The title compound, [Mn(C₁₀H₉O₃)(CO)₄], is formed by orthomanganation of 3'-acetoxyacetophenone at the sterically crowded ortho site. The atoms of the benzene and the cyclometallated rings are coplanar to within <0.018 Å, and there are no significant intramolecular interactions between the Mn(CO)₄ group and the adjacent acetoxy group.