Terrace

Terrace exists for those rare days when Manchester decides to have weather. A rooftop bar on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, it offers something most NQ bars can’t – sky, fresh air, and views across the rooftops towards the city centre. When the sun comes out, this place fills up fast and with good reason.

The cocktail menu is colourful and accessible. Spritzes, frozen margaritas, and the kind of drinks that work best when you’re sitting outside with sunglasses on. They’re well made without being fussy – this is a place to drink something cold and refreshing, not to dissect flavour profiles. The beer selection is decent too, and they do a good wine by the glass.

The terrace itself is the selling point. Artificial turf, outdoor furniture, fairy lights for when the sun eventually dips. The views aren’t dramatic – you’re looking at the NQ’s mix of Victorian buildings and newer additions – but the elevation and the open air change the experience completely. It feels like a different city up there.

The downside is obvious: Manchester weather means this is genuinely seasonal. On a grey Tuesday in November, Terrace loses most of its appeal. But from roughly April through September, when the forecast is kind, there are few better places to drink in the Northern Quarter. Get there early on sunny weekends – the terrace fills up by mid-afternoon and stays busy until close.