE_NAME, MinariStorage
 from minari.storage.datasets_root_dir import get_dataset_path
 from minari.storage.local import dataset_id_sort_key, load_dataset
 from minari.storage.remotes import get_cloud_storage
@@ -171,7 +171,9 @@ def download_dataset(dataset_id: str, force_download: bool = False):
 
     # Skip a force download of an incompatible dataset version
     if dataset_version in compatible_dataset_versions:
-        combined_datasets = load_dataset(dataset_id).spec.combined_datasets
+        data_path = file_path.joinpath("data")
+        metadata = MinariStorage.read_raw_metadata(data_path)
+        combined_datasets = metadata.get("combined_datasets", [])
 
         # If the dataset is a combination of other datasets download the subdatasets recursively
         if len(combined_datasets) > 0:
diff --git a/minari/storage/local.py b/minari/storage/local.py
index 824c4538..d2ac680d 100644
--- a/minari/storage/local.py
+++ b/minari/storage/local.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def recurse_directories(base_path, namespace):
     for dst_id in dataset_ids:
         data_path = os.path.join(datasets_path, dst_id, "data")
         try:
-            metadata = MinariStorage.read(data_path).metadata
+            metadata = MinariStorage.read_raw_metadata(data_path)
             metadata_id = metadata["dataset_id"]
 
             if dst_id != metadata_id: