The Cow Hollow Hotel, Manchester
Expert reviews
“Its own way this boutique hotel is doing something that feels fresh and honest, true to the Northern Quarter’s historic zest for originality. In the wider context of Manchester city centre, which lacks interesting, independent stays, it is a find.”
“This hip new addition to Manchester’s Northern Quarter knows how to treat its guests with hi-spec interiors and plenty of treats – including free prosecco and nibbles, Netflix in all rooms and milk and cookies before bed. Many original features have been retained from the former textile warehouse it occupies, too.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Boutique style
- Comfortable beds
- Friendly staff
- Free Wifi
All you need to know
Nestled in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, The Cow Hollow Hotel is a charming and intimate boutique hotel with a fantastic location and excellent amenities. With only 16 guest rooms, you can guarantee that this cozy hotel offers strong attention to detail and excellent customer service.
Upon entry, guests will be greeted with exposed brick walls, indoor greenery, and an earthy color palette. Guest rooms offer more exposed brick, distressed furniture, smart TVs, king-size beds, 400 thread count sheets, and complimentary Netflix access, combine to create a rustic, yet elegant, atmosphere with plenty of amenities. The private bathroom attached to each room is equally luxurious, with a glass rainfall shower and REN toiletries.
While coffee and tea are offered in your room, a complimentary breakfast bag is provided during your stay, in which you can enjoy fruit, yogurt, juices, and granola. You can also grab a complimentary hot drink from the onsite Aviary Cafe, available for self-service all day, every day.
One of the best perks of the Cow Hollow Hotel is the unbeatable location. Only 0.6 miles from the Palace Theater, a 12-minute walk from the Manchester Arena, 0.2 miles from Piccadilly Gardens, and 1600 feet from the Piccadilly Train Station, the bustle of the city will be at your fingertips. The Mule Cafe is located close to the hotel, so daytime food is only a short walk away. In the evening, visit this trendy cafe for a glass of wine.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Agoda. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee, so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, all you need to do is contact the booking website, and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
21 March 2026
The Cow Hollow is a gem! Thank you for making my travel delay worth it.
Last minute booking in Manchester due to missing my connection to Amsterdam. The hotel staff was so friendly and accommodating that it completely changed my mood. Comfortable bed and awesome breakfast the next morning. Honestly made my travel delay a welcomed adventure! Thank you!!
Really nothing. Everyone was great.
19 March 2026
Fabulous
Gem of a place with lovely staff. Easy location for city centre and beautifully adapted to showcase old and new. Will book again
19 March 2026
Perfect
Staff were all so welcoming and lovely. I’ve never stayed in a hotel where the service has been so amazing! The room was also very clean and cozy.
That I couldn’t stay longer
11 March 2026
Cosy oasis in NQ
Very cosy! Fab extra like a free prosecco and nibbles ! Also breakfast in bed !
We were only staying one night so our room was fine but would struggle if staying longer as very little room for bags or hanging things up
9 March 2026
It was only one night but perfect location and the staff were very professional
Clean and modern
Nothing
8 March 2026
Exceptional
The staff were very welcoming from the beginning! We were able to leave our bags before check in and when we came back they already put them in the room. They also let us leave our bags after the check out since we had a later train. We arrived at almost midnight and they received us with tea and cookies! It was great after a day of being around all day long. They serve breakfast to your room which is amazing because you tell them what time you want it at. Everything was super clean.
The only down side (but it wasn't terrible) is that we wish there was more of a table in the room to leave our suitcases on
8 March 2026
Exceeded all expectations, will definitely return
The vibe. Decor and lighting were relaxing, the staff made us feel welcome as soon as we entered. We were offered complimentary prosecco until 7pm, and cookies before bed. Our breakfast was delivered on time, presented beautifully and set us up for the day.
The room was quite small. Although the space in the ensuite was used well and accommodated a large comfy bed, some kind of storage or clothes rail would have been handy
6 March 2026
Best boutique hotel in Manchester
The staff are amazing, lovely complimentary Prosecco, nibbles and cookies and milk before bed!
I’d have liked a few more breakfast options but my avo on toast was lovely and I really enjoyed it being bought to me in the morning for breakfast in bed!
4 March 2026
Stylish, comfortable and convenient
The stylish comfort . Good quality food , linen, crockery, bedding and decor
There was no option to add extra light, eg. Needs a brighter light for bathroom mirror ( to apply make up etc) and maybe a dimmer switch or stronger bulb for main light in the bedroom.
3 March 2026
Epic, would stay again x
Lovely staff, the place smells beautiful....
The rooms are teeny weeny but that's the only thing I would say that is even slightly neggy :)
2 March 2026
Lovely night away x
All the extra touches the complimentary drinks and nibbles , the morning breakfast and drinks to room were lovely
Our room was tiny the smallest room I’ve ever stayed in but luckily we only stayed the night would definitely stay again but in a bigger room
2 March 2026
Amazing stay for a night or two
Everything was wonderful. The staff are super helpful and attentive. Couldn't have asked for more from a boutique hotel! The bedrooms are small and other reviews noted this but it didn't bother me as a solo traveller for one evening. The freebies and staff were great. Loved breakfast in bed and the tea to the room. I ordered food from Uber and the staff even helped me get it from outside!
- The shower pressure and temperature is a bit low but this is advised due to eco-friendly modes they are in.
27 February 2026
Lovely boutique hotel with a unique quirky style. Great little touches such as prosecco and nibbles, cookies and milk.
We loved its unique quirky style.
The room we stayed in was perhaps a little too small.
23 February 2026
Very good
The hotel was finished to a high standard. The staff were really welcoming and knowledgeable about the area.
The standard room is very small the bed fits in with just enough room to walk either side. I certainly wouldn’t have paid £159 for the room but we fell lucky and got it at a reduced price £89. The breakfast was a nice touch served in the room. I think different welcome drink could be offered instead of prosecco but that’s personal choice. The coffee machine at the end of the hall was noisy and could be heard in our room. With the standard rooms being down stairs there was a slight smell of damp as you came downstairs.
21 February 2026
Exceptional
Beautiful hotel. Amazing bed so comfortable I wanted to take it home. Lovely staff, special touches like making a hot drink with cookies when we came in late and helping with our luggage. Everything you want and great location.
Nothing.
20 February 2026
An absolute Gem!
Absolutely evertthing! Amazing stylish unique city hotel! Personal touches! Welcoming Prosecco and nibbles! Cookies and milk/hot chocolate before bed. Breakfast delivered to your room! Comfortable bed, gorgeous decor and the lovliest staff. We loved it the first time and knew we had to go back. 💕
Could not think of one single thing! ⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟
19 February 2026
Lovely stay - staff friendly - service great
room breakfast aesthetics
Not enough storage
19 February 2026
Exceptional
Comfort, aesthetic
18 February 2026
Excellent stay, will be back!
Cool boutique décor (a mix of industrial and colonial) The friendly staff - amazing customer service A glass prosecco after a day out and then hot drinks/ cookies before bed, a small breakfast delivered to room was a nice touch Bedding quality Location was super and convenient - not far at all for most of central Manchester (IMO), not just the Northern Quarter
Nothing negative - had a good positive experience all round. The room may be small but it didn't bother me - the heat, mattress and bedding quality meant a comfortable stay. Thank you.
18 February 2026
Good Value for money
For the money you cannot complain
Tiny room could barely find place for 2 bags
16 February 2026
Best place to stay in Manchester
Excellent hotel, fantastic attention to detail. What a 'boutique' hotel should be like.
16 February 2026
Fabulous
staff was superb.
only thing i could knock would be the shower, it was clean but the power of the water coming out of the showhead was low.
12 February 2026
Ideal location and attentive staff.
Everything that was required.
Just a little on the small side, badly placed step coming from bathroom.
12 February 2026
I would stay again, great location and very comfy hotel
Lovely customer service from all the staff. Very clean room and super comfy bed. Hotel is in a quiet area of the northern quarter, a short walk to all the shops and bars etc. The breakfast was lovely. The shower products were very nice.
No closet space but to be fair I’d read the reviews so I knew this. I was there only one night so the hangers provided on the back of the door were sufficient. A light over or around the bathroom mirror would be a great addition as the ambient lighting in there wasn’t enough to do makeup etc.
11 February 2026
Stylish design hotel with friendly staff, but some small downsides...
My room (#16) was stylish, quirky and comfortable and the breakfast tray was great. Really good location, friendly staff and nice coffee.
I didn't mind the stairs to the top floor as I only have a small suitcase, but could be awkward with large or heavy bags (also not much space in the room to store a large bag). There was a sign explaining that the low flow water pressure in the shower was an environmental choice, which sounds good in theory, but it meant there was no way I could have washed my hair as it would have taken absolutely ages - not ideal. Also the shower was freezing initially and took a long time to warm up. Bathroom very small with nowhere really to put anything.
7 February 2026
Compact and bijou..perfect for one night
Very well located and quiet at night Nice breakfast and untapped tea & coffee
The room had quite low level lighting and difficult to do make up without a stronger light. Also no desk/chair to work at a laptop
5 February 2026
Fabulous
Really lovely staff who can't do enough for you, Incredible service. Very comfortable room, nice quiet night's stay, lots of lovely little extras, I felt so spoiled.
Rooms are quite compact with very little storage. Well equipped for the size and it was fine for me on my own.
3 February 2026
Very good
Lovely staff and hot chocolate
Very small portions for breakfast
3 February 2026
Very good
The boutique style, the warmth of the staff and the location
My only issue were the bathroom doors were a hinderance opening into a small bathroom and cutting off the toilet and shower and, the low water pressure.
3 February 2026
Exceptional
Excellent staff, beautiful vibe and it smelled really nice!
Nothing.
2 February 2026
Fabulous. Would stay again
Lovely quirky building. Close to the centre. Perfect for a night in the city.
The rooms and bathrooms were very small but manageable.
31 January 2026
Exceptional
The milk and cookies at 10 pm
30 January 2026
Unique and attractive hotel in an interesting corner of Manchester.
It’s a really attractive place, the way they have incorporated the features of the original building and turned it into a modern hotel is fabulous. The staff are excellent too.
The lack of space in the bathroom and low water pressure (explained as a result of sustainability efforts) of the shower.
28 January 2026
Perfect place to experience Manchester from. - a safe, comfortable and friendly base
Just gorgeous, lovely staff and proper boutique feel
Ideally a wardrobe or hanging space
28 January 2026
Fabulous
Really lovely hotel. It was in a great location for us, close to the train station. The staff were really helpful and there were some good extras. There was even a hair straightener in the bathroom.
The room was quite small. But big enough for what we wanted.
23 January 2026
Thank you for a lovely few days and all the little bits like extra tea, drink on arrival and lovely and pleasant breakfa
Lovely, compact, well decorated and very comparable bed! Staff all lovely, responsive and on hand when needed! The property is well located to all amenities in the city.
Only downside, and very minor was no wardrobe in the room we stayed. Coat hangers provided but a wardrobe would have allowed us to unpack a bit more.
22 January 2026
Wish every hotel was like this.
Like its location and decor, great staff and the hotel has a very cool vibe. Had a great nights sleep in a very comfortable bed
Rooms are a tad on the small side but very comfortable but I knew that before I booked as I’ve stayed before.
21 January 2026
Can’t think of anything else to say apart from what we have already said
Everything exceeded our expectations
There wasn’t anything not to like
16 January 2026
Lovely stay and friendly staff
Thoughtful extras
It was a bit dark
16 January 2026
Hidden gem in Manchester
Great value great location
Everything was fine
15 January 2026
Good location and friendly staff
Quirky hotel in great location for the Northern Quarter
Staff were very helpful and liked the building! Room was slightly smaller than expect for a king size
14 January 2026
Convenient location and worth your money!!
Lots of complimentary amenities, the staff were very accommodating and helpful in every way! The breakfast in the room was lovely, we really enjoyed the Prosecco and nibbles before we went out for dinner, the atmosphere is calm, relaxing. To do your hair they provided a hairdryer, straightener and a curler which is so unusual to see in any hotel!! It was so useful.
The lighting in the bathroom was not very bright so it made it very hard to get ready in the evening. There is no space to keep your bags in the small room, however if you are there for 1/2 days it is okay.
12 January 2026
Fabulous
Great style. Good location and very comfortable.
Loved the decor, the complimentary drink and room service. Also the bed was very comfortable. The bar served excellent cocktails.
7 January 2026
Great place to stay
Great stay very comfortable and everything you need. Staff very friendly and always there to help. Breakfast to your room at what time suits you great little touch.
5 January 2026
My stay was brilliant and I couldn’t recommended enough
The property was very cozy, nicely decorated and warm. The staff were very accommodating and provided us with lots of information about our stay
Not accessible for disabled people as there is no lift and lots of stairs
5 January 2026
Loved our stay - have stayed there before.
We were upgraded which as a lovely surprise. Breakfast was served in the room and was very tasty.
Nothing
4 January 2026
Exceptional
Very nice little hotel staff were really friendly and very accomodating, the breakfast was lovely, loved that they serve it to you in your room,.room was small but we only stayed a night so was perfect for our needs, we.really enjoyed our stay ❤️
Nithing our stay was lovely
4 January 2026
One of the nicest couples get away
So amazing for. Couple to spend time. The milk and cookies and breakfast was amazing.
3 January 2026
First class staff superb house manager( Gemma) was excellent!!!
Everything
No complaints
Hotel facilities
Services
- - Room service
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Fax/photocopying
- - Concierge service
- - Shared lounge/TV area
- - Daily housekeeping
Food & Drink
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Safety deposit box
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
Outdoors
- - Outdoor furniture
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers

More photos

21 March 2026
Absolutely perfect !