Christmas

The ultimate booze tour around the bars of the Manchester Christmas Markets

Have a very, very Merry Christmas everyone!

Daisy Jackson - 13th December 2023

It can be tempting at the Manchester Christmas Markets to find one spot and stay in it, happily getting merry on beers and mulled wine – but you’ll be missing out on some of the amazing bars dotted around this year.

This year’s huge festive event has loads of great bars slotted in with the wooden huts selling gifts and festive food.

There are slushy cocktails, shimmering gins, and refreshing spritzes, as well as the usual Christmas drinks like mulled wine and Bailey’s hot chocolates.

The beauty of the markets too is that although they cover a massive chunk of the city centre, everything is within walking distance of each other.

So clear an afternoon in your diary, wrap up warm, and hit the Manchester Christmas Markets for the ultimate booze tour.

The Windmill Bar, Winter Gardens

Starting off strong with one of the Manchester Christmas Markets’ most iconic bars – the Windmill Bar.

This festive landmark is dominating Piccadilly Gardens (aka the Winter Gardens) this year.

Grab yourself a pint of sweet cherry beer, or a classic mulled wine, to warm your cockles. It’s even got undercover, heated seating.

The Manchester Gin Bar, Winter Gardens

Gin fans unite – there’s a whole bar specialising in different flavours and perfect serves of the world’s best spirit.

The Manchester Gin Bar has sparkling Christmas cocktails like a Cranberry Fizz with prosecco and raspberry, and a whole menu of spritzes (because Aperol isn’t just for summer).

Other flavours here include Parma Violet, blood orange, and plum vanilla.

Bar 3, New Cathedral Street

Bar 3 at the Manchester Christmas Markets

This might be our favourite bar on the whole Manchester Christmas Markets, with great people-watching from all the shoppers walking along New Cathedral Street.

You can sip on shimmering pink prosecco cocktails with a view of the Corn Exchange.

And Bar 3’s fruity raspberry cider is an absolute must for everyone having gluhwein fatigue.

The Winter Bar, Cathedral Gardens

The Winter Bar at Cathedral Gardens at the Manchester Christmas Markets

The Cathedral Gardens site of the Manchester Christmas Markets may be the most family-friendly bit, thanks to its ice rink, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find a cracking bar here.

The Winter Bar has loads of themed Christmas cocktails, including a fruity The Grinch and a creamy festive The Snowflake.

You’ll be surrounded by pretty twinkling lights and the sounds of happy shrieks from the ice rink here too – it’s like a cheesy Christmas film in the best way possible.

King Street Craft Bar, King Street

King Street is definitely one of the best spots on the Manchester Christmas Markets, home to some of the best food traders and loads of places to sit and take the weight off.

As well as loads of beers and wines at the King Street Craft Bar, you can dive in on surprisingly festive slushy cocktails.

Flavours include ‘The Grinch’ (made with vanilla vodka and a lemon-lime slush), ‘Mad Santa’ (pink gin and strawberry) and ‘Yellow Snow’ (limoncello, vanilla vodka, and lemon slush).

The Grumpy Moose, King Street

The Grumpy Moose bar at the Manchester Christmas Markets

It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a Baileys, and The Grumpy Moose on King Street has the most delicious boozy hot chocolates in town.

You can also get yourself a delicious gin cocktail, or an espresso martini to give you that final burst of energy to get back home again.

Where to eat on your way around the Manchester Christmas Markets

You do not want to tackle this brilliant booze tour without stopping for fuel on your way around.

So head to the Dirty Chicken Co on Piccadilly Gardens for some absolutely delicious loaded fries.

And if you can walk past the smell of toasted coconut wafting from Macaroons on Market Street without buying a whole tray, you’re a stronger person than we are…

Have a very, very Merry Christmas everyone!

Featured image: The Manc Group