While Manchester may pride itself on being at the forefront of cool, we like to think that a dash of the unusual goes a fair way in our dapper city. With a plethora of bars in MCR coming up quirky trumps, we've cultivated a list of weird and wonderful drinking endeavours in the city; from toilet bars to warehouse dens. Check out our recommendations for some of the most weird and wonderful bars in Manchester, discovering a treasure trove of quirky whims and peculiar liquid wonder.
Fronting locations in Media City, Spinningfields, and New York Street, The Alchemist is a brilliant shout for your quirky concoctions. You'll get to enjoy theatrical tipples and yummy nibbles in a sleek backdrop. Our favourite drink? The Red Dead Zombie is fab.
Beer vending machines? Graffiti walls? Gourmet hot dogs? Salt Dog Slims certainly has a lot going for it as one of Manchester's most quirky bars. Aside from this, expect pool to play in between sipping your way through a signature cocktail list.
The Brewers is bringing delicious tipples to Manchester's Gay Village. Look out for fantastic, lively cabaret nights, DJ sets and more as Canal Street comes to life a night.
Thirsty? Check out premium spirits, shots, bubbly, wine and classic cocktails like mojitos and daiquiris, and happy hour means you can get your hands on 2-for-1 tipples every day of the week.
@ Alcotraz Penitentiary: Manchester on Various dates from Wednesday 6th May 2026
Gather your mates, sport orange jumpsuits and venture over to Alcotraz Manchester: Cell Block Three-Four where you'll be locked up behind bars and have to smuggle in your own liquor to get served.
Sneak past the warden and watch as inmates whip up bespoke tipples with your contraband in this fantastic, immersive experience with a theatre-like production.
From bottomless brunches to epic DJs and live entertainment, BLVD is one seriously fun drinking den. Inspired by Miami, New York and LA, it's the perfect plot for sliders and a few cocktails, followed by an evening of dancing.
If you're on the hunt for a bar with entertainment, then Impossible is your drinking destination. Head downstairs to uncover a nightlife experience with a catwalk, theatre and private VIP areas for all the cabaret and performances you could ever need.
Doesn't get more weird than a bowling alley in a bar now does it? Nope, we don't think so. Where else can you plough through plush American chow, get hearty with a selection of cocktails and craft beer, then dally down a lane, competitive spirits in tow? Only Dog Bowl, that's where. An infamous bowling bar in the heart of the city, this could be one of your most unique nights out in Manchester yet.
One of the best bars in Manchester city centre, Flight Club has everything you need for a good time. From lip-smacking pizzas served on paddles to fun brunch socials and the ultimate darts experience, it's a real winner in our books.
Your go-to as one of the most unique bars in Manchester, The Fitzgerald isn't just a stunning cocktail space, it's practically a trip back through time. Join them not only for live music and jazz nights, hark back to the prohibition era for swanky speakeasy interiors and drinks to boot.
Hark back to the Edwardian era thanks to this darling den of botanical whimsy. A plush plot in the heart of Canal Street, Richmond Tea Rooms is a weird and wonderful dream of kitsch whimsy, boasting its own indoor conservatory, lace tablecloths and vintage furniture. A must for cocktails and afternoon tea alike, Richmond Tea Rooms is an unusual dabble for liquid fare in the city.
One of Manchester's most iconic bars, Tattu is all sorts of stunning, from the blossom tree that reaches up to the roof, through to the delicious Chinese plates. This luxurious spot specialises in Asian-inspired cocktails, beautifully presented and delicious at the same time.
Who'd have thunk it, drinking where people were once, erm, piddling. A famous bar in the heart of Oxford Road, Temple Bar is infamous for one thing and one thing only, the fact that it was once a toilet. Yup, you heard us right. It may be one of Manchester's smallest and brimming with dated 70s wares, but Temple is packed with more weird and wonderful history than many will ever know.
A pawn shop may not be your first inclination for a tipple in the city, but c'mon pal, money's of a tight nature. Just kidding, it's all a damn facade. Hailed as one of the best secret bars in Manchester and perfect for those that hanker for the unusual, Dusk Til Pawn is cleverly concealed behind a barrage of neon lights, boasting prohibition style interiors with a dash of contemporary cool.
