Some like it hot, some want it to burn your taste buds away and some want to sip on it for enjoyment. These bars compiled have managed to nail both the healing properties and tastiness required for that perfect Bloody Mary.
Luckily for those who champion the drink for an acquired taste, Manchester doesn’t half fashion a bloody good one…
Mule
I’ve been told by pretty much every single person in the Finest office that I just have to try the Bloody Mary at Mule – so much so that they’ve seemingly become the thing of legend amongst the staff. Available all day, Mule add Big Tom and Tabasco to vodka and then add a welcome splash of red wine in there too.
Mule, 13 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5AF
www.mulecoffee.co.uk
The Con Club
Sundays in Altrincham’s Con Club are a day for some serious Bloody Mary action – with a menu of six of the tasty buggers on offer. There’s the classic, the Red Snapper (with gun) and their Bloody Geisha which is made with plum infused sake, ginger and Sriracha. Best of all is their Bloody Mary Rocks – which comes topped with a fresh oyster.
The Con Club, 48 Greenwood St, Altrincham WA14 1RZ
conclubuk.com
Schofield’s
Probably the city’s best cocktail bar is also where you’ll find probably it’s best Bloody Mary. Simple but made with only the highest quality ingredients is kind of a mantra down at Schofields, and their Bloody Mary follows it to a tee. Belvedere vodka, tomato, Worcester sauce, spice mix, celery and lemon. That’s it. Simple but amazing.
Schofield’s Bar, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ
www.schofieldsbar.com
Escape to Freight Island
A dedicated Bloody Mary menu comes out at Freight Island as part of their Sunday Socials, and there’s three pretty spectacular ones to choose from. There’s the classic (with red wine), the ‘Umami’ made using shiitake mushroom-infused Haku vodka, and ‘Truffle’ which is made using truffle oil washed vodka. All are bangers and go perfectly with the live entertainment and Lobster Rolls.
Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ
www.escapetofreightisland.com
The Pen & Pencil
You’ll find this Bloody Mary on the main food menu at The Pen & Pencil, part of their Brunch Cocktail offering. What really sets this very impressive cocktail aside from all of the others on this list is the addition of port and, surprisingly – brown sauce. Yep, that’s right – a little quirt of Daddies makes all the difference – making the perfect hangover cure in liquid form.
The Pen & Pencil, Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
thepenandpencilnq.co.uk
Alvarium
The Northern Quarter bar makes their very own signature homemade tomato juice for their Bloody Mary’s – making them a clear cut above the rest. Onions, garlic and peppers are roasted with olive oil, and then added and blended with tomatoes. Add ice, a healthy slosh of vodka, Worcester sauce and Tabasco and you’re onto a winner.
Alvarium, 8 Dorsey St, Manchester M4 1LU
alvariummcr.co.uk
The Bay Horse Tavern
Perfect alongside a breakfast menu that’s available until 4pm their Bloody Mary is a belter – complete with a healthy kick of Sriracha, Maggi and lemon for that ultimate citrus tang. They also offer a great Red Snapper with gin instead of vodka – if that’s your thing of course.
The Bay Horse Tavern, 35-37 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
thebayhorsetavern.co.uk
Cottonopolis
A Bloody Mary which will likely have poems written about it in future years, this beauty is available during their Balearic Brunch, and comes festooned with silky tomato juice, the perfect level of spice and enough vodders to down a medium-sized mammal. It had plenty of twang – very much like them tomato crisps you used to buy from the tuck shop at school, but much, much better.
Cottonopolis, 16 Newton St, Manchester M1 2AE
www.cottonopolis-nq.com
The Smithfield Social
There’s always plenty on offer at the Smithfield Social should you have a hangover. Their Brunch Menu runs until 4pm every day, and their ‘Social Mary’ is a classic Bloody Mary but with a twist – cayenne smoke – that makes it taste like a BBQ in the sun in the summer.
The Smithfield Social, 53 – 55 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
www.thesmithfieldsocial.com
Three Little Words
Home to The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, the cocktail specialists at Three Little Words have created an outrageously good Smoked Bacon Bloody Mary – the ultimate smoky twist on the Sunday classic.
Three Little Words, 12-13 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP
threelittlewordsmcr.co.uk
The Koffee Pot
Champions of the humble breakfast, The Koffee Pot have mastered the art of serving up fried bacon, sausages and the perfect eggs to the great hungover masses of the Northern Quarter. Not only this but they also offer a truly wondrous Bloody Mary to go with your fry-up for that ultimate headache-destroying experience.
The Koffee Pot, 84-86 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE
www.thekoffeepot.co.uk
Prestwich Social
There’s one key ingredient in Prestwich Social’s Bloody Mary which elevates it to one of the best in the city, and that’s their homemade horseradish-infused vodka. It’s insane. Which then makes this Bloody Mary insanely good, and well worth taking the Metro out to Prestwich on a Sunday for.
Prestwich Social, unit 3, Fairfax Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AS
prestwichsocial.co.uk
Volta
The Bloody Mary at Volta contains everything you could desire to fix your hangover and the staff are so bloody helpful that they let you choose your ‘level’ of spice – perfect for anyone who likes their Mary to have the ability to melt their innards to oblivion. I’ll leave it up to you to pick your number (out of 10). Anyone who goes for less than a 5 though – get out.
Volta, 167 Burton Rd, Manchester M20 2LN
voltafoodanddrink.co.uk
The Laundrette
A menu offering up five very different Bloody Marys, from the classic ‘Laundrette Mary’ to the ‘Bloody Orient’ made with sake, wasabi, lemongrass and soy sauce. My personal favourite though is the Avocado Maria, a Mexican Mary made with tequila and fresh avocado.
The Laundrette, 32 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EL
thelaundrette.uk.com
The Refuge
Available on Sundays at The Refuge, this Dill & Chilli Bloody Mary is outstanding – and will certainly sort you out in no time. They infuse vodka with dill and chilli, before adding tomato juice, lemon juice and Tabasco. All rather familiar so far. But then they also add a bit of horseradish sauce, and pickle juice – taking this cocktail into the upper reaches of greatness.
The Refuge, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA
www.refugemcr.co.uk
Federal
As you’d expect from such brunch experts as Federal, their Bloody Mary is rather exceptional indeed. Tangy, spicy and boozy – this thing is perfect alongside some Smashed Avo or, better still, their Halloumi on Sourdough (because you can dunk the cheese in the drink!) You can also get 2 of them for £12 – so your hangover will be sorted out in half the time.
Federal,
9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester M4 1EY
194 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3ND
www.federalcafe.co.uk
Tags:
Brunch
