No doubt a firm favourite for nightlife in Birmingham and Liverpool, Albert Schloss and its ‘Seven Days of Showtime’ are also perfectly placed on Peter Street, right in buzz of Manchester. Although I am by no means a stranger to the venue – it has seen many a weekend celebration and some of my best two-stepping dance moves – never had I ever sampled their Cook Haus menu. Scandalous, I know. Putting a weeknight spin on its self-proclaimed ‘endless naughtiness’, Albert Schloss had most certainly stepped up the game as I sat down to eat and be entertained.
Welcome to the bier house; read on for our Manchester restaurants review of Albert's Schloss.
As backwards as it sounds, the atmosphere of Albert Schloss in one word would be… relaxed. Despite its near 24/7 opening hours and elaborate nightly shows, the venue has a warmth of familiarity. Think wooden furniture, exposed brickwork, huge windows, and lots of bare lightbulbs giving a soft glow to the room. That is until the disco ball is lit up and the party really starts. Sitting in the corner of the large open plan room, the restaurant area isn’t too defined. Boasting full view of the main stage, while being a welcome distance from it, the space allowed us to move effortlessly between engaging with the entertainment and focusing on our own table’s pocket of conversation.
A live band playing well-chosen hits kicked off our Tuesday visit. The likes of Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, and Fleetwood Mac provided an ideal backdrop for a good girlie catch-up with one of my best friends and, of course, a chance to dive into the Albert's Schloss Manchester drinks menu. Looking for something refreshing, we both landed on the elderflower and raspberry Spritz (£10). Cool, tasty, and pretty in pink, it got us off to a winning start before any food had even arrived. In no time, we were tucking into our starters, choosing to share the ultimate alpine krokette (£7.50) and paprika prawns (£9). A fromage-lovers dream, the three croquettes balls were a mix of four deep-fried mountain cheeses. Crisp on the outside yet creamy on the inside, these beauties were topped off by a herb sauce and tomato garnish. The prawns did not disappoint either, arriving equally as well-fried, paired with both paprikash and Frankfurt dips for an extra bit of flavour.
Live music starts off an evening of cabaret here.
Naturally, the short gap between courses meant we simply had to order another round of cocktails. Putting an unexpected twist on classic tipples, the limoncello mojito (£10) and flat white martini (£10) stood out from the incredibly extensive list. The lighter, creamier sister to the espresso martini had an added sweetness thanks to the 'haus' salted caramel schnapps, while the rum-based pour transformed a staple holiday shot into a pleasantly sour long drink. Two ideal pick-me-ups after a long working day.
As for the food? Unable to resist the Bier Halle section, I opted for the baron burger (£18.50). Despite packing taleggio cheese, crispy maple bacon, caramelised onion, fried onion, truffle mayo and a smoked beef fat patty, it wasn't too messy to eat (a win for me, and my makeup). Although a solid choice served alongside a healthy helping of fries, it didn’t quite knock my socks off taste-wise. My guest concluded that you can’t go far wrong with the Tyrolean schnitzel (£18.50). In a nutshell, the crispy coated chicken breast accompanied by ‘nduja, mozzarella, parmesan, and spaghetti pomodoro was the perfect example of a simpler dish. Still delicious yet not at all spicy, it allowed us to dip our toes into the cuisine of alpine Europe.
The Albert's Schloss Manchester menu delivered as much as the entertainment.
We passed up desserts in favour of the black cherry kaiser (£12) and cherry yuzu spritz (£10) drinks. Despite their respective gin and vodka-fruit liqueur bases, both tasted as though they were straight out of an old school sweet shop. Satisfied and ready for the Kunst Kabaret to begin, we settled down for the day's performances. Without giving too much away (this is a spoiler-free zone), the stripped-back space of Albert Schloss only served to further amplify the fabulous creativity of Tuesday’s artists. Showcasing side-splitting one-liners from Sally TM, and utter drag excellence from the likes of Whiplash, Miss Terry Box, and Anna Phylactic, the weekly event just kept talent coming. Eden and Aime’s act even took a turn from the high notes of classical opera to Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero. Absolutely iconic.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Possibly one of the most versatile venues around, Albert's Schloss Manchester absolutely nails a balance of simple interiors and comfort food alongside wild entertainment with late night opening times. Its minimal backdrop acts almost as a blank canvas for performers and guests alike to express themselves, meaning the easy atmosphere gives an overwhelming sense of inclusivity. Occupying the tables around me were couples, groups of friends, families with grown-up kids, and even single diners – truly a crowd pleaser if ever I saw one.
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💰 The damage: £135 for a two-course meal and four cocktails each. 📍 The location: 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR. 👌 Perfect for: Fun dinners and drinks with entertainment. ⭐ Need to know: Head downstairs for disco toilets and a £1 photo booth. |
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