Manchester is certainly not short of a decent mixed drink. From crowd-pleasing theatrics like flavoured foams and liquid nitrogen to concoctions straight out a Roald Dahl-esque imagination. Then there’s the current crop of newbies with their minimalist libations muddled by chin-stroking foragers – we’ve got it all here.
On the other hand, the continuing craze for cocktails can sometimes be an excuse to charge over-the-top prices for what’s basically gin and juice. We’ve got our mind on your money though, we wouldn’t want you to waste it. So we’ve put together a list of our favourite Manchester restaurants with cocktail lists that add exceptional value and sparkle to the evening. Perfect for the festive season when you really do want the whole party package in one place.
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Spinningfields20 Stories
More detailsManchester’s highest – and possibly finest – restaurant, bar and terrace. D&D London’s flagship Manchester restaurant, 20 Stories was the opening of 2018. Floor to ceiling windows (and a huge, outdoor terrace, the same size as the entire restaurant floor), afford breathtaking views of the city and surrounding countryside, while the menu offers modern British, seasonal dishes.
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Manchester City CentreAlbert’s Schloss
More detailsAlbert’s Schloss is a Bavarian-inspired fun palace of extraordinary dimensions and clever design. Behind the glistening tiles of the former Manchester and Salford Wesleyan Mission building (est in 1910) you’ll discover a vast bar, real fires, perfectly preserved original plaster, and a wall stuffed generously with flowers by floral artists’ Frog. You’ll also find a stage, DJ booth and network of beer pipes and tanks serving unpasturised Pilsner Urquell to hordes of adoring punters.
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Manchester City CentreAsha’s
More detailsModern Indian restaurants come with their own USPs such as street food, home cooking and regionally-specific cuisine. Asha’s, near the library end of Peter Street, has decided to go high-end with proper posh Rogan Josh nosh.
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SpinningfieldsAustralasia
More detailsPacific Rim fusion fare for the fashion set. The undeniable theatre of the place, the approach of the staff and the craft of the food make any occasion feel like a million dollars at Australasia.
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SpinningfieldsHawksmoor
More detailsThe best steakhouse in the North. Opening on Deansgate in 2015, the first Hawksmoor steakhouse outside of London is a confident affair. Well sourced steak and attention to detail have created a place like no other.
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Book Now SpinningfieldsMasons
More detailsNestled in the Grade II Listed former Freemasons Hall, Masons Restaurant and Bar serves retro fine-dining fare in princely surrounds.
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SpinningfieldsTattu Manchester
More detailsLocated in the heart of the Spinningfields business district, Tattu Manchester is an Instagrammer’s dream. Think penumbral lighting, body art-inspired cocktails and a full-size cherry blossom tree with hand-sewn silk petals. You’d be forgiven for expecting such opulent surroundings to outshine the food. Not so.
