Eats

10 rooftop bars and restaurants in Manchester with amazing views

I'm on top of the world.

Daisy Jackson - 2nd October 2025

The Manchester skyline is ever-changing, and there’s nowhere better to soak in the views of our city than up high in a rooftop bar or restaurant.

Our city used to be pretty terrible for outdoor drinking space full stop, and even worse for sky-high terraces, but there’s been a real switch in recent years.

Now, there are glamorous restaurants perched way above our heads, cosy pubs spilling onto their rooftops, and even hotels with secret terraces and gorgeous views.

Manchester recently gained a brand-new rooftop terrace in the form of Chotto Matte, which had us thinking about where else to head for a sky-high cocktail or three.

Have a read of the best rooftop bars, restaurants and terraces in Manchester.

Chotto Matte, St Michael’s

The newest, shiniest addition to the city centre is Chotto Matte, a glamorous restaurant serving a Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei menu that includes sushi, robata, and plenty more.

This stunning new restaurant at Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development has 360º views of Manchester, and from its 348-capacity rooftop terrace, one of the best outlooks in town.

The all-weather rooftop terrace overlooks Albert Square and the Manchester Town Hall, which is slowly but surely emerging from behind its scaffolding.

Read more about it HERE.

YES, Charles Street

YES has not one, but two amazing outside spaces – one a ground-floor terrace that’s weirdly just across the road, the other a gigantic rooftop terrace.

There are cocktails on tap, great happy hour deals, and a few different food spots to order from like Pepperoni Playboy and the Trippy Chippy.

And back downstairs, YES hosts regular gigs and club nights in its iconic Pink Room.

20 Stories, Spinningfields

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vlada | Lifestyle & more (@manchester_new_girl)

20 Stories is Manchester’s highest rooftop terrace, and probably our city’s best-known spot for a sky-high dinner.

Perched way up above Spinningfields, you can see most of the city centre from up here, in a swanky setting.

Dining here at any time is a special event, with breathtaking panoramic views adding an extra bit of oomph to the equally top-tier food and drink offering.

King Street Townhouse, off Albert Square

Tucked up on the sixth floor of the award-winning boutique hotel King Street Townhouse, you’ll find a rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the city’s skyline.

As Manchester buzzes along beneath you, you can tuck in to everything from full charcuterie grazing boards to seasonal snacks and small plates, all served alongside an impressive wine and cocktail list.

This often-overlooked local spot is a firm favourite of those in the know, thanks to its sheltered location that basks in the sun all afternoon, and when the Town Hall refurbishment is complete it’ll have the best view in town.

Big Hands, Oxford Road

Miles away from the glitz and glamour of the city centre rooftops is Big Hands, a cool, weird and wonderful bar that’s seriously popular with students and gig-goers, thanks to its proximity to the Manchester Academy venues.

With decent prices catering to those gigging on a budget along the busy university strip of Oxford Road, a lovely dimly-lit aesthetic complete with gig posters galore; a rooftop garden terrace adorned with twinkly lights and plenty of plants, it’s a pure vibe in here.

The views might not be the best, but the vibes are right up there, and you can grab some amazing Italian street food from Rizzo’s – formerly T’arricrii) while you’re here.

Climat, Blackfriars House

Most of Climat is long and narrow, following the expanse of the open kitchen – and that happily means that almost every table gets a front-row seat to the views from this rooftop restaurant and wine bar.

Popped up high on Blackfriars House (but not so high up that everyone feels like an ant beneath you), it’s got a spectacular outlook over historic landmarks like the Barton Arcade, St Ann’s Church, and the Royal Exchange.

There are more than 250 different wines on the menu as well as a menu of ‘food you want to eat’, as if you needed any more temptation.

Terrace, Thomas Street

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Terrace | Northern Quarter (@nqterrace)

Now this is a proper Manchester OG rooftop terrace – a surprisingly sizeable rooftop terrace jammed into the middle of the Northern Quarter.

Grab a craft beer, a marg, or a sangria, and sit up here just away from the madness of Thomas Street buzzing along beneath you.

Then you’re in a prime spot to hit up the rest of the Northern Quarter bars straight after.

Brewdog, Fountain Street

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BrewDog DogHouse Manchester (@doghousemanchester)

Look, say what you want about Brewdog, these guys know how to build a rooftop terrace – and Manchester is no different.

The top floor of the Brewdog Doghouse Manchester Hotel has its very own rooftop bar, a stone’s throw from the horrors of Market Street.

You know the sort of beers on offer here – they’re mostly Brewdog’s core range.

Atlas, Deansgate

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Atlas Bar (@theatlasbar)

It might be a bit of a stretch to call this one a rooftop terrace, but it is a terrace, and you can see a lot of rooftops from up here.

Atlas has been part of Manchester’s bar scene for some 25 years, with a sizeable collection of gins.

There’s also a vast draught and bottled beer range, if you don’t fancy a gin and tonic.

The Deansgate, Deansgate

When The Deansgate opened under new ownership, the thing that had everyone excited was its multi-storey outdoor terrace.

At the time of its refurb, the rooftop had incredible views over towards Deansgate Square and was a right sun trap.

Sadly, that view has now been obstructed by a massive tower that literally wraps around two sides of the pub – but it’s still a fantastic outdoor drinking spot in all weathers.

Read more

• Inside Chotto Matte, the glittering new rooftop restaurant with staggering views of Manchester
• The best cosy pubs in Manchester city centre to hide away on a winter’s day
• Inside Nell’s MediaCity as local pizza legends open new site with karaoke and shuffleboard

Featured image: The Manc Group