16 Places In Manchester Only True Mancunians Will Know

Covering everywhere from The Village to The Curry Mile.

1. The Molly House

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The Molly House is a bar, tea room, and tapas restaurant in the Gay Village that's easily found thanks to its colourful mural. It has an eclectic collection of books you're free to borrow and a really cozy and quirky interior to read them in, so it's ideal place to chill or grab a drink early on in the night.

2. Antwerp Mansion

Courtesy of Antwerp Mansion

Antwerp Mansion is a volunteer-led project that aims to turn a rundown Victorian mansion that's just off the Curry Mile into a thriving hub for the arts. During the day, it's a space for artists and musicians to collaborate and practice, and, during the evenings, it hosts an eclectic mix of club nights, gigs, and exhibitions.

3. The Deaf Institute

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Deaf is a bar and music venue that's housed in a truly stunning, Grade-II listed building just off the MMU side of Oxford Road. It hosts new and breaking acts almost every night, and some of today's biggest indie musicians have played here in the early stages of their careers.

Check out their event listings here.

4. Working Class Movement Library

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Hidden away in Salford, the Working Class Movement Library is a collection of over 200 years of working-class history. They have some of the oldest trade union documents in existence, as well as collections on British Black and Asian histories and the Miners' Strike of the 1980s. It's just a 15-minute walk from Manchester city centre, too.

5. Siam Smiles Supermarket

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Siam Smiles is a no-frills Thai supermarket and café in Chinatown that serves up some of the best, authentic, and flavourful Thai food in the city. Be sure to check out their Kuay Tiew Ped – a spicy broth of egg noodles, spinach, and crispy duck.

6. Matt & Phreds

Courtesy of Matt & Phreds

Matt & Phreds is a chilled out jazz bar that holds performances six nights a week, with free entry to the gigs on Mondays through to Thursdays. It also has one of the best happy hours in the city, where you can buy two drinks and get a pizza for free (yep, the entire thing).

Check out their event listings here.

7. Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden

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Fletcher Moss is a beautiful botanical garden and nature reserve that's around a 15-minute walk from East Didsbury tram station. It also has tennis courts, a nature trail, and a small tea shop for when you want to put your feet up. It's a truly breathtaking garden, with over 20 acres of greenery, and well worth the trek over.

8. Chetham's Library

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Chetham's Library is the oldest surviving library in the UK. It has a breathtaking neo-gothic interior, ideal for spending a few hours marvelling. It's also a key monument in political history, as it's where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels did most of the research for The Communist Manifesto. They have a bunch of events going on each month too, including regular performances from Cheetham's School of Music.

9. Soup Kitchen

Courtesy of Soup Kitchen

Soup Kitchen is an iconic canteen, bar, and gig space in the Northern Quarter. Alongside serving up super delicious food (including soup, obviously), it regularly has club nights, comedy shows, and gigs from rising talent going on in its basement area.

Check out their range of shows and exhibitions here.

10. Pi

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Pi has a truly amazing selection of beers and decently priced proper pies. Their most popular is the Moo Pie, which is a warming combination of beef, real ale, and veg. It's quite small, so probably not the best for large groups. The original Pi is in Chorlton, and there's another out in Altrincham.

11. Épernay Champagne Bar

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Épernay is a fancy champagne bar, hidden in plain sight in Deansgate. Thanks to its glamorous interior and the stunning views you get of the city, it's the perfect place to take someone when you're looking to impress.

12. Paramount Books

Courtesy of Paramount Books

Paramount Books is an eccentric secondhand bookshop just off the Arndale, with a brilliant collection of rare books and magazines. What's particularly impressive is its selection of sci-fi and comic books, often at bargain prices. It's definitely worth spending a few hours checking out.

13. Black Dog NQ

Courtesy of Black Dog NQ

Black Dog Ballroom is a late-night speakeasy and restaurant in the Northern Quarter. It has a Mexicana-inspired club in its basement that hosts nights Thursday through Saturday and a cocktail bar up top. It also does a 50% discount on its American-style diner food on Mondays, if that's more up your street.

14. The Quays

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Admittedly The Quays isn't actually in the city of Manchester, but it's really easy to get to via tram, train, or bus – something that should definitely be taken advantage of. It's got a beautiful waterfront with shops, bars, and restaurants, and there's so much going on including gallery exhibitions on street style in Britain, orchestra performances, outlet markets, and walking tours.

15. Ziferblat

Courtesy of Paul Chambers / Ziferblat Edge Street

Ziferblat is a co-working space tucked away on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter. You can have as much tea, coffee, cake, and Wi-Fi as you want – but the only thing you pay for is your time. They also run weekly workshops, yoga, martial arts classes, and freelancer networking.

16. RedbankCo

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RedbankCo is a two-story bar, studio, and café along the railway arches in the Green Quarter. It regularly hosts live music, and you can grab £1 pizza during their weekly pop culture–themed quiz nights. It also has a secluded beer garden with a decent view.

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