Can you combine the facilities of a hotel with the independence of an apartment rental? With CitySuites aparthotel you can. Located just a stone’s throw from River Irwell and Manchester city centre by Manchester’s Embankment West are two high-spec luxury serviced aparthotels, inside contemporary glass and steel buildings, CitySuites I and CitySuites II. They sandwich a pretty courtyard with their Embankment coffee shop or a little communal living.
The idea delivered by CitySuites is to offer five-star hotel accommodation but with the comforts of a home.
Who for?
The aparthotel is ideal for business or leisure stays. If you’re exploring Manchester for the day and want somewhere to put your feet up in the evening or unwind in the spa area, a one-night stay is perfect.
If you’re studying or on business you can book for a year and take advantage of their home comforts, such as a coffee machine, fully-equipped kitchen, and laundry service. If I could have stayed there longer, I would!
Accommodation
There are 237 chic rooms occupying floors 1–10 and 12–15 of a 16-storey building. The decor throughout the building is understated chic styled with a palette of creams and pale greys, adorned with sleek fittings and fixtures.
Choose from one-, two, and three-bedroom apartments, family apartments, a studio or a Penthouse SuperSuite. All rooms have fully-fitted kitchens, with an oven, hob, fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and a Nespresso coffee maker. The latter is particularly useful in encouraging me to get out of the heavenly bed.
Both the spacious lounge and bedroom have large TVs with Sky Premium Package and floor-to-ceiling windows with views over Manchester.
It’s easy to get comfortable here and indulge in the freedom of having everything you need in one space, but with the option to take advantage of the hotel amenities.
Both aparthotels have spacious lounges, where you can have a drink, focus on work or meet colleagues and friends over food. Every evening at the newly renovated Embankment Kitchen you can enjoy a delicious seasonal menu.
Food and Drink
Embankment Kitchen is City Suites’ cosy, yet elegant restaurant, that serves mouth-watering food. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the staff are very attentive.
For starters, I had the mixed olives, which were marinated with oregano, sage, salt and olive oil. I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but they were the juiciest olives I have ever tasted. For the perfect combination, order the Tooma River Australia Reserve Shiraz wine. I enjoyed this red wine so much that I bought a bottle to take home with me.
The Halloumi Fries, with sweet chilli sauce and fresh pea shoots are also melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
I ordered the Butternut Squash, sage and wild mushroom risotto for mains. The popping flavours, topped with toasted pine nuts and parmesan, were divine.
My companion had the Pan-fried duck breast, with braised red cabbage, fondant potato, sauteed broccoli and red wine jus. The duck was juicy and tender, while the potato was soft on the inside and crunched to perfection on the outside. The sweetness of the red wine jus, enhanced the dish overall.
The quality of breakfast matched the dinner and there are plenty of options for everyone. Full English breakfast, scrambled tofu on sourdough, chorizo and sweet potato hash, cured meat, fruit salad, and pain au chocolat, are just a few examples from the menu.
For coffee lovers, the new Embankment Cafe serves specialty coffees, using 100% arabica beans.
How much
A one-night stay at CitySuites II costs from £120 for two sharing a Studio Apartment.
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What’s nearby?
CitySuites is in a convenient location, with shops and restaurants, such as Hard Rock Cafe, in walking distance. Right across the street is a Sainsburys, ideal if you’re using the kitchen in your aparthotel.
Opposite City Suites are the Manchester Cathedral and River Tib. The Arndale shopping centre, National Football Museum, AO arena, and train station are close by too.
VERDICT: CitySuites Aparthotel offers a high spec place to stay that’s both comfortable and replete with amenities. It’s a good choice in the heart of Manchester.
Address: 16 Chapel Street, Salford M3 5AS, England.