The Alchemist Media City in Salford

Great atmosphere, really nice staff

Great service, friendly staff, nice food every single time. I frequent the Alchemist and i always get the signature great service and atmosphere from the staff, the restaurant and a great experience as a whole. The food presentation is great and appealing. The drinks presentation is even better, you feel like you're in a lab making a potion. I really recommend the restaurant. Follow me for more honest reviews, honesty is the best policy

I had a great experience 😌. I will definitely recommend and visit again

Booked for my birthday and requested a window seat (or a seat on the edge if the room if window was unavailable as I get quite anxious when placed in the middle of a tightly packed room - yes my issue but not an unreasonable request). Upon arrival we were greeted by a seemingly uninterested young lady who glanced at the screen read the notes and proceeded to dump us in the middle of the very loud very busy restaurant, luckily after 10 minutes another table left so we kindly asked to swap tables so I could be more comfortable, the male waiter was very kind and considerate and did accommodate the swap - however the hostess seemed less than impressed!. We ordered our drinks and mains both of which were perfectly acceptable although nothing extraordinary, we wanted more drinks throughout our meal and then a dessert but due to being unable to get anyone’s attention for a considerable period of time we settled for a cocktail and the bill (for the record the Brûlée vous cocktail was the best part of the entire night). Over all I feel like it’s not the same experience we’ve come to expect of our previous annual visits, simple things like being more welcoming and honouring simple requests would make the experience much more enjoyable, and from a business standpoint you would make considerably more money if your staff were more attentive to people wanting to order more drinks and additional courses. I really hope this was just a one off and is better next year!

Just had the perfect night out for my girlfriend’s 23rd birthday! Jake and Eleanor were absolutely amazing and made us feel right at home. The drinks were top-notch, and the vibe was spot on. Seriously, their service is always on point—10/10! I can’t recommend this place enough for a great evening with friends or a special occasion.

if you have the chance to sit outside on a sunny day - the terrance is perfect for an aperol. great service always, staff always super friendly, welcoming and helpful. food is amazing! i definitely recommend the steak sandwich - with the truffle gravy it’s unreal!

A great spot with great food. Service was a bit slow as it was busy this time. Can get noisy.

Yummy drinks, fabulous presentation

The staff is nice, the food too. The only problem is that the music is way too loud, i had to yell across the table to be heard and after a while you get a headache.

Just visited for some drinks , relaxed atmosphere. Staff very friendly especially the lad taking our drinks order & explaining the different cocktails, he had great customer service , was professional, polite & really funny . Location is great , looking forward to visiting again when weather warmer to enjoy the outdoor seating area.

We had a lovely meal, but the service sort of let it down as they were giving our food to the wrong table and giving their food to us.

Had lunch at Media City branch today. Beautiful food, served and presented very well. Fab cocktails, the sweets were divine. Both servers were friendly, chatty and made our visit.

Great venue - just waited a while for service, no option of ketchup or mayo - had to ask for it and was hard to get hold of staff afterwards - place wasn’t even busy.

We just had an amazing meal! The rump steak was cooked to perfection, and the fries were spot on too. Eleanor's service was top-notch; she was friendly and guided us through the menu, making great drink suggestions. The atmosphere was just right, and everything was spotless. Honestly, I can’t recommend this place enough!

Had a great meal, a lovely place to eat

Had a lovely lunch with my friend before going to the theatre. The young man who served us was absolutely lovely and made us feel very welcome. We had the fish curry, gorgeous.

The location, look and feel of the place is great. Staff helped us get a table after I made a mistake with the booking - super helpful. Katsu curry has no flavour and the portion is small. Overall I’d go back but not for food.

Beautiful and cool bar with excellent and creative food and drink!

The staff were super friendly, cocktails were great and loved the theatrical presentation with the drinks! The food was good I had the chicken fajitas but the steak my partner had wasn’t cooked how we asked… the team were more than happy to rectify though and had no complaints! Will defo be back if ever in Manchester again

Just had an amazing breakfast! The Breakfast Burritos were massive and packed full of flavour, way better than I expected. Our waitress, Charlotte, was really friendly and made sure we had everything we needed, including refreshing cold orange juice and water. The whole place had a lovely atmosphere, and speed of service. Can't wait to come back for more!

Nice place for a meal near to the Lowry

Coffee with chocolate: excellent. Next generation brownie realy next generation.

We've eaten here a lot off time's over the years We understatement costs have gone up The service was ok the food was just ok the crispness of the service was missing and the casualness of the service was a bit disappointing maybe because tou had such high standards when you first opened that the relaxed dress and service is more noticeable

Steven the General Manager was super helpful. It was great to see him mucking in and taking orders etc. Just how a GM should be. Miles was great and looked after us brilliantly. A brilliant bar, fabulous atmosphere and wonderful cocktails. Will definitely be back

Pleasant environment with great service. I definitely recommend it.

Lovely spot - food delicious if not slight over priced! Sadly the alchemist have removed a lot of the theatre from their cocktails and simply on most just pop a dry Ice tablet in it for effect. Cocktails tasted ok but could be pre mixed in some cases!

We had a lovely evening here. The menu is varied and the food was tasty. The service was good and the waiter had an excellent knowledge of the menu and the cocktails. Nice location, close to a tram stop.

Great meal and service. Well worth trying if visiting the Lowry.

Birthday Tea I took my friend here for a birthday tea on 10/01/2018, food was gorgeous, restaurant was very busy and service was good. The fajitas were delicious and the presentation was outstanding (picture included) Looking forward to my next visit. Another fantastic meal today 25.01.2025 Food was amazing and the service was fantastic, never disappoint. Great team and service.

Came in for 1 of the legendary cocktails early afternoon. Quite quiet so atmosphere was not great. Bar staff and waiter staff were friendly enough. Irish cocktail was very good but served in a small jug? Quirky indeed but not cheap at £11 each!

Great view and quirky cocktails

Welcoming staff, help to choose our drinks acording to our preferences. Went with 20% January cocktails deal, nice atmosfere place was full and vibrant. Love the design and canal view

My family and I enjoyed a delicious meal before visiting the Lowry theatre and the cocktails are amazing.

had a great night on newyears eve

Came for NYE meal yesterday, service and food were great but we felt rushed so we could t enjoy the experience and my dessert was too hot to even eat so I had to leave it.

Very nice and unique cocktails, Charlotte was very helpful and super kind!

Went for drinks, something about this place and the bar staff made me and friends feel very uncomfortable

It was my second time in this restaurant , the last time it was very bad food I asked for a Caesar salad and they gave me half a lettuce. And this time they gave me a slightly burnt fillet. To take care of my partner and me we had to call someone because no one came to see us having 15 minutes at the table

Came for my work's christmas party. I was initially very nervous as upon checking the allergens, I found out I was allergic to almost everything on the menu. The server and kitchen were very accommodating and I managed to order what I fancied with the kitchen making it allergen free. The aubergine curry was the best curry I've ever had! I got a colour changing mocktail that had great novelty value. I thought it tasted awful but my colleagues loved it, so don't take my word for it. The outdoor area is on the waterfront and has a wonderful view, as well as covering and heating for when it's cold. Definitely make sure you give this place a go

It’s really good for drinks and the staff are lovely the atmosphere is good a little loud but great music only thing I will say is that the food is a bit mediocre. I had the hot honey chicken burger and it was not great the fries were good but the burger itself did not impress. My partner had the fish and “chips” they were fries and the batter was a bit hard to cut through, so yes I’d recommend for a good drink and a laugh but have your dinner elsewhere.

The best food, drink and all round atmosphere 🥰

Great atmosphere, brilliant service from friendly and attentive staff. Really good food, fish and chips and Katsu curry, highly recommend and will happily return next time we are in Media City

hi, everything was absolutely amazing! we were serviced by Louis and Miles and they were brilliant! both of them were very cheerful and helpful! we had an amazing time! we were celebrating a birthday and Steve the manager was exceptionally kind making a birthday dessert present for my friend hinself after the kitchen staff went home. couldn't recommend this place more! amazing experience yet again! never fails to impress :)

Food was absolutely amazing. Robert was so attentive all night. Thank you!

Yummy food AND drinks! Robert was great in serving us guys! Big thankyou to the team here made our experience 10/10

Came for a works night. 10/10 loved the vibe and Robert was so amazing Highly recommend

Had a fantastic time for our works night out. Would definitely recommend coming here for food and drinks. The food was delicious, and the rump steak was cooked to perfection! Thank you to Robert and Steve for looking after us, the service was 10/10🫶🏼

Great service. Our waitress was so friendly and knowledgeable. She was an absolute diamond. Fantastic food, sat in a super spot with lovely views. The whole place was comfy, clean and well maintained. All the staff were happy and friendly. 5 stars.

Absolutely loved my recent visit! I’ve been to media city alchemist a few times and this time was as good as always! The food and drinks were top-notch, with everything from the Chicken Gyoza to the Panko Halloumi impressing me—great flavours and presentation. Our server, Emily, was just wonderful, providing friendly, personalised service that made the evening even better. The atmosphere was lively, and I genuinely felt I got fantastic value for money. I can't wait to return!

Party of six visited yesterday. Everyone enjoyed their meal. There was a good atmosphere and the place is in a great position, with a view overlooking the canal and situated close to the theatre. Good range of drinks, a little pricey, but only to be expected with what the venue presents. Nice service, but sometimes difficult to draw the waiters’ attention. Steve, the manager, to be congratulated on his inter personal skills and operational skills. We enjoyed it that much we returned for ‘ after theatre drinks’!

"I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to Miss Kamile for your excellent service and constant smile. The drink you served was absolutely delicious, and I truly enjoyed it. Thank you for your cooperation and kindness, as you made our journey more comfortable and enjoyable. Much appreciation for your efforts. Best regards, Ahmed"

Came here with a few girls, really lively atmosphere for a Wednesday! Had the loveliest server Jake, what a credit to the team, actual sweetheart and so polite and friendly I hope you show him this - will definitely be returning ☺️ Food was gorj too I recommend the steak sandwich 🍴

I had a disappointing experience at the bar where two guys were serving drinks. They seemed to take advantage of how busy it was and my unfamiliarity with the drink prices. Not only did they overcharge me, but they also didn’t let me choose the tip amount—they applied it themselves without my consent and acted as though it was just the standard. I found their behavior disrespectful and unprofessional, and it left me feeling quite offended

Nice atmosphere, delicious food, beautiful view

A lunch outside in the sunshine in October! Service was very pleasant and rapid. The food was amazing! Panko halloumi with chilli jam with just the right amount of spice. Cheeseburger with juicy patties of beef. Salt and pepper fries were delicious. Thoroughly recommend!

Amazing staff, food and location. Highly recommend!

Nice place especially the outside decking area, only negative is the card terminal asking for tips before you pay for drinks.

Great cocktail bar, went for food and drinks before a show, service was brilliant to start but as it got busier we weren't able to get attention of our server. When they were with us though really friendly, attentive and helpful! Food was brilliant and the cocktails are to die for! Amazing show cocktails, magic as they call it! Also gorgeous view of media city if you sit outside, perfect on a sunny day!

The team at The Alchemist MediaCityUK. was incredibly not professional and efficient. They arrived on time, worked quickly and carefully, and handled all of my belongings with care.

Beautiful food, good atmosphere and great staff. In all, a fantastic place to spend time with family or friends.

All good, food , service, price, had a lovely lunch, Very happy

Last visited: September 2024 Local restaurant/bar. For the past few years, I've dropped by for breakfast. Before then, it was evenings for food and cocktails.... hence the range of pictures attached. Please note: they have changed the Full English Breakfast.... 😞. No longer like these pics.

One of my best experiences , basket of chicken was amazing , the staff were really attentive

Great staff, super friendly and helpful. Really lovely atmosphere, great selection of drinks. Would highly recommend.

Charged for two drinks that were not ours. Only realised the day after when I checked the receipt. Chasing for a refund, however no reply as of yet.

The food, staff and atmosphere was just lovely. We had 3 courses and drinks all impressively presented and delicious. Definitely book a table before you go. Didn't see any children there which suited us.

I am very dissaponted with the service I recived, I wasnt greeted by anyone when entering, no staff acknowledged me entering and freely walking around the venue, I went to the bar to order drinks and was waiting for around 5 minutes before any bar staff took notice, the staff was having unrelated conversations between eachother and talking about what they will. Do this weekend, another was on his phone while messing around with icecubes throwing them back into tw ice pile with his bare hands and messing around on his phone, the other staff was having a personal conversation with someone at the bar. There was 4 staff and 3 was doing noting and didn't even take notice of custom at the bar. I asked for prices and they didn't know any of them and took a while to find out, she asked me how I wanted my drink yet did the exact opposite, I asked for a small dash of lemonade, I got a full glass, 2 ice Cubes but got 3. When paying I asked if there's an option to pay no service fee, she declined, I asked for a recipt but they didn't have any paper in the card machine. This is my first and last time I will come as the service was terrible and staff was inadequate for a stylish and really nice venue. On a bank holiday afternoon it was extremely quiet and that may be down to the staff

The place gets absolute top marks for atmosphere as it overlooks the river, definitely worth getting a river facing seat for but even if not the ambience indoors is fine too. Service was good standard not exceptional and food was ok too. I got the chicken in a basket and whilst I was disappointed, I think It was more so with my choice as I didn’t pay attention so what exactly it was and ended up feeling like a child eating dry chicken and chips but the calamari was lovely

Hopeless- table booked months in advance and not available 20 minutes after the booking. I am sure they would have charged me if I was 16 minutes late. The worst place near Media City.

Top location, beautiful view , extraordinary cocktails selection.

Now this is what I call a cocktail bar! Unusual cocktails with a bit of drama in the presentation. Well staffed by polite, nicely trained and well informed staff.

Location was good and the views of the water. The food was somewhat disappointing for the price paid. Bao buns were just about edible but definitely not what you would call an authentic bao bun! Similar with the katsu curry Overall the staff at this location were attentive.

What better place you can go to Manchester?.. the view; the staff; the food; it truly is a world class and I mean it; I mean it !.. Always your Gio

The view is interesting but not pretty. The food is excellent and the prices are entirely reasonable.

A lovely experience. Excellent food and friendly staff.

What a shame. Door staff very rude. Come for a drink 1 hour before closing time. Closing time is at 1am. Door staff very disappointing attitude saying the venue is close. Will never ever try anymore to have a drink in here

Love this place food is tasty and bit quirky cocktails are fun and a bit magical lovely helpful efficient staff all set in an upbeat positive musical ambience can.t wait ti go again.

Good place to have a drink, a good selection of cocktails. Did not have food, so I was not able to comment on this

Was in the area with some colleagues and we decided to pop in to have lunch ,what a great choice! Excellent service and the food was really good. Sadly we haven’t been able to try their cocktails as we were going back to the office. Had the chicken katsu curry and it has been really tasty. Highly recommended!

The staff here are brilliant. The whole experience of the way they serve cocktails is exciting and so much fun. Quality unusual cocktails and top class food. It's worth paying that bit extra for this. Not to mention being able to enjoy this by the water.

Best hot chocolate for this windy whether 🔥, Ice American so good recommended

Totally unexpected delight to dine here. Really tasty, exquisite food and friendly service.

Great location overlooking the water at Media City, stand alone stunning building. Very reasonably priced food, nice drinks menu. Great service.

Great breakfasts all round yesterday. Thank you. We’ve been here a few times now and always had a great meal.

Just went in for drinks. Drinks and service were fantastic.

Amazing theatrical mixology bar with tasty finger food to boot. Nice view over the water, keep on blending! Ps have a nice gluten-free beer

Very nice looking building from the outside, beautiful views, We came here for food during the week, it was fairly nice, When the host sat us down, it took abit of time for our order to be taken but we weren’t in any rush. They had a good allergen matrix aswell. Not sure if I would go back in a hurry but it was definitely worth while for a visit.

Madeline and Eleanor served us a year ago and even remembered who we were, this made our whole experience so welcoming. Charlotte served our cocktails tonight and even though she’s in training you would never know. What a professional. Thank you for a stunning evening.

The order of 2 steak meals came cooked incorrectly, both ordered medium, but one came out very well done. Wej had to wait 15 mins for a replacement steak, by which time the sides were cold. The steak then came correctly cooked, but the replacement sides were another 10 minutes. The restaurant wasn't busy. I expected better.

No wonder staff are leaving left right and centre hence Horrendous management team. Got along with everyone there one night last week (public) lot of nice people like myself. One tells me to F Off for saying hello and I get barred for moving away from an idiot 🤣 Raising complaint on discrimination grounds. What will be will be as plenty of other decent places here there and everywhere..Doorman here also sneaky and fake. Cheers

Not my usual type of place to be honest but was ok and service excellent

Went to try a smoking cocktail, wasn't disappointed

I could not fault this place. Had a peak at the old reviews and i could not disagree more.I have been 2 days in a row on my trip and its iust an amazing atmosphere great service and tonight we received AMAZING service from louis. A very sweet young man who talked to us and was overall very friendly. He recommended us a drink each and the drinks where the best cocktails i have ever tasted! Will definitely be returning on my next visit!

Elena and Stef they are really star of company ! They should get pay raises:) Amazing services by them ! Make our day! Chef of kitchen and kitchen big thx for a amazing food ! Xx

Wonderful food. Staff friendly and efficient

really good pre Lowry meal at the Alchemist, ticked all the boxes.

The food was good, but the portions a bit small compared to other restaurants in Manchester. The fast and very good service, and the excellent location, a special view. Paid parking but very close to the location.

Delicious food and drinks. We Will definitely be back.

Our alchemist Katrina was amazing, super knowledgeable and very helpful with any questions even when she was busy. A credit to the place. Will come again.

Starters n mains were great. Bit disappointed with dessert. Menu said s'mores...it was 2 choc chip cookies on a plate with dipping sauce.