Rooftop Cloud 23 in Manchester

Cloud 23: a glazed bar on the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower

In the Deansgate tower

At the southern end of Deansgate, near Castlefield, the Beetham Tower, a 47-storey tower that combines a hotel and apartments, is home to the Cloud 23 bar on its 23rd floor. The bar belongs to the tower's hotel, long known as the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, but it is open to everyone, whether or not you are staying there. Floor-to-ceiling windows run all the way round the room and offer a panorama over the whole city, particularly striking at sunset and once the towers are lit up.

Mancunian cocktails and afternoon tea

The cocktail list pays tribute to Manchester: each creation evokes a park, a chapter of the city's industrial or scientific history, or Vimto, the soft drink born here. Expect to pay £13 to £17 for a cocktail and £11 to £12 for the alcohol-free versions, with champagne, wines and beers alongside. Afternoon tea is the other house speciality, from £35, or £45 with a cocktail or a glass of champagne. At weekends, a sharing brunch is served in the late morning, and DJs liven up Friday evenings. A small snack menu accompanies drinks in the afternoon.

Practical information

Open daily, from noon most of the time and only in the afternoon in midweek; check the opening hours before you go. Online booking recommended (card details required), with walk-ins accepted when space allows. Smart casual dress: no sportswear, tracksuits, caps or flip-flops. Minors are admitted with an adult until 5pm. On the ground floor, the Podium restaurant lets you have dinner before heading up. Deansgate station and the Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop are a short walk away.