The best: Manchester cocktail bars FT Henry C, Speak in Code, Blinker & more

A charming little spot in the suburbs, Henry C is a cosy neighbourhood cocktail bar that has gone down an absolute storm since opening back in 2016. If that wasn’t enough, then the dedicated, ever-changing Negroni menu should be — drinks from this are available for just a fiver on Thursdays and the Cafe Pacifico, which incorporates tequila and homemade coffee liqueur, is a stunning riff on the classic.

Named after a ‘forgotten classic cocktail’, Blinker’s menu is influenced by British seasonality, changing monthly and always focusing on four in-season flavours. Fans of the Martini and Old Fashioned are spoilt for choice here, with special menus dedicated to the two favourites.

Inside, the sleek interior provides one of the city’s coolest drinking settings, and the team are more than worth their spot in the latest Top 50 Bars list.

Inspired by the secret drinking dens of the prohibition era, The Fitzgerald, with its back street entrance, blends moody lighting with wonderfully eccentric 1920s furnishings. The end result is a gorgeous, atmospheric space matched by a superb traditional cocktail menu.

There’s also live music with free entry every Friday and Saturday night, perfect for those who are after somewhere a little more lively.

Another Chorlton spot, this time nestled within the bustling food and drink goldmine that is Beech Road. Root & Branch @ 97 Beech is an intimate 35-cover venue. It’s a splendid-looking room, and along with all the usual suspects, you’ll find a menu of more adventurous forays of ‘culinary classics’ that covers fried chicken, ramen, sushi, and…cold pizza.

Schofield’s needs no introduction in Manchester; the team are a constant staple in just about all the major cocktail awards, and, to call them geniuses in their craft wouldn’t even come close to doing them justice.

Set within Sunlight House, an art deco architectural triumph and one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, Schofield’s is simply a must-visit for anyone after the best.

Speak in Code is another constant fixture in all the major industry awards. The forward-thinking, plant-based cocktail menu earns rightful acclaim, and their reuse-and-repurpose approach to creating drinks is as admirable as it is impressive.

Exposed brick and velvet furnishings are a call back to New York, while laid-back Hip Hop playlists provide an always stellar soundtrack to the evening.

10 Tib Lane with its stunning stripped-back interior offers a lovely backdrop for grabbing a drink in the city centre. Operating under the same ownership as Henry C and the newly-opened Posie, guests can rest assured that they’re always going to be in good hands. On the food side of things, the restaurant’s seasonal small-plate menu always proves a hit, as does its daily £1 oyster offer.

Hidden in the basement of the historic Queens Chambers building, Arcane’s owners say they wanted to build a creative but unpretentious cocktail spot. The result is a gem of a bar, one that retains much of the structure’s original Victorian features, where the incredible drinks shine through.

Earlier in the evening, you’ll find a welcoming and relaxed setup perfect for casual drinks, while later on, the space is filled with great tunes and dancing into the early hours.

An intimate subterranean hideaway on South King Street, Wood & Co’s brooding, dark wood-clad interior ensures the NYC-style venue looks just as strikingly good as the cocktails the team stir and shake up behind the bar. Sustainability is also a big consideration here, with each creation carefully concocted to minimise waste, without compromising on quality.

Red Light has made quite the impact since its arrival at Kampus. A proud LGBTQ+ bar, Red Light’s warming welcome to all who enter its doors, married with a marvellous cocktail list, has made it an instant hit in the city. Despite its relatively short time in existence, it’s already scooped a place in Franklin & Sons’ coveted Top 50 Bars list.

Housed in a cosy, stripped-back little corner of Mackie Mayor, Stray is another of Manchester’s more recent additions that has wasted no time in cementing itself amongst the best. The team’s signature tomato vine margarita has become something of a cult classic, and being one of the few cocktail spots that opens from lunch, the space works just as well as it does in the early afternoon sun as it does late on into the night.

Set alongside New Islington Marina, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque setting in the city to sip on whatever expertly crafted creation tickles your fancy that day. Inside, the space is light, airy and super welcoming, while a smattering of outdoor tables offer the opportunity for al-fresco martinis should the infamous Manchester weather allow.

The latest venture from the fantastic 10 Tibe Lane / Henry C team, Posie looks destined to be another winner. Boasting effortlessly stylish mid-century interiors, it’s as enticing a spot for an afternoon coffee as it is a late-night haunt. The Cacao Nib Negroni is dangerously excellent, and the bar snacks have been just as considered as the drinks, the Mussels Tigres being a particular standout.

Side Street’s Side Bar might well be one of the coolest-looking venues in the city; it’s all very Mad Men, and that alone is enough to pull us in. The drinks menu is shaped by the team’s remixes of classic creations; so there’s a tall Espresso Martini with tequila, a sparkling Manhattan and a Sidecar, which incorporates flavours of coconut and mango. If you’re hungry, you can grab food from the renowned Tartuffe, too.

A brand-new project from the brilliant team behind Blinker, The Morris is a more casual affair, operating as a cosy Northern Quarter pub downstairs, and a retro, 70s-inspired cocktail above. The menu here is more playful, taking familiar flavours like cheeky Vimto and drumstick lollies, but supercharging them with the refinement and supreme expertise that the award-winning team have become known for. It hasn’t taken long for the inevitable industry recognition to come, either, with The Morris already earning a spot in the 2026 UK Top 50 Bars list.