Every city has that one cool district that becomes a haven for weird and wonderful ventures, and in Manchester it's this one. To help you find your next favourite spot, we've rounded up the best quirky bars in the Northern Quarter.
Bursting with trendy types and creative minds, it's a goldmine for unusual places to drink. Find retro gaming bars, karaoke dens, unusual cocktails and more below.
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Bunny's Karaoke brings you the ultimate dive bar karaoke experience, loaded with the same energetic vibe as Bunny Jackson's and Junior Jackson's. Relish in 25p wings, free karaoke, and a selection of American beers. Don't forget about pool or the option to reserve a private karaoke room, available for just £50.
One of the best bars in Manchester's Northern Quarter thanks to the vast collections of its namesake spirit, The Whiskey Jar does exactly what it says on the tin. From scotch to bourbon, Irish pours and cocktails, there's everything you could ever need here.
Shack Bar & Grill really has got a little bit of everything, from disco-themed bottomless brunches to resident DJs every weekend. Head down to the basement for live sports coverage, ping pong, pool tables and darts, or nab fully loaded burgers and refreshing cocktails to wash it all down.
From morning 'til night, this quirky little number has all your drinking and dining needs sorted. There's bottomless brunch, a killer happy hour and plenty of signature concoctions in store, all served up in a variety of unique spaces.
Situated in the Northern Quarter, Kahiki Soundhouse is a lively venue combining live music with a stylish cocktail bar. The space features regular DJ sets and performances, supported by high-quality sound and a central stage that brings everything together.
Guests can sip on premium cocktails long into the night, with doors open until 4am. On the weekend, you can also enjoy a Showtime bottomless brunch filled with live entertainment, sing-alongs and tasty tacos, coming in at £42 per person. Even better? There are also private karaoke rooms available to book.
Fancy immersing yourself in a neon-lit world of arcade games? Us too. So, head on over to NQ64 in Manchester's Northern Quarter or pay a visit to its sister site on Peter Street to find a wide selection of retro delights such as Guitar Hero, House Of The Dead and Street Fighter. Hungry? Crazy Pedro's is on hand to serve up some cracking pizza and there are themed cocktails such as the fruity Full Tilt or Lara's Lost, a delicious spritz.
The Fitzgerald is one of this city's hidden gems. With gorgeous Art Deco interiors and handcrafted cocktails, the speakeasy bar makes for a fabulous spot to relax with a glass of the strong stuff. It also doubles up as a swoon-worthy location for romantic date nights.
Found on Newton Street, Head of Steam is a stylish craft beer bar housed in a beautifully restored Grade II-listed building. The venue is spacious and versatile, featuring exposed brick walls and a striking circular bar at its centre.
With 30 beer lines on offer, including 24 keg and six cask, you can sample a wide range of UK and Belgian brews. These are complemented by award-winning smash burgers from local favourites That Burger Place. As for entertainment? This sports screenings, darts, live music and DJ sets.
With snug nooks, exposed brick, velvet seating and large front windows, Stray is as inviting in the evening as it is in the afternoon. Intimate and unfussy, it's perfect for a post-work drink, casual date or long evening catching up over cocktails.
There's plenty to sip and savour here, from refined classics to an ever-changing choice of signatures like the Tomato Vine Margarita. Already a fixture in the UK's Top 50 Cocktail Bars, this place is must-visit for lovers of all things mixology.
First opened in 2020, the Ad Hoc Wine Shop has quickly gained a reputation for top notch vino without the fuss. Its shelves are stacked with out-of-this-world bottles sourced directly from renowned importers.
Pitch up in a window seat to watch the world go by as you taste your way through certified classics, modern movers and some of the very best low-intervention tipples around. The best part is, when you're ready to leave, you can grab your favourite bottles to take home with you.
This Northern Quarter haunt has a little something for everyone. With a great wine and beer selection to soothe the post-work drinkers, a delicious food menu for the date night crowd, and a weekend late license for a party vibe, there's no occasion Trof can't rise to.
Thanks to cocktails served in glass slippers, a life-sized phone box for snapping picks and foliage decorations, On The Hush will have you feeling like the belle of the ball. Plus, it's got the lively bottomless brunches to match.
An achingly cool destination, Jimmy's is known for budget wings, rock 'n' roll and its own lager courtesy of London Brewery Portobello. For a fun time that won't break the bank, this is where to get over to.
Quirky live music bars in Manchester's Northern Quarter don't get much better than Night and Day Cafe. Known for its roster of affordable (or totally free) nights out, this place will have you munching by day and grooving once the sun goes down.
Fashioned from the outside like an old-timey pawn shop, this secret spot is also one of the most unique cocktail bars in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Full of vintage TVs, musical instruments and other debris, this is an absolute must for fans of weird and wonderful interiors.
Found tucked away underneath Evelyn's Cafe Bar, The Daisy is a slick hidden gem that's shaking up all kinds of cocktails inspired by its name. The Parisian-inspired den is a looker too, fronting cool wall art, tiles and velvet sofas.
A top pick of unusual Indie bars in Manchester's Northern Quarter, Lost In Toyko not only has a playlist of bangers, but also a range of Japanese-inspired cocktails to sip through across the underground space. If that's not your thing? Expect the usual lineup of beers, spirits and more.
From late-night partying and popcorn-topped cocktails to table tennis, beer pong and darts, Twenty Twenty Two has unique offerings by the bucket load. Whether you're looking for a chill one getting competitive with your mates or a blowout bash, here's where to head.
Having established itself as one of the original places to catch live music in this part of the city, Band on the Wall oozes charm and soul. Topping it off? A brand spanking new bar and a continued global reputation for finding new bands.
The Northern Quarter has a long tradition of independent, creative nightlife that goes well beyond a standard pub or cocktail bar. Quirky here tends to mean one of a few things: a disguised or secret entrance (like Dusk 'til Pawn's fake pawn shop façade), a strong immersive theme (Lost in Tokyo's Japanese underground aesthetic), retro gaming (NQ64's neon-splattered arcade), or a venue tucked into an unexpected space — like The Daisy, hidden beneath Evelyn's Cafe Bar. It's this density of genuinely original concepts that sets the NQ apart from the rest of the city.
Yes — the NQ is home to some of Manchester's best-kept drinking secrets. Dusk 'til Pawn is disguised behind a convincing pawn shop window on Stevenson Square, complete with vintage stock in the window to fool passers-by. The Fitzgerald is only accessible through a backstreet entrance, with moody Art Deco interiors and a speakeasy atmosphere inside. The Daisy, meanwhile, is tucked away in a basement beneath Evelyn's Cafe Bar, with Parisian-inspired decor and cocktails inspired by its floral name.
The Fitzgerald is a standout for date nights — its backstreet speakeasy entrance, 1920s-inspired glassware, velvet sofas, and handcrafted cocktails create an atmosphere that's hard to beat for romance. For something more relaxed, Stray on Newton Street offers snug nooks, exposed brick, and an ever-changing cocktail menu including signatures like the Tomato Vine Margarita — intimate and unfussy, it's ideal for a long evening catching up over drinks.
Several do. Head of Steam pairs its 30-strong beer selection with award-winning smash burgers from local favourites That Burger Place. Jimmy's is known for budget wings alongside its rock 'n' roll atmosphere and own-brand lager. NQ64 has Crazy Pedro's pizza on hand until late, making it a solid option if you want to keep the gaming going without leaving for food. Shack Bar & Grill, as the name suggests, covers both bases with a full food and drinks offering alongside its weekend DJ sets.
