Where to find the best Espresso Martini in Manchester

With the warm and cosy atmosphere of your favourite local, The Bay Horse Tavern is a Northern Quarter institution. Dating back to the Georgian era, the boozer serves an intimate menu of proper pub grub alongside a huge selection of both cask and keg beer from local breweries. While the rotisserie meats and homely pies may be the stars of the show, the drinks menu at The Bay Horse Tavern boasts an impressive list of house cocktails, wines and flavoured gins. Sticking closely to tradition, the Espresso Martinis here are made with Finlandia Vodka, Fair Café liqueur and freshly-brewed coffee from local roasters Heart & Graft – no wonder they’re considered one of the best in the Northern Quarter.

Both garden-themed cocktail bar and pop-up kitchen, Alvarium is focused on seasonal ingredients and a drinks menu inspired by the great outdoors. As vegan restaurant Black Leaf takes a temporary hiatus from its spot downstairs, the kitchen is now home to lockdown juggernaut Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria. Alongside a traditional Espresso Martini, Alvarium also serves its own house cocktail – the aptly labelled Vice Coffee. The decadent drink is a mix of Absolut Vodka, Fair Café liqueur, vanilla and fresh espresso – you can even add some extra spice with a shot of amaretto. 

From the team behind lively pizza parlour Crazy Pedro’s, Lost Cat is a speakeasy-style bar, stylishly decorated and accessed via a florist facade on Oldham Street. By day, the neighbourhood bar serves up fully loaded bagels and burgers courtesy of Eat New York, yet come evening, the venue transforms into a place to party. Offering a refreshing twist on your average cocktail bar, the drinks at Lost Cat use plenty of quirky ingredients, including hot honey, miso caramel and even carrot cake syrup. Check out ‘Mitch’s Hawaiian Friend’ for a crazy creation inspired by the Espresso Martini – there’s dark rum replacing the vodka, coffee and a decadent Guinness syrup made in-house. Forget the coffee beans – this one is topped with toasted coconut.

Nestled under historic Grade-II listed railway arches, Three Little Words, and The Spirit of Manchester Distillery next door, are renowned for some of the classiest cocktails in the city. With exposed brick walls and industrial decor setting the tone for the bar, the cocktail menu is creative and extravagant, with every drink made from spirits lovingly crafted on site. Previous iterations of the Espresso Martini have included a salted caramel variety, made with Manchester Gin, amaretto, espresso and dandelion and burdock, topped with a chocolate slab. The current version is nicknamed 100 Problems and consists of One-Eyed Rebel Spiced Rum, espresso, honeycomb cordial and pistachio orgeat syrup. When browsing the menu, you can also see a flavour profile for all the cocktails – this one is warm, sweet and spicy.

With its rich flavour and creamy finish, it’s no surprise that an Espresso Martini can be perfectly paired with chocolate – so where better to get your caffeine fix than Cocoa Cabana? Based in the heart of Ancoats, the quirky cafe is a chocolate lover’s haven, serving a delicious selection of truffles, hot chocolate and other treats. In the evening, the chocolatier transforms into a popular bar, offering unique takes on traditional cocktails. The Espresso Martini here uses Stolichnaya Salted Caramel Vodka, Cazcabel liquor, coffee and their own homemade chocolate sauce – you can even have a truffle to accompany your order. 

While a cafe may not be your first port of call for a cocktail, Federal is far from your average coffee shop. With a site in both the Northern Quarter and Deansgate, there’s always a queue of people jostling for the former’s dozen seats. Bringing sunny cafe culture to Manchester, Federal stays true to its Antipodean roots, offering specialty coffee, leafy decor and an all-day brunch menu. Fancy something stronger than a coffee? There’s an accompanying cocktail menu that includes Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and of course – Espresso Martinis, made using the café’s signature brew.