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Cocktails in Manchester

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Looking for the best cocktails in Manchester? You have a wealth of choices, from high-end – and high-up over the city – bars, to down and dirty raucous venues. You might pay a premium for the view, but that’s often part of it – a great cocktail is more than just a glass of sugary brightly-coloured liquid, right?

Manchester has more than enough excellent bars and restaurants offering up delicious alcohol-heavy cocktails, whether you’re looking for a big weekend night out or romantic midweek drinks with your beau.

Whether you want to live the high-life with a glamourous cocktail alongside your wagyu beef, or eat cut-price pizza alongside your drink of choice, here’s our insider’s guide to the best places in the city for cocktails. Get your Alka-Seltzer ready.

Our top picks

Hawksmoor

Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 3WB - Visit now

Hawksmoor keep it classy, all ornate wood panelling and classic drinks served up by bar staff who well and truly know their stuff. Mine’s a fuller-fat old-fashioned.

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Image courtesy of Marketing Manchester

20 Stories

20 Stories, No. 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB - Visit now

Twenty stories above Manchester you’ll find some of the best cocktails around. Never gaudy but always delicious, the knowledgable bar staff can put together pretty much any concoction your heart desires.

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The Liars Club

The Liars Club, 19A Back Bridge St, Manchester, M3 2PB - Visit now

Liars Club is widely known as one of the city’s best party venues. Put aside the cheap lager for a night and work your way through the lengthy list of cocktails on offer.

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Martin Kevill

Superstition Bar

Superstition Bar, 14 Newton St,, Manchester, M1 2AF - Visit now

A welcome new addition to the Northern Quarter, this independent bar offers up a great range of cocktails, including plenty of on-trend gin options.

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Superstition Bar
Ian Jones

Randall & Aubin Manchester

Randall & Aubin Manchester, 64 Bridge St, Manchester, M3 3BN - Visit now

Not just about seafood, this classy restaurant have a huge range of gins, meaning a smart range of high-end cocktails to match. Well worth a drink, or two, or three…

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Randall And Aubin Manchester
Ian Jones

Cane & Grain

Cane & Grain, 49-51 Thomas Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1NA - Visit now

On the right nights, this Northern Quarter venue is more of a dark and dingy party venue, but that doesn’t mean the staff can’t put together a whole range of classic cocktails, and a few unique ones to boot.

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Creative Tourist

Tattu Manchester

Tattu Manchester, Gartside Street, 3 Hardman Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 3EB - Visit now

One of the city’s most impressive looking venues have cocktails to match. The Skull Candy might seem a little daft with smoke billowing from a fake skull, but if you’ve got a sweet tooth the bubblegum flavours make this one of the finest cocktails in the city. A must try, if you haven’t already.

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YES

YES, 38 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB - Visit now

Not content with programming some of the finest live music in Manchester, YES also offer some pretty sweet cocktail deals too. Enjoy them on the roof terrace pre-gig while the roadies tune them guitars.

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YES

The Alchemist

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

Flashy cocktails in Manchester city centre’s flashiest area, Spinningfields. You can also find a branch of The Alchemist over at MediaCity.

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The Alchemist

Over Under Deansgate

Over Under Deansgate, 111 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BQ - Visit now

Coffee by day, alcohol by night. This cafe-slash-bar reminds me of someone…

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Over Under Deansgate
Over Under

One Eight Six

One Eight Six, 186 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB - Visit now

One Eight Six is a classic cocktail bar and late-night club venue, hidden away underneath a high-end barbershop in Deansgate

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One Eight Six

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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