Cloud 23 Cocktail Bar

Our first time to Cloud 23 and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We had afternoon tea and cocktails the Vimtini was our favourite absolutely delicious. The presentation was amazing and the service fast and friendly. We went for a birthday occasion and they provided a free glass of prosecco which was a nice surprise. The views overlooking Manchester were amazing and I would highly recommend going.

Had an incredible time with my twin brother and two best friends today. The service was excellent - the waiters and waitresses were always on hand, ready to provide more milk for our tea, and ask for additional drink requests. It was my + my brother’s birthday, and so I requested for my free birthday drink - but asked whether a non-alcoholic version could be given. The Cloud23 mixologist made a delicious elderflower spritz, which looked impeccable and tasted amazing. Our earl grey tea was of great value and tasted very fresh, due to straining real tea leaves. Our carrot cake was delicious and fluffy, with a light cream cheese Italian buttercream? frosting. So much more delicious than standard buttercream! The cocktail was also very well presented, and tasted great. The ambience was lovely - the views outside were impeccable, and the staff created a relaxed, cheerful and vibey atmosphere. We couldn’t have been happier with our visit. We will definitely come again! Thank you for a brilliant birthday!!

The atmosphere is unreal and the service is excellent. The highlight for us was the panoramic view city views of Manchester. Food was very good, drinks were great, and the staff were extremely polite and professional. Everything was at a very high level. Highly recommended.

Elegant afternoon tea experience with an excellent view. Waiters are exceptionally friendly and environment classy. Only downside is the tables and provided crockery feel a bit impractical. You're sharing a single plate, knife and fork for all your savouries by default.

We celebrated our anniversary at Cloud 23 and once again, Cloud23 is my favourite spot. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels special, stylish, glamorous, and effortlessly romantic. The views over Manchester create the perfect backdrop for a memorable evening, especially as the sun sets and the city lights begin to sparkle. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and full of flavour, and the service was attentive without being intrusive. Whether it’s for a few elegant drinks, a romantic night out, or a special occasion, Cloud 23 never disappoints. We’ll definitely be back again. Thanks Avisa for your 5☆ service.

🍸 Cloud 23 Cocktail Bar Review 🍸 Visited Cloud 23 and had such a gorgeous evening. The atmosphere is stylish, intimate, and perfect for a dressed-up night with stunning views over Manchester. The whole bar feels luxe without being pretentious, and the staff are genuinely lovely — attentive, quick, and make you feel looked after from the moment you arrive. The cocktails were beautiful, well-made, and definitely worth the price for the experience and the skyline alone. It’s the kind of place where you can relax, enjoy the vibe, and just take in the city from above. Perfect for date nights, celebrations, or just treating yourself to something classy. Couldn’t recommend it more — Cloud 23 never disappoints. ✨🌃

Ahhh, what best than to have some mother and son time with such beautiful views across the city! We visited for Afternoon Tea in mid January. The bar is always a good choice, whatever the time. Having been a few times for cocktails, this was our first daytime visit. It was lovely and quiet, the food was yummy and the table service was just the right amount of care. Jakub was ever so nice in his presentation. I do wish that we had stayed a little longer and had another pot of tea, we really didn’t want to leave (things to do in afraid). Honest, if you are thinking about it, just go for it. It’s absolutely worth the time. My only gripes? Shivering vertigo and the flooring is a bit past its due, but you really had to look hard to find a fault.

A amazing spot for a quiet evening. Incredible views, fantastic cocktails and very friendly and attentive service from Calum who looked after us all evening. Good music, but at a suitable level so we could still talk and enjoy each others company. Worth booking. The cocktail flight voucher is good value too and they even remembered it was our anniversary.

Stunning views across the city and some stunning views inside looking at the clientele. Friendly service by most of the staff. My favourite Manchester watering hole. Four stars because especially the soft drinks for non alcohol drinkers are overpriced. A lot of Manchester footballers drink here.

Great ambiance,service started slowly but once we started it did improve.Didn't try the food,but a great way to start and finish the evening off.

I just like to say I enjoyed my time with Cloud 23 and they went above and beyond my extractions mat was a brilliant host and did everything he could to make my visit the best he could thank you for that.

My girlfriends and I had the best Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea at Cloud 23 with magnificent views of Manchester . Everything was delicious and the service was impeccable.

As I went to give this review a rating I wanted 3.5 so was nice and rounded to 4! Cloud 23 is a lovely little bar over looking the south/ south-west area of Manchester! Prime location on the 23rd floor hence the name. As you walk into the lobby we were greeted by a guy who takes your reservation details punch's they into his iPad and then calls you your own private lift up to the bar!! We arrived in the bar and were seated promptly. As a local Mancunian I could easily see all the sights I knew and the view was fab. The drinks arrived and a few nibbles ( the satay popcorn is to die for ) but I can't give Cloud 23 5 stars because the cocktails were nice but they didn't possess that ultimate WOW factor! And priced between £9 and £15 I wanted a big wow. They can't rely on the view alone! Saying this they were not bad by any means but they didn't hit my immediate these are amazing button! But the service as is to be expected at that price was again fab! Enjoy!

I was excited to come here since I enjoy having afternoon tea and the setting sounded AMAZING since it was in the tallest building in Manchester, but honestly the whole experience fell terribly flat! Negative point #1- The entrance: so this is a pretty glamorous concept, you take a lift to go all the way to the top of the hotel. I was excited about it at first, but after waiting for at least 20 minutes just to get up to the restaurant and barely missing my reservation because of the wait...this is a true negative. If you can't even get to the restaurant, because of the inefficient lift...how can I taste the food and enjoy the view? Negative point #2- Poor RSVP info: Our reservation was for the last call for tea and yet the server brought my friend and I to the bar area. We sat there for another 10 min and by the time a server came to us and we told her we were there for afternoon tea she gave us a puzzled look and said they didn't offer it anymore. There was a moment where I thought my friend and I had to throw down and be like "oh hell nah" but she quickly went back and spoke to the manager. I was going to get my tea no matter what and fortunately they gave us a table without anymore hassle. Negative point #3- the tea: I was super excited about this cause we ordered the champaign tea, and with the expensive price I had high expectations. The tea came with 3 different savoury sandwiches: one with a sundried tomato, prawn salad wrap, and something with chutney. The best one was the sundried tomato sandwich. The tomato was mixed in cream cheese and had a nice tangy but creamy flavour. The cakes were all a disappointment! It came with macaroons, mince pies ( due to it being Christmas), and 2 other none memorable cakes. Basically for the cost of £30+ for this... I expected the cakes to be a wonderful and amazing symphony in my mouth, but it turned out to be not memorable and a waste of calories. I'm highly critical not just because of the price but because I bake and I know it doesn't take too much effort to make good tasting cakes for not a lot of money... Just saying. You get one glass of champaign and unlimited orders of hot drinks- tea, hot chocolate basically. The service was slow and lazy. It took awhile to get our tea... Sat there for far too long and had nothing to eat or drink and we needed to keep flagging down a server just to get our drinks and tab. Overall this experience was blah and extremely disappointing. The amount of food, champaign, service and even the view does not justify the high cost of the afternoon tea. My suggestion... Avoid this place and go somewhere else for tea.

Cloud 23 is a cocktail / wine bar with amazing views of Manchester. Situated on the 23rd floor of Manchester's Beetham Tower, it offers one of the best views of the city and beyond. The entrance to the elevator is within the Hilton Hotel which occupies the first 22 floors for hotel rooms and conference suits. On a busy weekend it may be best to make a reservation here as the queues downstairs next to the elevator can get quite long and also if you want a table right up next to a window, which you probably do, then it's best to book in advance. I've been here many times in the past, and this occasion we popped in for a few drinks after dinner on a Saturday evening. It was quite early, around 9.30pm so we managed to get in without making a reservation. The cocktail menu is varied and they serve almost anything here. It's not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Maybe only stay for 1 or 2 drinks if you're out on a budget.

Take two. I've given it another try but it's still a no. As I said before, the chairs are really uncomfy, the drinks are sorely overpriced for what they are/how they taste, the toilets stink, the staff can be snooty and it's all a bit of a let down. On this visit the menus were very dirty - there seemed to be food smeared across most of the pages. The music pre 8pm is at a reasonable level, then come 20:01 you can't hear the person nearest to you and it turns into some kind of Marbella beach party. The drinks we had were disappointing. I went for the Cloud Spring Punch; which had a watery, over-diluted fruit cordial taste. My partner had Dalton's Atomic Experiment, which tasted like a bad mulled wine and had a smiley face stencilled into the foam. A smiley face - seriously? For £12 a glass?! They have also introduced a 10% service charge, meaning that 2 drinks came to £26.95. The view, however, is incredible. It was an amazingly sunny Friday night and we could see for miles. It's the saving grace. I just wish they'd perfect the experience for all of my other senses.

Stunning view and the cocktails were good, however the service and atmosphere didn't quite match up unfortunately. I wouldn't go often, however it is a nice spot for a special occasion.

I mixed feelings about Cloud 23. No one can dispute the views are some of the best in the City. On a clear day you can see for miles and the new-ish décor is a much needed improvement. It used to be dark and moody but is now light and airy which fits with the 23rd floor setting. Service is impeccable with very polite staff. The afternoon tea was ok but expensive in my opinion. I've had better for much less. The cocktails I think are a disappointment and also expensive. Most are sweet and fruity with little imagination. If you want amazing views then definitely give it a go, if you are after exceptional food and drink you can do better.

What a lucky girl I feel to have had the privilege of drinking cocktails at Cloud 23, so named for being on the 23rd floor of the Hilton, so swanky that it even has its own lift with one button - the 23rd floor. Feeling slightly out of place (these places tend to have that effect on poor students) I was nevertheless able to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, which was one of strictly stripped back class, back to basics, nothing too pretentious. I think the view is best appreciated at night, when you get to see all of Manchester lit up like little fairy lights. I would speculate it might be appreciable on a sunny day, in the height of summer maybe. But definitely wouldn't be that impressive in an average Manchester daytime where all you would be able to see would be fog, clouds and probably some rain. But at night - definitely has the wow factor. Yes, like the other reviews have said, the drinks are expensive, but I do honestly believe you get what you pay for, at least with the cocktails anyway, they are just sumptuous. They have a clever part of the menu called 'Cocktail and Bellini Flights' where the drinks are sold as triplets. Just like an outfit is co-ordinated to go together (matching bag and shoes if you please) so are these drinks designed to compliment each other...and it's wonderful. The menu can be found here http://www.cloud23bar.com/drinks.php - I fully recommend the Oriental Lounge trio, especially the one made with green tea vodka and kiwi liqueur. I remember in my slightly tippled state describing it's taste 'pure culture' take from that what you will. Two things I enjoyed very much about this place. One: the dress code. Whilst many may frown and pout at the inconvenience of having to dress up, I just love it. Too many places these days seem to frown upon the appearance of having made to much effort, favouring the more carelessly-thrown-together-yet-immaculately-chic look. This place allows women to dress like ladies, and men to dress like gentleman, and there is NOTHING wrong with that my friends. Secondly, the bar staff were perfectly friendly. They didn't once make me feel like the 'fake' I felt on the inside, but instead were charming, polite and helpful. It just really makes a difference to me and my experience, and they could not have bettered it. To top off my wonderful evening, it was as well my 21st birthday. And I was so happy to spend part of it there, I felt it fit the bill marvelously.

So swanky! It's not something I'd do often, but we happened to be in Manchester (for the first and quite possibly only time) so we came to have drinks one evening before dinner. We were on the underdressed side in jeans and sweaters, although there weren't many people there so it probably didn't matter. When we got to the hotel there was a sign by the elevator and a concierge stand. We explained to the host that we just wanted drinks, and after radioing up to someone else, he sent us up on the elevator. When we arrived at the top we were greeted by a hostess and ushered to our seats. The drink menu is pretty tropical but very creative. It's also pretty pricey, but the drinks are generously sized and strong, so they're worth it. Service was friendly and fast, and the decor was super chic; and of course the view was beautiful, especially at night. Go at least once!

If you want unbeatable views of Manchester whilst sipping a few cocktails then this is the place! Cloud 23 is based at the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate on the 23rd floor, We went on a friday evening around 6pm and our names were on the guest list but there was no wait and we was straight into the fast lift which takes seconds to get to the 23rd floor, The huge windows offer panoramic views of Manchester and on a clear day you can see for miles around! Service was great and really friendly and drinks didn't take too long to come, i had a mojito and at a pricey tag of £9-11 depending what you have but i guess its pricey due to the great views! Cloud 23 is such a great bar to enjoy at least once with friends.

Love this place. Ive been quite a few times now. The views still take my breath away. O this occasion i went in the day time but ive bin before at night to. In the day time you can pin point places such as the trafford centre, man united, man city, the palace theatre, salford keys, the lowery, deans gate locks and castlefield. The drinks are pricy but well worth it as a treat once in a while. We has a mojito each. Mine was raspberry and my mums was passion fruit. There were to die for. Its a definite if you want to impress someone

Cloud 23 is the spot to go if you want to have a drink with views of the city. You take the elevator up to the 23rd floor of the Hilton Hotel and are greeted with a wine bar offering floor to ceiling windows of Manchester. I went up there for a works mixer and so we just had wine. The view was stunning although the glass of the windows is very dirty making it hard to take a photo!! There were lots of people up there, mainly foreign visitors so it's a great place to bring any of your friends who are visiting for the weekend. Dress code is quite smart.

Everyone's first visit to Cloud 23 will be memorable. You walked into the Hilton Hotel reception area, approach the lift which has a large sign above 'Cloud 23'. The lift is dimly light, no mirrors. I felt excited in the lift. I thougth I would feel out of place here, I assume it was a place for the rich and glamourous and as I am a real casual kind of person I did worry... I shouldnt have, it wasn't so bad. When the lift opened and we walked out...Wowzers, what a view. I think you will only get that feeling once. We had afternoon tea, for 4 people it wa £92. Some of the party did not want coffee/tea with their afternoon tea and ordered fresh orange in place of the hot drinks, which I was very surprised to see it did not alter the total price. There was a great selection of cakes and sandwiches, my only critisim of the Afternoon Tea was I would of liked more Savory as there was a bit too much sweet, but that's my person preference I guess. There was a cheese savoury wrap that was beautiful. Another occassion we went for cocktails, purely to show our friends the place. The cocktails are very expensive and I didnt class them as any better than the ones they serve up in other bars for £7. Overall, it is a nice venue, nice food and cocktails, just quite price. it is quite relaxed and it isnt just for the rich and glamour kind of folk.

We hired a couple of tables here for a family birthday party. To get up to the bar you use a dedicated lift from the lobby area which takes about 20 seconds. When the lift door opens there is somebody there to take you to a table. You are always made to feel welcome here and the quality of the cocktails are amazing albeit quite expensive compared to some of the other Manchester bars. But what do you expect when you have those views? You can look out and see for miles around! The service is always impeccable and all the staff are very courteous. The surroundings are quite neutral which is a nice change to all the vibrancy and loudness of some of the newer bars which can be a little much sometimes when you're just after a quiet relaxing drink. It fills up with all sorts of people from business men to people out on the razz on a Saturday night. You get a good mix which is nice. If you fancy treating yourself to some fantastic views and good cocktails then you must try this place out!

Cloud 23 is located in the Manchester hotel at 303 Deansgate and the Bootham Tower (which it is located in) is the tallest building in Manchester with fantastic views of the city, it is also the largest building in the UK outside of Greater London right here in Manchester! It may not be the highest located resturaunt in the UK, that title goes to The Panormaic in Liverpool but it is definitley a place to go for tourists and Mancunians who live in this city. It is on the 23rd floor of the Hilton hotel as I said, when you enter the hotel look for the lift which says Cloud 23 and it will take you quite quickly to the 23rd floor. This place I have heard can accomedate most diets, hence the reason I came here for my Gluten Free Afternoon Tea. The prices I find are quite pricey for what you do get as it is only a small amount and you can't choose the sandwiches for example but compared for qualiy and Afternoon Tea prices it isn't bad at £13 for Kids and £23 for Adults. I found the chairs to be very low down and quite uncomfortable, the tables were also quite low down which I don't like, I know they need to have things low down so everyone gets a good look at the view but they could of had more back support on the chairs and just being all round taller and comfier, and with bigger tables, and taller tables. The staff are very nice and attentive, they really do deserve the 10 percent service charge, although I still dislike this as I like to decide the tip myself rather than a compulsory service charge. I hate these charges as it isn't optional, they won't let me serve my own food and drinks, will they? I got 5 Gluten free sandwiches: Cheese, Ham, Beef, Anchiovis and Prawns, I feel they is some contreversal toppings here, Anchovies are not popular in my opinion, I might as well eat a bowl of salt, they are too salty for my opinion, I am also not a big fan of prawns so I had to forget about that sandwich too as I'm not a big fan of it. The gluten free bread was very nice and I guess it was home made, the ham was quite nice and very meaty, the cheese tasted very nice and I enjoyed it, the beef tasted very nice, more like a sauce than thick beef slices, which I do prefer. They was multiple desserts as well : I found the Afternoon Tea to be very berry themed, I think this was a berry good theme as I am a fan of berries but I feel they was far too much berry flavour compared to more combined flavouring, I did find a few pieces of cherry was quite chewy. One of the deserts was Strawberry Jelly and Cream, a very small pot but very enjoyable, I liked the combinations of Strawbery Jelly and they even had some Strawberry Cream, which was quite enjoyable. They also was a berry cheesecake, the top berry flavour was a little over powering and it left a sour taste, I found the cream cheese what they used to taste actually quite nice especially compared to other cream cheeses I am used to like Philedelphia. They was also a large piece of cake, but I found it to be quite dry and it didn't taste great really, if it wouldn't of been for the cream on top, I say it would of been unedible. My scones were very hard, they are the first I have had as coeliac and don't set a high standard, which was a shame, the jam did taste nice and the cream was okay however it wasn't as nice as the other cream I have had on other things in this Afternoon Tea, as I said this was very cream and berry based. I also had a (you've guessed it) Berry tea, I asked for a Blackcurrent and Lavendar but he told me it was more fruity than the one on the menu, I still opted for it, he gave advice on how long to let it brew, with a Twinings Egg timer, which was actually quite a nice gadget. I wouldn't say this was the best tea I have ever had but still it was quite nice, although a little watery. They is a great view of Manchester from here as I said, but I would reccomened bringing sunglasses when it is sunny as the majority of seats are window seats and actually face it. They is a dress check here so you can't wear headgear or tracksuit bottoms, it is mainly Smart/casual dressing. Would I come here again? Yes however I truly do feel that this is a place just to come for a special occasion, although it is mostly good quality and it is filling, you don't get alot of food for the price. One of the main things I dislike about Afternoon Tea is it's price, you could get a subscription in the I for 6 months for just £7 more than the cost here, and don't even get me started on comparing it to other food places but it is still a nice place to go which I feel deserves 3 stars.

If I was writing this review after my first visit to Cloud 23 then I would definitely give it a 5 star but after a few times I think this posh bar at Hilton could do with 4 stars. This Hilton on Deansgate looks like one of those swanky glass buildings in Canary Warf and reminds me more of a posh office building than a hotel. The decor is extremely modern and obviously very intimidating. The lift takes you straight upto Cloud 23 with just one button and it is bloody fast (only a matter of seconds till you reach the 23rd floor). The view is spectacular and if you happen to be there at night then you can see HOW beautiful and pretty Manchester looks from here. There are two sections, one in front of the bar with high tables and the ones next to the windows with sexy red couches. I obviously prefer the red couches but if you happen to go there on a weekend or evening you will most likely not find an empty one (need to make reservations). This is one of those places where you HAVE to dress up or at least wear some high heels at the least. In one of my visits my friend forcefully dragged me here after work to cheer me up (because I was having a bad day) I was wearing something rather casual and I have never felt more out of place! I think its great to celebrate a special occasion like birthday/ anniversary/ proposal mostly because of the view. I have tried the cocktails here and would not say they impressed me a whole lot (I have had better) and the wine list is extremely expensive. The cheapest bottle costs 65 pounds (Phew). Verdict: If you want to celebrate a special day in Manchester with the most spectacular view and ambiance - Cloud 23 is the best pick!

I have to agree with the reviews below, the view from this bar is spectacular. The decor is fantastic. It's swanky, it's plush, it's ever-so-slightly bordering on pretentious. But you don't care, it's too pretty. But also, I do have to agree have to say that the service is not the best. They offer table service but personally I'd recommend heading to the bar yourself, it's definitely faster and a hell of a lot more reliable! However it is nice to have someone bring you your drinks whilst you're all dressed up, 23 floors above most the other drinkers in Manchester...! The drinks aren't fantastic and they are overpriced but you don't actually mind too much whilst you're there, you kind of let Cloud 23 get away with it because they do everything else so well. Everything is slightly 'heightened' if you'll excuse the pun! It's the sort of place to go to either for a date if you're trying to impress or with friends for a special occasion. You can queue quite a while at the weekends so be warned.

It's a shame that Granada Studios no longer do tours. It's a shame that the Museum of Science and Industry blacked out the windows with a view onto Coronation Street. It's great that you can get a distant aerial view of Coronation Street from Cloud 23. That's not the only thing that's great. On my visit to the bar the staff were friendly and didn't seem to mind us lingering and taking photos of the view. I went in the early evening on a weeknight and queued for no longer than 3 minutes to catch the lift up. I didn't get the impression that anyone was assessing my outfit too much, though I have heard of someone being turned away for wearing ripped jeans. Smart jeans are fine, though. Yes, £4.50 for a beer is pretty pricy, but you're not going to come here every day, are you? Unless you live in the Beetham Tower, in which case I'm sure £4.50 is a completely insignificant sum. I am yet to witness the work of the so-called 'expert mixologists', but I'll definitely be sampling a cocktail on my next visit. For special occasions (or just because) they offer high tea (geddit?) with scones, sarnies and tea for £14.95 per person (£24.95 including champagne).

Our decision to try out Cloud 23 was based purely on thinking it's a Manchester must do now, if the tourists from all over the globe are saying they've been, then we'd be shameful to admit we'd hadn't. A case of a story to tell. Combined with this was the hint that'd we be inside the tallest residential spot in Manchester, tis the Beetham tower. There was a curiosity of wanting to see what it felt like to be that high up, yet thinking the people who live here are actually much higher. So what did it feel like? Pretty damn scary. I'm not excited for heights but not afraid of them either but living at this altitude, gutsy. The view was spectacular though. Manchester at night was at it's best, without all the drunken stupor on the city centre streets. We did the usual there's this and there's that (god knows really). It felt pretty glamorous to be up there, a bit self-conscious of dress, as we'd heard that there's queues and a strict dress code at the weekend but think we just managed to scrape it in as it was a weeknight. The cocktails we had were pretty nice. None of us could admit to being a cocktail conneisour but you could tell some ingredients and some effort had been put into these. After all, for an average £9 for the ones we'd gone for, expect nothing less. Funnily enough we'd ordered a traffic light combination of red, green and yellow concotions. My green tea choice cocktail was the best out of the three we agreed. Winner. I wouldn't go up there too often as it is tourist central and obviously not the regular evening out. Cloud 23 is all about the experience to be experienced during super special occasions. Must admit there was some type of sewage smell projecting from the toilets when we there also which made me think how the people above us lived. Anyways it's a must do whilst in Manchester.

After visiting Cloud 23 my feelings on it were mixed, but overwhelmingly negative. I went there for a drink on a Thursday evening with a few friends, and after waiting in line for 15 minutes we took the lift to the bar. The first thing that hits you on arrival is the magnificent view of Manchester - it's breathtaking. The second thing that hits you (which are arguably more breathtaking) are the prices at the bar. Having travelled to quite a few major cities of the world, I struggle to recall prices like these outside of some of the swankiest places I've visited in London. The staff are quite sultry, as I'm sure I would be if I was being paid per hour at less than is being charged for a pint of beer. I found the general ambience of the place pretty dire - it seemed to be full of drunken louts overwhelmed by the novelty factor of the bar, and people with lots of money to burn (who were not afraid to make it very visible to everyone else that it was the case). My advice would be to go up there to enjoy the view, and then go to one of the much nicer bars or pubs around the corner (Atlas, The Knot, Dukes 92) for a drink.

They say that space consists of a vacuum. Well upon travelling to Cloud 23 I must have gone into orbit at some point in the lift on the way up, because there is certainly no atmosphere to be found in this soulless place. The view is astonishing. I had a nightime view of the whole of Manchester which was utterly compelling. The wheel on one side and The War Museum on the other. The streets below looked fantastic, with cars, taxies and trams scooting along the nearby tracks combining to give the impression of an opening scene from 2000AD or Batman. The city has never looked better, but it would have to be a pretty special bar to make me want to stay and not venture out into the Manchester night. Drinks were horrendously overpriced as expected, but the cocktails were inventive and Manchester themed. I just knew a cocktail named after Alexander Park would have to be red in colour. All tables and seating were reserved, and despite being there for several hours, at least half of them were empty the whole time. The staff looked nervous and apologetic. We found a long banquette and just as we sat down on it, two members of staff sidled up, apologetically and said I'm sorry but we have to take this away and off they went with it, one at either end of the long leather sofa. The view is worth seeing once. Don't bother with the drinks or anything else.

[+] - Great view of city, perfect place to go after dinner for a few drinks - Cocktails are decently made with playful twists [-] - A bit overpriced - Slightly slow service

Part of me wonders why I'm writing a review when James B did such a gorram good job (and also led me to research Ian Simpson and his jutty phallic tower, ha) To me, it kind of appears as what, perhaps a working class born and bred man believes to be opulent, rather than IS actually opulent, and the 'lacklustre' stilts below his mansion, it all makes sense now. Considering that in the month leading up to us spontaneously heading here for what we thought would be a total treat, I had eaten at Claridge's, and L'Atelier, I won't lie that all the hype around this place had me with pretty high expectations. We went up the lift pretty quickly, it wasn't a particularly bright afternoon, but it was clear, so we expected a good view. I was kind of confused by the carpet choice, which seems a ridiculous thing to say, but of you've seen it, you'll understand. It seemed like going to a place out of season, the windows were a bit grubby, and the chairs were heading towards tatty. We sat at the window, on the egotistical overhang, and having read the aforementioned review, the peasant patronising misogyny totally makes sense. We both went for afternoon tea, which, well, it was fine, but considering the other gargantuan, delightfully tasty offerings that there are elsewhere in manchester, it seemed a little steep then, even before the cake I've filled my face with since. Then, it came to the server, our waiter, well, he couldn't tie his tie properly, and had an accent that you just couldn't help but judge. He was kind of lechy and leery, whether a direct attempt to be charming and failing, or just his general air, there was definitely a relieved laugh as we left. He was just a little too attentive, and, I don't know, interrupted our conversations to tell us about himself and how high end the place is, if a place is high end, I don;t need to be convinced by a divorced (yes, he told us that) middle aged man touching our chair backs who can't tie a basic half windsor! Not surprised that the prime minister was there the week before, sneering at the north from the mid heights of the shiny glass member. We got a pretty good view of the fire behind the print works though... That shouldn't be a highlight, but I prefer my tea and cake without a side of battered faux leather, window smears, superiority and chauvinism, and also in larger portions...

This place is brilliant. Nice and classy place with extraordinary views. Great date place. Definitely should try at least once.

It only really gets three stars thanks to the view... The high and mighty feeling of the staff is quite amusing especially as we just were not dressed up at all having just come straight from work (in Leeds) to then go see the Lion King. It is an 'experience' with a red carpet leading to a lift that only goes to flour 23 in like 4 seconds! My ears popped. The seating works, with a variety to 'choose' from, I say 'choose' because the staff choose for you. lol The menu is laughably expensive so of course we did the classic thing of one drink and be off. That took over an hour though because the service is soooo slloooowwww. That said I enjoyed my cocktail and the I liked the view over Manchester.

It was a long time ago since I visited Cloud 23 but looking at reviews from other people e.g. Hannah R, some things have not changed. When I came here, it was something like a Friday or Saturday but fairly early on. There was on long queue in the lobby (of the hotel) to get into lift - which went up to the bar. There was around 20 people in front of us but we waited around 45 minutes to an hour. Thinking about it, not sure why we bothered waiting and not going elsewhere. When we got up, I was expecting it to be really busy. It wasn't. They clearly want to limit the number of people in the bar so its not too crowded - which is fair enough but it was very quiet! We had a look at the menu and decided what cocktails we wanted. Instead of going to the bar, you order with the waiter/waitress. It is then a long wait - was left wondering what on earth was happening with my drink! The cocktails are were expensive but just tasted "OK". I think you are basically paying for the view which is great. I could see my apartment from it :) Its worth visiting I think when its dark outside. There is also one of those glass floors at one end of the bar but its pretty small. I have heard from people that its pretty dirty so you can't see much.

Definitely paying for the view. 1st cocktail wasn't anything special - cornet, Though bitter sweet symphony was good. Service is excellent yet a little empowering, having to wait there is no rush, good banter with waiting staff. Afternoon tea, Sandwiches are lovely - the scone is ok, though jam and cream is not the best I've had. Chocolate cup cake lovely and gooey ganache. The champagne is lovely . This has always had great reviews on its cocktails - yet I'm not that impressed , more thought is needed on presentation , good quality bases to the drinks are great and some impressive interpretations with twists, but again it's the view. It's an experience 1 I did 8 years ago, it's a nice place to show visitors. 3 star with an extra star for the view which your paying for !

There are precious few moments in my life where I get to feel a little bit like James Bond but taking the lift up to the Cloud 23 Hilton Skybar, wearing my only suit has been the closest I have got since the last time I ran around my empty house, brandishing my mobile phone like a gun to the strains of The Living Daylights. That happens quite a lot actually. Anyway, I began to feel less and less like James Bond as I bumped past people to get out the lift and realised I only had a single sellotaped together fiver in my pocket. By the time I arrived at my friends table and they'd agreed to stand me a few cocktails I was certainly shaken but feeling a little bit stirred. They first ordered me an Alexandra Park which is a strawberry, balsamic and basil mix which is refreshingly savoury drinking experience followed by a Marked Man which delightfully fused whiskey and maple syrup. At £8.50 a pop they weren't cheap but as one of my yelping compadres wrote in their review, you're not coming here every day. Although with the view of the city skyline, the plush seating and the tinkling music in the background you'd wish you were. It really is an experience I can recommend to everyone living in or visiting Manchester - after all you only live twice.

I start this by apologising to my masculinity... I went for Afternoon Tea at Cloud 23. Let me attach a note to this of, I took my Mother out for her 60.... 21st Birthday for afternoon tea, so in actual fact I am Maleness incarnate cos doing stuff for your mum overrides everything. Wasn't sure what to make of this place, but actually enjoyed my afternoon, the Staff were very polite and helpful, got a good bit of chat going on with them too. Think it was about £20 each for afternoon tea, which for the location (we had good weather) food and staff I was more than happy to pay. No idea what this place is like to come drinking in, but for Afternoon Tea I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for somewhere to do that

Horrible staff too bad was really excited for this coming all the way from LA wish I could give negative stars literally servers don't even bother with attending their customers even with bottle service they could careless about your experience

Located on the 23rd floor of the Hilton (or Beetham Tower) is a cocktail lounge with a view. Tall windows surround you in all directions, providing an amazing 360 view of Manchester. Perfect for a visitor to the city like myself keen to soak up the sights. There's even a small glass-floored area if you feel brave enough to dance a jig over it. My visit to Cloud 23 was on a drizzly miserable late September day. It was extremely cloudy and we couldn't see very far. It was greyer than Christian Grey after he's been up all night being sick because he ate a dodgy grey coloured meal. Anyway I digress, despite the limited visibility it was rather pleasant to look out of the huge windows, but I imagine if you do go on a finer day the view would be absolutely stunning and far clearer. It was early evening and mid week so we had none of the aforementioned difficulties getting in. There was however a rope, special carpet and a door man specifically assigned to the lift in reception, hinting of troubles to come if you turn up at a more popular time. Cocktails are pricey - around £9.50 to £12. However they are strong so last a while, and you expect these types of prices in a hotel bar. A non-alcoholic cocktail will set you back a stunning £8. If there ever was a reason to drink this would be it. The drinks menu is extensive and looked pretty fun. It was in fact too extensive for my work tired brain to cope with so I ordered off the menu. I probably missed a trick as the drinks my colleagues ordered looked delicious - the Air Mail even came with a rice paper stamp that you could eat. Decor was clean, modern, non offensive, high-end hotel bar chic. Nothing to hate and nothing too remarkable but I am sure some people absolutely adore it. There are some more comfy seats by the windows, our large group sat on the high bench tables. A few hooks underneath for handbags would have been useful. Surely the Hilton don't want us to ruin all their minimalism with handbag clutter. Facts I learnt from my knowledgable Mancunian guide: Despite feeling really high, Cloud 23 is only half way up the Beetham Building. It's a bit of an illusion as Manchester is quite a low rise city. There are 47 levels in total. The top two levels are lived in the by the building's architect Ian Simpson, who has a huge luxury apartment with trees growing inside. Phil Neville has also has an apartment above with a Little Mermaid themed bathroom. It's worth at least one drink here if you get the chance. ln the immortal words of Lando thingy from Star Wars - "You truly belong here with us among the clouds".

Oh Cloud 23.....what an amazing place to visit. My friend took me and the girls here when we went to visit her for the weekend and I was definitely impressed with the Stylish decor of the Hilton. We were directed to a red carpet leading to the lift up to the 23rd floor. After standing in a queue for around 15 minutes we were called upon to enter the lift up to heaven... I'm not going to lie, when the lift doors opened I literally lost all my cool and pulled a face that looked like this :-O Floor length windows displayed an amazing view of the night time City full of twinkling lights. We were directed to a table (which had a blinding light underneath it) and handed cocktail menus. I was surprised at how affordable it was - yes okay, dearer than somewhere like Revolution, but what would you expect really from a 'luxury' bar inside the Hilton? I tried an 'Ena's Sparkles' cocktail which was a fizzy delight. A lovely place to visit with friends for a pre night out cocktail.

Cloud 23.... There's two ways to this bar. The time when you take your friends who've never been to Manchester before to soak up the views and have afternoon tea and cocktails and then there's the mid-week drink. For afternoon tea at the weekend you will need to book a table quite a while in advance (especially at weekends) Luckily this can be done online. Although it is impressive, Manchester House have recently come up with an afternoon tea to rival Cloud 23... I've found when it's busier the service in the drinks only area can be a little (very) slow. On my latest visit to take a friend who is leaving Manchester the wait to be served for an after work drink whilst the sun set over Manchester was ridiculous. I'd suggest making sure you book at any time now, as the people in the booked area looked to have far more attentive service. Great show on the cocktails and a view to tick off the bucket list, but generally the service has gone down hill since my first visit a few years ago.

Cloud 23 is a waste of time, money and energy. Luckily I was staying in the hotel so I didn't have to queue, because it just isn't worth it. It reminded me of a sad attempt at the Windows bar at the Hilton Park Lane in London which isn't much to get excited about. I was amused by the doorman with the clipboard in an otherwise empty bar. I was more amused by the throng of people passing through for only one over priced drink then leaving. The revolving door at the front of the hotel got a lot of use. The service is just all right, the cocktails were ambitious and the atmosphere like a morgue with a view. If you are staying in the hotel then it is fine for one drink before going out to much more interesting places in Manchester; or better yet just go out directly.

Talk about being on cloud 9, no sir lets talk about being on cloud 23!!! Now it seems to me this cocktail bar is like marmite, people either hate it or love it. The haters complain about the prices, and the "pretentious" blablabla WHATEVER!! Sit down all of you :D I love this place, and would recommend anyone who visits Manchester to check it out. But for the love of God go in the evening. Never mind watching the sunset, this is MANCHESTER, er hellooooo, its always cloudy!!! Go at night and marvel at the view. There is a serene calmness about the place. Yes you have to queue to go up but the reason you have to wait to be seated is due to safety regulations. You can only have so many people in the cocktail bar at once. It is a blessing in disguise because if the place was packed it wouldn't have such an amazing chilled out atmosphere. Actually you know what, as soon as I walked in here the very first time I thought " this = Clooney + Lopez + out of sight scene". Now I went here in early January when it was snowing and it was just breathtaking. Best seats in the house. You could be forgiven for thinking you were in another part of the world sat in here, different global city perhaps. It has taken Manchester into the global city list.... in my book anyway. Yes, It is pricey but I sense paranoia in the air in terms of its "poshness" I have always found it to be unpretentious. I have never had any problems of any kind, and the majority of people will not and do not. Just don't walk in there dressed as if you are going to Wetherspoons and you'll be fine :D

I much preferred it here when it was all red and moody. Now it reminds me of an airport lounge!? Well it does in the day time. I haven't been back to see it at night time. I imagine it looks like a million other cocktail bars. The cocktails are nice, about par with Australasia. I really can't think of great things to say about it, nor can I think of really bad things. It's just kind of there. Plenty of better places to drink, and much better places for afternoon tea. I would never queue to get in there, it's not worth it. Infact. Apart from a good city view it's all just a bit average.

Head to Cloud 23 for the 'height' of opulence and a cocktail or two in Manchester's Hilton Skybar. With a private lift to begin your journey into VIP status and a warm welcome once you've reached the top, what more could a girl want before she sets her stiletto heel onto the glass peephole twenty-three floors up from Manchester City Life? You've guessed it, a delicious glass of something fruity, fizzy and oh-so alcoholic. There is a wide choice of beers, cocktails, wines and spirits to suit any palate and what better way to taste the pleasures of Manchester, than to sip and socialise with trendsetters alike, overlooking the stunning views of the City Centre. Yes drinks are a tad more expensive than your average 'ground floor' bar but this is a small price to pay considering this is perhaps the only time you will ever get to scale the height of the skies - without the atmospheric pressure of a plane!

Came here for my birthday- had a lovely afternoon! Had the champagne tea at 30£ per person. A wide selection of sandwiches and cakes, a warm welcome and a cracking view. I would recommend coming at least once- but don't eat beforehand as the food is surprisingly filling for lots of small treats! I'll be back. 4/5

Went to Manchester for a day trip and heard that there's a very classy and grand place for English afternoon tea, so stoped by to enjoy some patesseries. The quality of the cakes are below expectation, however, the drinks that they provide were very delicious. Went back to same place again at night to see the nightview of the Manchester city with the hope of bumping into some football stars. lol! But of course I didn't see Ronaldo there! Well, the ambiance at night was way better than afternoon. They played really chessy music with a long wine list :) the prices for the drinks are reasonable for a lounge in Hilton Hotel. Nonetheless, the service was abit slow. Overall, i think this is definitely a place to chill and enjoy a laid back evening.

My best friend and I decided to attend the infamous Cloud 23 on an ambitious Saturday evening. We queued for around 20 minutes; refreshingly shorter than expected and as we stood at the opening of the elevator, we chatted to the lovely and outgoing hostess. Everything seemed to be lovely and we were excited to get a drink down us. Then we went to the 23rd floor. As the elevator doors opened to the grand main room, we were greeted immediately by a waitress who rushed us to a table without even a 'hello', perhaps because it was a busy Saturday night. Even so, I don't think manners are a lot to expect, especially after seeing the heart-breaking prices; we felt less impressed with our bank balances by this point. We took a deep breath and decided on a gin a slim-line tonic each (I was in a tight turtle neck and didn't like the idea of being bloated in the Hilton) which was obviously set up to be a failure when paying £8.50 each. The highlight of the experience is a toss-up between the decadent and immaculately kept toilets with gorgeous views to appreciate (even at the urinals!) and the generally beautiful decor and furniture throughout. We stayed for two drinks but by that time we were almost £40 down and my friend had the onset of pneumonia from the brutal air conditioning. Overall, I'd give the experience about a 6/10. Perfect for a heavy payday or if you fancy a night of (literally) seeing what Manchester has to offer at your feet. A pleasant feeling of fanciness and not much else, I was hardly on cloud 9 at Cloud 23."

Stunning place on 23 floor Hilton hotel. Nice coktiles but overpriced, This place is perfect to visits with friends when you showing Manchester.

Went here for cocktails a few days ago and had forgotten how good it is. The views were amazing and the new decor has made it much lighter and contemporary. Love the Manchester spin on the names for the cocktails such as ena sparkles and the collyhurst fizz. Yes the cocktails are pricey but they are so good it is something to treat yourself to for a special occasion. I won't leave it so long until my next visit.

You have to queue for ages to be let in, people staying in the Hilton get to smugly queue jump while you stand there like a melon, your outfit is assessed to within an inch of its life by the door staff, its hideously overpriced, the bar decor is average at best and seating arrangement is ludicrous, you are embarrassed into starting a tab that you have no hope of being able to afford, the clientele are all knobules.....but it's on the 23 third floor !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really high up!!!!!!!!!!!!! With lots of booze!!!!!!!!!!!! Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is 100% my favourite place to go for cocktails in alllll of Manchester. Not (just) because of its glamorous decor, sumptuous setting and vertiginous location, but because the cocktails are truly lush. The menu here has about 30 different cocktails on it, ranging from your classic margarita (served without ice as standard, gotta love it) to special, 'signature' cocktails with a Manchester twist, like the Hand in Glove, a citrussy cocktail that packs a punch thanks to Tanqueray 10, and The 'Hac', a spicy pineapple margarita. Their bellinis are really something, too. You could have a traditional peach bellini, but I strongly recommend the morello cherry blend, it's lush. The drinks are expertly made by mixologists who really know what they're doing. And really, £9 is not a lot to pay for a decent cocktail. This is the sort of place you go for a treat, when it's nice to feel a bit naughty and have a good drink too. It's kind of like the Stella adverts; reassuringly expensive... The service has gotten some bad press here, and I'd like to stick up for the waitresses. On the night me and the boyf went (to celebrate me turning...23) we had a really great waitress who was efficient and really friendly. Despite the fact that it was late, she'd been on her feet probably since about 8, and she was getting way too much pervy banter from some blokes nearby, she was really great, and deserves credit for it. As for the much-maligned queue, if you plan ahead and book a table, you get to skip the queue, you don't need to be staying there, just plan ahead a little... I really have no issues with Cloud 23. It is one of my absolute favourite places to be. The drinks, the view, the service, it's all good. Also, I think it's really kind of cute and kitschy that the waitresses wear little neckerchiefs, like air hostesses!

The only thing this place has going for it is the location. Veritably non-exisitent service, cheap tricks on the drinks, and not much else to say. A "must-visit-once" (as any view-bar, in any city) but twice, eh...

Gawd, when my friend got her birthday all planned out for her and in the evening's plans was a shortcut entry to Cloud 23, courtesy of her stay at the lovely Manchester Hilton, she was having Kittens, Bless. Pleased, well that was an understatement. All she could keep saying was, the view, the view is supposed to be amazing, it's going to be amazing. Cocktails, decadent, amazing. The view, well the clue is in the name, 23, sometimes it's the address number, sometimes it's the postcode, this case it's the floor level. That many feet up off the ground and it's gonna be spectacular. Dressing down definitely isn't on the cards for a visit at the cloud, I'm not saying put on your tux and ball gown, but it's not a jeans and trainers kind of place, what kind of place is it, an expensive cocktails kind of place. A tenner will get you a cocktail with not much change. Weekends will get you queuing and it crowds, week nights are a bit quieter and generally lower on the pretentious swank crowd. It's cool for a first time experience, and it's a great way to see Manchester, much better than the Wheel.