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Manchester vies with London as Britain's capital of youth culture, but has vibrant nightlife and entertainment options for all ages. Spending time at a bar, pub, or club is an essential part of any trip. For event listings, check out the free Manchester Evening News, widely available throughout the city or as a website or app. Other helpful websites include www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk, www.manchesterwire.co.uk, and creativetourist.com.
The neighborhood of Gay Village lines up stylish bars and cafés along the Rochdale Canal; Canal Street is its heart. There are several gay bars, but most attract a mixed crowd.
This dressy champagne and cocktail bar in the city's second-tallest building has stunning 360-degree views. Some of its inventive concoctions make a playful nod to local culture. You can also get afternoon tea or snacks such as tacos and antipasti.
Once a stable block for horses working the canals, this is a great spot for a pub lunch or drink, especially in the summer, thanks to its waterside terrace, balcony, and outdoor kitchen.
Bars and restaurants come and go on trendy, ever-evolving Burton Road, but this bar and café has stood the test of time thanks to its heated terrace (complete with palm trees), chic interiors, and good food.
This lively Gay Village bar has an outstanding selection of beers from around the world, in addition to good wine and cocktail lists. The tapas nibbles are delicious and surprisingly inexpensive.
One of Manchester's, if not the country's, top cocktail spots, Schofield's is a must. Ideal for pre-theater drinks or a late nightcap, the bar serves up masterfully mixed drinks in the glorious Art Deco confines of the Grade II–listed Sunlight House.
