Stylish and snug sums up ABode nicely. Situated across the road
from Piccadilly station, and just a 10-minute stroll from
Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, the elegant five-storey hotel sports
a handsome 19th-century exterior. Interiors are just as
characteristic – think alcove window seating and chequered floor
tiling. There are 61 bedrooms split across four categories, each
bursting with its own personality, with unifying touches including
a dash of tartan and plump mustard-yellow cushions. The traditional
brassiere on the fifth floor is a highlight, for both its modern
British menu – crab bisque, anyone? – and far-ranging views.
Breakfast, meanwhile, is worth lingering over. Expect a superb
offering that includes the likes of oat and chia porridge, and
smoked salmon and toasted sourdough.

A playground for free spirits and co-working connoisseurs, this
newbie opened its doors in 2021 and has rapidly become one of
Manchester’s hottest hangouts. Leven, which in old English means
“to live”, houses 42 unique rooms, each carefully crafted with
design and comfort in mind. Red-brick walls and metal beams slot
seamlessly alongside splashes of soft greys and rich green velvet
furnishings. And we’re not finished. Beds are big, mattresses are
100 per cent natural and minimalistic wet rooms feature anti-steam
mirrors. Ready for a sundowner? Locals have made this their
stomping ground for an evening tipple. Our order? A Bloom Jasmine
and Rose gin, created by master distiller Joanne Moore.

That weekend away you’re planning with your gang? Sorted. Housed
in a converted 19th-century cotton factory, Whitworth Locke prides
itself on being more than just a place in which to bed down. From
finding your inner zen at the on-site yoga classes to scoffing
toffee-flavoured popcorn at in-house film nights, the list of
activities to choose from is sure to keep you entertained. For
those whose inbox requires some TLC, there’s a handful of
co-working studios on the ground floor (which, FYI, are rumoured to
have the best WiFi in town). Far from being your typical
whitewashed, box-shaped cages, here, natural light floods in upon
murals, blush salmons and mint-coloured ceramics – you’ll find us
there for the foreseeable future.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Hotel Gotham is a
jewel in Manchester’s accommodation crown. Located on historical
King Street, this plush pleasure palace pays tribute to the
decadence of the 1920s. The atmosphere throughout is laid-back and
sexy, while guestrooms are scattered with eye-pleasing furnishings
such as travel trunks from the jazz age reimagined as wardrobes and
brass roll-top baths. The biggest drawcard, however, is the VIP
rooftop cocktail hangout, Club Brass. With access restricted to
residents and members only, its sky-high position spells for some
of Manchester’s most dazzling views, served up alongside a tight
list of craft cocktails.

In 2018, Muj and Amelia Rana swapped their careers in banking to
open their industrial-chic hotel, The Cow Hollow. The restored
textile mill offers 16 sumptuous, high-ceilinged bedrooms, each of
which marries salvaged materials with original features – think
beds made out of railway sleepers, framed by moody-lit pendant
lights and copper furnishings. The bolthole’s go-slow vibe makes it
a dreamy base for a weekend getaway. Insider tip: the intimate
ground-floor bar is the perfect date-night setting.

Formerly known as The Principal Hotel, Kimpton’s 1891-built
clock tower has long reigned as one of Manchester’s most iconic
landmarks – hence the name change. The brainchild of legendary
architect Alfred Waterhouse, the building was once the headquarters
for the Refuge Assurance Company. Today, guests are greeted by a
full-size horse sculpture designed by Sophie Dickens (great-great
granddaughter of Charles Dickens), which marks where the original
turning circle for horse and carts was. Hallways are decorated with
heritage tiles, bathrooms decked out in forest-green glazed tiles
and a dramatic marble staircase begs to be swept down in something
flamboyant and floaty. Other highlights include a well-appointed
fitness centre and a nightly social hour in the Post Room lounge,
from 6-7pm.

It’s been seven years since King Street Townhouse floated
Manchester’s first rooftop pool, and we’re still not over it. If
you haven’t yet had the pleasure of a dip, you’ll find the inviting
slate-grey installation gracing the hotel’s seventh floor, where it
practically kisses the spires of Manchester Town Hall’s clock
tower. After a paddle, make a beeline for the state-of-the-art
steam room, before winding down in the relaxation area. Spa credits
aside, the property’s 40 rooms are light and airy, with
floor-to-ceiling windows and powder-blue walls.