Best Shopping Malls in Thumbs Up Area

"Taking inspiration from London’s Boxpark pop-up, Hatch is a series of colourful shipping-containers housing street food vendors, bars and independent shops. Located right in the middle of Manchester’s student-focused Oxford Road, you’ll often find undergrads enjoying one of Parmageddon’s locally famous chicken-parm sandwiches or devouring Herbivorous’ range of vegan burgers and loaded fries, dripping with barbecue jackfruit. Its ever-changing selection of traders, combined with a price point that’s around the tenner mark, makes this hugely popular hang-out the perfect place to grab a bite to eat without breaking the bank."

"This trendy foodie outlet sits under the flyover near Manchester Met and Manchester University. Strings of exposed light bulbs cast a hipster twinkle over the self-contained courtyard, and there’s a sun-soaked garden filled with long wooden tables where you can while away summer afternoons. Peruse the artisan beers on tap and by the bottle at Öl nanobrewery."

"Have you even visited Manchester if you haven’t shared a photograph of the mosaic sign outside Affleck’s?. The iconic sign reading ‘and on the sixth day, God created Manchester’ is surely one of the most popular photos of Manchester city centre on Instagram with many tourists and locals flocking to Short Street to admire the piece of art. Affleck’s, Short Street, Manchester, UK"

"I ended up at the massive building of ‘Afflecks’, which turned out to be “An Emporium of Eclecticism“, meaning it was full of shops selling random shit, basically. Afflecks is an indoor market with dozens of independent stalls, small shops and boutiques, some of them quite strange, but also a lot of them with awesome handmade goods."

"One of the best places to just loose yourself is Aflecks Palace. Floors of independent stalls selling everything from food, jewelry and clothing."

"Barton Arcade is a Victorian shopping arcade that has shops and restaurants on the ground floor and offices and administrative spaces on all the other floors. The architecture style is really beautiful and the stairs between floors are stunning as well. Barton Arcade is especially beautiful when it’s empty in the morning hours (just after opening), so you can capture it without the crowds."

"Barton Arcade is a beautiful grade II listed Victorian shopping arcade which is a 5-minute walk from the Arndale Centre. Therefore, the transport links are the same as those to the Arndale Centre. This is one of the best places for shopping in Manchester if you prefer local independent businesses."

"Located on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art is a leading exhibition in exploring contemporary Chinese culture, through performances, workshops and film screenings. It is currently awaiting a date for reopening."

"New kid on the block Society MCR is finally open, with Northern brewery Vocation at the helm. The taproom and food hall has a number of spaces to enjoy throughout the venue, including the bustling food hall (complete with communal-style benches for reunions with friends), an outdoor patio, a lounge area, a Vocation bar and a mezzanine. There, guests can expect vendors such as Vocation themselves, Dokes Pizzeria (created by the team behind Elnecot), Slap and Pickles burgers, Manzoku Street Food and more."

"One of the biggest new developments to land in the city centre this year will be Society, a £1m food hall from the founders of Assembly Underground in Leeds. Their Manchester venture at Barbirolli Square - spanning 8,073 sq ft - will have space for five independently-owned kitchens, a cocktail bar, and a craft beer taproom. It will also be home to Elnecot's new concept, Dokes Pizzeria."

"A new £1 million street food market hall ft an Elnecot pizzeria, Falafel Guys & moreWhere. Barbirolli Square, Manchester, M2 3AB (across from Bridgewater Hall)Who. By Vocation Brewery behind Underground Assembly in Leeds"

"If you’d prefer a more relaxed environment away from luxurious hotels, Spa Satori is located in the heart of Manchester’s hipster neighbourhood. Offering a variety of treatments for both men and women, the spa focuses on beauty treatments such as facials, waxing and brows alongside a variety of massages, holistic treatments, acupuncture and detoxing procedures. Opt for their Ultimate Stress Relief massage if your day-to-day life has left you feeling tense and exhausted."

"Satori Northern Quarter is an ultimate sanctuary to rest your tired and weary body. Managed by Jennie Lawrenson, a highly qualified therapist, she is dedicated to providing the ultimate wellness for all her clients. Passionate in helping all customers to reach their optimum health and wellness, she provides different services and treatments that are sure to aid you and take away all the pain that you are feeling in your body."

"Spa aficionados who have “been there, done that” might want to try Spa Satori. These guys cater to both men and women with seriously necessary signature treatments like Moody Cow, Men Are From Mars, and Hangover Recovery. There’s also a selection of Ethical Body Wraps, specialist treatments like Reiki healing, reflexology, and colonic hydrotherapy."