A record player with a hanging macrame wall piece above A record player with a hanging macrame wall piece above

The coolest hotels in Manchester

Manchester is overflowing with creativity, history, and a legendary music scene; Oasis, Joy Division, The Stone Roses, and The Slits are just a handful of iconic bands that hail from this northern city. It also has no shortage of cool and unique places to stay, from quirky boutique hotels tucked away in historic buildings to sleek, modern spaces with cutting-edge design. Whether you're here for a gig, a weekend of exploring, or just fancy a change of scenery, Manchester's hotel scene is as eclectic as the city itself. So, if you're looking for more than just a place to rest your head, here's our pick of the coolest hotels where you can soak up Manchester's edgy, urban vibe.

In this guide
  1. The coolest hotels in Manchester
    1. Doghouse – A beer-themed stay
    2. Dakota – Sleek and sexy
    3. The Cow Hollow Hotel – Textile mill turned boutique bolthole
    4. Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Personal music service
    5. Stock Exchange Hotel – The former Manchester stock exchange
    6. Native – A chic hideaway
    7. King Street Townhouse – Timeless charm
    8. Leven – A chic stay in the city
    9. Hotel Gotham – Weird and wacky
    10. Didsbury House Hotel – A countryside retreat
    11. The Abel Heywood – A pub stay in the NQ
    12. Velvet Hotel – A Gay Village stay
    13. Malmaison – A funky stay in the hub of the nightlife

The coolest hotels in Manchester

Places to stay that

Doghouse

A beer-themed stay

If having a fully stocked beer fridge on your trip to Manchester is non-negotiable, then BrewDog DogHouse is the place to be. This city centre hotel is all about, you guessed it, beer. You can enjoy beers in your shower or opt for an in-room beer tap, plus you'll be greeted with a free beer upon check-in. The decor is also beer-themed, with walls pasted in crushed beer cans and other funky touches like record players, guitars in rooms, and Brompton bikes to rent. There's also pick 'n' mix in the corridors, to which you can help yourself.

Dakota

Sleek and sexy

If you want a more sophisticated, sexy stay, the four-star Dakota Hotel on Ducie Street offers just that. The bedrooms are bold and striking, with dark decor and glamorous touches throughout. They're also kitted out with rainfall showers, crisp cotton bed linen and luxurious toiletries. Enjoy a steak meal at the hotel's restaurant in one of their candlelit booths, sip on contemporary cocktails in the sultry bar or treat yourself to bubbles in the hotel's dedicated champagne room. The hotel is also walking distance to Ancoats and the Northern Quarter, where heaps more trendy bars and restaurants await.

The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel
The Cow Hollow Hotel – Coolest hotels
The Cow Hollow Hotel

The Cow Hollow Hotel

Textile mill turned boutique bolthole

This former textile warehouse in the Northern Quarter has been transformed into a flashy boutique hangout. Design is contemporary but luxurious, with exposed brickwork, tasteful weathered surfaces, marble and leafy plants scattered throughout. Each of the 16 bedrooms has a king-size bed with plush bedding, bronze rainfall showers and unique decorative objects. You'll get to enjoy breakfast bags in the morning, and in the evening, you can pop down to the sleek cocktail lounge, where you can enjoy complimentary Prosecco and antipasti. The hotel doesn't have a restaurant, but in all honesty, it doesn't need one when you're a stone's throw from so many of the city's best – the staff will provide you with a comprehensive list of nearby restaurants upon arrival.

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel – Coolest hotels
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel

Personal music service

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel dates back to 1890 and still maintains some of its original features. It's hard to miss with its elegant terracotta exterior but head inside, and the striking gold interiors really steal the show. Towering ceilings set the scene, but the real magic lies within all the personal touches they offer here, like the music concierge service, where they select vinyl for you. They also provide tuck boxes filled with local treats and the option to hire yoga mats and bicycles for exploring. There's also a vibey restaurant and bar where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy a drink, plus a social gathering every night, which is perfect if you want to meet other travellers.

Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel
Stock Exchange Hotel – Coolest hotels
Stock Exchange Hotel

Stock Exchange Hotel

The former Manchester stock exchange

This luxurious hotel in the city centre really has the wow factor with its original marble pillars, chequered tiled floors and stained glass windows, making it feel extra special. It's set inside a historic Edwardian baroque building that was once Manchester's stock exchange, further adding to its allure. The award-winning subterranean cocktail bar hidden away inside the old bank vault of the hotel serves cocktails, wine, and bar snacks, as well as a soundtrack of live music. It's from the guys behind the award-winning Schofields bar, which was voted the best bar in the UK in 2022 and 2023. The hotel's epic location between King Street and Market Street means you're right in the heart of the city's action.

Native

A chic hideaway

Native Manchester is part of the iconic Ducie Street Warehouse and comprises 162 design-led serviced apartments equipped with bold, modern design and green and gold kitchenettes. It's right around the corner from Piccadilly Station, but you don't need to venture too far if you're staying here, as Ducie Street Warehouse has everything you could possibly need. There's an on-site mini cinema, restaurant, bar, coffee shop, gym and events, including supper clubs and workshops. If you're staying on the weekend, make sure you try their Sunday roast, which has its own cauliflower cheese menu.

King Street Townhouse

Timeless charm

A seventh-floor heated infinity pool, a Himalayan salt cave, and freestanding bathtubs are just a few of the things to expect if you opt to stay at King Street Townhouse. This central boutique bolthole is right opposite Manchester town hall's Neo-Gothic clock tower and boasts magnificent city views. The spa is a hit, with four dedicated workout spaces, luxurious treatment, and the previously mentioned Himalayan salt cave, the only one of its kind in the north of England. There are 44 elegant rooms with freestanding bathtubs and tasteful, playful decor.

Leven

A chic stay in the city

Leven is a modern hotel on the corner of buzzy Canal Street and Chorlton Street, located inside an old early 20th-century cotton warehouse. This chic hotel oozes industrial design features like exposed brick walls and Crittall windows enhanced by lush hanging plants, striking tiles and a calm pastel colour palette. You'll also find almost 300 artworks curated by founder Timothy Griffin scattered around the hotel. Rooms vary in size and offer a range of amenities, like kitchens, terraces, separate living rooms and freestanding tubs.

Hotel Gotham

Weird and wacky

Hotel Gotham is a five-star hotel located in the former Midland Bank in an old Art Deco-style building. Staff are dressed to the nines and are theatrical, dressed in wacky attire like bright braces and pinstripes. Rooms are sultry and come with quirky additions like piggybank-shaped biscuits and waffle robes. There's a private members' club, Brass, which oozes glitz and glamour and boasts rooftop views from its terraces.

Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel
Didsbury House Hotel – Coolest hotels
Didsbury House Hotel

Didsbury House Hotel

A countryside retreat

This four-star hotel is set in a Victorian townhouse in the leafy surroundings of Didsbury, offering a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. The decor is timeless country vibes, with just 27 snug rooms and spacious suites decorated in calming colour palettes and perks like freestanding bathtubs and minibars. A communal lounge with a crackling fireplace overlooks the hotel's lush lawns, a cosy bar, and a secluded terrace where you can enjoy some time in a private walled-off space.

The Abel Heywood

A pub stay in the NQ

This pub has just 15 rooms and is located right in the heart of Manchester's hospitality hub, the Northern Quarter. All of the rooms boast wicked views of the Manchester skyline and are kitted out with funky amenities like retro radios and record players. The pub downstairs serves classic pub grub every day, plus a banging Sunday roast, but you'll probably want to make the most of the surrounding restaurants and bars.

Velvet Hotel

A Gay Village stay

If you want to stay in the heart of the Gay Village, Velvet Hotel is an excellent option situated on buzzy Canal Street. This hotel is one of Manchester's original boutique hotels and is flanked by bars and nightclubs, so it's the perfect choice for those who enjoy a night out. There are 19 unique bedrooms with statement carved beds, glitzy chandeliers and cotton reel-shaped bedside tables.

Malmaison

A funky stay in the hub of the nightlife

This modern hotel used to be a Victorian dolls' hospital and an old 19th-century cotton warehouse – very Manchester. The reception features a glitter wall and neon lights, while funky bedrooms are decked out with bold colours, quirky headboards, and statement carpets. Suites are particularly sublime, with standout decor, huge beds, and bold, bright colours. There's a restaurant serving seasonal dishes and a luxurious spa offering ESPA and Nimue face and body treatments and day spa packages.

Editors

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.