20 Stories

Occupying the 19th-floor rooftop of No.1 Spinningfields, 20 Stories is the first Manchester project from the D&D London restaurant group, which already operates a handful of sites in London such as 14 Hills and Bluebird Chelsea, as well as locations in Leeds, Paris and New York.

20 Stories is split between a glamorous restaurant and more casual grill, which offer distinct and locally sourced menus at different price points, with a cocktail bar and roof terrace boasting 360-degree views of the city skyline.

The restaurant offers an à la carte menu which might not come cheap but is stuffed full of luxurious ingredients such as truffle, wild turbot and game, while a pre-theatre menu offers excellent value at two courses for under £20. A starter of squab pigeon with cherries and violet mustard saw the breast cooked pink with a tender confit leg on the side, while a main of John Dory was perfectly poached, served with foamy langoustine velouté and white asparagus, with crispy chicken skin adding textural contrast.

Over in the grill section, everyday favourites such as cottage pie topped with celeriac purée and buttery mash or cod cheeks and chips are joined by a selection of 32-day dry-aged rare-breed steaks. A 10oz Galloway rib eye was beautifully marbled, juicy and full of flavour, served with beef dripping chips and bone marrow gravy.

Aside from the à la carte, guests can also indulge in a classic afternoon tea, which begins with a selection of finger sandwiches such as cucumber and cream cheese, and corn-fed chicken with truffle mayonnaise. Sandwiches are followed by freshly-baked scones which can be slathered in clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam, while the afternoon tea culminates with a range of sweet treats – think Manchester Victoria sponge and Vimto macarons.  

All in all, a stunning venue, with service to match.

You'll find 20 Stories way up high on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields in Central Manchester, where naturally, the magnificent view is a highlight. Few venues in the city boast the same high rise, panoramic views of Manchester, and it's quite a sight at night when the city lights up all around you.

Still, 20 Stories is more than just a good view. Menus here showcase the very best of the north west, taking great British produce and sliding it into a seasonal modern European menu that has something for everyone. To kick things off, there are starters like giant king prawns in garlic and chilli butter, citrus-cured salmon with yuzu and daikon salad, and pressed ham hock terrine with piccalilli. Then you have a host of mains -pan-fried stone bass with crab Jersey Royals, and ras-el-hanout cauliflower steak with romesco, for example - but there are also steaks cooked over charcoal, and sharing dishes for two, like a whole Native lobster cooked in garlic butter and served with truffle and Parmesan fries. 

Meanwhile, the bar has devised a contemporary cocktail list that mixes classics with innovative signature. Pick something traditional, or branch out and try the Nicolas Sage (Cambridge Dry Gin, Eager Pineapple, sageand Aperol tincture and lime), or the fruity Manchester Tart Punch (Havana Club 7yr, raspberry, coconut syrup, Maraschino cherry liqueur, lemon, apple, vanilla foam). There are plenty of craft beers on offer as well, many from local breweries, and an extensive wine list carefully curated by 20 Stories head sommelier. 

An abundance of windows means the 20 Stories is full of natural light in the day, then matches the moody atmosphere of the evening when the sun goes down, making it perfect of any occasion at any time of day.