Manchester is a city that has never been on my bucket list. When I had the chance to spend a weekend there for a concert, I changed my mind. The city is packed with stylish bars, cafes & a wide variety of fantastic restaurants – apart from shopping of course. I chose the Hilton Manchester Deansgate for the weekend, as it is located in close proximity to all relevant spots and rather stylish. The hotel is located in the Beetham tower which is (at the time of writing) the highest building in Manchester.
Room with a view
Thanks to our Hilton Diamond Status we received a King Executive room on the 22nd floor with sweeping views over the city. The size is pretty large for UK standards (especially compared to London) and the floor to ceiling windows make for bright light, even though the weather was gloomy at first. The layout is what you would expect from a Hilton but modern & in good condition considering the hotel opened in 2006. The bathroom has a tub & separate shower which I always like plus a free standing basin. Some daylight shines through a window to the room but I used the working desk aside the windows to get ready. A (good) hair dryer, slippers and bathrobes are also provided. A enjoyed the complimentary Nespresso machine but we both missed power outlets near the comfortable king-size bed to recharge a phone.
Executive lounge in the clouds
The Hilton Manchester Deansgate Executive lounge is located on the 23rd floor and is a real gem. High above the city, you enjoy wonderful views while having breakfast or evening canapes. The lounge staff was chatty and friendly and the offering was top-notch in my opinion. Breakfast held hot and cold dishes, bagels, pretty good salmon, muesli, fruit and pastry aside from Coffee specialities, tea selection and refreshments. Although it was the weekend, the place was never too crowded but got busy during the complimentary happy hour from 18:00-20:00h. Breakfast is served from 7:00-10:00h with an extension to 11:00h on the weekend. Hilton Honors gold members and above may also choose to have their breakfast at the Podium restaurant at the lobby floor but we didn’t.
Cloud 23 Bar Manchester
Undoubtedly, Cloud 23 is one of the places to be in Manchester. You can reach the bar through a separate elevator from the lobby and people queued to get in. On Saturday, we were lucky to get a table right at the large 5m floor-to-ceiling windows with sunset views over the city towards another skyscraper project that is currently under construction. Just this month, Cloud 23 launched their new extensive cocktail menu which features 12 speciality drinks resembling different stages of Manchester’s history. We tried the Vegetarian, Botanical and “The Dean” cocktails and they were all tastefully crafted. Manchester has a lot of high end bars & great cocktail venues, however due to its location Cloud 23 has unique views with a chic and upscale style.
Passport & Palmtree conclusion
My choice of the Hilton Manchester Deansgate was a bullseye. The location was in walking distance to all the spots we wanted to discover, the room was more than accommodating for one weekend and the executive lounge was a great perk. The price value ratio is hard to beat in my opinion and I highly recommend the city Manchester for a visit in spring or summer – it was a pleasant surprise for me.
no comment