Drinking Above Manchester
Manchester isn’t exactly known for its weather, which makes the city’s obsession with rooftop bars either incredibly optimistic or slightly deranged. But on those evenings when the rain clears and the sun drops behind the Pennines, there’s nowhere better to be than six floors up with a cocktail and a view of the cranes that are rebuilding the skyline. The rooftop scene has exploded in the last few years as new towers keep going up. Here’s where to go.
1. 20 Stories — No.1 Spinningfields
The headline act. 20 Stories occupies the top floor of the No.1 Spinningfields tower on Hardman Street and the views are genuinely spectacular — a 360-degree panorama that takes in the cathedral, Beetham Tower, the Pennines, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Winter Hill. The outdoor terrace wraps around the building and it’s one of the most dramatic drinking spots in the north of England. Inside there’s a full restaurant (D&D London, so the food is reliable if not groundbreaking) and a cocktail bar with an extensive list. Cocktails run £12–£16, glasses of wine from £9. The terrace gets absolutely packed on sunny evenings and Friday nights so arrive early or book. Smart casual dress code enforced. Sunset up here on a clear summer evening — with the light going pink over Salford and the city lit up below — is one of the best free shows in Manchester. Sunset in June is around 9:30pm, in September closer to 7:30pm. Time it right.
2. Cloud 23 — Beetham Tower, Deansgate
The original Manchester rooftop bar. Cloud 23 sits on the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower (the Hilton hotel) and it’s been the go-to high-rise drinking spot since the tower opened in 2006. The views south and west are the draw — you look straight down Deansgate, across to Old Trafford, and out towards the airport. The cocktail menu is themed and changes seasonally, with drinks in the £13–£18 range. There’s also a champagne list if you’re feeling flush. The interiors are quite corporate-hotel — neutral tones, low sofas, ambient lighting — which some people love and others find a bit sterile. The real magic is the height: on the 23rd floor you’re above almost everything else in the city and the sense of elevation is thrilling. Book a window table if you can. Smart dress code.
3. Hotel Gotham — King Street
The rooftop bar at Hotel Gotham on King Street is called Honey and it’s one of the most atmospheric bars in Manchester. The hotel occupies a 1935 art deco building (the former Midland Bank) and the rooftop space carries that deco glamour through with brass fixtures, velvet seating, and a members-club feel without being actually members-only. The view isn’t as panoramic as 20 Stories — you’re looking across the King Street rooftops towards the Town Hall and the cathedral — but the intimacy is the point. Cocktails are £13–£16 and the bartenders know what they’re doing. It’s a smaller space so it books out quickly on weekends. The hotel itself is worth visiting just for the lobby and the art deco lift. One of the most stylish drinking experiences in the city.
4. King Street Townhouse — King Street
Just along from Hotel Gotham on King Street, the King Street Townhouse hotel has a rooftop infinity pool and bar that offers one of Manchester’s most unique drinking experiences. The pool is heated and open to hotel guests and day-pass holders, and the bar alongside it serves cocktails with a view across to the Town Hall’s clock tower. Even if you’re not swimming, the bar terrace is open to non-guests and it’s a lovely spot for an afternoon drink. Cocktails £11–£15. The view of the Town Hall is particularly good — you’re close enough to appreciate the Victorian Gothic detail but high enough to see the full façade. Less hectic than 20 Stories, more relaxed than Cloud 23.
5. The Patron — Oxford Street
A newer addition to the rooftop scene, The Patron on Oxford Street near the Palace Theatre is a Latin American-influenced rooftop bar and restaurant. The terrace has views across the southern city centre skyline and towards Oxford Road. The cocktail list is tequila and mezcal-heavy (margaritas, palomas, mezcal sours) with prices around £11–£15. The food menu runs to tacos, ceviches, and sharing plates that are perfect for grazing while you drink. The vibe is more party than sophistication — DJs on weekend nights, a younger crowd, louder music. If you want a rooftop with energy rather than elegance, this is it.
6. Impossible — Peter Street
Impossible on Peter Street is a multi-floor bar and restaurant that has a rooftop terrace on the upper level. It’s more of a night-out destination than a cocktail bar — DJs, bottle service, a dressed-up crowd, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. The rooftop area is covered and heated so it works year-round, which is a genuine advantage in Manchester. Views are limited compared to the taller buildings but you get a nice perspective across Peter Street towards the Midland Hotel. Cocktails £10–£14. It gets very busy and very loud later in the evening. Pre-drinks territory before hitting Deansgate Locks or Peter Street bars.
7. Mal Maison Rooftop — Piccadilly
The Malmaison hotel in Piccadilly has a rooftop bar that opened as part of their refurbishment and it’s a solid option that doesn’t get as much attention as the bigger names. The terrace overlooks Piccadilly and out towards the Northern Quarter, with views of the CIS Tower and the distant Pennines. It’s a good spot for an early evening drink before dinner — less pretentious than Cloud 23, less crowded than 20 Stories. Cocktails around £11–£14. The hotel bar downstairs is worth a look too for a more sheltered option.
8. YES — Charles Street
Not a traditional rooftop bar but YES on Charles Street (the four-floor music venue and pizza spot) has a roof terrace that’s one of the best outdoor drinking spaces in the city. It’s much more indie and relaxed than the hotel rooftops — picnic tables, fairy lights, local craft beers, and a crowd of Northern Quarter regulars. The pizza from the ground floor is excellent and you can bring it up to the roof. Pints around £5–£6, cocktails £9–£12. No dress code, no pretension, just a nice spot to drink outside above the rooftops of the Northern Quarter. Open when weather permits, which in Manchester means you take your chances. The gigs downstairs are some of the best in the city too.
9. The Oast House — The Avenue, Spinningfields
Technically not a rooftop but The Oast House in Spinningfields has a large outdoor terrace and a converted oast house structure that gives it a festival-meets-beer-garden feel that’s elevated above street level. The craft beer selection is excellent, the BBQ food is decent, and in summer the terrace is one of the most popular outdoor drinking spots in the city centre. It’s more casual and affordable than the hotel rooftop bars — pints from £5.50, cocktails from £10. A good option if you want the outdoor atmosphere without the price tag or dress code of the tower bars.
10. Fenix — Ducie Street Warehouse
Inside the Ducie Street Warehouse near Piccadilly station, Fenix is a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant and bar with a terrace that catches the afternoon sun. The views aren’t sky-high but the outdoor space is beautifully designed — plants, warm lighting, a relaxed Mediterranean vibe. Cocktails are £11–£14 and the sharing plates (flatbreads, dips, grilled halloumi) are perfect for a long afternoon session. It’s one of those spots that feels like it belongs in Barcelona rather than next to Piccadilly’s taxi rank. Best on a sunny afternoon.
When to Go
Manchester summer sunsets are the sweet spot for rooftop drinking. Key times:
- April–May: Sunset around 8:00–8:45pm. Still cool in the evenings so bring a layer.
- June–July: Sunset 9:15–9:40pm. The golden hour up here is magical. Peak season — book ahead.
- August–September: Sunset 7:30–8:30pm. Still warm enough for outdoor drinking most evenings.
- October onwards: Indoor bars or heated terraces only. Cloud 23 and Impossible work year-round.
Tips
- Most hotel rooftop bars enforce a smart casual dress code. Trainers are hit and miss — clean white ones usually fine, battered Nikes probably not.
- Book window or terrace tables in advance for 20 Stories and Hotel Gotham. Walk-ins are possible but you’ll end up inside.
- Cocktail prices across the rooftop bars average £12–£15. Budget accordingly or stick to the more casual spots like YES and The Oast House.
- For photos: golden hour from 20 Stories facing west is the money shot. The Beetham Tower from Hotel Gotham is the other classic angle.
