Best cocktail bars Manchester travellers will tell you the city has one of the most exciting cocktail scenes in the UK. From the launderette-disguised Washhouse to Cloud 23’s panoramic skyline, Behind Closed Doors’ basement speakeasy to the Refuge by Volta’s Victorian Tile Hall — Manchester’s cocktail scene rivals London for creativity, character, and quality. Hidden bars, polished hotel cocktail destinations, theatrical themed venues, and serious craft cocktail rooms.

This guide covers the best cocktail bars Manchester has in 2026 — speakeasy hidden bars, rooftop cocktail destinations, neighbourhood favourites, theatrical themed venues, and the practical advice on cocktails in the city. Every entry includes location, signature drinks, atmosphere, and our take on which traveller each suits.

For broader nightlife coverage, see our Manchester nightlife guide, our things to do at night guide, and our pubs guide.

Manchester’s Best Hidden & Speakeasy Cocktail Bars

1. The Washhouse (Shudehill)

Manchester’s most famous speakeasy. Looks exactly like a launderette from the outside; you walk in, pick up the red phone, and if you have a booking the door buzzes open into a cocktail bar that seats about 20 people. Theatrical service, inventive cocktails, immersive experience. Slots release online and go fast.

Booking essential.

2. Behind Closed Doors (Northern Quarter)

Hidden beneath Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter. A basement bar blending speakeasy vibes with vintage flair. Pink door on Oldham Street opens into a den with fabulous cocktails and vintage erotica decor.

3. The Fitzgerald (Hidden Backstreet Entry)

1920s-themed cocktail bar accessed via backstreet entrance. Dark, moody interior with vintage glassware, period furnishings, and excellent cocktails. Live jazz and blues weeknights; DJs spinning soul, disco, and funk weekends.

4. Dusk Til Pawn (Stevenson Square)

Secret bar behind a fake pawn shop with window displays of old items. Dark speakeasy-style interior, well-crafted cocktails, intimate scale.

5. Science & Industry (Northern Quarter)

Tucked behind a wall of crates on the first floor of Cane and Grain. A drinks laboratory experimenting with smoke, dry ice, syringes, test tubes. Theatrical, fun, inventive.

6. The Liars Club (Whitworth Street West)

Open until 4am every night. Tropical-tiki cocktail bar in a basement. Reggae and Afrobeats soundtrack, low ceilings, late-night atmosphere.

Manchester’s Best Sky-High Cocktail Bars

7. Cloud 23 (Beetham Tower / Hilton Deansgate)

Manchester’s iconic 23rd-floor cocktail bar. Panoramic skyline views, sophisticated cocktails (£14–18), no entry fee — just buy a drink. Best at sunset on a clear day. Smart-casual dress code.

8. 20 Stories (No.1 Spinningfields)

Sky-top restaurant and bar on the 19th and 20th floors. Roof terrace open in good weather, polished restaurant, sweeping views. Smarter than Cloud 23.

9. The Refinery Bar Rooftop (Manchester Marriott)

Rooftop terrace at the Manchester Marriott (city centre). Sweeping views over central Manchester. Less famous than Cloud 23, often less crowded.

10. Hotel Brooklyn’s Runyon’s (Portland Street)

Manhattan-themed rooftop bar at the boutique Hotel Brooklyn. New York references, neon-lit cocktails, 11th-floor views.

11. The Honey Club (Hotel Gotham)

Members’ rooftop club at Hotel Gotham. Hotel guests get access; otherwise members-only. Stylish 1920s-influenced rooftop with serious cocktails.

Manchester’s Best Hotel Cocktail Bars

12. The Refuge by Volta (Kimpton Clocktower Hotel)

One of Manchester’s most beautiful spaces — Victorian Tile Hall and Public Bar with original glazed tilework. Mediterranean-influenced cocktail menu, small-plate food, late-night DJ programme on Saturdays.

13. The Bull and Bear Bar (Stock Exchange Hotel)

Cocktail bar inside Tom Kerridge’s Manchester restaurant. Sophisticated cocktails, original Stock Exchange architecture.

14. The Bar at the Edwardian Manchester (Spinningfields)

Polished hotel cocktail bar overlooking the Irwell. Reliable cocktails, refined atmosphere, often busy with celebrity guests including football teams.

15. The Octagon at the Midland Hotel

Famous afternoon tea space, also serves cocktails throughout the day. Edwardian grandeur.

16. The Tea Room at King Street Townhouse

Late-afternoon cocktails in a beautiful boutique hotel setting.

Manchester’s Best Themed & Activity Cocktail Bars

17. Alcotraz (Multiple Locations)

Prison-themed immersive experience. Don orange jumpsuits, smuggle bottles past “guards,” watch mixologist “inmates” turn your spirits into cocktails. Fun for groups; book ahead.

18. The Liquor Store (Hilton Street)

Natural wine bar with cocktail focus. Atmospheric, quieter than the speakeasies, perfect for date nights.

19. Cane and Grain (Northern Quarter)

Pub on the ground floor, cocktail bar (Science & Industry) above, hidden floors above that. Multiple bar formats in one venue.

20. NQ64 (Northern Quarter)

Underground retro arcade and cocktail bar. Classic console and arcade games (Mario Kart 64, Street Fighter, vintage pinball) with themed cocktails. Pay per game with tokens.

21. Junkyard Golf Club (Whitworth Street)

Three neon-themed crazy-golf courses with serious cocktail menus. Drinks while you putt.

22. Sixes Manchester

Interactive cricket batting + cocktails. Books up for hen/stag and corporate events.

Manchester’s Best Neighbourhood Cocktail Bars

23. Red Light (Kampus, Gay Village)

Manchester’s LGBTQ+ cocktail bar with plush leather booths and crimson illumination. Located in Kampus opposite the Gay Village. See our Canal Street guide.

24. The Edinburgh Castle Pub (Ancoats)

Modernised pub with serious cocktail programme. Multi-AA-rosette gastropub-style food too.

25. Trove Cocktail Bar (Ancoats)

Wine-focused cocktail bar in a converted warehouse.

26. Pinto’s Cocktails (First Street)

Small, dimly lit cocktail bar near First Street. Classic and original cocktails. Quieter than Northern Quarter spots.

27. Hidden (Northern Quarter)

Late-night cocktail bar with party atmosphere. Open until 4am at weekends.

Manchester Cocktail Bar Tips

Booking

The Washhouse: book weeks ahead via their website.
Behind Closed Doors: bookings via social media.
Cloud 23: book a window seat for sunset.
Most other Manchester cocktail bars: walk-in or 1-week booking sufficient.

Cocktail Pricing

£10–14 per cocktail at most Manchester bars. £14–18 at hotel and rooftop bars (Cloud 23, 20 Stories). Happy hours run early evening at many Northern Quarter spots — half-price cocktails 5–7pm.

Dress Code

Most Manchester cocktail bars are smart-casual. Cloud 23 and the Refuge expect smarter; Northern Quarter speakeasies welcome any look.

Closing Times

Most close at midnight–1am. Liars Club, Hidden, and Cane and Grain run until 3am or 4am at weekends.

Solo Cocktail Drinking

Manchester cocktail bars welcome solo drinkers. Cloud 23, the Refuge, and Northern Quarter cocktail spots all have bar seating perfect for solo travellers.

Manchester Cocktail Bar Itineraries

The Hidden Bar Crawl

Behind Closed Doors → Dusk Til Pawn → The Washhouse (book ahead) → Liars Club (late). One of Manchester’s defining nightlife experiences.

The Sky-High Cocktail Crawl

Cloud 23 (sunset) → 20 Stories → Hotel Brooklyn’s Runyon’s. Dramatic city views.

The Hotel Cocktail Crawl

The Refuge by Volta → Cloud 23 → 20 Stories → the Bull and Bear at the Stock Exchange.

The Themed Bar Night

Alcotraz (immersive prison) → NQ64 (retro arcade) → Junkyard Golf → Hidden (late-night dancing).

Manchester Cocktail Bar Profiles in Detail

The Washhouse — A Closer Look

The Washhouse opened in 2014 and remains Manchester’s most famous speakeasy. The launderette frontage is convincing — vintage washing machines, fluorescent lighting, the smell of laundry detergent. The red phone on the wall is the booking-confirmation moment; if your slot is registered, the phone connects to the team inside who buzz you through. The cocktail menu is creative — drinks served in unusual vessels, theatrical preparation, themes that change seasonally. Group size is limited to 20 per session. The booking system releases slots 2–4 weeks ahead and they sell out within hours of release.

Cloud 23 — A Closer Look

Cloud 23 occupies the entire 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower (Hilton Hotel). The 360-degree views span north Manchester to Stockport, the Pennines on a clear day, and a panoramic view of the city skyline. Window seats are highly desired; book ahead for sunset. The cocktail menu rotates seasonally — typical signatures include the Manchester Mule (a Moscow Mule riff with northern English ingredients) and creative house specials. The dress code is smart-casual; trainers are usually fine but ripped jeans are not.

The Refuge by Volta — A Closer Look

The Refuge by Volta occupies the original Tile Hall and Public Bar of the former Refuge Assurance building, now part of the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. The Victorian Burmantofts tile work has been beautifully preserved. The cocktail menu draws on Mediterranean influences (citrus, herbs, sherry, vermouth-based drinks) and pairs well with the small-plate food menu. Saturday late-night DJ programmes turn the Public Bar into a party. One of Manchester’s most-photographed dining/drinking destinations.

Manchester Cocktail Bar Crawls by Theme

The Architectural Cocktail Crawl

Visit Manchester’s most beautiful cocktail spaces in one evening:

Refuge by Volta (Victorian Tile Hall) → Bull and Bear (former Stock Exchange trading floor) → Hotel Gotham (former Midland Bank, art-deco interior) → Cloud 23 (Beetham Tower).

The Hidden Bar Adventure

Behind Closed Doors → Dusk Til Pawn → The Washhouse (booked ahead) → Science & Industry → Liars Club (late). The most theatrical cocktail night in Manchester.

The Northern Quarter Cocktail Walk

The Cow Hollow → Cane and Grain → Behind Closed Doors → Hidden. Walking distance, varied formats.

The LGBTQ+ Cocktail Night

Red Light (Kampus) → Velvet (Gay Village) → Eden (Canal Street) → On Bar (late).

Manchester Cocktail Trends in 2026

Natural wine cocktails. Many Manchester bars now incorporate natural wines into cocktails (vermouths, sherries, sake-based drinks).

Low and no alcohol cocktails. The Refuge, Cloud 23, and most major bars now have dedicated zero-alcohol cocktail menus.

Sustainability focus. Several bars now emphasise local British spirits (Manchester gins, Lancashire whiskies) and seasonal British produce.

Fermented and pickled ingredients. Inspired by the Mana fine-dining scene, several cocktail bars use ferments and pickles.

Coffee-based cocktails. Manchester’s coffee scene crosses into cocktails — espresso martinis with locally-roasted beans, coffee-infused spirits.

Manchester’s Best Bartenders & Bar Stars

Manchester has a strong bartender community. Several bartenders have won UK competitions:

The Refuge by Volta team — Multiple UK and European cocktail competition winners.

Science & Industry team — Recognised for innovative laboratory-style drinks.

Cloud 23 team — Experienced hotel cocktail professionals.

Behind Closed Doors team — Speakeasy specialists with creative menu development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best cocktail bar in Manchester?

The Washhouse for the speakeasy experience, Cloud 23 for the views, the Refuge by Volta for design, Behind Closed Doors for hidden authenticity. Each is exceptional in its category.

How much do Manchester cocktails cost?

£10–14 standard at most bars, £14–18 at hotel and rooftop bars. Happy hours offer half-price (£5–8) cocktails early evening.

Do I need to book Manchester cocktail bars?

The Washhouse: yes, weeks ahead. Behind Closed Doors: yes. Cloud 23: book a window seat for sunset. Most other bars: walk-in or 1-week booking.

Are Manchester cocktail bars LGBTQ+-friendly?

Yes — Manchester is broadly very LGBTQ+-friendly. Red Light is dedicated; the Gay Village around Canal Street has a strong cocktail scene. Most cocktail bars welcome all guests.

Are there happy hours in Manchester cocktail bars?

Yes — most Northern Quarter bars run early-evening happy hours (5–7pm) Sunday–Thursday. Half-price cocktails are common.

What time do Manchester cocktail bars close?

Standard cocktail bars: midnight–1am. Late-licence bars (Liars Club, Hidden, Cane and Grain): 3–4am at weekends.

Can I get non-alcoholic cocktails in Manchester?

Yes — most Manchester cocktail bars now have strong non-alcoholic and low-alcohol cocktail menus.

Final Thoughts

Manchester’s cocktail bar scene rivals London for variety and quality. The hidden bars (Washhouse, Behind Closed Doors, Dusk Til Pawn) offer theatrical immersive experiences; the rooftops (Cloud 23, 20 Stories, Runyon’s) deliver skyline views; the hotel cocktail bars (Refuge by Volta, Bull and Bear) blend serious cocktail craft with stunning architecture. Plan a hidden bar crawl, book the Washhouse weeks ahead, and enjoy one of the UK’s most exciting cocktail scenes.

For more, see our Manchester nightlife guide, our things to do at night guide, our pubs guide, and our LGBTQ+ nightlife guide.