CityLife

Northern Quarter

NQ: the great outdoors

WHEN the temperature ratchets up a barfly’s thoughts naturally turn to the great outdoors. 

The schizophrenic weather means long afternoons in beer gardens remain, for the time being at least, a hazy fantasy. But taking your cocktail outside to enjoy in the fresh summer breeze is something we can all get behind. 

Basking in the five-minute sun windows between downpours, caipirinha in hand, is not only what summer was made for: it’s good for the soul.

Of course, it helps when the bar you’ve bought your drink from has somewhere to accommodate sun seekers, so you’re not just left fending for yourself on the pavement, fighting passers-by for elbow room. 

Critically acclaimed

And the Northern Quarter Restaurant and Bar, situated on High Street a little down the road from Bluu, now has the facilities to deliver.

Better known for its locally sourced, critically acclaimed menu (check out its champagne and seafood gourmet night on September 30 to find out why), it’s also got a decent sized selection of outdoor seating on the pavement opposite the bar, in the sometimes-shadow of the original Smithfield fish market façade. 

A modern counterpoint to the more traditional styling of long running restaurant neighbour The Market, TNQ’s plain though undoubtedly stylish interior makes it a fine place to dine, with grown-up cocktails to accompany your meal, but it’s certainly not your typical bar setting.

So they upped the ante for summer and, hey presto, created an instant European-style cosmopolitan drinking experience that non-diners can enjoy.

Other bars in the Northern Quarter will compete for the title of best cocktail bar but CityLife is enjoying our time in the TNQ sun.