The Refuge is one of those rare Manchester spots that feels genuinely grand without being stuffy. Set inside the old Principal hotel on Oxford Street, the main dining room is enormous — think high ceilings, huge windows, and the kind of space that makes you sit up a bit straighter. But the real talking point is downstairs: the tiled swimming pool bar, which is exactly what it sounds like. A former hotel pool converted into a cocktail bar that’s unlike anywhere else in the city.
The food is globally inspired and changes seasonally, with Sunday lunch being the main event. Roasts are generous and well-executed, and the sides are where the kitchen really shines. Cocktails across both bars are excellent — creative without being gimmicky, and the bartenders know their stuff. The Refuge also hosts regular DJ sets and events, which gives it a different energy depending on when you visit. During the day it’s a relaxed spot for brunch or coffee. By evening it transforms into something much livelier. It’s a Manchester original and there’s genuinely nothing else like it in the city.