Cloud 23

Cloud 23 occupies the 23rd floor of Beetham Tower – Manchester’s tallest building and the one that hums in the wind. The views are the reason you come. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the bar giving you a panoramic look across the city that’s genuinely impressive, especially at night when the lights spread out below. On a clear day you can see the Pennines. It’s the best view in Manchester and nothing else comes close.

The cocktails are premium-priced and mostly well-made. The menu changes seasonally and the bartenders know their craft. Expect to pay upwards of fifteen quid for a drink. That stings, but you’re paying for the view as much as the liquid. The wine and champagne list is extensive if you really want to commit to the evening financially.

Dress code is enforced – smart casual minimum, no trainers, no sportswear. The crowd is a mix of couples on date nights, business types, and tourists ticking it off their list. Booking is recommended, especially for window tables on Friday and Saturday. Without a reservation you might end up at the bar, which is still fine because the views work from everywhere. Cloud 23 isn’t somewhere you’d go every week – your wallet wouldn’t survive – but everyone should see Manchester from up here at least once. Go at sunset for the full experience.