Manchester’s Northern Quarter it full of independent bars, restaurants and shops. Back up 5 years ago and it was the “trendy” spot for quirky hidden bars. Proudly earning the nickname of Manchester’s hipster spot.
These days however, the hipster scene has pretty much dried out entirely. But that hasn't halted the growth of Manchester’s Northern Quarter scene. There are more Bars and Restaurants packed tightly into this location then any other location of the city centre.
Manchester’s Northern Quarter has now established itself as the weekends nightlife-hot spot in the city. Every weekend, thousands of people (Who tend to be on the younger 20/30 year old range) fill the streets and bars of the Northern Quarter looking for a drink. Which still have a large independent ownership and boasts huge variety.
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The Smartblend rating system
FOOD
The food rating is based on constancy, taste, look and innovation.
DRINK
Drinks are rated on constancy, taste, look and innovation. All apply to cocktails, wines, No ABV and pretty much any other drink menu the venue has.
AMBIENCE
Ambience is all about the vibe, the environment and the interior. Ratings are based on everything from how close the tables are, how it smells and the views, all the way to the toilets and music.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service is based on the friendliness and accommodating attitude of the staff. How welcomed do you feel?
VALUE £
Value is all about the money. This isn’t about if it’s cheap it gets a 10 and if it’s expensive it gets a 1. It’s all about the value you get for what you spend. Does the cost make sense?
Rules of reviewing
Don’t rate a restaurant or bar a zero in everything just because you didn’t like the customer service. That has nothing to do with how good the food or drinks are.
Don’t review a place you work in or your best mate works in.
All reviews are reviewed before being added to the average score to wean out any petty or fake reviews.
If you score a restaurant or bar 10 or 0 points to any section, you must add a note to explain why.
How it works
Once you submit your review it will be added within 24hours worked out as an average. This means the highest review a bar or restaurant can achieve is 50.
You may also add a review note if there is something you would like to say about the bar or restaurant.
Want to know more about how the Smartblend Guide works? Check this page out.
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The Smartblend Guide To Manchester, Northern Quarter Bars & Restaurants
Last updated: 17/08/2020
Bundobust
Style - Indian street food
• Craft beer
Description - Bundobust is an Indian street food restaurant with a communal ambience in the heart of Piccadilly gardens. Serving up exciting small plates with a large craft beer selection, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.
Location - 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG
Official Website - http://bundobust.com/locations/manchester/
Smartblend Score for Bundobust
FOOD
10
DRINK
8
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
10
TOTAL SCORE
42
The Bay Horse Tavern
Style - Pub • Craft beer
Description - The Bay Horse Tavern is a modern take on a Victorian Pub, positioned on Thomas Street right in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. It’s a laid-back spot with charm and personality to spare.
Location - 35-37 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
Official website - https://thebayhorsetavern.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for The Bay Horse Tavern
FOOD
8
DRINK
7
AMBIENCE
8
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
10
TOTAL SCORE
40
Solita
Style - American-style bar and restaurant with an indoor barbecue and charcoal oven
Description - The menu is packed with creative and decadent burger creations, wings, starters and so much more.
The flavours and styles of New York and Italy in a unique way brought to Manchester’s Northern Quarter
Location - Turner St, Manchester M4 1DW
Official website - https://www.shootthebull.co.uk/solitamanchester
Smartblend Score for Solita
FOOD
8
DRINK
6
AMBIENCE
6
CUSTOMER SERVICE
6.5
VALUE £
8
TOTAL SCORE
34.5
Top reasons to visit
Craving comfort food or burgers
Allotment Bar and Restaurant
Style - Horticulture-themed cocktail bar • Gin • Fresh British cuisine
Description - Horticulture-themed cocktail bar with bare boards, chunky wooden tables and plants. Offering a playful twist on traditional British cuisine alongside a drinks menu boasting an extensive list of over 70 gins.
Location - 24 Dale St, Manchester M1 1FY
Official website - https://allotmentbar.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for Allotment
FOOD
8
DRINK
7
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
7
TOTAL SCORE
36
Top reasons to visit
If you’re a gin lover looking to expand your gin and tonic palette with a huge variety of choices
El Capo
Style - Mexican • Tequila
Description - Mexican and Latin American dishes and street food. With plenty of tequila in a casual, bare-brick space with a tiled bar.
Location - 12 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Official website - https://www.elcapo.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for El Capo
FOOD
6
DRINK
7.5
AMBIENCE
7.5
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
8
TOTAL SCORE
36
Top reasons to visit
Tequila!
Looking for a Saturday night party
Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun
Style - As the name suggests, the style is cocktails • beer • Ramen and Bao buns
Description - Specialising in Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen and steamed bao buns. There menu combines traditional elements and methods with their own unique CBRB twist. They also offer a large range of vegetarian and vegan options. Despite their love for food, they are bartenders at heart. So the bar is stocked with years of knowledge, experience and passion.
Location - 101-103 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LW
Official website - https://cbrbmcr.com/
Smartblend Score for Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun
FOOD
8
DRINK
8
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
8
VALUE £
8
TOTAL SCORE
39
Top reasons to visit
Big hospitality industry appreciation. It’s the bartenders choice for a good meal and drinks
Good vibes
Tariff and Dale
Style - Modern British cuisine from the grill • Sourdough Pizza • Cocktails
Description - Around 1858 the building which holds Tariff and Dale was torn down, re-emerging as the showroom and warehouse of cotton spinners Ralph Waller & Co Ltd. The hydraulic fabric press in the kitchen was probably installed during the original build when the basement was filled with looms and weaving machines.The building remains standing now thanks to the huge girders in the basement, installed after a direct firebomb on the building during the Manchester Blitz of WWII. Reinvented as Tariff & Dale, serving up delicious pizzas and cocktails.
Location - 2 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FN
Official website - http://tariffanddale.com/
Smartblend Score for Tariff And Dale
FOOD
7.5
DRINK
8.5
AMBIENCE
8
CUSTOMER SERVICE
9
VALUE £
9
TOTAL SCORE
42
Top reasons to visit
The bartenders have years of knowledge on mixing classic cocktails and spirits. They really know their stuff.
Intimate, I recommend popping by on a quiet weekday for a spot of pool, pizza and a cocktail.
Ply
Style - Pizza • Small plates • Cocktails
Description - Neapolitan, sourdough pizzas served up alongside a carefully selected and regularly refreshed range of craft beer, fine wine and twists on classic cocktails. They have curated a programme of exhibitions and events delivered by artists from all over the world, alongside a doodle wall and book exchange. To sum up: Drink, doodle, work, eat, look, read, relax.
Location - 26 Lever St, Manchester M1 1DW
Official website - http://ply2.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for Ply
FOOD
7
DRINK
7
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
6
VALUE £
6
TOTAL SCORE
33
Top reasons to visit
Very accommodating for gluten free and vegans
Common
Style - Beer • Cosy
Description - Colourful, urban decor with a happening bar and gallery space, plus US diner-style classics and food pop ups. Current pop up; Nell’s Pizza, serving up NYC inspired 22 inch pizza’s.
Location - 39-41 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW
Official website - https://www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for Common
FOOD
7
DRINK
7
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
9
TOTAL SCORE
37
Evuna
Style - Spanish tapas bar and wine importer
Description - bringing you an authentic fresh tapas menu, Alhambra (Spain’s premium draft beer) and of course, Spanish wine. Not only can you get amazing food from this place but you can also shop for a bottle of Spanish wine on your way out.
Location - 79 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1LQ
Official website - https://evuna.com/locations/manchester-northern-quarter/
Smartblend Score for Evuna
FOOD
8
DRINK
8
AMBIENCE
7.5
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
8
TOTAL SCORE
38.5
Top reasons to visit
Spanish tapas craving
Wine-lovers heaven!
Cottonopolis
Style - Japanese inspired food • Innovative cocktails • Brunch
Description - Cottonopolis is a Japanese inspired restaurant and bar based in a grade II listed building in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Lively destination for Asian-inspired menus offering Brunch and top notch signature cocktails.
Location - 16 Newton St, Manchester M1 2AE
Official website - https://www.cottonopolis-nq.com/
Smartblend Score for Cottonopolis
FOOD
7
DRINK
7
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
6
VALUE £
6
TOTAL SCORE
33
Top reasons to visit
A lot of innovation in cocktails and food.
Flok
Style - Vintage-chic bar & kitchen offering wine, sherry & Mediterranean-inspired small plates.
Description - Mediterranean influenced menu of sharing, smaller plates, charcuterie and brunch which is changing seasonally. They offer craft beers & locally brewed ales alongside a large and imaginatively sourced wine list with a focus on sherry.
Location - 5 Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DN
Official website - http://flokmcr.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for Flok
FOOD
6
DRINK
8
AMBIENCE
7
CUSTOMER SERVICE
6
VALUE £
8
TOTAL SCORE
35
Top reasons to visit
If you ever thought you didn’t like sherry or haven’t tried it.
Science & Industry
Style - “hidden” speakeasy vibe known for a variety of imaginative cocktails
Description - Science & Industry is an eccentric and experimental hideaway with full table service. The focus is to provide customers with a new and exciting style of dining and drinking. A dedicated drinks laboratory has been created within the bar for experimentation with flavour and scientific techniques which allow them to develop unique cocktails that you are unable to get at any other bar. A true drinking experience in a 1920, speakeasy decor hideaway.
Location - 49, 51 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
Official website - https://caneandgrain.co.uk/science-industry/
Smartblend Score for Science & Industry
FOOD
7
DRINK
10
AMBIENCE
9
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7
VALUE £
8.5
TOTAL SCORE
41.5
Top reasons to visit
Unique and must try cocktails that you wont find anywhere else.
Alvarium
Style - Cocktails
• Cosy
• Casual
Description - A small independent Bar and Restaurant. Alvarium which is a Latin word that loosely translates to beehive in English to represent the Manchester spirit. Throughout this bar you will be surrounded by yellow beehive and garden themed decor. Currently, they are not serving food as they are opening a new restaurant downstairs set to be named “Black Leaf” Updates will come upon there new opening. Once the new restaurant launches the food section will start fresh.
Location - 8 Dorsey St, Manchester M4 1LU
Official website - https://alvariummcr.co.uk/
Smartblend Score for Alvarium
FOOD
6
DRINK
8
AMBIENCE
8
CUSTOMER SERVICE
8
VALUE £
8
TOTAL SCORE
38
Ciaooo
Style - Neapolitan Pizzeria
Description - The chefs at Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria have been working on the recipe and technique for the perfect pizza dough for over 15 years. Using a traditional stone bake oven and blending the ingredients for the freshest toppings, including tomatoes sourced from Napoli
Location - 62-64 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JU
Official Website - https://www.ciaooopizzeriamcr.co.uk/
FOOD
10
DRINK
7
AMBIENCE
5
CUSTOMER SERVICE
4
VALUE £
9
TOTAL SCORE
35
Want to check out more locations? How about the bars and restaurants of Manchesters Ancoats. Or how about the fine-dining experiences of Manchesters Spinningfields. Got somewhere else in mind? Check out Manchester bars and restaurants elsewhere in the city centre.