Manchester
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- Categories:
- Best hotel bars
- Phone:
- 0161 870 1600
- Open Times:
- Open 5pm-2am Mon-Thur; 5pm-3am Fri; 2.30pm-3am Sat; noon-midnight Sun.
- Travel:
- Metrolink G-Mex/City Centre buses/Deansgate rail
Cloud 23
Hilton, 303 Deansgate
Manchester’s newest tall building, the Beetham Tower is home to one of its most talked-about new bars, the Hilton’s Cloud 23, billed as Manchester’s first ‘sky bar’ (it’s located on – as you may have guessed – the 23rd floor). Designed by the Gorgeous Group, which has previously worked wonders on ventures such as London’s award-winning Hakkasan, the bar itself has the feel of the world’s coolest airport lounge. With floor-to-ceiling windows laying bare every section of Manchester, all guests can do is stare out of the windows and take in the incredible views. If you’d rather look down, there are two portholes cut out of the floor where you gaze on the city below. Not for vertigo sufferers.
The drinks menu has a full selection of wines and beers but a special view demands a drink to match. Gorgeous Group has plundered Mancunian history to bring you a range of Manc-themed cocktails. Rather than featuring anything with stout in it, Ena’s Sparkles finally grants Mrs Sharples some glamour and commemorates the Coronation Street star with a fruit juice and champagne drink. The Stone Roses also get the cocktail treatment with Sally Cinnamon, a brandy and cider concoction flavoured with tarragon and, naturally enough, cinnamon. With most cocktails coming in around the £8 mark, make sure you make the most of the view.
To avoid disappointment you should probably also try and book a booth in advance (0161 870 1788), or go the whole hog and book an entire room. It’s possible that you’ll still find a few Mancs who don’t like the tower as a whole, but it would be amazing if you found someone who didn’t enjoy a drink or two at Cloud 23.



6 Comments
From the officious harpy at the lift who makes people queue for half an hour even when the place is empty, to the appallingly slow service once you get there, and taking in the complete indifference to the customer displayed by the entire operation.
If you want a pleasant drink in a nice environment, go somewhere else.
If you want to be treated like dirt so that you can get a look at Manchester from high up, fly Easyjet
Whatever you do, don't go near this place Posted on Nov 12 2007 17:06
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