Manchester has a hard-earned reputation for its wild nightlife, from the heady Hacienda days to its live music venues where many big names have cut their teeth. And while there are plenty of places to party all night in the city "that thinks a table is for dancing on", there's also a huge selection of cosy historic pubs, cool cocktail bars and trendy music venues. Whether you'd like to see an up-and-coming band in an intimate back room or find the coolest hidden spots, our list of the top bars and pubs is an excellent starting point.
Tucked away in the corner of the Grade II listed Mackie Mayor food hall, Stray is a cool but relaxed cocktail bar that promises uncomplicated, well-executed drinks. Its décor reflects this laid-back vibe with industrial chic exposed brick walls, pillars, soft lighting and a marble-topped olive green bar. Nab an orange velvet sofa by a window and order a tomato margarita which combines tomato vine tequila, mezcal, agave and lime oil. There's a good selection of non-alcoholic and low-alcohol cocktails too, including an alcohol-free margarita.
Accessed through a secret door hidden in a wall inside the Cane & Grain bar (look for the neon Science & Industry sign to the left as you enter), Science & Industry is one of the best cocktail bars in Manchester. It's styled to look like a speakeasy, with wooden panelled walls, leather studded booths, copper tables and taxidermy lights. The mixologists know their stuff and have a "lab" with equipment to create the perfect drink. Order one of its "Science Signatures" (which are also available in non-alcoholic versions) and relax with bluesy music playing in the background.
Regular live music and spoken word events are held in the back room of this popular Northern Quarter pub which dates back to 1776, while in the bar area there's an excellent jukebox. From its brown tiled exterior and mosaic flooring as you enter, to its wooden bar with padded leather stools, it feels like time has stood still here (although it was actually renovated and re-opened in 2009). If you're not attending a gig, order a pint of Robinsons Unicorn and plonk yourself on a padded banquette in the snug parlour.
Natural wine is popular at the moment, and in Manchester's Ancoats neighbourhood, you'll have a choice of specialist venues to work your way through. One of these, Kerb, is a bijou wine store whose curved wall has well-stocked stainless-steel shelves. Ask friendly staff for a recommendation then sit and sip at its small central stone counter or on a table next to its floor-to-ceiling windows. It doesn't take itself too seriously and drinks are served in fun branded glasses with a little man on them who appears to be swimming in your drink.
Launched in July 2020, Freight Island is a huge outdoor and indoor food, drink and entertainment space in a former freight depot. It's an ideal place to go for drinks with a group of friends, as there's a range of bars to choose between, from the Casa Pomelo cocktail bar to craft beers from the Freight Tap Room. Lounge outside in the sunshine in its cobbled courtyard or head to the cavernous Ticket Hall to watch live music, comedy, DJs, and more. There's also The Plant Room greenhouse-style area for an acoustic performance and The Sports Bar which shows major games.
One of Manchester's best-looking bars is in the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. Its vast, grand public bar with original tiled pillars and moulded ceilings feels special but has a laid-back atmosphere, while its Winter Garden, with trees wrapped in fairy lights, is the place to slip off to with your date. There's a fantastic selection of cocktails - try The Glamour of Manchester which combines prosecco, elderflower and gin - and, as you'd expect from a venue originally set up by two DJs, there's an upbeat soundtrack such as disco and boogie on Saturday nights. Special events are held in its basement vault.
Under railway arches off Oxford Road, Gorilla's white-tiled bar is a cool place to enjoy drinks or a casual meal. Its regular live gigs and club nights are popular, with up-and-coming bands performing as well as established acts looking for a more intimate venue. Interiors are industrial chic - think exposed brick, a wooden arched ceiling and silver insulated pipes proudly on show - and there's a gin parlour on a mezzanine level directly above the bar. The cocktail menu has music-themed names - try the New Order themed Power, Corruption & Lies with gin, lime, mint and prosecco.
A Manchester institution, this traditional pub has been on the corner of Great Bridgewater street since 1806. It has an extensive whisky collection - apparently the north west's largest - and a great selection of ales (try the Peterloo Pale ale). There are paintings of the Peterloo Massacre in the corridor, tiled walls and a red and gold moulded ceiling. The shiny mahogany bar is well stocked and, handily, there's a serving hatch at the back for its snug and lounge. Open fires keep things cosy in the winter and there's a small beer garden when the sun makes an appearance.
You may end up dancing on the benches of this enormous Bavarian "bier palace" - or could, alternatively, enjoy a more relaxed drink with lunch during the day. In an enormous former Wesleyan Hall, below the Albert Hall concert venue, there's no other bar quite like it in Manchester. It will certainly make an impression, from its elaborate floral displays and OTT cabaret and live music shows, to its huge copper barrels above the bar. Pilsner Urquell is the obvious choice while socialising at one of its long wooden tables but there's also schnapps and a range of hearty Alpine dishes.
Between the shops on Market Street and King Street, Café Beermoth is an independent beer specialist. You'll see kegs behind glass windows at the bar, there's hops hanging from geometric wooden screens, and lightshades are made out of oversized beer bottles. Seventeen changing beers are on draft, while there's a huge menu containing rare releases by 3 Fonteinen as well as vintage bottles and other options arranged geographically. Perch at the bar quizzing knowledgeable staff or socialise in a leather booth while sipping a bottle of Augustiner-Bräu Lagerbier Helles from Munich's oldest brewery. Upbeat indie music creates a lively atmosphere.
The historic Chop Houses are firm favourites in Manchester and Mr Thomas's is slap bang in the middle of the city centre; perfect for a cosy drink before a show at the Royal Exchange Theatre or a post-shopping pint of Tom's pale ale. In a narrow townhouse, the traditional pub, which dates back to 1867, has retained its Victorian charm, with green and cream tiled walls, tiled arches and a dark wooden bar. Traditional dishes are served in the dining area at the back and there's live music every Wednesday.
You can enjoy some of the best views of Manchester's skyline from 20 Stories. At the top of the No. 1 Spinningfields Tower, the cocktail bar and rooftop terrace are places for special occasion drinks or simply to mingle with some of the city's well-heeled residents with a soundtrack of cool, chilled-out music. Order a Manchester Gin Negroni, which you'll see pre-mixed at the bar in an enormous 4.5-litre Manchester Gin bottle, then relax on the terrace under trees and extravagant floral displays while spotting sights. There are heaters and plastic domes to shield you from Manchester's often chilly weather.
The first bar to open in the new St John's neighbourhood, Project Halcyon is in the basement of the former Granada Studio's building. Sit in a comfy turquoise leather booth in the bar area, next to its baby grand piano, listening to jazz, blues and soul music, and order a drink made with the on-site distiller's Zymurgorium gin. There's also a green snug room dedicated to absinthe, a collection of exclusive spirits on caged shelves, and a stillroom. Décor is sumptuous, with Manchester bees on sparkling hexagon floor tiles, kingfishers on trendy distressed wallpaper and art deco glass wall lights.
Following the success of the original bar in Ancoats, four of the Jane Eyre's team set up a second site in the south Manchester suburb of Chorlton at the end of 2022. It's a welcoming space with midnight blue and teak panelled walls, cotton flowers on tables and twinkling candles. Sit on a stool next to the bar watching bartenders mixing cocktails - order the Bees Knees, a gin-based cocktail which is tart and zingy. Then move to a table and order some small plates to accompany another round of drinks. The bar is named after the owners' mum and not the novel by Charlotte Bronte.
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars - to best suit every type of traveller - and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
