Magical? Chemical? The alchemist is not only a nice surrounding to sit in but the service and food are great and delicious. When we checked in and were asked if there were any allergies we made jokes about my husband's allergy to cinnamon - that we would not need to worry about out it before desert. We ordered a few items from the menu - which is a very delicious mix of classics with some twists (tempura fried fish and chips for example). Order was taken and a couple minutes later the manager came and said "I am sorry - but the sauce to the fish contains a bit of cinnamon" wow! We change the order of course and the manager came back to the table asking if we would be worried about cross termination. We have been not and everything went well after that. Great service. The food itself plays with the alchemist theme for example the chorizo meatballs come with a syringe to inject your own amount of cheese (what you think? Yes of course o injected the whole Syringe into the little delicious meatball duhh). The menu consist of a lot of small items which makes me so happy since I can have so many bites of different things and at the alchemist they are all worth it! And of course classics like burger, salads and sandwiches alongside their mains. The menu is not too big but literally has something for everyone. You have to try the crispy pork skins! After we had been told that the crispy fish contains cinnamon my husband learned they offer their "chicken in a basket" as a vegetarian version as well and that is what he got. Damn that is so good: A bed of chips (fries for our American friends) are surrounded by one of the best coleslaw I had in a long time (almost as good as Guy Fieri's if not even better) then slightly pan seared onions and peppers layer on top of the fries. Ready to be mixed in. Then of course a generous amount of chicken or in this case plant based chicken smothered in a sweet chili sauce. Not to forgot to mention that it came with an extra little bowl of dipping sauce. Delicious! We also had a mocktail which name I might not be allowed to recite here let's named it "virgin adult film star" what a perfect combination of fruit, creme and sweetness. Yummmmmm To end the night I had coffee and Choclate - any serving of coffee comes with a set of three pralines. What a way to end the night at the alchemist. Great atmosphere perfect service and delicious food and drinks. read more

The Alchemist is a really trendy restaurant and bar in Spinningfields. They have a lot of variety on the menu, the fusion of Asian and western cuisine is really nice. The interior is lovely, seems like a great place for evening drinks with a full bar. I came for lunch and enjoyed the food. Service was efficient and prices are reasonable. Overall a chic and trendy place for food and drink in Spinningfields. read more

The Alchemist - Bang bang salad - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Food was good, the ambiance is great. Service was a bit slower than usual. Drinks are always great!!

Met with some friends here for drinks, and the vibe was okay. We had the Colour Changing One and the Dead Red Zombie, both which had pizzazz! The Colour Changing One was very sweet - too sweet for me to finish. The Dead Red Zombie was nice, but again more on the sweeter side than I would have liked for a cocktail. If you're looking for eclectic cocktails this is your place; however, I wouldn't rate high on the taste of the cocktails. read more

The Alchemist - Colour changing one and Dead Red zombie - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

After a bad experience at 20 Stories across the way, I decided to call at The Alchemist in Spinningfields to try out their new menu. After a bad experience at the New York Street branch earlier on in the year, where the restauraunt promised (and lied) about getting back to me, I didn't have really high hopes for this branch and while it was better than NYS (That wouldn't be hard), it wasn't fantastic by all means. The current systems in place for Coronavirus have gone far too far, this includes removing the gluten-free menu which can only be accessed by a QR code. The funniest thing was that their own wifi had blocked their website, meaning it comes up with an error message when I tried to view their menu. This meant it was impossible to see what was and wasn't gluten-free. I used my initiative and connected onto my VPN, which then allowed me to see the menu. The mobile signal here is pretty sucky especially towards the dining area, which meant I couldn't use my standard data. I decided to order the gluten-free Honey and Sriacha Chicken Burger, it came with Bombay potatoes which I find to be a strange combination. I would have prefered any other type of potato to replace the fries, which do contain gluten and the Bombay potatoes just don't seem to go with anything else on the menu including another option which was grilled seabass with you've guessed it Bombay potatoes. My burger was okay, while it was a good chunk of chicken and I did like the flavours, everything else just wasn't. The bun was doughy and came apart easily, the slaw on the burger was so hard I had to scrape it off, and the Bombay potatoes just tasted strange and I didn't end up eating them. In the end, I just ended up taking the chicken off the burger and eating that. I really wish they did a simple grilled chicken meal as the chicken was good, but it was ruined by everything else. I would say the service was a little poor, it was difficult to get a table at first, but I admit I did not reserve a table as they prefer so I'm willing to let that slide a little. 2* - The chicken was good but everything else wasn't, the menu isn't too accomodating for gluten-free especially considering they have no physical gluten-free menus right now and only regular menus and it's like a puzzle just to find it online while inside the restauraunt. Perhaps if they change the gluten-free sides and work on the points I have mentioned I would return, but until then it's unlikely. 2* read more

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Wow, the Jerk Chicken was really good (not spicy like some people would think) and was very filling. The rice was a little undercooked, but it was eatable. The atmosphere is fun & the staff was extremely friendly. Our waitress was amazing! Everything came out within a timely manner. The cocktails were phenomenal and DELICIOUS. This place is totally worth visiting. read more

The Alchemist - Jerk Chicken - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Describe the Alchemist in 3 words you say? Quirky, fun, as-tasty-as-it-looks (that's one word right?) From my first few visits, I had gained a certain perception of this place only being good for cocktails, now albeit they were cocktails I enjoyed and regularly came back for, but cocktails on their own none-the-less. Upon further inspection, this may have been down to me only visiting the establishment on the darker side of the watershed but we'll save that story for another time. Back to the plot - ...I was blind and now I see! Unbeknown to my foolish self, they offer an extensive and extremely tasty food menu, the highlight of which for me was the Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings. Now you may be thinking there's nothing special or highlightable about Chicken Wings, but when done right there is - and these guys most definitely do Chicken Wings right! I am really struggling to find minus points despite my determination to not let my taste buds completely sway the vote.. I give in, you win Alchemist and you win in style. read more

The Alchemist - Big extension - looks swanky - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Compared to Alchemist on New York St, this Alchemist is tiny - but always, always busy. It's busy around 5-8pm most nights, hosting after work drinks and so busy at the weekends. Personally, I avoid this bar on Saturday nights.. They can only let a certain amount of people in, so you have a good chance of being told to come back in half an hour - which I would never do. On Tuesday, it wasn't too busy - and a good place to go out with friends. The cocktails are always great here, and the bartender gave me extra fizzy cola bottles in my Cola Bottle Libre - which was the highlight of my night! Tequila shots followed.. Just an all round fun place to be. Good bar, Great Drinks. read more

This was our favorite place to eat in our Manchester trip. The food was amazing. I love the periodic table menu of drinks. We ordered the entire drink menu a few nights. Great presentation and good place to meet lovely women. Highly recommend. read more

The Alchemist - Ribeye with sweat potato fries - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

If there are any 'Cocktail Guru's' in the city, they all are definitely at The Alchemist in Spinning-fields. No joke - the cocktails the bar men make up can bowl anyone over, they are edgy, pretty and very tasty! If you haven't tried The Mad Hatter Tea Pot there yet, you my friend are missing out. The location is perfect, as spinning-field has the right kind of crowd that can afford to pay for all the fancy cocktails here (yes it is expensive). I love the interiors, though I wish they had a bit more space and some more tables to sit (this place gets really busy, as you would expect). The music is mostly background which makes it a great place to spend an evening chatting with your friends over some delicious cocktails and nibbles. The food is great as well, but I recommend only nibbles and not a full meal, purely because the menu is better for snacks and not a full blown meal! The wine and beer selection is good as well but I definitely recommend every one to try the cocktails here. I have heard they have started a brunch menu, which I need to try yet because the menu looks pretty tempting to be honest! The staff are friendly and welcoming, the bar men are usually dapper and always up for a laugh while he makes up a fantastic cocktail (which includes fire display sometimes). It is an expensive place, so don't go there when you are skint, I call this kind of place a 'pay day bar'. Verdict : Fancy Cocktails, well dressed people, and great vibe! read more

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Alchemist aces bar snacks. Seriously. Late last night I realised I hadn't had any tea, or lunch for that matter, and all the pink wine myself and two of my dearest friends Jess X and Aislinn F were drinking to celebrate my engagement hit my stomach and made it seriously quaky. It was not good. I hadn't had tummy ache like that since I was a child. I needed food, stat. When my fiancé joined us, that was the perfect excuse to get some of their excellent sharing plates. We opted for some nachos with chorizo sausage and cheese, and their chicken-in-a-basket. Oh my gawd, it comes... in a chicken-shaped basket. You know the wiry kind eggs normally come in? This is genius. The fries are tucked underneath the crispy fried chicken like a little nest, alongside some coleslaw... Serious visual feast, my friends. The slaw is thinly sliced and almost as good as my homemade variety. I like it when you can tell it hasn't come from a giant industrial tub. And who gives a chicken-butt about a secret blend of eleven 'erbs and spices when the Alchemist does a crunchy crispy coating as tasty as this?! With such moist tender chicken naughtily hiding below? Pfft, get on one, Sanders. Quality. We even had some edamame beans and olives to ease my stomach before the food arrived, and my dear betrothed was so enamoured of the sauce for the beans he drank the remainder from the little pot. When he asked what it was, they were happy to divulge. A mixture of sweet chilli and soy. We always have these two items in our cupboard. Why has this never dawned on us before? As we were finishing up, Jess X said, 'Is this Living Ventures too? Tim Bacon must be *laughing* all the way to the bank.' Tim Bacon impresses. Next stop, Australasia, if I wind up somehow earning twice my salary this year. Awesome stuff. read more

Went for a meal as the venue was recommended by a friend. Choice of food was extensive and prices were not too expensive. However, cocktail selection and drinks menu was spectacular! We ordered some starters and drinks, also mains. The food experience was unfortunately only 3* therefore I can only rate the overall experience at 4*! Chef went heavy handed with salt, all of us felt the same and when we tasted each others meals, we could feel the excessive use of salt, which resulted in poor taste of the main courses. My Chicken Katsu Curry was also dry and over fried, rice was barely a spoonful too! If you're placing a chicken breast cut up to 7-8 slices, at least provide 7-8 spoons worth rice, not just a ramekin full! If you're looking for a cocktail venue, you got the perfect spot, if you're a whiskey or spirits person, you have the perfect spot once more! However, for us, we found the food to be disappointing! read more

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Absolutely loved the Alchemist. Ive been here before the extension and this time round was so much better. Load more space. I had friends come from London fir the weekend and thought i would take them here as the food was tasty and simple. We didnt want a big meal before we went out. I booked on line about a week before. It was so easy. When we arrived we were shown straight out table. We got a spacious booth. Before the extension the tables were small and cramped. The girls really enjoyed it. I ordered the steak sandwich with chips. It just melted in my mouth. The other got wraps and salad. They enjoyed theres to. We each got a porn star martini and a screwball. Both were winners. All 5 of us agreed. The staff were really friendly and helpful. Service was quick we didnt wait long for our food or drinks read more

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From initial walk in was impressed chilled and laid back. Heard good things just after two pre lunch drinks and wasn't too expensive £5 ish . Bar staff nice and knowledgable . Would be nice to see names on the beer taps though was quite hard to try and remember them All when ordering a pint! read more

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Food was good; portions were trendy. Service was excellent. We didn't have reservations and were initially turned away. The manager saw us standing outside figuring out where to go next and alerted us that he had a cancellation and could seat us. read more

Great place, very chilled out. A good choice of food and drinks. Couldn't stop myself and ordered the Beef Fillet 200 mg for £19.95 asked for medium. Was let down... The fillet was almost well done, very dry, burned in a couple of places and almost NO seasoning (((( very disappointed. But the pepper sauce was great with the dry pieces of fillet and yammy potato fries. The quality of meat seamed good, guess the chefs had a bad day :( read more

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Wow i loved this place! I visited with a group of friends and my partner for a birthday celebration and for Valentines evening. The whole place was really buzzing and had a great atmosphere, they have just made this place bigger and now have an extended well sized restaurant adjacent to the great bar, The Alchemist is famous for its great innovative cocktails. We all had a great meal and we all had some great cocktails. The whole evening was great and service was spot on plus they have some really good looking waiters!!! read more

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We figured it would be rude not to take advantage of one of the 50% off deals that a few of the eateries are doing this January,so on Wednesday 6 of us popped to Spinningfields to see what The Alchemist has to offer. The first thing i'll say is that I wasn't keen on the seats at the tables,i'm a bit of a sloucher,and the lack of a decent back on the chair meant that I had to sit up properly : ) In the Alchemist it is 50% off the food (Except the Fillet steak),so obviously the drinks are full price,I had the Dead Red Zombie,which as a glass of refreshing Zombie goes was really nice,even with the addition of half of a passion fruit added to the glass (Not one of my favourite of the variety of fruit called 'Tropical'). To start I had the lamb meatballs with pitta bread,served in a little tagine,and I have to say that it was very nice indeed,so nice in fact that I think they should do it as a main meal option too. For my main I went for the Special fried chicken in a basket,which was basically southern fried style chicken goujons served with fries and colslaw and presented to you in one of those meshed metal chickens that people use to keep eggs in,it was quite a nice touch,and the quality of the food was lovely. At the end of the meal,the consensus seemed to be that everyone enjoyed what they had eaten,with a couple wishing for slightly larger portions,and most of the group not sure if they would go back if it meant paying full price. I'll be going back,but next time for breakfast,have you seen some of the stuff they do??? Nice! read more

Alchemist is a great place to drink after work. It usually busy between 5pm-8pm most nights, hosting after work drinks and obviously so busy at the weekends. Personally I avoid going on the weekends but since it was friends we decided to go. They offer a tasteful food menu, the highlight for me was the BBQ Chicken Wings. Now you must be thinking there is nothing big or special about Chicken Wings but the guys at this place do the Chicken Wings spot on. Would recommend this bar to anyone. read more

When a 50% off in January deal is wafted around, you must take full advantage, so I booked a table at The Alchemist for me and Mr Z and 4 friends to give it a whirl. We arrived and were greeted by a noisy, busy bar full of smartly dressed types and Back to the Future playing above the fabulously stocked bar. We were shown to a high table at the rear of the restaurant and squeezed ourselves in perching on the bar stool type chairs. Not the comfiest seating in the world as Mr Z says and also a bit of a tight space for 6 to be really relaxed. The drinks menu is amazing but I needed time and space to really contemplate it and a bigger budget to cover the costs! I went for a Smokey Maple Manhattan which was rather delicious with it's grapefruit foam and Wild Turkey undertones. Mr Z's zombie was also tried and found to be very pleasing indeed. So onto the food. Starters were edemame beans, chicken and spring onion potstickers, baked halloumi parcels, and duck spring rolls. All plates were beautifully presented on slate platters with square bowls and touches of cool with mini tagines and carved recesses to slot the dishes in. The tastes were great too. My potstickers were crispy sided but lusciously soft within and the salty and tangy dipping sauce was utterly addictive as was the beetroot relish with the halloumi. All round opinion was delicious but too small a portion to satisfy. Maybe a couple of extra dishes were needed on the table? For mains, 2 of our party ordered steaks, with specific requests for changes to both, one with a side of eggs for my carb-free friend and another to swap fries for salad. Both requests were met with a "no problem" from the lovely waiter. We also ordered the house burger ; juicy and perfectly cooked with a delicious meaty taste, the chicken in a basket ; served with humour, fantastic coleslaw and a divine crunch of southern fried coating, the tandoori chicken curry ; murmurs of delight with succulent bites of chicken and a minty raita which would not have been out of place in an Indian restaurant, finally the steamed sea bream in a banana leaf ; served in an iron pot, the fragrant aromas of lime mingled with the steam as the lid was lifted to reveal brilliant white and flaky fillets of excellent fish. Absolutely delicious with the mushroom and sesame rice but I would have loved a bit of sauce to moisten the rice further. The steaks were perfectly cooked as well and the all round opinions were fantastic flavours and quality cooking but a serious need for upsizing portions! The meal was rounded off with coffee and puddings of fudge cake and sticky toffee sponge. Both heaven on a plate for sugar lovers but not really enough choice on desserts to please our group. Conclusion - a great night out with fab friends and gorgeous food but unless it was 50% off we wouldn't return there to eat. i just don't think it's value for money for those of us with healthy appetites but I can't fault the quality and service at all and if I had a bit of cash to splurge I would certainly return for a summer evening of cocktails in the city! read more

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I experienced the alchemist for the first time at their location in trinity leeds, so I was fairly sure that I could have a decent drink in here. I'm a big gin fan, as most people who know me are *well* aware of, so, with their amazing peanut butter cocktail no longer being a thing (boo hiss!), I scanned the very gatsby feeling menu with all it's added chemical symbols (nice touch, but the scientist in me was going mental that they weren't in any way shape or form accurate, I spent too long with a "Well that symbol is actually a this, and that one isn't even a thing") but once past my pedantic moment, I was well spoilt with sour and floral tastes, which are most certainly my favourites when it comes to gin! If you however, don;t have favourites, the staff are lovely, and can recommend based on spirit fears or flavour favourites. The more expensive ones I sampled at £12+: 3.5 oz of happiness- is exactly that, as I am a total raspberry addict. Aviator- This has violet in it, which I adore, but a bit much of it for my friends' taste, I have had ones equally good for less money elsewhere, though to yet in manchester. Your more standard prices you'd expect north of the watford gap £7-£8: Apricot and Grapefruit Martini- This was a really nice mix of sweet and sour and fruity, and WAY too easy to drink. Tickle me Pink- I hate stupidly named cocktails, and I normally avoid them, but I love elderflower and botanicals too much to refuse this one, works well with the lime of course. Ballbreaker- Bought for me as a misogynistic joke, but joke was on them as it was lovely, and they got in trouble for it, ha! Citrus and Blackcurrant? Yes please! I'm not doing well admitting to the sheer list of gin cocktails sampled, but to make matters worse, I also tried the key lime pie, not gin, but as one of my favourite puds, I had to give it a go, and it lived up to standard. One thing I will say, is the more expensive cocktails are scattered among the rest, and they are pretty tempting, so if you're watching your pennies, it's worth watching what you're buying! read more

I have never got up early to go somewhere for breakfast so this was a BIG change in my habit status! Bad weather and freezing winds did not put myself and Samuel. M. off from fighting our way through Spinningfields to find The Alchemist; which had dazzling hanging lights in the window! Very snazzy :) Craving food and a hot cuppa, we made our way in and had our choice of seats in the place! Ordered a mug of tea and had time to make a quick first glance at the surroundings. Everything is very well laid out, clean, THICK napkins (i do love them!) and cutlery so clean you could do your make-up in the reflection. The brunch menu may look small but making a choice between all of the options is a nightmare! However, I snapped up a choice of the American; Eggs (I chose scambled), sausage, bacon mounted on 3 very thick waffles! I asked for beans as well which was accompanied on the plate in a side dish alongwith the maple syrup in another. The presentation was impressive and inviting! Samuel M. ordered the mish mosh - I was very tempted by this broken eggs combo with chorizo sausage, cheese, bacon, spinach and mushrooms with toast but very glad I chose the American! Em and Chris joined us and ordered the same which made me giggle - great minds! The place gathered a little more momento with customers arriving but it didn't become too crowded or loud and we managed to have great conversations and the waitress who served us was more than happy to let us chat and hardly interupted us apart from serving the meal, checking whether everything was ok, serving more drinks etc which suited us well! I find it so appealing when the waiting staff in a restaurant can sense the mood of a table and let you enjoy the experience. Kudos! The meal was DELICIOUS and filling to the point of hunger suppression but not over-filling. I would recommend the brunch to anyone and I'd love to go back to try out the lunch and evening menu :) read more

Modern cocktail bar with innovative drinks with show-stopping presentation - think liquid nitrogen, science glassware, etc. The food was varied and good. The table had a mix of nibbles and entrees the only thing that was "meh" was the California roll. The brownie with salted caramel was awesome. Service was slow even through there were a ton of people milling around. We had a large group and they accommodated us on short notice! read more

The Alchemist would not usually be my first choice of restaurant; it's a bit too shiny for me and always rammed on Fridays and Saturdays with people looking to be seen. However, meeting up with Caroline from social charity Foodinate, we both needed somewhere in Spinningfields that would understand the need for a quick lunchtime turnaround. The interior is bigger than I expected, stretching back into the restaurant, with the large bar dominating when you first enter. I was seated quickly whilst waiting for Caroline to arrive and ordered a diet coke. This gave me an opportunity to look over their beautiful branding; it really is something worth taking note of! Having already looked over the menu earlier in the day, and with a Drunken Butcher event in the evening, I decided to have the falafel wrap with regular fries (you can also get sweet potato or salad). It was a simple plate but the wrap was full of colour, a little hint of spice, and plenty of falafel. The fries were fairly standard, the sweet potato version looking slightly more exciting on the other side of the table! Service was okay throughout, though we felt very close to the table next door, and servers struggled to get between them, meaning you ended up feeling very in the way. It also took a while to get any attention for the bill. The meal has changed my perception of The Alchemist slightly and I'd consider coming back, though Fridays and Saturdays remain thoroughly off limits! read more

Decided to make use of the 50% off food in January offer so pottered along with 4 other peeps on a Tuesday eve. Bar was pleasantly busy just enough people to give atmosphere but not too many to make it prohibitive to get served. We dine on the high chairs and benches in the restaurant area. I opted or the white bait starter with garlic mayo dip and the banana leaf wrapped snapper for main with a side of green beans and good ol' chips. Both were good the fish was nice and fresh tasting and lightly cooked so was light to eat. Another person in the group went for the ramen which liked more like a chemistry experiment and came with something in a beaker that cause white smoke to bubble out of it! Whist my dish was the least showy looking i was happy with my choice. Fajitas also looked good and seemed to be generous in portion size and were nicely presented. Im a big fan of this bar other than on saturday evening on pay day when it gets rammed and as everyone is having cocktails it takes an age to get served! read more

Ok so I've only been here for drinks so far which is why I've only given it three stars. This may improve once I've sampled the food. I ended up here late on a thursday evening, we had been out for dinner in the English Lounge (review to follow...) and we wanted another drink. A nice one. We wandered around Albert's Sq finding nothing (we miss you Lime bar!!) and carried on only to find ourselves in Spinningfields. My friend suggested the Alchemist and I wanted to try it s off we went! Anyway - to the review - we waited about 10 minutes to be served/acknowledged...minus one star. This is the disadvantage to fancy cocktails, they take a while to make. However, it would have been nice to be acknowledged...! In Mojo's (and loads of other places...can't think of any right now, damn it!) they throw a cocktail napkin down in front of you, it's just nice to know they've seen you and will serve you when they can. Also it's really dark. And really loud. God I sound old! But it is! It's now what you'd expect from a place which is predominently a restaurant and also a swanky cocktail bar. The balance was slightly off. Minus another star. I think I was comparing this a bit too harshly to Grill on The Alley but this is their sister restaurant so I was naturally going to to this. So I'm afraid...minus one star! Also, there were no seats. This wouldn't have lost them a star but there are bar stools right the way across the bar so you can't stand at the bar either. And this also means you get right on the nerves of the people sat at the bar when you order/pay. We had to stand in the middle of the bar and hold our drinks the whole time as there are seats all along the ledge too which were also filled. Minus another star. So it wasn't looking good at all, two stars...?! However, the drinks were lovely (french martinis, I particularly liked the pink sugar sparkles sprinkled over the top of the drink...yummy!). And the glassware is lovely...if I was a bit more like my mother, I;'d have definitely pinched a glass (she's not a major thief or anything, she just 'collects' nice glassware from bars...I'm always too afraid of getting caught). We we even persuaded to have a shooter purely by the glasses (little science beakers! So cute!). And they were gorgeous! Not like normal shots at all. Definitely recommend them. At £3.50 each though you do expect them to be pretty nice...! Anyway, taking this into account, plus one star. So this brings me to three. I'd have given it more if the bartender had been a bit more friendly but he wasn't interested in us as we were standing, he did seem to be having a fair bit of interaction with all the guests sat down in front of him. Anyway, I'll be back and I'll give it another shot so I'll update again, I do tend to change my mind about places! read more

Went here for my friends 26th birthday. We booked a table for 9.15 on a Friday night. It was very lively as the dj was playing current house music-which i love however as we were trying to eat and talk it was very annoying. Although the bar and resturant area are seperated, it is only by a step,hence the distraction whilst trying to eat! The food was standard nothing special. The cocktails however, WOW when preparing them it looked like a science lesson. I would reccomend here for cocktails and not for food. Despite this the stafff are very friendly and cool and will lool after you read more

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Love this place! Went to alchemist last weekend with my friend and we thought we would try it for food for a change as I've only ever been for drinks! We booked a table a couple of days before and got in on a Saturday night at our preferred time! The menu was so good there was so much choice I wanted a bit of everything! The food came very quick and was cooked perfectly! It was so tasty one of my favourite meals I've had in Manchester if I'm honest It was a great idea getting the table because instead of being in the queue for a while to get a cocktail you could just keep ordering them to your table which was miles better! I had such a good night in here and can't wait to book again, would 100% recommend the fajitas they were delicious! read more

One word... COCKTAILS! it's swanky and vibrant, always busy, has a great outdoor area and the atmosphere is great! read more

I've never come in here for food but I have visited when bar hopping through Spinningfields on a night out. Great for cocktails and the bartenders know what they're doing. I order the espresso martinis every time. Can be really busy with the after-work-drinks crowd in the early evening but sometimes I find it tapers off later on. Definitely a place where mega heels and skimpy dresses are the norm. read more

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A great place to go on a date or when in the mood for a different cocktail. Can get quite busy after work and there is a lack of seating however the cocktails are great and the atmosphere is lovely! If coming here for a gastronomic science cocktail definitely ask the bar tender for a flamboyant drink - prices vary. I have been here three times now and most of the time the cocktails are good some at hit and miss (bubblegum mojito) so just be wary...pricey cocktails but if you want a treat and experience the alchemist is a lovely bar. read more

Great looking bar and to be fair I haven't eaten here but overall the experience wasn't awe-inspiring. Thursday night and it was busy, cocktails were OK but the size of the place leaves you feeling a bit like hovering in a glass enclosed corridor. OK to jump in for a quick drink en-route to somewhere else but no real atmosphere - wouldn't rush back. They have just opened another Alchemist nearer to Piccadilly Gardens, maybe this will have a bit more ambiance. read more

The decor is phenomenal And they have some very unique menu items, all the dishes I tried were delish, but pretty unmemorable- except for some sticky chicken wings. The cocktails are amazing I had several... but that might be why i dont remember any particular dish being wow. Not keen on the bubblegum Daiquiri- preferred the Margaritas. The mixologists are outstanding- steaming teapots and weird bubbles are all part of the cocktail making process. All in all, its dead pretentious, service was average, but still really fun- It seems to be "the place" to be seen in Spinningfields at present. Go! read more

This is a good bar with a decent number of cocktails to choose from. I felt a little under dressed. The overall feel is high end. We went on a Saturday afternoon and it was a little busy but not so outrageous that we weren't able to get a seat. We ordered a virgin mojito which was made with mint, sugar, lime juice, apple juice and soda water and ice. My partner ended up ordering a Becks as the beer selection was abysmal but I suppose that's not their target market. Feeling peckish but not quite ready for a meal we also ordered chorizo in red wine along with pork scratchings. The chorizo was ok, I think I was expecting a more depth of flavour or at least some tanginess to complement the meat. The pork scratchings were greasy but crispy and overall delicious. I would definitely come back on a night out, I think it would be a fun place to hang out with mates. The toilets were pretty clean, I was impressed. read more

The Alchemist - Virgin mojito - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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The problem with The Alchemist is that when it comes to food it just doesn't specialise in anything so what's the point! The menu is a mixture of things such as curry, ramen, fish and chips and burgers, if I wanted any of these I've go to a restaurant which does them properly. The menu is boring and not even done well. The pot stickers which I had are exactly the same as the ones bought in the chinese supermarket on George St, the fajitas taste like a chinese dish and the burgers are hhhmmmmm! I think that Alchemist are missing out on doing something unique with the trend for alchemy in restaurants (a la Fat Duck) and there being a gap in the market in Manchester for such a place. read more

Great looking bar, with decent food. Even the glasses and salt and pepper pots are alchemist themed, and the drinks follow the same theme. The location is central to Spinningfields, making it great for eating, or stopping for drinks after eating at one of the many other restaurants in the area. +Excellent and well presented food +Great table service from friendly staff +Décor/Theme is fantastic looking +Drinks menu is extensive with great cocktails +Spinningfields Yellow Card accepted for 20% off Food -Often very packed -Can be slow service during very busy times read more

Fantastic cocktails!! The presentation is always incredible; conicle flasks, dry ice, fire, candy floss, you name it, they have it. They can be a little prick, but not more than you'd expect and definitely worth it. The only thing that's a bit of a drawback is how busy it can get. At peak time it's not unknown to be stood at the bar for over 20 minutes, and it's fairly unlikely that you would get a seat or a table to put your drink on, but it is Manchester after all. Brilliant little spot for cheeky day drinking in the sun. read more

Crazy loud at night with High NRG disco. Who cares though, with drinks like this. I see one strategy is to huddle under the heat lamps outside in the middle of the winter, with those desperate for a nicotine fix. Another strategy is best described as being with people you don't really want to talk to. Forewarned is forearmed. The real surprise was the food: phenomenal. This is an asian-fusion menu, and everything from the crispy kale to the duck ramen to whatever it was that my partner ate: divine. Who knows what it was! It was gone quickly, and I was too busy with the aforementioned delights to notice. Went back for lunch for more of the same and the noise level was a bit more subdued. read more

This bar is in Spinning fields which is just off deansgate. This bar was absolutely busy but decided to go in for cocktails. It took about 15 minutes to get served. I had a bubble bath which was fit. On the menu for the cocktails is out of this world. And there is plenty of seating outside as well. The staff was very helpful and friendly. read more

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Stopped in for dinner after having a drink the day prior. The bartender's here are great and even in the packed place they were quick to get me the Manhattan I ordered. For dinner, I opted for the Japanese ramen bowl with chicken. When the food was brought out the broth was served separately in a small lab flask with a chunk of dry ice dropped in to create the smoke out of the glass. When the waiter poured in the broth, the whole dish looked smoky, yet hat was very enjoyable! The dish itself tasted delicious, very fresh tasting, and the broth had a very rich/full flavor, not at all bland. Alchemist offers a fun environment, creative drinks, fast and excellent bartenders, and I thought reasonable pricing. read more

The Alchemist - Japanese ramen bowl - British Near Me - Manchester, XGM