Secret Bars in Manchester

Cane and Grain may be a well-known name on the Manchester drinks scene, but it's their first-floor bar, Science & Industry, that harbours the very best in boozy secrets. New Orleans-inspired and hidden behind an elusive door, this space screams rustic interiors and cool cocktails. 

Tucked away in a basement just off Deansgate, this hidden Manchester gem is a secret that's well worth discovering. Venture away from the main drag of Deansgate bars and you'll discover a cool, unpretentious crowd enjoying great music and fantastic cocktails at The Liquor Store.

Housed within a barbershop, ONE EIGHT SIX is a bar with a whole lot more than just trims on the menu. Head to Deansgate and delve downstairs where live soul and Motown hits set the tone for cocktails like espresso martinis, highballs and bubbling numbers.

You'd be forgiven for passing Convenience Store and just thinking it's another newsagents in the Northern Quarter. But step inside and you'll find a neon-lit candy shop serving up a selection of retro sweets and chocolate bars, alongside sodas, slushies and, of course, cocktails.

Just because you think you can wash your underwear, doesn't mean you can. And just because you don't think you can get stunning cocktails here, doesn't mean you can't. One of the sexiest secret Manchester bars, immerse yourself in drinks behind the facade of a launderette. 

Not one for the easily offended, Behind Closed Doors boasts a list of sexed-up drinks. Once you've found the entrance to this Northern Quarter bolt hole, you'll have to ring the right number to be let into their lair of kitsch cocktails, retro 70s interiors, and cool DJ nights. 

Hidden beneath Evelyn's is a private members club with a cheeky secret. This plush and sexy haven is great for coffees and co-working in the day, but by night the cocktails and music come out to play. To get in? You need to submit an application – via Instagram.

One of the most unassuming and secret places to drink in Manchester, Gaslamp comes at you with vintage minimalism and subterranean charm just shy of Deansgate. Head on down and drink your way amongst kitsch nitbits and retro white tiling. 

Discreet? These cool kids have got it more than covered. From the front, Dusk til Pawn looks like a quirky little pawnshop, but step past the facade and prepared to be welcomed into one of the finest and most clandestine bars in Manchester.

A cafe by day and a cool jazz bar by night, Speak in Code might not classify itself as secret, but it's pretty darn hard to find. Tucked away on Jackson's Row, this spot brings you vegan eats, craft drinks and live music five nights of the week.

Referred to by locals as 'The Temple of Convenience' due to its former life as a public toilet, this Oxford Road underground bar is a popular hang out with local indie types and musicians (it's one of Guy Garvey's favourites) thanks to its great jukebox, good beer selection and rock n roll vibes. 

Concealed in the Northern Quarter's Short Street, NQ64 is the dimly-lit bar that pairs classic arcade games with themed cocktails and craft beer. Expect retro console, glowing graffiti and UV galore with titles from Goldeneye to Mortal Kombat.

Hidden underneath the foodie cool of Dogs N Dough, 17 Below is a secret bar in Manchester that's primed for those that want a little entertainment with their evening. Head on down to this subterranean and neon plot for pool tables, arcade games and a slick 1980s theme.