Visit Manchester Insider’s Guide Part 9: Bars and Pubs

Bars

Albert’s Schloss

Likely the city’s most lively bar, the lines can be long, but once inside you’ll be treated to an eclectic Bavarian space clad in wood with great drinks and off-the-wall live performances.

The Jane Eyre

Run by two brothers, at this Ancoats bolthole you’ll find cocktail classics and simple food that puts an emphasis on quality ingredients. A new Chorlton branch has recently opened.

Blinker

Named after a long-forgotten classic cocktail, Blinker – now listed as one of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the country – is the perfect place to while away an afternoon in the city centre.

20 Stories

High above the city in Spinningfields, this prestigious rooftop bar and restaurant has become a regular haunt for Manchester’s movers and shakers and is the ultimate special date location.

Red Light

Adjacent to Manchester’s famous LGBTQ+ Canal Street, Red Light is an LGBTQ+ friendly cocktail bar set inside a Victorian warehouse offering exposed brick and cosy corners.

Stray

Rated one of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars in the UK, this small, sophisticated bar is tucked inside Mackie Mayor, offering innovative takes on classic drinks and a laid-back atmosphere.

YES

Sprawled across a four-floor warehouse, this indie music venue is one of the best spots to kick back and listen to great music – live or otherwise. The rooftop bar area is a summer favourite.

Speak in Code

Manchester’s not short of tiny cocktail bars hidden in plain sight, but Speak in Code is one of the best, garnering awards for their forward thinking, sustainably focused cocktails.

Schofield’s

Channelling an era of grand, luxurious bars with meticulous attention to detail, the award-winning Schofield’s is one of several bars in the city run by bartender brothers Joe and Daniel.

The Daisy

Set below Evelyn’s Café Bar, this small and stylish bar is the perfect place to escape the crowds of the Northern Quarter with great cocktails and music.

Pubs

The Marble Arch

Built in 1888, The Marble Arch sits behind historic Angel Meadow Park, retaining original interiors including sloping mosaic floors and glazed tile ceiling. It is home to Marble microbrewery.

The Wharf

Overlooking Castlefield Basin, The Wharf brings a slice of country pub to the city. Dogs and their walkers are welcome to enjoy the scenic Canalside seating and the pub’s seasonal menu.

Sadler’s Cat

Previously The Pilcrow Pub, which was built by volunteers, it now operates as Sadler’s Cat by Cloudwater brewery, offering Scandi vibes and fantastic local beers.

The Circus Tavern

The smallest bar in Europe, but the biggest welcome in the world” goes the saying at this tiny Portland Street institution which dates back to 1790.

The Molly House

The Molly House is a cosy bar and tapas restaurant nestled behind the Village’s Canal Street. It’s adorned with a mural featuring gay icons such as Alan Turning and Quentin Crisp.

The Peveril of the Peak

Arguably Manchester’s most distinctive pub, this Grade II listed building dates back to the 1820s and has a gloriously tiled exterior, whilst inside the pub is cosy and unpretentious.

Britons Protection

This Edwardian hostelry was known for signing up soldiers and has an impressive set of murals inside commemorating the Peterloo Massacre of 1819. It stocks over 300 whiskeys.

The Castle Hotel

Letting the good times roll since 1776, this iconic Northern Quarter pub and music venue is a great place to while away an afternoon.

Mulligans

The city’s oldest Irish pub can be found in the heart of Deansgate, and is well-known for its friendly atmosphere, live music, and arguably the best pint of Guinness outside of Ireland.

The Kings Arms

One of the country’s best back-street boozers, The Kings Arms is not just any pub – revellers can expect a year-round programme of live theatre, spoken word, music, comedy, and a resident cat!