Filled with hip neighbourhoods, edgy red-brick warehouses, creative enclaves, a legendary music scene, and unique shopping and dining, Manchester is often hailed as one of the UK’s coolest cities.
It makes a fantastic choice trendy for a city break or longer stay and if you’ll looking for accommodation that’s far from run-of-the-mill then here are the coolest hotels to stay in Manchester, England (in no particular order)…
1. DogHouse Manchester Hotel, Arndale – a hip and fun themed Manchester hotel perfect for partying Millennials and Gen Zs
Perfectly located for the shopping district with department stores and the Manchester Arndale mall, plus AO Arena gigs, the DogHouse Manchester is part of the Brewdog craft beer emporium.
Beer fans can look forward to 18 beer-themed rooms with a beer tap in each and even a fully-stocked beer chiller in the shower. The rooms are chic neon and urban brick styling with clever lighting to enhance a nightlife ambience. The entire place prides itself on being carbon neutral – so don’t expect plastic disposable frivolities.
An epic taproom in the ground floor terrace restaurant, where you can eat burgers, wings, tacos, and brunch in between beers, has 30 taps of craft beer.
Head to the rooftop and there’s another bar with outside heaters, a retractable roof for the famous Manchester rain, and a further 10 taps of top-quality beer with more awesome tacos.
- To book, check prices or availability for DogHouse Manchester Hotel
2. Moxy Manchester – a trendy, fun and playful hotel with a modern Instagrammable style and boutique amenities
This hip new hotel comes with the signature Moxy mix of style and convenience, located in the City Centre district. It’s near the Opera House, John Rylands Library, Market Street and all the fun restaurants and pubs in Spinningfields.
With funky decor, plenty of social spaces and a 24/7 grab-and-go Food & Beverage selection, you’re all set whether you’re travelling for work, adventure or partying in Manchester.
You’ll love the well-preserved original 18th-century building facade and the way its history as a former hat factory has been worked into the decor.
The rooms at this cool Manchester hotel are serene islands of comfort with restful neutral decor and some have city views. The thoughtful onsite amenities include lockers, ironing rooms, games areas and the library which is also a great workspace.
Bar Moxy serves a breakfast buffet and an all-day menu with snacks, pizza and cocktails to keep you fueled for fun or work, or both.
- To book, check prices or availability for Moxy Manchester
3. Yotel – an ultra-creative, innovative, fashionable and unique place to stay in Manchester
The ultra-hip Yotel Manchester in Deansgate is made for tech-savvy eco-friendly travellers and located right near the best restaurants, bars, shopping, and live music, and close to cultural destinations like Rylands Library, Albert Square, the Opera House and Royal Exchange Theatre.
The rebranded Qbic hotel has 261 cabins with eclectic decor combining industrial designs with artwork reminiscent of Chinese and William Morris designs, and features like a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and organic Naturalmat mattresses. Some rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with city views.
Ecologically-conscious guests will love the energy-efficient LED lighting, solar panels and eco-friendly showers that reduce water usage. There’s also a fitness studio, and the quirky MOTLEY restaurant and bar serves breakfast and favourite foods and drinks all day.
- To book, check prices or availability for Yotel Manchester
4. Selina NQ1 Manchester – a gorgeous, colourful, kitsch, and fun boutique hotel to stay in Manchester
The location of this unique hipster hotel in the North Quarter is a good base for exploring the hip neighbourhood with attractions like the Victoria Baths, Lowry Art Gallery, and Manchester’s Craft and Design Centre.
The refurbished Victorian building preserves many original features for an overall spacious, airy ambience, with graceful arched windows and a palette of cream, pinks and blue-grey, with wood floors and floral artwork.
Guests at this gorgeous boutique hotel can choose to stay in private rooms or shared community rooms with bunk beds. There’s a shared kitchen, coworking spaces, and a library as well as a bar, restaurant and spa for when you need to relax and rejuvenate.
- To book, check prices or availability for Selina NQ1 Manchester
5. Whitworth Locke, Civic Quarter – a cool, hip apartment hotel set in a former cotton mill
Set in a 19th-century cotton mill, this hip 160-apartment hotel is an 8-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station, a mile from the Science and Industry Museum, and 3 miles from the world-famous Old Trafford football stadium.
Featuring retro lighting and furniture, the stylish studios and apartments at Whitworth Locke have a warm industrial feeling, that isn’t chains and pipes. Each apartment is slightly different, with the cotton factory’s original features and large windows creating a contemporary, warehouse-style feel.
The sleek, black kitchens are fully equipped with designer cooking gear and each apartment has its own comfy green sofa for lounging.
Amenities include the beautiful Conservatory Bar, an airy coffee shop, trendy communal workspaces, and meeting rooms, and even a small gym.
- To book, check prices or availability for Whitworth Locke
6. Malmaison Manchester, Piccadilly – a hip and creative design boutique hotel housed in a striking converted factory dating from 1904
On the outside it’s an ornate converted factory dating to 1904 in a very convenient location for everything Manchester has to offer.
Inside Malmaison Manchester is a colourful, hip hotel with the signature Malmaison bold use of shapes, patterns, and fabrics to create funky sophistication; somewhere between American diner and bordello. Chic rooms offer strong designs around comfortable furnishings. As you’d expect there are all sizes from standard to suites, depending on your budget, all styled with a great air of fun.
At the heart of Malmaison is the swanky Chez Mal brasserie and bar. A serious brasserie in a prime location. It also houses one of the city’s only Josper grills – a monstrous artisan indoor charcoal barbecue oven that flames and cooks steaks to smoky perfection. You can sit ringside and watch this magic at work.
Open for breakfast, lunch or dinner every day, or for an extra special occasion hire one of the private dining rooms. And, when you’ve had enough, there’s a subdued day spa for a little pampering.
- To book, check prices or availability for Malmaison Manchester
7. Leven – a unique and hip boutique-style hotel housed in a red-brick former warehouse
In Old English and Dutch, Leven means “to live” and you’ll feel instantly at home in this landmark red-brick building that’s over a hundred years old. Located in the Village, it has in the past been a factory, brewery and night club, and has tons of character and charm, with details like parquet and plank floors, high ceilings, bespoke furniture and stand-alone baths.
Some of the rooms have canal and city views and all come with quirky artwork including cute cat pictures, Limited Edition LEVEN socks that you can take home with you, and a free breakfast smoothie every morning. The suites have plenty of space and all you need for longer stays.
The cosy Lobby Bar is the place to relax with a classic cocktail or a seasonal special, and just out the door you’ll find food and drink, shopping, and the arts, as well as convenient public transportation.
- To book, check prices or availability for Leven Manchester
8. Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Civic Quarter – a unique and very Instagrammable upscale boutique hotel with an elegant glass-domed lobby
Housed in a magnificent terracotta Grade II–listed building, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has a history that dates back to 1890. Today, it’s a destination where glamour and luxury meet craftsmanship, and where there are new things to discover at every turn.
Close to Manchester Oxford Road train station, this palatial Victorian hotel with an elegant glass-domed lobby and a clock tower is just a 10-minute walk from the Manchester Art Gallery.
The rooms are plush with some nodding towards traditional décor, whilst others are more contemporary. Suites add separate living areas, and some come with grand wooden 4-poster beds. Nothing is stuffy Victoriana; it’s all been dressed to complement the spaces and build a welcoming, yet impressive, atmosphere.
There’s a sophisticated, glam-meets-industrial destination, restaurant, and bar with a chic art deco dining room and a lovely conservatory-feel Winter Garden terrace for afternoon tea, or a quick cocktail before heading out. There’s even a grand ballroom; if you’re thinking of something a little bigger.
- To book, check prices or availability for Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
9. ABode Manchester, Piccadilly – a trendy hotel with retro/modern styling set in a striking 19th-century former textile warehouse
This chic hotel occupies a grandiose Victorian warehouse building very well placed for all the different quarters of Manchester city centre. ABode Manchester has delightful contemporary rooms and suites which maintain original industrial features such as wooden flooring, iron beams, and high ceilings accentuated with strong colours and comfortable furnishings to give a bright, loft-living feel throughout.
There’s an à la carte fine-dining restaurant with an adjoining champagne bar, a café bar, a brasserie, and a lounge bar serving cocktails. Best of all there’s a simply enormous breakfast of everything and anything you could want before hitting the town, again.
- To book, check prices or availability for ABode Manchester
10. King Street Townhouse, King Street – a chic, sleek and modern hotel set in an Italian Renaissance-style building dating from 1872
Set in an Italian Renaissance-style building dating from 1872, this upscale hotel overlooking Manchester Town Hall is close to the Royal Exchange and 4 miles from the Lowry cultural centre.
The plush rooms at King Street Townhouse are far from Italian with a sort of New England meets comfy pine shop flavour, lifting even the smallest space with light and pastels. Upgraded rooms have free-standing baths, while some offer impressive Town Hall views. For the very best there are a few opulent suites with added living areas or separate lounges.
There’s a chic wood-panelled restaurant, a cosy, art-filled afternoon tea lounge, and a very comfy mezzanine lounge with a fireplace. Other amenities include a steam room, relaxation area and rooftop infinity pool for adults only, a gym, and a spa. Last, but by no means least, a listed wine cellar, available to hire for tastings with a few friends.
- To book, check prices or availability for King Street Townhouse
11. Hotel Indigo Manchester, Cathedral – a creative and funky boutique hotel with a design inspired by its local neighbourhood
In a Victorian building 10 minutes walk from bars and eateries in the Northern Quarter, this polished hotel is just a minute’s walk from Manchester Victoria train station and AO Arena, close to the Art Gallery and directly opposite the National Football Museum – welcome to Manchester.
There are 187 warm rooms at Hotel Indigo Manchester with cushioned headboards, styled in pure tones with hints of retro and the occasional nod to the industrial Victorian past. These are genuinely comfortable spaces designed to relax you from a hard day exploring this great city.
Amenities include a decent restaurant and extensive cocktail bar, and a lounge serving a rather lovely afternoon tea. There’s a 24-hour health and fitness gym so you can burn all these calories the next day.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Indigo Manchester
12. The Lowry Hotel, Salford – an upmarket glass-fronted hotel often known as Manchester’s most fashionable hotel
Don’t be fooled into thinking that The Lowry Hotel isn’t central because it’s in Salford. It is just a quirky bend in the River Irwell that places it in a separate town. Overlooking Trinity Bridge on the river, this upmarket glass-fronted hotel, reminiscent of a berthing cruise liner, is an 8-minute tram ride from Victoria Station and the massive AO Arena.
Contemporary rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with river or city views, as well as luxury marble bathrooms. All sizes of room, from standard to presidential, are bedecked in a retro-stylish 1950s décor with bold lines, strong colours and clean surfaces. A dry Martini and Chanel twin-set would be perfectly at home in these surroundings.
A trendy restaurant offers innovative British dishes, along with afternoon tea, champagne breakfast, and live music on Sunday mornings. There’s also an upmarket bar with a raised terrace and river views. Additional amenities include a full spa, fitness centre and a ballroom.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
13. Dakota, Piccadilly – a new, sleek and modern Manchester boutique hotel
A 7-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station, this uber-sophisticated hotel is at the confluence of two of Manchester’s famous canals. Perfectly positioned to make the most of the water it’s also close to Manchester Art Gallery, the Gay Village, and just 2 miles from football matches at Etihad Stadium.
Accommodation at Dakota Manchester ranges from effortlessly chic, polished generous rooms offering rainfall showers and terraces, to 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites featuring balconies, separate sitting areas, minibars, and whirlpool baths.
Everything here is high-quality with bespoke furnishings and jewel-toned velvet furniture, accented with a colour palette of muted, soothing greys to produce an ambience of relaxing cool.
There’s a warm restaurant and a sleek premium cocktail bar – yup, also grey – and for a lighter menu, an airy, heated outdoor terrace with a retractable roof to guard against the ever-changing Manchester weather.
- To book, check prices or availability for Dakota Manchester
14. The Cow Hollow Hotel – a striking industrial-chic boutique hotel in the lively Northern Quarter
A small hotel with just 16 rooms set in a restored turn-of-the-century textile warehouse, this industrial-chic boutique hotel in the lively Northern Quarter is a 10-minute walk from the Manchester Art Gallery and a 5-minute walk from Piccadilly Gardens.
The rooms The Cow Hollow Hotel at are small, but cosy and uber-stylish, with the emphasis on home comforts whilst displaying the Victorian heritage and splashing a little art. Some rooms come with exposed stone or exposed-brick accent walls and fireplaces.
The frankly, lovely cocktail lounge has one of the best spirits and wine lists in town. Complimentary prosecco and antipasti trays make an appearance each evening for the guests. There’s no restaurant but you’re perfectly placed to sup the best that Manchester can offer; within a short stroll.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Cow Hollow Hotel
15. Abel Heywood Boutique Hotel – a chic and stylish boutique hotel styled on a modern take on the Victorian gin pub located in the Northern Quarter
In the heart of Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter, this relaxed hotel and pub is a 3-minute walk from the Shudehill tram station with easy access to the history, arts and culture, fantastic bars, restaurants, and shopping on offer in this great city.
At first glance you could be mistaken for thinking Abel Heywood Boutique Hotel was just a traditional pub, as seen in every English town, but it’s an award-winning, bespoke pub and boutique 15-room hotel full of character and warmth.
The decent-sized, delightfully trendy rooms are thoughtful, but not fussy. Designed for a cosy, memorable stay with touches of Mediterranean chic with rustic wooden floors and a smattering of funky industrial furnishings. Each has a Juliet balcony overlooking the street.
Downstairs in the bar are locally brewed cask ales, craft world beers, a fantastic range of gins, and spectacular cocktails. Breakfast and brunch is served each morning until noon when the menu switches to a huge choice of British dishes, with a Mancunian twist.
- To book, check prices or availability for Abel Heywood Boutique Hotel
16. Native Manchester, Piccadilly – a trendy apartment hotel in a red-brick warehouse perfect for longer stays
A trendy apartment hotel in a Grade II-listed red-brick warehouse just a 6-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly railway station, close to the Gay Village, and very handy for all the entertainment Manchester has to offer.
Featuring exposed-brick walls, the chic studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments, provide kitchenettes, dishwashers and flat-screen TVs all presented as snug loft-living spaces with a dash of Scandi-style. Many of the rooms at Native Manchester have fascinating brick vaulted ceilings and the huge loft apartments have panoramic glass roofs.
Amenities include a lounge, restaurant, bar, all-day deli counter, takeaway shop, cinema, and outdoor terrace, as well as a café and BLOK fitness studio. Resist the temptation to never leave the building – the buzz of Manchester is right outside the doors.
- To book, check prices or availability for Native Manchester
17. Velvet Hotel – a swanky and romantic canalside hotel set in Manchester’s Gay Village
A hotel, bar, and brasserie on Canal Street in the famous Gay Village district of Manchester. This very stylish hotel is just a 6-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station and a 14-minute walk from the main Arndale Shopping Centre.
Custom-styled rooms at the Velvet Hotel Manchester mix urban-chic décor with period furnishings. All have en suite bathrooms with posh toiletries. Upgraded rooms add heated balconies, while the split-level penthouse suites include separate living rooms and roll-top baths.
The vibrant Village Brasserie restaurant features a fish tank set into the floor and serves British and Mediterranean cuisine. The opulent lounge bar hosts regular club nights and has a quaint canal-side terrace, perfect for al fresco dining or afternoon cocktails.
- To book, check prices or availability for Velvet Hotel Manchester
18. Hotel Gotham, King Street – an upscale art deco-style design hotel offering great views
Housed in an iconic former bank building, this upscale art deco-style hotel is a 6-minute walk from Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink station and 0.5 miles from the Palace Theatre performance venue.
Stylish rooms at Hotel Gotham Manchester feature vintage décor and high ceilings; it’s like walking into a 1930s film set. The interior designers have truly let rip in here and created something ultra-special to amuse and bemuse at every turn. It’s an extravagant, opulent, sensory experience which only lacks Bette Davis draped on the sofa with a cigarette.
The elegant theme continues throughout the hotel to a dashing 6th-floor restaurant that serves modern British cuisine. Guests also have access to Brass, a top-floor private members club with terraces and sweeping city views.
You’ll pass through two vault-like doors on your way into this prohibition-style speakeasy that will make you feel like a million bucks. There is a tempting bar menu and gorgeous cocktails.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Gotham Manchester
We also have posts on…
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Liverpool
- Cool boutique hotels in Glasgow
- Cool and Unusual hotels in York
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Leeds
- Cool boutique hotels in Edinburgh
- Cool Boutique hotels in Bristol
- Cool boutique hotels in London
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Belfast
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Birmingham
- Cool and Unique Hotels in Oxford
- Cool boutique hotels in Berlin
- Cool boutique hotels in Amsterdam
- Best neighbourhoods in Manchester
- Places to visit in Greater Manchester
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Cardiff
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Blackpool
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Harrogate
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Newcastle
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Whitby
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Sheffield
- Cool and Unusual hotels in Scarborough
My first true adventure began as a six month voyage around South East Asia as a fresh faced backpacker and ever since I’ve lived a semi nomadic existence, clocking up visits to over 40 countries. I’m a lover of US Road Trips, deserted beaches bathed in warm glow of a sunset, Cuban mojitos, travel destinations far away from the tourist crowds and all things Scandinavian – from cloudberry liquors to Nordic noirs. When not wandering the world and running Global Grasshopper, you’ll find me walking my rescued Greek street dog in leafy South West London, strolling around the Brighton Lanes on random day trips, hunting for photogenic landscapes or daydreaming about my favourite places; Havana, Copenhagen, Italy, Laos, California and the surreally beautiful landscapes of a wintry Iceland.