Bars in Manchester

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

With our top picks of bars in Manchester, we’ve tried to go for a spread – both geographically, and in terms of what each has to offer. So, a wonderful bar in Mackie Mayor, snazzy cocktails high above the city, wine bars in Chorlton, and everything in between. All ready to ply you with drinks, drinks and more drinks. All kinds of alcohol in all kinds of settings, in short. Cheers!

Of course, if you prefer your drinks a little more yeasty, here’s out choice of best craft beer in Manchester, and you can find our favorite pubs here.

Our top picks

Stray

Stray, Mackie Mayor, Eagle St, Manchester , M4 5BU - Visit now

Stray opened in Mackie Mayor in late 2023 and immediately caused a stir. It’s not hard to see why – this is the kind of cocktail bar you can imagine stumbling across in prohibition-era Brooklyn, a well-kept secret, adored by a select few.

Stray
Ian Jones

Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers, 7 Keepers Quay, New Islington Marina, Manchester , M4 6GL - Visit now

Manchester has seen a wealth of clued-in, stylish cocktail bars in recent years. Judging by the quality and attention to detail that goes into their drinks, Finders Keepers is up there with the best.

Ian Jones

Blinker

Blinker, 64-72 Spring Gardens, Manchester , M2 2BQ - Visit now

If you’re looking for a Cheers-style bar in the city centre, with likeable, chatty staff who know their onions, not to mention their fruits, herbs, spices and spirits, Blinker’s the one.

Ian Jones

The Beeswing Wine Bar and Kitchen

The Beeswing Wine Bar and Kitchen, 24a Minshull St, Kampus, Manchester , M1 3EF - Visit now

The Beeswing joined Kampus’s fine selection of independent traders in summer 2022, building a reputation as one of Manchester’s friendliest wine bars. They’ve started dishing out a small selection of tapas dishes too, but at heart this is one of the city centre’s most relaxed and clued-in bars. 

Beeswing
Ian Jones

Reserve Wines Didsbury

Reserve Wines Didsbury, 176 Burton Rd, West Didsbury, Manchester , M20 1LH - Visit now

“Like having a drink in your mate’s kitchen” – that’s how it feels when you stop in for a drink at Reserve’s brand-new bar area at the back of the Didsbury outlet.

Reserve Wines Didsbury

Sandbar

Sandbar, 120 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 7HL - Visit now

Sandbar, just off Oxford Road in Manchester, is a well-loved watering hole, with a great selection of ales and some eccentric seating. A popular venue with students and academics, see their WiFi password for proof.

Image courtesy Sandbar.

Terrace NQ

Terrace NQ, 43 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1NA

After many years, Terrace is now firmly established as an OG star on the Edge Street block. With high-quality drinks, well-priced food and friendly, charming staff, this busy venue is our must-go-to bar after a day’s work.

Terrace

Common Bar

Common Bar, 39-47 Edge Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1HW - Visit now

Tucked away on the aptly named Edge Street in the Northern Quarter, Common is a favourite haunt of many in Manchester’s arts communities. The reason, essentially, is that everything they do is forward-thinking. From their top selection of beer to their rotating art exhibition to their array of poetry nights, musical performances and arts workshops, the bar do innovation well.

Common Bar in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Ben Williams

The Alchemist

The Alchemist, 3 Hardman Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 3HF - Visit now

Drinking at the Alchemist is an exhilarating experience. The phrase ‘with a twist’ is often overused, but it’s impossible to describe its selection of cocktails without it. Equally, it’s a wonderful looking space, full of high ceilings and intricate lighting that portrays both artfully-prepared booze and guests in the best light.

The Alchemist

Cloud 23

Cloud 23, 303 Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 4LQ - Visit now

Cloud 23 towers above the city in more ways than one. Just off Deansgate, with stunning views over the city, this is where to wine, dine and wow your date for the evening. The drinks menu is both forward-thinking, with a long list of snazzy cocktails, and quite simply, straight-up fun. Live out your inner Del Boy and ask for a cocktail umbrella.

Salut Wines

Salut Wines, 11 Cooper St, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 2FW - Visit now

With a staggering 44 wines by the glass, partly due to the regularly changing selection of bottles in its Enomatic wine preservation machines (or ‘wine jukeboxes,’ as they’re colloquially known), Salut is one of the best bars in the city for exploring new vintages. It has a lovely, wide-windowed feel and a small menu of tapas-style plates.

Salut Wines

The Dressing Room Cafe Bar

The Dressing Room Cafe Bar, The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre, Manchester Rd, Manchester, M21 9JG - Visit now

The Dressing Room isn’t just a cute little cafe and bar – though it certainly ticks that box – this is the kind of venue that defines the soul of a neighbourhood. Throw a raved-about environmentally-conscious food menu and a great drinks selection into the mix, and you’ve got your new favourite place to hang out in Chorlton.

The Dressing Room Cafe Bar
The Dressing Room Cafe Bar

Trof Northern Quarter

Trof Northern Quarter, 8 Thomas St, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1EU - Visit now

Northern Quarter stalwart Trof is still one of the top destinations, whether you’re looking for top-quality pub grub, a solid array of drinks or just a friendly place to hang out and drink coffee. A firm Creative Tourist team favourite, even after all these years (fifteen at the last count).

Manchester Pubs
Trof

Where to go in Manchester

Ancoats
Bar or Pub
Finders Keepers

Welcoming waterside bar in New Islington Marina, serving a wide array of carefully-curated cocktails.

City Centre
Restaurant
Climat

Highly-regarded wine-led, French-leaning wine bar and rooftop restaurant in the city centre.

Manchester
Restaurant
Manchester Wine Tours

Manchester Wine Tours is a relaxed, fun wine tour, full of the city’s best food and drink, led by an effortlessly engaging host.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Henry C

Henry C is an intimate neighbourhood bar in Chorlton, serving up superb quality drinks.

Manchester
Restaurant
11 Central

11 Central is a new bar and microbrewery launched by local brewing legends SEVEN BRO7HERS BREWING CO at the Central Bay site in Salford.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Kennedy’s Irish Bar

A fan favourite in Altrincham, Kennedy’s Irish Bar offers live music, a vibrant atmosphere and undoubtable Irish charm and hospitality.

Manchester
Restaurant
Axe & Cleaver

This is the perfect pub for an indulgent weekend, following up a long countryside walk with a hearty and high quality meal.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
On Bar

This multifaceted venue is primarily an award winning gay bar in Manchester’s Canal Street area – but that is not all…

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Vanilla

This award winning bar is open six nights a week due to popular demand. Described as the ‘mecca of the north’ for the lesbian community, it is no wonder why.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
Cruz 101

Everything you want in a Canal Street club can be found here. Cruz 101 – better known as Cruz – is an institution, and a must-visit in Manchester.

Salford
Restaurant
Old Pint Pot

This lively spot could be considered a jack of all trades – pub, restaurant, events space and live music venue.

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