Best Bars in Manchester

Dirty Martini uses an arsenal of ingredients to curate an impressive menu. You'll find all kinds of martinis alongside great tasting small plates and sharing boards. Perfect for group nights out or casual drinks, this cocktail bar promises to leave you grinning from ear to ear. 

Mixing a speakeasy location, immersive activities and contraband cocktails, it's clear to see why Alcotraz is one of Manchester's best bars. The quirky prison-themed experience will have you sneaking illicit liquor into their basement space so the inmates can mix up something special.

With striking interiors, plush seating and a cocktail list that'll make your mouth water, The Anthologist is one of Manchester's best bars. Tuck into dishes inspired by countries around the world, or stick to tipples... either way, this is one for your list.

Head to New York Street where this unique cocktail bar offers a range of delicious mixes that are about way more than just the sipping. Expect an extra slice of theatricality throughout your experience, including edible bath bombs and rhubarb caviar.

It's safe to say that when the sun comes out? So does half of Manchester. Luckily there's a sleek Spinningfields spot for you to check out. The Lawn Club is a wonderland of all things alfresco drinking and dining, with fruity cocktails, comfy chairs and private pods to hire.

With a serious commitment to succulent ribs, fantastic bourbon and quirky cocktails, Cane and Grain is well worth a visit. To make those after-work drinks all the more delicious, check out the happy hour where tipples are served at a crowd-pleasing discount.

Whether you're on a first date or chilling out with mates, this bar is one of the best in Manchester. There's 14 areas to book at Flight Club, plus a whole load of food and drinks to feast on for when the games all get too much... not that they will.

Whether you're hungry, thirsty  or both, this is one of the best bars in the Northern Quarter. Not only has Foundry Project got an impressive food menu, but the drinks selection is just as lip-smacking. Pair that with live music and DJs and you're onto a winner.

Located under the railway arches on Weston Street, Three Little Words is the sultry cocktail bar and restaurant from the team at Manchester Gin. Decked out with original features and sleek furnishings, it's the ultimate date night destination lovers of all things gin.

A bustling bar on Quay Street, Blues Kitchen is an American-inspired bar and restaurant promising bourbon cocktails and delicious food. Alongside their edible offerings, the venue also hosts nightly live music from big bands and solo performers.

The Liquor Store is a tribute to all things Manchester, adorned with pictures of it's greatest people and playing classic tunes, with a cocktail list inspired by the city itself. As well as that, the venue offers a little hideaway where you can party or chat in your own reserved area.

The music comes at one volume at this subterranean party den, and that's loud. Dive NQ is mixing American diner-style vibes with some hella fun partying. Tuck into Southern-style bites and ply yourself with liquors of every variety at the bar, before letting loose on the dancefloor. 

This cool Northern Quarter bar is one of the area's liveliest late night haunts. Tucked away in a cool New York-style basement, Black Dog boasts innovative cocktails, great beers and plenty of booth style seating amongst four full-sized pool tables. 

Sitting in the heart of Deansgate is Revolucion De Cuba; an amazing Latin-style bar that's effortlessly stylish yet casual at the same time. Ceiling fans and high tables combine to create a great eating and drinking experience, coupled with live music and tasty frozen cocktails.

Lock 91 is a Manchester lounge bar with a little something extra. Located on Deansgate Locks, it's got a multitude of different rooms, ranging from snug armchair havens to the Club Room, which is open late on Fridays and Saturdays, and decked out to ooze 1920s grandeur.

If you're hunting for a top bar in Manchester then look no further than Dusk til Pawn. A former fortune teller's den, and now converted with a cool pawn shop aesthetic, it's is a cocktail bar that impresses with flavour, style and charm in abundance.

Tucked down a side street in Deansgate, this basement bar is one of the best places for cocktails in Manchester. Open until 4am every night, the bamboo-laden tiki spot is home to Hawaiian-shirted bar staff and amazing drinks.

Speak In Code is the dimly-lit secret cocktail bar in Manchester that specialises in world-class concoctions in low-key surroundings. Expect impressive drinks, photo-worthy decor and charming staff that can whip you up a variety of tasty concoctions.

One of the coolest names in the Northern Quarter and a fine example of all things urban and industrial; not only do Pen & Pencil schmooze with their hip interiors, but their food menu is also a hidden gem. As for the cocktails? Expect unique creations and interesting ingredients.

This Manchester hotspot has it all; a stage lined with some of the comedy circuit's best talent, ice-cold beers and a restaurant to fill your boots with gastro classics. Dig into all of your favourite food and plant your tush in view of some cracking stand-up acts.