Spinningfields is Manchester’s most grown-up evening destination. Where the Northern Quarter leans scruffy and creative, Spinningfields leans polished and deliberate — which is, depending on mood and occasion, exactly what you want. Here is the definitive guide to eating and drinking in Spinningfields after dark.
Hawksmoor
The best steak in Manchester, operating from a spectacular Victorian courthouse that once sentenced criminals and now serves dry-aged beef with bone marrow gravy. The Hawksmoor bar is exceptional for cocktails before or after dinner — the old fashioned and the sherry cobbler are both outstanding. Book a long way in advance for weekend evenings. View Hawksmoor on MCR.
20 Stories
Manchester’s most dramatic dining setting: a rooftop restaurant and bar on the 20th floor of No.1 Spinningfields, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace overlooking the city skyline. The cooking is excellent British and European; the view is the main event. Cocktails on the terrace at sunset are one of the better things you can do in the city. View 20 Stories on MCR.
The Ivy Manchester
The Ivy‘s Manchester outpost occupies a Victorian warehouse with an extraordinary atrium full garden — one of the few places in the city where you can eat outdoors under cover all year round. The menu is broadly British and European; the fish dishes are reliable; the weekend brunch is excellent. Good for celebrations and significant occasions.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist on Hardman Street is the Spinningfields bar best suited to groups and celebrations, with theatrical cocktails (dry ice, clarified milk punch, elaborate garnishes) in a large, buzzy room that stays lively until well into the night. The food is good bar food; the drinks are the reason to be here.
Grindsmith
Coffee, but seriously: Grindsmith on Hardman Street is Spinningfields’ best daytime and early-evening option, serving expertly made filter and espresso coffee from carefully sourced beans. On warm evenings, the tables outside on Hardman Street are among the most pleasant spots to sit in this part of the city.
The Leftbank
In summer, the Leftbank waterway at the edge of Spinningfields hosts pop-up bars and outdoor dining along the water. The temporary venues change each year but the location — urban waterway, surrounded by contemporary architecture, busy with after-work crowds — is always enjoyable. Check MCR’s events calendar for what’s running this season.
Getting There and Practical Information
Spinningfields is west of Deansgate, easily reached from Deansgate Metrolink station (3-minute walk) or Manchester Victoria (12 minutes on foot). Most venues are within 5 minutes of each other on foot. Parking in the nearby NCP on Bridge Street is convenient but book early on weekend evenings.
For more Manchester bar and restaurant guides, visit the MCR nightlife section and food guide.
