The Anthologist

The Anthologist sits at One St Peter's Square, a Drake and Morgan bar and restaurant in the heart of Manchester's civic and office district. It trades all day, from morning coffee through lunch to a cocktail led evening, with the St Peter's Square Metrolink stop right outside the door.

It suits the after work crowd from the surrounding offices and anyone who wants a smart, spacious room without a members club price of entry. Skip it if you came for a basement dive or a late night dancefloor. This is a polished venue built for long lunches, terrace drinks and early evening cocktails. It anchors our best bars in Manchester guide and the Manchester cocktail bars roundup.

The space is large and light, with a long bar, generous seating and a wraparound outdoor terrace that fills fast on a warm afternoon. Drake and Morgan style runs to shelves of books, plants and soft lighting across the room.

Visit Manchester describes it as a bar and restaurant with a beautiful outside terrace and an inside seating area opposite the tram. For more rooms in this vein, see the Manchester after work guide and our cocktail bars near me hub.

Lunchtime brings office workers and shoppers from the square, while the after work hours pull a smart professional crowd off the surrounding desks. The room hums but rarely tips into a club energy.

Weekends draw a brunch and daytime trade that lingers on the terrace. Manchester Wire flagged the launch as a polished addition to the St Peter's Square scene rather than a late night destination.

• It is part of the Drake and Morgan group, which runs a string of all day bars across the UK, per the company's own site.
• The address is One St Peter's Square, opposite the St Peter's Square Metrolink stop, per Visit Manchester.
• The wraparound outside terrace is the most cited feature in local listings.
• Reviewers point to the cocktail and wine programme as the reason to come after work.

• An after work cocktail with colleagues in the office district.
• A terrace afternoon or a long weekend brunch on St Peter's Square.
• Avoid if you want a small, dark speakeasy; this is a large, bright, all day room.

• Find it at One St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 3DE.
• Closest transit: the St Peter's Square Metrolink stop right outside, with Oxford Road station a short walk south.
• Hours: Mon noon to 9pm, Tue to Thu 11am to 11pm, Fri 11am to midnight, Sat 10am to midnight, Sun 10am to 6pm.
• Expect $$$ pricing across cocktails, wine and an all day food menu.
• Book ahead for the terrace and for weekend brunch, or walk in to drink at the bar.