With social media littered with suggestions of where to find secret or hidden bars, the act of stumbling across a great new spot seems unlikely these days. So, when you do actually find a hidden gem, it’s all the more satisfying.
Thankfully, there are plenty to uncover in Manchester, and while some hide behind fake shop frontages, others are tucked down back streets just waiting to be discovered. The best ones won’t be signposted - that would be too easy - and others will require a bit of legwork as you navigate passageways of historic warehouses or former hat factories.
These bars aren’t all about the chase though, as they’re serving up some of the best cocktails in the city - and a selection of the watering holes below have been named amongst the UK’s top bars this past week. And, beyond the booze, many offer top-notch entertainment from live music and comedy nights, to cinemas screenings.
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So, it would be fair to say that subterranean drinking dens are a Manchester speciality - you just need to know where to find them. While there’s plenty of secret tiki bars, neon-soaked basement spots and bars where time has stood still to explore in the Northern Quarter, there’s a handful dotted around the rest of the city too.
Let's lift the lid on some of Manchester’s best secret and hidden bars…
Parla
On the edge of the Northern Quarter, lying beneath the pavements of High Street you’ll find Parla, an Italian-inspired drinking spot serving up classic cocktails and late-night snacks. Sitting below sister concept the award-winning vegan pizza parlour Purezza, it’s one of only a few bars in the city centre to offer a completely vegan menu.
Step behind the velvet curtain at the foot of the stairs and you’ll find a rather romantic bar, decked out with mirror balls, vintage lighting and plush vegan leather booths, awaits. Prohibition era, speakeasy-style cocktails with a twist are the focus - think Clover Club made with Manchester Tart Gin, riffs on Old Fashioned and Negronis and a couple of dessert-style tipples like Tiramisu Martini and the Crème Brulee.
Parla can be found in the basement of Purezza, 75-77 High St, M4 1FS.
Project Halcyon
Not many will know about this next addition, but beneath the original Coronation Street cobbles lies an award-winning cocktail bar. Called Project Halcyon, it’s the work of Zymurgorium Distillery, a craft gin distillery which opened just before the pandemic hit.
Situated underground at the Department Bonded Warehouse, the refurbished 1800s red brick building on the old Granada Studios site, and beneath the original cobbles of the Coronation Street set, it was just named one of the UK’s Top 50 Bars. A series of passageways leads to the bar, which is also home to a dedicated absinthe room called the snug, an in-house distillery and laboratory where they create all of their spirits, liqueurs, tinctures, ferments, cordials, syrups and shrubs.
The bar says it aims to transport visitors to very specific times and places through its cocktails, conjuring up a ‘wistful’ sense of nostalgia. Its current bar menu features original creations and house classics - from rhubarb heavy tipples inspired by the Vikings, to bourbon-fuelled creations harking back to prohibition, all bases are covered.
Bonded Warehouse, Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4AP
Behind Closed Doors
Hidden away in a basement beneath the buzzing Oldham Street, the tiny doorway of this Northern Quarter bar is easily missed. At one time you would have to ring a buzzer to be admitted, though they seem to have dropped that now, but that’s beside the point really, because follow the staircase down and you’ll find a den decorated with vintage chandeliers, mismatched mirrors and old TVs.
This cheeky basement cocktail bar perhaps isn’t one for the prudes, especially if you peruse the cocktail menu and find drinks like Wet Dream alongside eye-popping illustrations. But, if you’re up for a bit of fun this is just the place. You’ll also find retro rotary dial telephones fitted in all the booths, which you can use to order in your drinks from the bar - or just call fellow guests.
91-95 Oldham Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1LW
The Washhouse
It might well be hidden, but ask any Mancunian who goes out in town regularly and they’ll probably have paid a visit to The Washhouse. From the outside it's designed to look like an old laundrette on Shudehill, but don’t worry, the staff here will not be attending to your laundry needs or piles of washing, but serving up very unique cocktails.
You have to know the “secret code” that lets you in via a 70s-style phone outside but, once you’re in, what lies beyond the mock façade is a hidden world of Mad Men chic, intimate leather booths and high-end cocktails. At one point there wasn’t even a telephone number to pre-book but thankfully that can now be found on their website to avoid any embarrassment.
19 Shudehill, M4 2AF
Science and Industry
Within the Northern Quarter's Cane & Grain bar, a spot that takes inspiration from its previous incarnation as a skater shop with 80s-style skateboards for seats, you’ll find a hidden cocktail laboratory if you just scratch beneath the surface a little.
Hidden behind a door disguised as a stack of wooden beer crates you’ll find Science and Industry, an eccentric and experimental hideaway with full table service to boot. This dedicated drinks laboratory has been created to allow the bartenders to experiment with flavours and scientific techniques that help them develop their unique cocktails. Split into signature cocktails (£11), house classics (£10), highballs (£10) and low-abv (£8), you can’t go wrong with either Bishop’s Wife - a savoury salute to a herb garden or Heartless - a delicious mix of brandy, anise, cane sugar and bitters.
Cane and Grain, 49-51 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1N
Dusk til Pawn
You could easily miss this drinking spot in the heart of the Northern Quarter thanks to its top-tier disguise. The exterior of the bar is designed to look like an old-fashioned pawn shop, with metal bars covering vintage gems like guitars and jewellery alongside outdated electronics.
At one point they even had people turning up with old TVs and keyboards in the hope of trading them in. Turns out the only currency at this moody and brooding speakeasy is very good drinks including their riff on classics like the Old Fashioned. Pull up a pew or kick back on one of their sofas, grab a drink or just have a riffle through the jukebox selection.
Dusk til Pawn, Stevenson Square, Northern Quarter
Corbieres
This subterranean hidden gem tucked away on Half Moon Street, beneath St Ann's Square, was the centre of Manchester’s music scene even before the Hacienda changed the course of the city’s cultural history.
The underground den - with its cave-like ceiling - hosted early performances from Inspiral Carpets’ previous incarnation, as well as The Happy Mondays, and it's been a popular haunt with stars including Oasis and Mick Hucknall in the past.
It's been going strong for over 40 years now, and has changed ownership since it was created by former Manchester City player Mike Doyle and his business partner Tony Miles, but it's jukebox remains one of the treasured in the city, with its stellar selection one of the main reasons people drop by - though its drinks selection is very respectable too.
Corbieres, 2 Half Moon Street, Manchester M2 7PB
The Daisy
At street level lies Evelyn's, a popular Northern Quarter restaurant serving up brunch classics by day and refined small plates by night. Downstairs though, and perfect for a post-dinner tipple is The Daisy, a super-stylish, Parisian-inspired subterranean bar serving cocktails and late night escapism by the bucket load.
There’s a real retro feel to the space, with its velvet sofas, funky tiled walls and 70s-style lampshades. There’s only limited space so booking is advised if you want to get your hands on one of their French-inspired cocktails including Beaucoup with gin, yuzu and orange blossom, or the Un Peu with chardonnay, bergamot and peach.
44 Tib St, Manchester M4 1NB
Wood & Company
Nestled on South King Street, Wood & Company could easily be missed with its disguised entrance and backstreet location adjacent to the main pedestrianised King Street. Beyond its unmarked door, punters descend the steps down to a sleek and tiled bar brought to life by the team behind Dusk ‘til Pawn and NoHo on Stevenson Square.
Look for the white tiled wall and the red ‘goods entrance’ sign, and you’re in. Once settled, take a seat at one of their dark-leather booths before sitting back and enjoying one of their exquisite cocktails.
39 South King Street, Manchester
Speak in Code
Situated between Jackson Row and Lloyd Street, just off of Deansgate, Speak in Code, or SiC as it’s known to its friends, which has been making waves on the Manchester bar scene since 2018. Quality service, imaginative cocktails and comfort food served against a backdrop of hip hop playlists await for those that are curious.
Landing at number 12 in the 2024 ranking of the Top 50 Bars for 2024, Speak in Code is entirely plant-based and its cocktails are also sustainably focused with a reduce, reuse and repurpose approach. Nodding to the music undercurrent, cocktails are referred to as ‘tracks’, and span tipples like the sparkling Track 1 with pear pulp-infused vodka and cherry blossom vermouth to Track 9 made with discarded grape skin vodka, pampello amaro and chamomile wine cordial. They also have an excellent small plates menu with mock duck steamed buns and cauliflower wings.
7 Jackson’s Row, Manchester, M2 5ND
Red Light
Just a few years back, Little David Street was overrun with weeds and moss. Chained off and tucked out of view, the 'secret' street was not on anyone’s radar until Kampus, a new neighbourhood or apartments and buzzing restaurants and bars arrived. Cue Red Light, a reservations-only, LGBTQ+ cocktail den, which opened up in the regenerated Minshull warehouse last May.
The brainchild of Deana Ferguson, who has worked in Manchester's hospitality scene for the past decade, the intimate bar is focused on bringing a premium cocktail experience to the village and celebrates both the original features of the warehouse and the local queer community. The drinks menu, devised by Deana and her mixologists features twists on classics like ‘Artist’s Special #2’ with whiskey and sherry, while ‘Red Light Calling’ is a riff on the classic London Calling and features home-made lychee soda and coconut fat-washed gin.
4-2 Little David St, Manchester M1 3GL
Sterling
Hidden in the vault of Manchester’s Stock Exchange Hotel is Sterling, one of the bars from the brothers behind the much-loved Quay Street bar Schofield’s. It was in large part due to the ground laid at their first bar that they landed the opportunity to set up Sterling, with the hotel’s owner, ex-United icon Gary Neville, having been a fan of their work.
Joe and Dan, who also own Atomeca at Deansgate Square, cut their teeth working at a host of world class bars, and wanted to elevate the idea of a hotel bar by putting hospitality and service first. The low-lit bar, with its leather booths also features a private room with the bar’s impressive wine collection.
4 Norfolk St, Manchester M2 1DW
