Cloud 23

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Visit now

Cloud 23

303 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LQ
0161 870 1670
  • Monday11:00am - 1:00am
  • Tuesday11:00am - 1:00am
  • Wednesday11:00am - 1:00am
  • Thursday11:00am - 1:00am
  • Friday11:00am - 2:00am
  • Saturday11:00am - 2:00am
  • Sunday11:00am - 1:00am

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Book now

Manchester’s highest cocktail bar, Cloud 23, has launched something called Drunch. Nope, not a villain from an 80s B-movie, Drunch is actually a meal that lies halfway between a snack and a dinner. It’s aimed at early evening drinkers and diners, either winding down after work or preparing for a night on the town.

There are two components to Drunch. The food – a choice between salad, taco or flatbread, with various toppings – and the drink, which is actually bottomless punch, from a choice of five types of booze. It’s priced fairly reasonably, at £35 per person, or £50 per person if you’re going for the Veuve Cliquot edition.

The food is fine, as it goes. The flatbread makes for a decent pizza-style option, fluffy, thick and satisfying to tear apart. We opt for chorizo and manchego cheese topping on one, but it seems oddly sparse when it comes to cheese. Plenty of nicely-charred cubes of chorizo make up for it somewhat, but there’s a whole lot of bread, and not quite enough manchego.

To this day we’re none the wiser about what happened with the curious case of the missing artichoke

The other topping we try consists of brie, charred apple, honey and dijon, onion, artichokes and oregano. Or so it claims. There’s a distinct lack of artichoke – or, more accurately, none at all – which disappoints my artichoke-loving companion (a weird choice of favourite vegetable, but life’s a rich tapestry). We ask our waiter about it, who vows to find out, and subsequently disappears, never to be seen again. Half an hour later, we try again with a new waiter, who also promises to find out, and – you guessed it – never returns. Amazed by the ability of artichoke to eradicate front of house, we try again, for a third and final time. And, well, to this day we’re none the wiser about what happened with the curious case of the missing artichoke.

As for the topping itself, it’s fine enough. The charred apple is a little odd but nothing too unpleasant. We also try the tacos but they’re made with a disappointing soft tortilla – is it even a taco if it doesn’t crunch? Not in my book. Though the tandoori sauce, goats cheese and coriander filling is hot to the tongue and pleasingly memorable.

But in truth, ‘Drunch’ isn’t so much about the food as it is the amazing views over the city, and the bottomless drinks. Our tip: go for the pink pornstar. It’s sweet, boozy, bright purple (as opposed to pink) and exceptionally easy to drink. The food is a side event to this, the main show. If you want to get merrily sozzled before your night on the town, while looking miles across said town, from 23 floors up, then look no further.

What's on near Cloud 23

Where to go near Cloud 23

Castlefield
Restaurant
The Deansgate

The Deansgate is located in the heart of Manchester. A traditional pub with homemade food and real ales, this is truly one of the greatest watering holes in Manchester.

The Life Centre North
City Centre
Event venue
The Life Centre North

The Life Centre, just off Deansgate in Manchester, is a place which offers yoga and Pilates classes for people of all abilities. 

Manchester
Restaurant
Cibo

Cibo is one of the newer Italian restaurant to open in Manchester. Modern Italian food in snazzy city centre surroundings.

Castlefield
Bar or Pub
Atlas Bar

Situated in the railway arches of Deansgate, Atlas is an elegant, quality bar specialising in nearly 600 gins from around the world.

Deansgate
Music venue
Rebellion

Live music and 4am club night venue Rebellion provides a rock heavy alternative with smatterings of bass, across from Deansgate Locks.

Campfield Open Day-3
Castlefield
Event venue
Campfield Market Hall

Having undergone years of transformative and restorative work, the complex will now be known as Campfield Mega Campus, Manchester’s most ambitious creative-tech destination.

Castlefield
Bar or Pub
Cask

Cask is a well-loved pub on Liverpool Road in Manchester. It has an excellent selection of continental beers and a cosy beer garden.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.

Cloudwater Production One
Tours and Activities in the North

Go forth with wild abandon to dance the pavements, dabble with the paint and down the pints in this month's tours and activities guide.

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Harry Baker
Literature Events in the North

From environmental to experimental, our poetry and prose picks from around the North are focused on the unusual and the fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Captivating, urgent and intimate - we bring you our top exhibition picks, with even more art festivals, artist-led shows and new venues.

Helena Hauff
Music in the North

Shape-shifting bands, scorched-earth techno, and off-grid festivals. Our latest music picks catch the live scene at its most urgent, inventive and alive.