The 7 best boutique hotels in Manchester

Velvet Hotel is a gem in the heart of Manchester's Canal Street district, renowned for its fabulous atmosphere, friendly gay bars and vibrant nightlife. It's one of the best boutique hotels in Manchester if your trip revolves around this area, and you're just metres from Piccadilly station, the Northern Quarter and the Palace Theatre. As the name suggests, the interior is lavish: a characterful mix of opulent wall hangings and textured wallpaper, plush bed linens and exposed brick, and industrial-chic features. You can stay in a Superior or Deluxe King, or spring for a luxurious Penthouse Suite with its spacious living area. The hotel also boasts modern all-day eatery the Village Brasserie and the Velvet Bar with its al fresco dining area and extensive cocktail menu.

With its imposing, New York-inspired façade, frequently featuring a luxury vehicle or supercar parked out front, you know what to expect from Hotel Gotham. And the opulent interior doesn't disappoint. You'll love the luxurious bathrooms and dark décor with more than a dash of hedonism – think faux fur, velvet, leather and gold, freestanding bathtubs, and details like the “Gotham Bugle” on the bedside table. The rooms range from cosy club bedrooms to decadent suites such as the Inner Sanctum, featuring a huge “Wonderwall” projection screen and atmospheric furnishings reminiscent of the 1920s. Honey Restaurant serves up haute cuisine including an afternoon tea and a pre-theatre menu, while Club Brass is a 7th-floor lounge bar for members and guests, with an exquisite terrace and an exclusive atmosphere.

Located inside the Grade II-listed Free Trade Hall – with a stunning façade – you'd expect the interior of The Edwardian Manchester to be just as vintage. In fact, it boasts a strikingly contemporary design, with spacious bedrooms and multi-room suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, ultra-modern bathrooms and some very chic balconies. Inside, you'll also find two elegant restaurants, Peter's Street Kitchen and The Library. The former is a gloriously decorated, cavernous space serving a smorgasbord of cocktails and Mexican and Japanese small plates. The Library, curated by iconic French publishers Assouline, is an intimate space serving à la carte French delicacies, all surrounded by colourful books. What makes this one of the best boutique hotels in Manchester is its spa: an entire floor dedicated to wellness, featuring a pool, sauna, steam room and bookable treatments and therapies.

Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior: King Street Townhouse is a palace of luxury and elegance just steps from the heart of the action. Its simplest rooms are named Comfy, Cosy and Snug, and all feature designer wallpaper, luxurious furnishings and a rainfall shower, while Comfy and Cosy have freestanding bathtubs as well. There are also spacious Suites that feel like the chic apartment you wish you had, complete with fancy coffee machine, complimentary butler tray and infinity pool access. The Tavern serves breakfast, brunch and an exquisite afternoon tea and dinner, while the trendy bar boasts an extensive cocktail list. Did we mention the spa? The space includes treatment rooms, a salt cave, sauna, steam room and ice fountain. And if it's an extra-special weekend, you can even enhance your stay – perhaps with a personalised birthday cake, a just-because champagne breakfast, or a rooftop proposal.

Just a few metres from Piccadilly station, the Northern Quarter and Canal Street, Malmaison boasts the most convenient location for a boutique hotel in Manchester. It's a bright and trendy space with quirky décor. The colourful rooms and suites feature decadent baths, monsoon showers, huge beds and floor-to-ceiling windows. Each space is different, but the Signature Suite is a real treat with its Pop Art theme. You'll want to nip into Chez Mal brasserie for a Full English or Eggs Benedict before you explore. And why not pop back for a hearty dinner, start your night at cool and colourful Chez Mal Bar, or enjoy a leisurely Sunday roast here? There's even a serene spa for massages, facials, treatments and pamper sessions, with Hen Do packages to boot.

Innside is a boutique hotel in Manchester's recently rejuvenated First Street area. Just off the pretty canal and steps from Oxford Road station, the locale has been transformed into an entertainment hub, with a crazy golf bar, Manchester's famous independent cinema HOME, and a cool collection of bars and restaurants like The Gas Works, Bunny Jackson's and First Street Bar and Kitchen (inside the hotel). Housed in an eye-catching modern building, Innside by Melia is a colourful venue with chic and spacious rooms. There's a 24-hour fitness centre and spa complete with Finnish sauna, steam rooms and treatments. The restaurant, First Street Bar and Kitchen, has a playful interior, a suntrap terrace, and an eclectic Italian menu crafted by Gino D'Acampo.

If you're looking to spend the weekend revelling on trendy Deansgate, slipping from shops to cocktail bars, then the Lowry Hotel is the perfect antidote to the bustle for your downtime. It's a serene escape with a modern interior in calming Scandi hues, plus an on-site spa where you can book treatments, massages, Elemis facials or a full-day package to complement your city break. The hotel has the vibe of someone's (ultra-trendy and rather extravagant) living space: comfy, warm and inviting. The pretty bar and the River Restaurant both have Instagram-worthy interiors and a delightful terrace. You'll find cocktails, afternoon tea, breakfast and an à la carte evening menu with a selection of mouth-wateringly good modern European cuisine.