How delighted I was to stumble across this little basement by accident, strolling down Half Moon Street just because it had a nice name. And there, opposite the fire escapes, and between the back doors and wheely bins...is Corbieres...a welcoming little rectangle of light luring you in and down its steps. And I really do mean 'luring' - my beau and I had said just 5 minutes ago that we didn't fancy a beer, and yet we soon found ourselves at the bottom of those stairs investigating the various lagers on offer! There wasn't a great selection on tap, certainly no names that I recognised, and the barman didn't seem too enthused about what was on, but I got to try a new Czech lager that I was quite pleased with. And there was a good selection of bottled goodies behind the bar as well. The room is rather small, but the atmosphere of the place is just great: exciting yet understated, the kind of place I could imagine both hipsters and die hard football fans could rub shoulders and neither would snigger at the other. That's my kind of place. The jukebox is wonderful. During our brief visit we were serenaded by a mixture of Happy Mondays, Stone Roses (we are in Manchester after all) and some other classic delights. In fact, one of the quotes on the walls (see photo) claiming to be from Ian Brown himself, is that it "always was, still is, the best jukebox in Manchester." High praise indeed. To sum up, my beau and I both left already plotting our return, this time with friends in tow, to show off the cool bar that we found! read more

Corbieres - Wine Bars Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Alison's is a pretty good review of Corbieres, covering all the main points. It definitely deserves a visit. However, she writes that the bar has managed to keep a low profile and that if you get there early, its all yours. In recent months its popularity has absolutely boomed if that used to be the case, and on Friday and Saturday nights, you've often got little chance of getting in, let alone sitting down, or accessing the Juke Box. The Juke Box is an absolute joke, no doubt, as it claims, it's the best in Manchester. The place is in a cool wine cellar which gives in a unique feel and it has a lizard attached to the bar (great idea). There isn't a focus on wine despite being a wine bar and the clientele are indeed much better than your average Deansgate set. Its genuinely one of the coolest bars around and I think its one everyone should try, so I do advise going, just make it a week night... read more

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Corbieres is bit of a misnomer as there is nothing pretentious about this subterranean drinking den, nor is there a focus on wine. It is quietly tucked away and a little hard to find (even if you have been there before?) so, It doesn't attract the usual alcopop-sipping posers, but rather people who like their music and beer. The decor does make you feel a little like you are in a wine cellar (perhaps that's what is in the name?) and can get a little chilly if there are not many people in. They have a fine selection of tapas and a none too bad veggie selection too! But the main draw of this bar is the famed jukebox... which claims to be the best in Manchester... you can choose form all the favorite MADchester hits, and some lesser known and diverse ones besides! cooler still is the fact that they have a pinball machine! Corbieres is great for groups of friends, and indeed due to the size of the place if you get there early, you almost feel like you have hired it for the night... choosing songs from the Juke box to sing along to with your mates in comfortable abandon! I am glad this bar keeps the low profile that it does... read more

Corbieres - Wine Bars Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Seeing that our favourite old haunt Sandinista was closed (either due to it being a Monday or perhaps their staff Christmas do, we weren't sure...) we took the few extra steps to this hidden doorway. It was pretty empty - this time definitely because it was a Monday! - leading to a lack of any discernible atmosphere but we were happy enough to grab a small table in the corner with a bottle of white. At about £15 with no obvious offers on, it wasn't overly expensive, but slightly over what I was personally expecting to pay. The music was great throughout due to the excellent jukebox, and no wonder, you can practically have your personalised playlist going if the other patrons aren't too bothered. We had already eaten but they have an interesting food selection, with some cheese & cured meats available on a deli platter or a selection of pies, mash & sides. Small, simple menus, which seem like a great option if you're out for a relaxing evening or afternoon. It's the decor here that always gets me. Is there really a need for disco lights and lots of metal lizards on the wall? The stucco-style wall covering pushes it slightly too into the 'British bar on holiday' for my liking so I doubt it will become a frequent haunt for me. It remains a bit of a secret so you're more than likely to get a table, so an option if you're weary and don't want to keep walking... read more

Well hello you, where have you been all my life? I like wine bars, especially ones which are as cosy and as comforting as this one. The name implies pretention; I promise you the place is not. I mean, it's situated down a back alley where locals relieve themselves of their bins for starters. Half Moon Street however is such an attractive name, you'll soon forget the refuse and become seduced by the mosaic horn and the underground location. It's also very Manchester, and fellow residents will know exactly what I mean by this claim. The draught beer isn't great, but this is a place you can imagine literary greats snuggling up in to quaff wine and throw philosophies around. And munch Mediterranean food, which you can. I agree with other Yelpers - the get there early advice really is to be taken literally. It's a dinky little place that gets rammed during the early evenings so you really need to secure your seats and keep them. While it can get busy, you are served quickly and that fact is testament to the quality of this little bar. Oh and lovers take note. Corbieres is a very romantic place for a date. Scruffy and quirky enough not to smack of pretence, ostentatiousness and desperation but smart and sophisticated enough to impress. Raise a few glasses and chin chin. read more

Finally made into here after about 5 near misses! It's a nice cosy underground bar with a famous jukebox and a Wizard of Oz themed pinball machine. Classic indie and alternative tunes. I had a half of San Miguel for £2 so not the cheapest but ok. I saw a food menu but was here for a late night drink so can't comment on that. From the sign they seem to do one cocktail a week, changing weekly. Usual draft and bottled drinks available. Plenty of tables. I liked the thick whitewashed walls with a pebble and gecko theme, quirky. I would come back again. read more

I love this place,had some great drunken times in here..It used to have the best free Juke Box in Manchester,not sure if it still does?!! Would definitely recommend it.......If you you can find it!! read more

This is one of Manchester's finest sub-terranean drinking dens. Like music? There's a great juke box. A real trendy atmosphere down there. Gotta be on the top 10 list of Manchester's must visits, or Manchester's Gems, as I've come to call 'em. Some great European beers on, nice and cosy, dimly lit, and a great atmosphere. Can get a little tight when it's busy, and it's a little concerning for the claustrophobic amongst us. Can also get a little warm at times. But it's well worth a couple of scoops if you're out for a gig, or off out for pre-meal drinks. Excellent little boozer, oozing with Manchester soul. read more

I don't know whether to chalk this up to the power of yelping but this place has seen a real surge in popularity lately - my last visit was a Thursday evening and there was barely enough room to swing a finger up to the legendary jukebox. I know Thursday is supposed to be the new Friday but this was completely ridiculous. This is a bit upsetting because Corbieres intimate surrounding lends itself better to a smaller crowd than this (upsetting for me, obviously, in a purely selfish way - I'm sure it's smiles all around with the owners and managers). It's still a really cool place and definitely one of the bars I would take visitors too if I was trying to show them the best of Manchester city centre. I want to also bestow a word of warning - the draught beer is very expensive, very expensive for Manchester anyway (some examples are over £4 a pint). I'm not saying that paying almost £5 for a pint of beer is symbolic of western civilisation coming to a crashing end but that's exactly what I'm saying. read more

I've been here on a couple of occasions - firstly for a birthday party, when I was introduced to the self-proclaimed best subterranean drinking den in Manchester. It was a Friday evening which started off relatively quietly. However, as the night went on this small bar became completely packed and the jukebox was cranked right up making it difficult to have a conversation. It was near impossible to get to the bar or toilet, and one of my friends told me she was manhandled by office men still in their work attire when she tried to get to the toilets. Luckily we left to go elsewhere as I could not have stayed in this sweaty cave for much longer, despite the decent beer and good music. The next time I came for a quiet mid-week drink and the atmosphere was completely different. There was a mix of young and old people all enjoying a quiet drink with a predominantly Madchester soundtrack. It was fantastic. So, my advice would be to get there early, as this is a really good place for an after work or pre-night out drink, and as the others have said, don't be put off by the fact it calls itself a wine bar - it's certainly not one. read more

I was led here mysteriously, Half Moon street? Where and what? It's like the whatever and a half platform in the Harry Potter things. Tucked away down a side street in central Manchester, this is a little gem. Corbieres is Prague in Manchester to me. It's the cave type underground set up and I love it. It's a shame it's so small as it often gets packed and there's not that much seating. The range of beers and food exuberates this Europeanness I miss about Prague. The jute box is a good thing and overall it's a nice cosy place with a cool name to go with it. read more

There are so many things I love about this place. Let's start with its less than auspicious entrance. A gap in the wall, adorned with a mosaic horn in the bewitchingly entitled Half Moon Street. Blink and you'd miss it. It's not the kind of place you'd stumble upon by chance. There's something inexplicably Manchester about this place. It's underground in every sense of the word. This subterranean drinking den exudes an atmosphere that is thick and seductive. It boasts the best jukebox in the world and its always great to hear the strains of a familiar and classic tune belting out as you descend the stairway on a Saturday night. Can't believe they no longer have Love Will Tear Us Apart on there though - that's a real travesty. It's always crowded by mid-evening due to the small size of the place so I would recommend heading there in the afterwork period to watch the throng assemble and feel the atmosphere build notch by notch. The only problem I have with Corbieres is the lack of decent beer. You would think they would at least have a few decent continental ales in the fridge but alas no. The food is pretty good and of the mediterranean variety. read more

I always forget how wonderful this cosy little bar is. Hidden in a cellar, just off St Ann's Square, it's an intimate place with great beers and one of the best jukeboxes in Manchester! The dimmed lighting, candles and great music give it an ace atmosphere too - kind of New York new wave meets an old fashioned wine cellar! Cosy, romantic and very cool, it's a great place to take a first date. Corbieres also serves reasonably priced, Mexican-inspired food in the daytime. So it's a nice place to stop off for some lunch and a cheeky drink if you're shopping in town. read more

You could probably wander around Manchester for a decade and never once step foot inside this tiny little bar. In fact, you could spend a decade looking for it and complete fail to notice it because it's been obscured by a sparrow pecking at a discarded chip. I would've never heard of this place if it wasn't for a tip-off and once I entered, I immediately liked the space. It's homely, welcoming and warmly lit by candles... the latter is an important factor because, thanks to it being underground, there's no natural light peering in. Somehow, the owners have turned this to their advantage, and to the detriment of you wallet as one pint turns into 3 hours of blissful idling. It's a seductive little bugger, make no mistake. Sadly, because this place is so small, it doesn't take much to make it rammed. Maybe that's why no-one talks about it? They want to keep it to themselves as a secret. It's not surprising really because it really is a wonderful place to spend your time. The beer, although limited, is well kept (if that's even the right term) and the food is simple but great (think grub from the Med). In short, it's the kind of place you trip over by complete accident and end up enthusing about to your friends. read more

This is aa amazing,unique bar . It is tucked away behind St Anne's Square and is a real hidden gem. I have been going to this place since 1991 and love it as much today as I always have. The main attraction is the fantastic juke box.Full of Indie and Rock classics,you can be transported to a different place and time. You feel like you are in a badly lit cave but with tons of atmosphere,without having to try! The staff are freat,always cheery and friendly. The pub has a real community feel to it.A fantastic placeYou have to go !! read more

People come to Corbiere's for the AMAZING (mainly rock and indie music based) jukebox and the unusual 'cave like' setting. The place is packed out on a Friday and Saturday night and, because of this, and it's below ground setting, it can get a little overhot. Fair selection of drinks but they tend to be a little overpriced and served at room temperature. Come here for the ambiance rather than the quality of drinks! read more

MANCHESTER INSTITUTION! This bar is kind og like going into a cave, its got good beers (erdinger being my favourite) and its got great tunes. The last time I went I thought there was a DJ on because all the tunes were amazing, but it was just the jukebox. You have to go here if you live in Manchester. This is the kind of bar that makes Manc culture. read more

After leaving DnD, we headed to here as we frequent this place often. My hubby thinks this is one of the best little places in mcr, to me, its like a grotto with a juke box. Now that may sound like an insult, its not; its just a very small bar underground painted white. However, the drinks are good, the food (whilst not sampled at this time) looked good but it is the ambience and jukebox that makes this place a winner. Its a really friendly place, the locals don't look at you like you have 2 heads and its got enough seating/standing areas to cater to all. I had a rather lethal cranberry margarita - it certainly kept me warm on that cold evening whilst we walked between bars. Try this place, unless you are one of the 'Printworks' regulars, then don't bother - the music alone would drive you out as its a cool eclectic mix of tunes that would be way above your music taste. Sorry, for the snobbery but this place is too small for people who wouldn't 'get it'. read more

An underground lair, this bar is hidden in a back alley and down in the depths of a cellar. It is cozy and a bit different to your average bar but not the first choice if the weather is good outside. The drinks are your normal selection at your average prices. There's usually a relaxed crowd here. read more

Corbiers is a belting sub level bar with a good range of beers and wine. Its atmosphere is particularly suited to Friday night after work drinks. The place feels like its seen some history and is renowned for having the best jukebox in town. Be warned it does get busy and can be extent extremely hot. I like to think that if Hobbits were from Manchester... they'd drink here and listen to Morrisey. read more

Corbieres is a small cosy bar and is a great night out. The drinks are cheap and the staff are friendly. The music they play is alternative and indie and is a good place to go before the night-club South. When you go in it looks like a tavern with low lighting adding to the electric atmosphere. They serve food as well which is good quality and reasonable. Highly recommended. read more

Corbiers is a top bar. Sweet jukebox, nice snacks and a good vibe. Kind of a mute point, but back in the smoking in pubs days it got horrendously smoky. How is this relevant now? It isn't really, but it does indicate that it is quite a small bar one that can get pretty cramped when busy. Having said this, you do get served pretty quickly and with a smile too. Worth popping in for a few pints. read more

Corbiere's is a hidden gem. Great Jukebox and good quality food served during the day, at a very reasonable price. This place is always busy on a weekend so it can get a bit cramped as it's quite small. Highly recommend a visit though. read more

Corbieres is a great boozer and hidden away from the deansgate drinkers, but alway sknown by proper mancs. the atmosphere is brill and drinks reasonable but the juke box is great. Can get hot and busy but adds to the atmosphere and hard to get a signal on yer phone. read more

I've read and heard so much about Corbieres it was time to give it a go. I was a little disappointed. There's a distinction between cool and tacky and I thought it veered towards the latter. It has certainly redefined minimalism with its all embracing off-white concrete decor and half a dozen clapped out tables and chairs that look like they came from a charity shop and isn't particularly cave-like. A fresh lick of paint and a few female nude tables and it could be the Korova Milk Bar in A Clockwork Orange. The range of beers was reasonable but not great - if that's what floats your boat try the Ashton Arms in Oldham - and the 'world renowned juke box' (I think that's what is says outside?), though pretty impressive, was under the control of the bar staff. But it's not all bad. It wasn't by any means packed when I was there, up to 9.45 on a weekend evening, but it was starting to get that way and I could see how there might be a problem later. The clientele is certainly different from what you'd expect to find in the Printworks. A few small groups of blokes but mostly fairly sophisticted looking couples. Service was quick and prices quite reasonable. If Corbieres was in Wigan, or Ashton, it would probably last a few weeks. But it's in central Manchester, is quirkily and quintessentially Manc, attracts some trendy music biz celebs (or so I'm told) and is sufficiently distant from the heaving throng on Deansgate and Corporation Street to define it as 'different'. It's certainly worth another visit if only to try to appreciate more fully what other reviewers see in it. read more

Set in slightly dubious surroundings (down a side street where local shops keep their rubbish bins!!), this place is a treasure just waiting to be found. The draught beer's nothing special (although there are a couple of nice cheeky bottled numbers), but it's worth a visit for the jukebox alone, which is fantastic!! Advice is to get there early (nice pint after work place), as it's only small, and that way, you can get to hear your favourite indie tunes without running the risk of someone putting a fiver's worth of music on and hogging it all night! read more

One of the best pre club venues in manchester with probably the best juke box in the world. Does get quite busy.