The Best Bars in Manchester, UK

Beer lovers rejoice! We’ve found your mecca and it’s tucked away on a quiet side street in the Northern Quarter. Port Street offers two floors and a back yard filled with seating, although you’ll struggle to find a place to perch at this increasingly popular beer joint. Previously voted as the North Manchester CAMRA pub of the year, you’ll find a staggering array of beer behind the bar, both bottled and on tap. Prices are a little higher than neighbouring pubs, but it’s worth it to sample some of the best beer in the city.

Hidden behind a window masquerading as a pawn shop on Stevenson Square, this tiny cocktail bar is one of the Northern Quarter’s best kept secrets. Inside, you’ll find an eclectic cocktail menu boasting unusual house specialities alongside more traditional options. You’ll likely fancy sampling a few drinks, so try to find a seat and get comfortable for a couple of hours. Don’t miss your chance to select a few songs on the free jukebox.

The entrance to this prohibition-themed bar is tucked away down an alleyway just off Stevenson Square, but has clear signage if you know where to look. Once you ascend the small staircase, you’ll find yourself in a speakeasy where dry ice mists off decadent-looking cocktails and the bar staff are all dressed the part. If you’re lucky, there may be live jazz music to entertain you as you sip on sophisticated drinks.

Located just across the river in Salford, a couple of minutes’ walk from Deansgate, coffee shop Another Heart to Feed has recently launched an After Hours bar that serves up some of the best cocktails in the city centre. Its location helps to ensure an exclusive feel, away from the hectic bars of Spinningfields and the Northern Quarter and the delectable cocktails including espresso martinis alongside more eclectic options will definitely keep you coming back for more.

Another bar tucked away in the Northern Quarter, Allotment has a more refined ambience than its neighbouring drinking dens. As its name suggests, there is a botanical theme to the bar, stretching from its living wall and collection of greenery to its comprehensive gin menu, one of the most extensive in the city. Cocktails all have a botanical theme, gin tastings are available via bookings and there’s even a variety of fresh lemonades on offer for those who aren’t drinking.

If you like your drink with a view, you won’t find anywhere better than Cloud 23, on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate. Arrive dressed to impress and ensure that you have plenty of cash to flash, as this bar definitely isn’t the cheapest in Manchester. If you’ve never visited, it’s definitely worth popping in for at least one drink to admire the view. We recommend trying their signature Stratospheric cocktail that combines gin, champagne and delicious fruity flavours in a striking glass.

Located in Spinningfields, the most exclusive area of the city centre, The Alchemist specialises in delighting its drinkers with unusual cocktails that emit smoke, combine unusual flavours and even change colour. The cocktail menu is suitably laid out akin to the periodic table, with drinks displayed according to their taste. We recommend straying away from the safe options and trying something new and delicious.