Cloud 23 at the Hilton

If you cut a sideways slice almost halfway up the 47-floor Beetham Tower, you’d reveal the Hilton’s dark, glossy bar. Some of the best views of the city are to be had through its full-length glass windows, & the drinks aren’t bad either. Some long drinks get a Mancunian remake: hand in glove mixes Tanqueray with grapefruit, Aperol, sugar & lime, while the Hac is a pineapple margarita with cardamom, pepper & agave syrup. Bottle services & tableside bellini-making are popular with a big-spending crowd, & attendance requires a modicum of organisation. There are queues for the express lift up to floor 23 & a guest list operates after 7pm – at weekends a spot on it is like hen’s teeth – try your luck online. Hard-won access makes for a party atmosphere but it’s just the views you’re after, consider ‘high’ tea, served between noon & 4pm.