TL;DR

Industrial chic: Dark wood, bronze, and steel define Dakota’s signature masculine style.
Warm atmosphere: A cosy, comfort-filled escape from Manchester’s chill.
Luxury chain: Part of a high-end Northern UK collection.
Forget the exterior: Interiors are plush, stylish, more memorable than the exterior.
Check prices here

Dakota Manchester’s take on industrial chic comes in the form of steel tones, dark wood and bronze accents.

It’s a masculine kind of glamour but this hotel is also filled with creature comforts.

The Dakota chain is a set of top-tier luxury hotels throughout the Northern UK.

It’s the kind of place you want to hole up in while the wind blows. The Jamie Fraser of hotels, you might say.

Though we’ll admit that Jamie Fraser has a much more appealing exterior.

We fully admit a preference for older buildings, but the architecture here is boxy, unimaginative, and very hotel-y.

Once you’re inside, however, you’ll forget all about the charcoal-coloured brick in favour of fuzzy pillows, opal-like tile and plush leather barstools.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 137
Cosy comfort: Warm woolen furnishings and soft textures define each space.
Design: Muted taupes, browns, and greys for a gentleman’s lounge feel.
Suites: Similar in design but with more space, tubs, and better views.
Extras: Smart TVs, Nespresso machines, rainfall showers, and slippers.
See all the rooms in detail here

Your simplest option at Dakota includes a double mattress, while the “Classic” option features a king bed, and a bit more space.

Even the smallest is roomy enough to be quite comfortable, a nice feature of a purpose-built hotel.

Decor is muted in a design-forward way, with all sorts of taupes, browns and grays and plenty of texture.

It’s your grandfather’s sitting room with a bed in it, basically, without the fireplace.

Suites are basically the same vibe, no serious special treatment here.

They’ve generally got more space, better views, and a few soaking tubs that can really make a winter day in Manchester a pleasure.

If you’re not too fussed about a high-level space and planning something in the summer, the Garden Rooms, with the private terrace, are a great option.

Whatever you choose, we think you’ll be very pleased with Smart TVs, gorgeous bedding, Nespresso machines, rainfall showers and your very own cosy slippers.

You can admire their two bedroom suite here:

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Dining variety: Choose between the Grill, Bar, and heated Terrace.
Signature atmosphere: The Grill’s dark leather and moody lighting set the tone.
Outdoor comfort: The covered terrace is perfect for brunch or cocktails.
Other amenities: Meeting rooms, a Cigar Lounge, and access to a nearby gym.

Dining options at Dakota are split between the Grill, the Bar, and the Terrace.

You can guess what our favourite option is, the heated, roofed terrace serving up all sorts of snacks and drinks.

Have it on your list for brunch, or for a long evening of beer, cocktails, or sparkling wine.

The Grill is the most restaurant-y of all the spaces, a moody, leather-clad space serving up steak, caviar, martinis, the works.

There’s a perfectly on-brand Sunday roast served up weekly.

Finally, the Bar is a chic space set up for cocktails or coffee, depending on the hour. It’ll give you a bit of mysterious glamour day and night.

Other facilities include plenty of meeting rooms, including a dedicated Cigar Lounge with a terrace.

Gym rats don’t have anything on site, but the hotel has made an agreement for day passes a local gym less than 5 minutes away.

How is the location? Anything interesting nearby?

Central location: On the edge of New Islington and the Northern Quarter.
Walkable city: Easy access to key Manchester attractions and public transport.
Scenic touch: Canals and a small park add some charm to the area.
Transport links: Manchester Piccadilly is just five minutes on foot.

We’re not amazed by Dakota Hotel’s immediate location, but it’s definitely got some strong points.

Manchester in general is walkable enough, with enough public transport, that anything close to the city centre is going to be in a decent spot.

This spot sits on the edge of New Islington and the North Quarter, surrounded mostly by other hotels and their restaurants.

There are some canal walks and a charming little park nearby though.

Manchester Piccadilly is close by too, just a five-minute walk.

Northern Quarter many attractions will be around 20 minutes on foot, 15 with transport.

The University will be roughly the same.

If you’re interested in the museums and galleries around Castlefield it’s about 20 minutes on foot.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“From the moment we arrived all the staff were polite and helpful, the suite we had was amazing, we dined in the restaurant and the food was amazing….”

“Gorgeous rooms. Lovely ambient colour scheme. Loved the bathroom. Well appointed. The fridge is a great addition to the room. Well thought out room. Comfortable. Lovely staff….”