Castle Hotel

You'll know you're in the right place when you spot the mismatched furniture and hear someone passionately discussing Kerouac over a pint of Landlord. This Northern Quarter stalwart has been fuelling Manchester's creative scene for decades, and it shows in the best possible way. The real ales are taken seriously here – properly kept and rotated regularly – while the live music programme swings from indie bands to spoken word nights that actually draw crowds who listen rather than just Instagram. It's the kind of place where you'll find students, artists, and office workers all equally at home, probably because everyone's united by the jukebox that spans everything from The Smiths to obscure post-punk gems. Come for a quick one and you'll likely stay until closing.