Terrace

Thomas Street is one of the busiest food and drink destinations in Manchester. Lined with buildings best described as “very Northern Quarter”, it has long been known for trendy, independent bars. Since 2020, when coronavirus upended hospitality and made us think differently about urban spaces, it has also benefited from being largely pedestrianised, closed to traffic for the most part save for a couple of hours each day when deliveries are possible. An already bustling strip has truly blossomed in the years between then and now, with outdoor seating turning this thoroughfare into one long beer garden. 

For Terrace, though, outdoor space has never been an issue. If it’s your first time here, don’t look for a sign on the front door, painted letters on the wall or anything to tell you this is the place. Its perennial popularity is down to word of mouth success and returning custom, and this becomes clear the moment you step inside the unmarked entrance. Once through the door, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a relatively small venue, with just a few tables and chairs on a ground floor that’s all open brickwork. But follow the corridor further and things open up, with lager booths, long tables and benches. 

And that’s just the first storey. Head upstairs to find more indoor seating and then marvel at the biggest selling point. Not just a clever name, Terrace has one of the most generously appointed and charming rooftop gardens we know of in Manchester, with various areas leading off from one another and a good assortment of plants to break up the decking. On a weekday, it’s a calm and peaceful refuge waiting to be discovered. Find yourself here on a Thursday or Friday evening, or anytime over the weekend, and it’s a different tale. Busy enough to get anyone in the mood for a big one, but, thanks to its size, never cramped.