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Congratulations to my “Home away from home”. Time Out ranked Manchester the 3rd best city in the world and National Geographic Traveler (UK) has named Manchester, the UK’s most exciting cultural hub. To celebrate this accolade for Manchester; the city I currently call “home”, I’ve crafted my “Girl Takes Mundo Manchester Guide – 3rd Best City In The World”. Categories include grub, entertainment, staying fit and everything else in between.
Being an expat in Manchester, who also loves to wear the tourist hat whenever possible, my picks are perfect for someone new to Manchester, someone visiting Manchester or someone who lives in Manchester looking for inspiration.
Don’t miss seeing what other cities made Time Out’s list by reading the full Timeout article, check out the National Geographic article too!
Read my complete Manchester destination guide for everything you need to navigate Manchester like a pro.
Girl Takes Mundo Manchester Guide Table Of Contents:
Plan Your Visit
 Flight |  Stay |  Do |  Drive |
| Skyscanner | Hotellook | GetYourGuide | Rentalcars.com |
Girl Takes Mundo Ultimate Manchester List
Top 3 For Food
- Ramona – Serving up delicious Detroit style pizza and margaritas in a lively environment that includes daily Dj sets and performances.
- Ornella’s Kitchen – By far my favorite Italian restaurant. While they have moved slightly outside the city the quality has not changed. Delicious! The food is authentic and tastes beyond what you would expect.
- Cardinal Rule – This Southern American fried chicken biscuit sandwich spot is serving up authentic eats. Perfect for vegetarians and vegan as they have options for us too.
BONUS:
Rustica – Delicious takeaway sandwiches or “butty’s” as Mancunians call them. The women working here make you feel like your mum is in the kitchen treating you to your favorite lunch.
Top 3 To Grab Drinks
- Three Little Words – My go to place to grab craft cocktails in Spinningfields on a night or day out.
- Junior Jackson’s – I love a bar that has character and this place most certainly does. This American style bar will provide the tunes, nibbles and super friendly customer service.
- The Marble Arch – Authentic and long standing pub in the Green Quarter offering tasty draft beer, ciders and ales straight from the brewery itself.
BONUS:
If you are looking for a good time/night out then be sure to check out the following guides below:
Top 3 For Coffee
- Federal Café Bar – A top favorite for brunch and coffee. Their banana bread is one I can’t resist not ordering. Grab take away and save yourself the wait. They have many locations on both sides of the city.
- Social Refuge – Manchester loves multipurpose spaces and this coffee shop situated in a book shop has found a beautiful venue for coffee beans and work from day.
- Popup Bikes – A hidden gem that kills two birds with one stone; fuel up on caffeine while your bike gets looked at. (Locals love to cycle here.)
Top 3 For Dessert
- The Flat Baker – While they have unusual hours, this place is a must for all your baker sweet and savory delights.
- D G H N T – As the name hints, these are tastiest donuts to come to Manchester and beating the once popular Gooey.
- Sugar Junction – This place falls under the radar which means locals are really trying to keep it to themselves. They offer the tastiest cakes one can imagine and their large foccacia sandwiches are ones not to miss if you are feeling hungry.
Top 3 To Workout
- Blok – Offering a variety of disciplines from sound yoga to calisthenics with instructors that will push you to your limits. Located in the amazing Ducie Street Warehouse, which is a great place to hangout and work from if you work remotely.
- Fighting Fit Manchester – Workout with the pro’s of England. This is a niche mixed martial arts gym that is home to top athletic talent in England.
- Zeno Health Club – Another fantastic option if you are looking to break a sweat. This gym offers HITT classes and personal training in an amazing space.
Top 3 Must Do’s
- New Islington Marina – This little patch of heaven in the middle of an urban jungle is the perfect oasis to enjoy the rays (when they come out), people / geese watch and unwind.
- Cycle from Castlefield Basin along the Bridgewater Canal – I love the canal systems in Manchester and some routes are beautiful to walk along. This one is by far one of my favorites in the city. This path stretches 14.6 miles but you obviously don’t have to do all of this.
- Manchester Central Library – Even if you aren’t big on reading books, the architecture in the library is breath-taking and worth visiting while you are here.
Top 3 Neighborhoods In the City Center
- Ancoats – Located in the northern part of the city center and once home to the cotton mills, this renovated area is a trendy hotspot and a hop skip away from New Islington Marina.
- Northern Quarter – This bohemian neighborhood is lined with beautiful street art and filled with independent shops, bars and restaurants.
- Spinningfields – The perfect place to play dress up and be posh in the city of Manchester. Perfect for a fancy night out.
Top 3 Neighborhoods Oustide Of The City Center
- Chorlton – Short for Chorlton-cum-Hardy and reason why everyone in Manchester simply calls it “Chorlton”. This hipster neighborhood offers plenty of mom and pop eateries, bars and shops.
- Media City – An area right outside of the city geared for young professionals, it’s the perfect place to grab scooters or walk around their marina.
- Altrincham – Quaint English suburb offering nice walks in Dunham Massey and giving you a nice glimpse of English countryside without traveling too far.
Top 2 Places NOT To Visit
Only 2 as I simply couldn’t think of a 3rd, which further confirms how wonderful Manchester truly is.
- Piccadilly Gardens – If I can avoid this place that sadly is smack in the middle of the city center, I do…by all means necessary.
- Escape To Freight Island – Over rated and has a complete lack of customer service due to being understaffed. You also may or may not get the food or drinks you ordered. Need I say more?
Where To Stay In Manchester
Here’s a selection of accommodation options tailored to suit any budget, group or preference, whether you fancy indulging in 5-star luxury with your partner in crime, staying in a cozy boutique hotel on a girls weekend, or opting for the convenience of an apartment-style accommodation for your citybreak in Manchester, here are my hand pick options for you.
| Hotel Name | Star | Why Book? | Price | Book |
| Stock Exchange Hotel | ★★★★★ | Luxury hotel where Sterling is located in. Handy location and offers a great range of room types. Top choice. | $$$$ | Click here |
| Native Manchester | ★★★★ | Winner of the “Best places to stay in the North”. Right next door from Manchester Piccadilly Train Station. Great for groups who want to book apartments | $$$ | Click here |
| Staycity Aparthotels Manchester Piccadilly | ★★★★ | Superbly located just 300 metres. Offering spacious, stylish and contemporary aparthotels with a 24-hour cafe. | $$ | Click here |
| Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange | ★★★ | Set in the heart of the city center and central to many of the cocktail bars mentioned. This accommodation offers a comfortable at an affordable price. | $$ | Click here |
| Selina NQ1 Manchester | ★★★ | Superbly located just 300 metres. Offering spacious, stylish and contemporary aparthotels with a 24-hour cafe. | $ | Click here |
Here’s a quick overview if you are looking for a specific type of hotel…
| ❤️ BEST MANCHESTER HOTEL FOR… | |
| ⭐Best Luxury Hotel | Stock Exchange Hotel |
| 🏨Best Midrange Hotel | Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange |
| 🚪Best Budget Hotel | Selina NQ1 Manchester |
Manchester City Google Map
This handy Manchester tourist Google map lists the full location of restaurants, attractions, etc. mentioned in this Girl Takes Mundo Manchester Guide. It includes further tips in the notes section. Be sure to add this list to your Google Maps. Additionally, below you will find some of my top activities to do near Manchester.
- Cruise down England’s iconic canals just 45 minutes away from the city.
- Hop on a train and indulge in the pub culture with this unique UK pub crawl.
- Nothing says British culture then an English day at the horse races. Its so easy to do this when in Manchester.
Picture yourself in the 3rd best city in the world!
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