Barca Bar & Restaurant

Opened by Mick Hucknall in 1996, Barca takes its inspiration from the bar culture of another great European second city, Barcelona with a large drinks menu, stylish dining setting and canalside outdoor seating area that give it genuine al fresco appeal.

Found under the Castlefield railway arches in Catalan Square, it has one of the largest terraces in the area, popular on sunny days for cocktails, prosecco and bottled beer, with midweek offers from Tuesday to Friday. Inside there’s a main bar, casual dining space and four function rooms available for everything from corporate meetings to weddings, for which it’s licensed to hold civil ceremonies.

The food menu leans towards tapas and gastropub-style dishes, though most people come for the location and the open-air drinking. The views over the canal and proximity to Deansgate make it a convenient meeting spot in this part of the city.