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#5 in Best Afternoon Tea in Manchester for 2026
Best for the highest skyline viewWATTB82/100£££Afternoon tea with cocktailsVegetarian option

Cloud 23 at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel

Our verdict · Afternoon tea at Manchester's highest bar, where the view does the heavy lifting.

Go if

The priority is the highest possible view over Manchester, paired with a cocktail or glass of champagne.

Skip it if

Food and traditional tea-room detail matter more to you than the panorama.

Plan your visit

Cloud 23 at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel

WATTB Score

82/ 100

Our research-based editorial assessment.

How we score →

From ~£35pp (indicative; +~£10 for cocktail or champagne)

Indicative price at the time of review.

Cloud 23 occupies the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower and trades on altitude: full-length windows deliver Manchester's highest afternoon-tea view, and the format leans towards its cocktail-bar identity, with a traditional tea (indicatively from around £35 per person) that can be upgraded to a cocktail or champagne version for about £10 more. It finishes fifth because the food and service are a supporting act to the view rather than the standout, and value is tighter than 20 Stories for a broadly similar view-led occasion. Choose it when the panorama is the whole point; if you want the food to lead, the higher picks serve you better.

The good & the bad

Pros

  • Manchester's highest afternoon-tea view from the 23rd floor
  • Full-length windows and a polished cocktail-bar atmosphere
  • Cocktail and champagne upgrades suit a celebration

Cons

  • Food and tea are secondary to the view
  • Tighter value than similarly view-led rivals such as 20 Stories

How it compares

PickWATTB ScorePriceBest for
1.The Tea Room at The Midland90/100From ~£38pp (indicative; £48 with Pommery champagne)overall and best traditional
2.The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel87/100From ~£32.50pp (indicative; £42.50 with Champagne)five-star polish and a calm riverside setting
3.20 Stories85/100From ~£30pp (indicative; sparkling-wine and cocktail upgrades available)rooftop views and dining
4.The Allotment Vegan Eatery84/100From ~£25pp (indicative; Prosecco upgrade ~£3.50pp)plant-based afternoon tea and best value
5.Cloud 23 at The Manchester Deansgate HotelThis pick82/100From ~£35pp (indicative; +~£10 for cocktail or champagne)the highest skyline view
Swipe to compare

Good to know

4.3Google · 3,189 reviews££
Address
The, Deansgate Hotel, 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ
Nearest station
Deansgate-Castlefield
Phone
+44 161 870 1688
Price
From ~£35pp (indicative; +~£10 for cocktail or champagne)
Traditional tea (indicative)
From ~£35pp
Upgrade
+~£10pp for cocktail or champagne
Setting
23rd floor, Beetham Tower, Deansgate
Draw
Manchester's highest afternoon-tea view
Note
Booking recommended for a window table

Opening hours

Monday
12:00 – 10:00 PM
Tuesday
3:00 – 10:00 PM
Wednesday
3:00 – 10:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Friday
12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Saturday
11:00 AM – 1:00 AM
Sunday
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Address, hours & rating verified via Google · Sept 2026

Researched by WATTB

Published
13 September 2026
Updated
13 September 2026
Last verified
13 September 2026
Sources
7 sources

We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →

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