Sora

Perched on the roof of Malmaison Deansgate, Sora looks out over Manchester’s skyline with a quietly dramatic poise, the perfect backdrop for fresh sushi.

Part Japanese restaurant, part sushi and cocktail bar, it is the sort of rooftop retreat that suits romantic dates, relaxed dinners and those golden-hour moments when the city begins to glitter.

Sharing is part of the rhythm here. Think steamed edamame with yuzu and citrus salt, crispy fried rice bites with tonkatsu sauce, Korean-style cauliflower glossed in gochujang and tempura tiger prawns with sweet chilli. From the coals, Loch Duart salmon teriyaki finds lift in ponzu mayo, and a grass-fed strip loin meets salsa verde, garlic crisps and soy.

On the plate, Sora leans into modern Japanese flavours and technique. Chefs move between pristine nigiri, sashimi and maki and the lick of the robata grill, balancing purity with a little swagger. The green dragon roll coils crisp tempura prawns with salmon and avocado, brightened by sesame yuzu-kosho and a flicker of sriracha, while tuna nigiri arrives crowned with tobiko, precision in two bites.

To finish, mochi ice cream or stem ginger marshmallows with almond crumb and chocolate sauce gives that sweet ending.

Make a date with the skyline, settle in to share and savour, and let the night roll.