Inside Pep Guardiola's life in Manchester from city centre digs block to tapas restaurant

It’s been just under nine years since a fresh-faced Pep Guardiola rocked up in the North West of England to begin life as Manchester City manager.

Almost a decade and 18 major honours later, the Catalan coach is still knocking around and doesn’t plan on going anywhere yet.

His latest contract extension at the Premier League outfit will see his stay go beyond the 10-year mark, with Guardiola – in more ways than one – part of the furniture in Manchester.

But why has the man who lasted four years in charge at Barcelona and just three at Bayern found life in soggy Manchester so easygoing?

Where does Pep Guardiola live?

It certainly isn’t because of the weather, that’s for sure. But despite the rainy days (and weeks, and months and years), Guardiola has been allowed to live a largely stress and hassle-free life in Manchester.

His base in the city centre has been a luxury apartment in the CitySuites Aparthotel – a hotel-turned-apartment block that has housed the city’s rich and famous.

It’s said Guardiola splashed a whopping £2.7million on acquiring the property in 2017, with Manchester City themselves having reportedly taken out two floors in the building for long-stay guests.

City-centre tapas restaurant investment

As well as his all-conquering football side, one of Guardiola’s biggest pride and joys in the city is his tapas restaurant, Tast Catala.

Located just a stone’s throw from his lavish apartment building on the opposite side of the River Irwell, the restaurant aims to ‘bring the best of Barcelona’ to Mancunian plates.

Guardiola, along with City CEO Ferran Soriano as well as director of football Txiki Begiristain, is a co-investor at the joint and is said to regularly dine in the eatery.

Pep Guardiola’s family life in Manchester

Pep met his wife when they were teenage heartthrobs back in Catalonia, with the pair finally tying the knot in 2014.

Wife Cristina comes from a fashion family dynasty, who own the Serra Claret boutique in Barcelona, with the duo boasting three children, Valentina, Marius and Maria – the latter having previously been in a relationship with former Everton ace Dele Alli.

While the family are often spotted together celebrating City’s various trophy successes at the end of the season, it’s understood wife Cristina resides back at the family home in Barcelona.

Struggles on the Manchester roads

While he might’ve steered City to six Premier League titles in seven years, Guardiola has been said to have struggled with the Mancunian roads.

As detailed in an extract from Lu Martin and Pol Ballus’ 2019 book Pep’s City: The Making Of A Superteam, the ex-Barca chief’s driving habits have left plenty to be desired.

It read: “He has a reputation from his Barcelona days of being a hapless driver and this is his fourth car he has owned since coming to Manchester,” they wrote.

“His wing mirrors don’t survive for long and he’s also managed to fill a diesel Range Rover with petrol and mangle a silver Bentley.”

Pep Guardiola’s fashion influence from wife

Much like his garage, Guardiola has an extensive wardrobe filled with extravagant designer pieces, but unlike his car collection, Pep’s clothes pieces are picked out by his other half.

His touchline drip, as the kids like to call it, has evolved throughout his time in Manchester, from simple shirt and tie numbers when he arrived, to a stylish CP Company jumper and coat combination in recent months.

But, like most sartorially challenged men, Guardiola isn’t afraid to ask his wife for a helping hand.

Speaking in a 2022 interview, he told Sky Sports: “My wife is so elegant, she helps me a lot. Absolutely, ever since I met her, before I was a disaster, now I’m elegant, thanks to her.”

Lavish wine collection

But aside from his unflappable love of the beautiful game, there is very little Guardiola loves more than a cheeky tipple.

It was claimed in 2021 by The Daily Star that Guardiola splashed more than £200,000 on bottles of vintage wine from just one specific vineyard.

The report goes on to suggest Guardiola might’ve even splurged close to half a million pounds on Riojas, Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots in that one summer alone.