The best bars in Manchester

Considered one of the best cocktail bars in the country, Speak In Code is an award-winning Manchester bar in an elegant, intimate, and contemporary setting. Creative and Instagrammable cocktails are the speciality here, with diverse drinks for every taste available. International small plates are also served if all those cocktails make you hungry.

Music fans in Manchester can enjoy Jimmy's, a distinctive rock bar in Ancoats. It's set over two floors in a red brick building, with vibrant and atmospheric decor inside. Live music is on regularly and food and drinks are served in a friendly environment. A broad choice of drinks are available, plus satisfying American dishes like burgers and chicken tenders.

Long-established favourite Atlas Bar helped pioneer trendy café-bars in Manchester. This all-day venue is nestled against a railway bridge and has one of the city's biggest terraces. Visit for food throughout the day or come for a drink in the evening – the bar has hundreds of gins as well as beer, wine, and cocktails.

Housed in an Art Deco building in Spinningfields, Schofield's Bar is an award-winning Manchester cocktail bar that has been named the best in the country. Step inside the dramatic entrance, and you'll find a refined bar offering a changing menu of creative mixes and an extensive range of whiskies, beer, wine, and champagne. Hot drinks and food are also available.

Beer drinkers will have fun at Bavarian-themed party spot Albert's Schloss. Sample steins of German beer along with live entertainment and Alpine cuisine. It's a warm and cosy venue with an energetic vibe. Lots of different events take place at this Manchester bar too, ensuring guests always have a great time.

Sitting alongside its big sister Madre, Salon is a slick Mexican bar and pool hall with a playful edge. Four pool tables keep things competitive, while big screens show everything from Lucha Libre wrestling to American sports. Drinks focus on a solid selection of beers, and mezcal cocktails, and when hunger strikes, tacos, burritos, and other Mexican bites are delivered straight from the kitchen next door.

Independent business Salut Wines is a leading wine shop and bar in Manchester. Hundreds of wine varieties are stocked here, with the expert team on hand to help you find the right vintage. At the cosy on-site wine bar, you can sample exciting new bottles, a range of wines by the glass, and light bites.

Blinker's name comes from a now-forgotten classic cocktail, but don't worry, it's on the menu here. The Manchester bar itself also has a classic style with tiled walls and a wood-panelled bar. The seasonal cocktails here are made with local ingredients and crafted with care and attention. Expect twists on the classics as well as monthly-changing original drinks.

Speakeasy-style bar Project Halcyon Distillery stands out because it has its own on-site distillery. This award-winning Manchester bar encompasses several spaces that ooze opulence and charm. The diverse drinks list includes original cocktails, beer, and wine. Pop in for a drink, hire a space for a special event, or get involved with a cocktail masterclass.

Beer drinkers will find a great bar in Port Street Beer House. This venue specialises in craft beers and cask ales, offering 18 keg lines and 11 cask lines. The contemporary setting is fuss-free, boasting wooden furniture and art on the walls. Events like happy hours and pub quizzes are also regularly held at this bar.

Head to The Washhouse for a drinking experience with a difference. This secret Manchester bar is disguised as a laundrette. Once you get through the realistic laundry setting, you'll find a sophisticated drinking spot serving up original cocktails. Expect drinks with exciting flavours and eye-catching presentation whilst you're here.

Manchester's whiskey drinkers head to The Whiskey Jar to enjoy grain spirits with live music and fun events like open mic nights, tastings, and whiskey festivals. The venue is housed in a former textile mill and encompasses two separate bars, both with a friendly atmosphere. An extensive range of whiskeys is served here, plus cocktails.

This Manchester listening bar launched in late 2025 with a refined yet relaxed feel. The menu centres on seafood-forward small plates and snacks, paired with expertly mixed cocktails, a craft beer selection, and a hip soundtrack played through a top-tier sound system. Expect dishes such as soft brioche rolls with seaweed butter, steamed surf clams with bacon and sherry, and indulgent servings of caviar.

Mean Eyed Cat is a Manchester bar with a fun ambience. This lively venue has a flaming heart painted on its outside; it's colourful and atmospheric inside. Creative cocktails are served here and there's also a hidden rum bar. Every drink purchase before 9pm gets you a free six-inch pizza with original American toppings.

Big Hands opened in 2001 and is enduringly popular with students and live music fans in Manchester. This sociable venue has a cosy and moodily-lit interior as well as its own rooftop garden. Mancunians love this spot for its affordable drinks, regular live music, and fun and positive atmosphere. 

You'll get a unique experience if you visit Alcotraz. This prison-themed bar in Manchester City Centre doesn't sell any alcohol – you have to smuggle in your own and hope you don't get caught. Don an orange jumpsuit, pass the metal detector, and make your way to your cell, where you can enjoy bespoke cocktails mixed by the bar staff using your own bootleg booze.

At Mojo, cocktails are served in a rock 'n' roll environment. This lively Manchester bar stays open late into the night so you have lots of time for drinking and dancing. The exterior has a large neon sign, with more neon and rock 'n' roll memorabilia decorating the interior. Classic and original cocktails and shots are available here, plus there are cocktail masterclasses.

Themed around film and theatre, Oscars Bar is a unique drinking destination in Manchester. The theme comes to life thanks to memorabilia arranged around the space. Cocktails are served here – there are daily happy hours – plus guests can enjoy live music, cabaret nights, open mic nights, and sing-a-longs that really help to get the party started.

Get an American dive bar experience at Salt Dog Slim's. This venue has an authentic feel with chequered floors and coloured lights. Drop by to sample cocktails, steins of beer, and hot dogs that are ideal for lining your stomach. The bar does happy hours and hosts a variety of events.

At first it looks like an unassuming pawn shop, but Dusk Til Pawn is actually a hidden cocktail bar. This Manchester speakeasy is located in the Northern Quarter and has a timeless vintage style. Vibrant and original cocktails are available, as well as beer and wine. There's a free jukebox and a cosy and relaxed atmosphere.

The Liquor Store stays open until late, serving cocktails in a rock 'n' roll setting. This award-winning bar serves signature drinks you won't find elsewhere, as well as the usual classics. The simple and bustling spot has both indoor and outdoor tables. Cocktail masterclasses also take place here, and you can hire the space for private events.

Public is a laid-back yet stylish haunt in the Northern Quarter, ideal for stopping by for a drink. Inside, the space pairs airy, light-filled rooms with raw, industrial details, while outside there's a generous terrace that really comes into its own in warmer weather. The drinks list leans heavily into well-crafted cocktails, backed up by comforting bar bites like fried chicken.

Visit Bundobust to sample locally brewed beers alongside flavourful Indian street food. These popular Manchester bars have an industrial beer hall style with long communal tables. Try one of the rotating beer options available at the bar such as an original coriander lager, and stave off hunger with snacks like vada pav, parathas, and okra fries.

Freight Island is a vast food and entertainment complex beside Mayfield Park, combining expansive indoor spaces with open-air areas. The layout shifts between bustling communal dining zones and tucked-away lounges, making it easy to settle in whether you're visiting solo or with a large group. A wide mix of street food traders and bars keeps everyone well fed and watered.

Manchester's Bar Lina is a hidden Italian aperitivo spot next to the local branch of Lina Stores, with a speakeasy feel that rewards those in the know. This cosy St. Johns bar channels the spirit of 1960s Italy, with a snug, atmospheric interior and a drinks list that moves from inventive takes on Italian classics to spritzes and carefully chosen wines.