Seth S.
Yelp
It's hard to think of a better hotel to stay at while visiting Manchester. The Malmaison is part of a 13 strong chain that has hotels sited in large UK cities. The Manchester branch is situated about three minutes from the Piccadilly Station and very convenient to all major transportation in the area. The hotel's bones come from a 1851 era building that served as a factory and warehouse. They've added on a modern wing to the building, and other than the lovely street facade you'll be hard pressed to find original details. None the less, the interior does not disappoint, with heavy usage of strong grey, black, and purple colors in the rooms and hallways. It's a thoroughly modern palette that feels posh, not stripped down.
Brittany A. and I checked in after arriving on a busy Sunday afternoon. The proximity to Piccadilly Station makes it an attractive location, especially since we were lugging an extra large suitcase and dog in tow. Check in was fast, however they are sticklers for a 3PM check in time. We showed up at 2:50PM and had to wait ten minutes for our room to be ready. No worries though, the staff took our luggage for room delivery while we enjoyed coffee from the attached Starbucks. The hotel is dog friendly, although they don't go out of their way to advertise the fact. We paid £10 extra for our one night, and a large dog bed and bowl was awaiting our pooch in the room.
Our digs were a large corner room on the fourth floor (there are five total). It featured a large king sized bed, desk and chair, two large lounge chairs, a 40 inch LED television, large closet with a refrigerator, and a bathroom with both tub and a walk-in shower with rain-shower head. The bed is a major highlight. The mattress is a Sealy, firm but comfortable, and the linens and duvet felt brand new. I could have used a couple of extra pillows though. I had one of the best nights sleep in awhile on the bed, and I could see myself coming back just for that reason. A minor complaint of the room is the lighting. Coupled with the setback of the sink, it was quite difficult to shave properly in the morning.
Check out is generously at noon, giving you enough time to pop downstairs for breakfast and get ready at a nice pace. Our room package (a steal at £105) included two glasses of prosecco from the lobby bar and continental breakfast. The muesli with fresh fruit and granola is a real standout at breakfast. The coffee is weak for my tastes, but at least the Starbucks is a few steps away. I haven't felt this pampered since staying at the Mondrian in London, and at such a bargain, you'll have more pounds to enjoy in Manchester. Overall I can't recommend the Malmaison Manchester enough. It has character and charm (check out the canal running underneath), and a high level of service that will make you feel well treated.