*PR: Partly gifted stay

Sian Victoria © - Hotel Brooklyn Manchester

Luxury Hotels in Central Manchester

Leave the bustling streets of the city behind and be transported into the heart of New York City at the modern Hotel Brooklyn Manchester.

The 4-star newly built accommodation can be found on Portland Street, just outside of Manchester's buzzing Gay Village, and is conveniently located near some popular sights in the city, such as the Manchester Art Gallery, St Peter's Square, and the Arena.

As the name suggests, the hotel is completely inspired by New York. The new central dog friendly hotel is truly unique and is part of the hotel group that has Gotham Hotel another Instagrammable hotel in Manchester.

From the hotel lobby to the rooms, every furnishing has a touch of the infamous city, from tiling designs to American-style furnishings. You'll feel as if you're leaving Manchester behind when stepping inside the hotel, with an iconic yellow cab attraction sitting right outside the doors.

Even better, the hotel prides itself on accessibility, meaning anyone is free to enjoy the style and character of this exquisite accommodation that's one of the most accessible hotels in the UK. Plus, there's nearby parking, meaning you won't have any trouble upon arrival. It’s also located around the corner from the coach station and near Manchester Piccadilly train station.

It opened its doors just as the pandemic hit and of course, had to shut its doors shortly after. So, I managed to stay at the Hotel Brooklyn Manchester during the summer of 2020 when it was allowed to re-open, just in time for when I was craving some normality.

I spotted a two-night stay at Hotel Brooklyn with breakfast and instantly booked up to enjoy a city break and escape working from home.

The lobby

The stylish lobby is entirely evocative of the infamous city. With a park-style design, find benches dotted in and around the lobby that reflect walking about New York, plus cosy sofa areas to kick back and relax on upon arrival. There's even a large cinema screen and a raised platform seating area, showcasing all the American classics, giving the hotel its sense of character.

The brickwork and geometric tiling are highly reminiscent of American-style architecture, while warm lighting features and splashes of colourful décor help make the space as comforting, inviting, and interesting as possible. There's certainly no shortage of entertainment and activities in the lobby, with a long desk for you to complete work on or to relax and choose from a selection of books to read with a coffee.

There’s also a cosy hidden corner tucked away in the lobby with sofas and coffee tables in case you fancy working in a social environment as opposed to alone in the room. With the perks of ordering teas, coffee, cake, or cocktails from the dining area.

Runyon's Bar and Restaurant

Sian Victoria © - Runyon’s Restaurant, Hotel Brooklyn Manchester

Runyon's Bar and Restaurant is located within Hotel Brooklyn Manchester, named after a New York journalist, and serves only the most authentic New York-style dishes. The restaurant's setting is nothing short of beautiful, with bespoke chandeliers made of glass bottles and décor reflective of a retro New York bar. Perfect after a day exploring the city, the restaurant has an extensive menu that caters to all, with tempting dishes for everyone no matter your dietary requirement.

The all-day menu has prices ranging from £5 to just over £16, with classic American plates like Loaded Nachos, a Brooklyn Luxe burger, and Brooklyn Hot Dog on offer. Or, if you just fancy a small bite, you can choose a selection of 3 small plates for £18, with flavoursome dishes including Spiced Falafel, Mac'N'Cheese Croquettes, and Buffalo Wings.

The restaurant even has a full vegan-friendly menu with reasonably priced dishes up for grabs, from spicy cauliflower wings to sweet potato curry and quinoa meat-free tacos, making it completely plant-based. The cocktail selection is nothing to scoff at either. Treat yourself to a Brooklyn Rickey or a classic Old Fashioned, with each drink being connected to the history of the city.

The Standard Snug Double Room

The style and class of the hotel do not stop at the lobby, with rooms that give you the VIP treatment from the effortlessly trendy décor to the American-inspired furnishings. We were staying in the ‘snug’ Standard Double Room and immediately felt at home. With a black and white mural on the wall giving New York street vibes, you're reminded of the hotel's theme.

The grey vintage feel carpet and double bed adorned with a scatter cushion was simply my favourite part, with comfy crisp white sheets that gave us the perfect night's sleep. The headboard that worked as a desk while also separating the room and being at an angle is a unique touch. The stylish décor is complemented by tan leather style covers on the chair and headboard, creating a trendy yet warm comforting atmosphere.

The large TV placed at an angle with the bed was perfect for winding down in the evening. We watched Buffy The Vampire Slayer after coming back from a busy day exploring the city. The room was made even cosier with the bedside lighting and blue throw. And, if you happen to have some work to do on your trip to Manchester, you're also given a spacious work desk behind the bed.

This room was perfect and gave us just the right amount of space and luxury while continuing to give us the New York City aesthetic without it ever being overwhelming.

There was plenty of storage space in the room’s hallway providing all the necessities such as a wardrobe, mini-fridge, iron, hairdryer, kettle and safety deposit box. The space of the double room was just right for the two of us for two nights, if I was staying longer, I’d certainly look at getting one of their many suites as they look amazing.

Our room didn’t have a view as it was overshadowed by a building opposite. But some rooms especially the suites do offer a panoramic city view to take in Manchester's iconic skyline. And some of their suites look fantastic as they have a bathtub and balcony with a table and chairs so you can overlook the hustle and bustle of the city while sipping coffee on your terrace in the morning.

I especially loved the luxe sheer gold curtains and floor to ceiling windows allowing the sun to shine through while still providing us with a little privacy from the building’s opposite. Something else we thought was a friendly welcoming touch was an iconic brown paper bag filled with treats such as popcorn, chocolate, and soda for two.

The stylish en-suite bathroom

A design feature that I wasn’t so keen on but also kind of loved too was the fact the bathroom and bedroom had a glass viewing window so while you were in the shower (or on the toilet) you can watch the TV. But that also means you can be seen by your partner or friend or whoever you’re sharing the room with. If they are in bed, they won’t see you since the bed is at an angle, but they will do if they are walking around the room.

If you like your privacy in the bathroom you may not be keen on this feature. However, as a whole, I did absolutely love the style of the aesthetic in the en-suite bathroom. The white tiling of the bathroom continues to give you a sense of luxury and made it appear extremely spacious, with black fixtures and fittings creating just the right amount of contrast. I especially liked the heated ladder towel rail, large mirror, and lighting perfect for getting ready ahead of a night out in the city.

The walk-in shower perfect for accessibility was lovely and powerful with the rain shower head. We got drenched from the rain making our way to the hotel, so after taking plenty of photos and videos of the room. I was straight in the shower and didn’t want to get out, the shower gel, shampoo and hand wash provided were great too and I liked that they were sustainable not in single-use plastic.

The vegan breakfast

After waking up in our beautiful hotel room, we headed down the purple-lit lift for breakfast at Runyon's, served from 7.00 am to 10.00 am. The menu is accommodating to everyone's tastes, meaning you won’t leave feeling disappointed.

We choose the vegan breakfast consisting of scrambled tofu, a hash brown, a large mushroom, and baked beans. Accompanied with a glass of orange juice and coffee made with oat milk served by our friendly waitress.

The breakfast was served fresh straight from the kitchen and delivered to us. I’m not sure if this was due to the restrictions during my visit in 2020. But I prefer it this way as opposed to a buffet breakfast that you can keep going up to as it prevents food waste.

To conclude

If you’re new to the city and want to know what to do to make the most of your trip, then check out my Manchester city guide. For an itinerary of some of the things to do in Manchester to make sure your city getaway is as fun as possible. And to ensure you don't go hungry while looking around the sights I’ve put together a list of the vegan food places in Manchester that I ate at during my stay and will continue to add to on future trips.

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