Walrus is one of those bars that just opens their doors and is always busy. Whether it be grabbing…read morethe attention of the lunch time crowd or a must-go stop on that big NQ night out, Walrus is sure to entertain. Since the refurbishment a month or so ago, it's looking very suave, with copper everywhere - the bar, tables, stools and lighting all giving off this orange tinge. I quite like it. The staff in here are great, and the cocktails even more so.

Short review. We put a feature on the website but Yelp might not be ready for our 'art'. But do…read morecheck elfoodbrothers.com for that. In short. I don't think Walrus is really geared up for a lunch time spot. We won a 'free' lunch. We booked in as told. We went in at this time and waited at the bar to speak to someone. This took longer than it should, as there only appeared to be one member of staff. We were clear that we had booked and mentioned the prize. They would have to check with a manager. So no record of the 'booking' then. We had to get this checked another 3 times during our visit. Each time adding another 5 minutes to our 'express' lunch. In the end it took around 15 mins before we'd even ordered. It was nearly an hour until we had our Calzones, and we had no time to try and enjoyed them as like most people, we have to be back at work. The Cazlones weren't worth the wait. I'd expect more burger than 3 small slices in something called a Cheeseburger Calzone. And the 'free' lunch cost us £8 in total, which seemed steep for not even a pint of meantime. You may say I'm a dreamer. But I expected more, even if it was a free lunch. We didn't feel like winners by the end of it all.

Panacea is not my kind of bag at all. I'm sure the food is good (I haven't eaten here) but as far…read moreas a place to hang out, well I'd rather somewhere a little more laid back and down to earth, because I'm just not into dressing up to the nines to see and be seen. Local celebs to gather with their entourages around private booths whilst served bottle after bottle of Veuve Clicquot, the staff seem stuck up and a dress code must be observed. I had a little altercation in here with one of the bar tenders. Whilst the cocktails are made well, they're also overpriced. I know there has been a lot of effort put into creating this vibe, it's just doesn't wash with me.

I completely agree with the other Yelpers on this one. It is well known as one of the best bars in…read moreManchester...that just shows what a bit of good PR can do for you! It's not the fabulous exclusive little place it used once to be, it's a place where people go to try and spot celebrities. It's a place where boys go to pretend to be celebrities. It's funny when you walk in because all eyes fly to the door at every newcomer, everyone checking you out to see if you're famous. If you're a lookalike you could have an amazing night in here! But it's not great and it is expensive. It's in a nice bit of town and worth going once, just to see what all the fuss is about!

This is one of my fave bars I love the feel of the bar it's really relaxed and chilled out…read more I like the cherry beer here I always have this when I go. My partner likes to try the different beers they have. I think the decor is great it's a bit dark but it's great if your in manchester in the evening or weekend as it doesn't get too busy but always has a great atmosphere.It's a little hidden unless you know it's there you would prob walk past, you have to spot the sign and go down some steps it's defiantly worth a try.

I absolutely love Gas Lamp. I have spent many a good hour here. The tiles, the beers and the odd…read moreportrait of a long haired naked man in boots, all create the atmosphere. It gets a little busy at times but the crowd is always friendly. Look out for their guest beers... Never a let down. One tip though, if meeting friends... Make sure you do so in advance as phone signals are non existent down there. .. and I love it for that reason.

I visited The Botanist, earlier this year, and have noticed a huge decline in their huge standards,…read morein terms of taste and safety. I've always noticed the standards at The Botanist on Deansgate in terms of food quality and service to be much lesser than their other locations, but it seems to have continued its period of decline. On a recent visit, I ordered the Hanging Kebab with Chicken and Chorizo, and I ended up having to send the food back, this is because the food arrived lukewarm, and after cutting into the chicken, I realised it was pink. I originally thought it could have been from the chorizo on the kebab, but I just felt rather uneasy, after cutting into it further, and it was obviously raw. After bringing this to the attention of the team, they dealt with it promptly, and sent a manager over and promised to have a new meal on the go, ready in a couple of minutes, I thought that was the end of it, but sadly the chicken came out pink a second time again, while the food was hot, it seems they have the inability to cook the hanging kebabs all the way through. The chorizo was also rock solid on the second portion, and cooked poorly. I was disappointed that neither the manager nor the service team returned to my table to check everything was okay with the dish, knowing I had experienced issues previously. The prices seem also slightly high for glorified bar food, especially after the discontinuation of their loyalty scheme. 2* - The cocktails and alcoholic drinks section are cool, I wouldn't visit for anything other than drinks in the future.

We were looking for a place near our hotel to eat and came across the Botanist. I'm not sure if…read morethis is the case for many establishments in the UK but they don't allow football shirts to be worn by patrons. Having come straight from the Manchester United game, I was forced to keep my jacket on during our meal which was a little unpleasant since the restaurant can get a little toasty. I thought this restaurant would be lenient since we were in the dining area and not the bar area but it was to no avail. The vibe of this place is pretty cool. There's a patio area that people can sit and mingle in. There's a spacious bar area where people can congregate and there's also a decent-sized restaurant area where all of the tables are located for diners. Music was playing the entire time we were there and it's interesting to hear how much American music was played. We ordered the famous hanging kebab and I got the lamb kofta which also comes with seasoned chips. Personally, I think the hanging kebab is more of a novelty. It's pretty cool to have your kebab just hanging for you to pluck but in terms of price and what you're getting, I think it's just average. You're definitely paying for your food to be hung that is cool to snap for social media. While I thought the pieces of lamb were prepared well, I thought the dish was lacking something to pair with the meat and I'm not quite sure the seasoned chips do the trick. While the chips are good, I was hoping for something more. At the end of the day, it's pretty cool to have a hanging kebab. It's more about the experience here at the Botanist.

I was coerced into coming here on a Sunday. I agreed under the guise of a Bloody Mary special to…read morecombat my hangover. So...I would not have picked this place as my first choice as a spot to work off a hangover. It had too many clean lines. I was wanting something old, dark, traditional, dark, quiet-ish and dark. So it was dark but in no way traditional. None-the-less there was indeed a Bloody Mary Special so all went well. It was a special that included an English breakfast. Between the Bloody Mary the hearty eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns and so on...I left in far better shape than I arrived. That was the extend of my experience- which seems a shame as there is a lot to do here (billiards, terrace- karaoke - they told us). I don't know that I would say this will become me Sunday recovery go-to place, but I will likely return and check it out under different circumstances.

I came along to Blackdog Ballroom as my friends +1 for their launch of their new cocktail…read moremasterclasses. They launched three new variants - studio 54, all cocktails popularised in the 70's, Mexican/tiki themed cocktails and my personal favourite Prohibition. I had cocktails st Blackdog quite a few times and they never disappoint and these be additions to menu are very welcome in my opinion. We had some rather fantastic Manhattens, Sazeracs, and a New York sour -the standout drink for me. A traditional whisky sour topped with red wine, sounds crazy but it's fantastic. Next time I'm looking for somewhere to drink cocktails and chat to some very knowledgeable mixologists I'll be popping along here.

Rude staff. Ordered at the same time. Same pizza. Served next to each other; one perfect, the other…read moreburnt to a crisp. [nights out are great though, fantastic choice of music]

NOT TO BE CONFUSE WITH TIGER TIGER!!!!! Oh no, I'm not taking the blame for that one!…read moreTiger LOUNGE is an undergound gem that plays a range of soul, rock and funk nights and is completely moron free. Tiger TIGER should be buried underground, has no soul, puts you in danger of being hit with rocks in socks, smells funky and is free to get in which only encourages the morons.

Random stop we made since the previous restaurant we headed to had moved. When initially walking…read morein, it seemed like a real cool spot and it never hurts when you see 2 for 1 drinks. Once we walked in the host that came to the door at first was trying to tell us if we didn't have a reservation then they didn't have room....I was confused because even though today was one of days of Pride, their restaurant wasn't full at all. (Wish I took a picture). I then asked why we can't sit at the bar...the host wasn't sure so he went and asked the manager and the manager stated why can't they. Alright so my point lol. We sat at the high bar tables and they explained that you can scan the QR code or just order at the bar. The bar option was easier for us since it was a group. Made our order at the bar and that was simple. Now the 2 for 1 drinks start coming out and the first one was VERY lack luster. It was the passion fruit mojito which tasted like mint fruit juice. I did not taste a lick of alcohol. (Just an FYI the 2 for 1 drinks apply to all cocktails). We then receive another drink which I can't remember the name and it was decent but I was good with water after that one since it once again tasted like fruit juice. Once the food starts coming out, I'm excited! The guac and chips, they actually made it into nachos...apparently guac and chips with salsa is something people don't normally order....so after some explaining then they understood what was needed. When the Moqueca came out it smelt so delicious!! Oddly enough the appetizer came out with the entree as well. The one I tried was the mango and cheese empanada. It was pretty good...nothing to rave about. Alright back to the Moqueca, it was delicious. For warn you that you do have to de shell the shrimp and clams but besides that it was great! It's not 100 percent like the original but they did a great job. All in all the restaurant was decent. I do think they need to get their staff on the same page, and work on the ratios when making a drink but otherwise it was a decent place to eat.

Come here for drinks and maybe appetizers, but meals seem to fall short on quality…read more Many 2 for 1 drink options and others available to be sure to check the menu for the best deals. We came here for dinner last evening and enjoyed a few appetizers including the garlic bread, chicken nachos, albondigas, chicken quesadilla, crispy cauliflower bites o which the albondigas and cauliflower were the hits worth ordering again on a future visit. For entrees we ordered the Gaucho steak and Argentinian burger, would not get either again. Drinks were all good and had a plethora available. There was trivia going on when we arrived and late night has nice loud music playin throughout the restaurant and bar area.

Looking for somewhere we could both get a table, a chat and some good food on a Friday seemed like…read morea near impossible feat when Kate W. and I wanted to catch up recently. However, she had a stroke of genius and suggested Sandinista - tapas, great music and dedicated seats for those wanting to eat. The atmosphere hadn't quite hit those peak Friday night levels when we arrived at around 6pm, so perched ourselves at the bar with a bottle of wine. The service was quick and friendly, with plenty of back and forth between staff and customers. The tables started to book up around 6.45pm so we put our names down for 7pm; we came for tapas and there was no way we were missing tapas! Once we were seated, it didn't take us long to decide what to have: chilli nachos; patatas con alioli; beef meatballs; marinated rump steak; and chicken wings with romesco sauce. The food came quickly and consistently, with a small wait for dishes such as the steak, which came pink and was obviously cooked with care. Aside from the steak, the chilli nachos were a personal favourite, with just the right amount of heat and a little bit of 'hands on' action. We still had room for dessert so opted for the dark chocolate mousse with shortbread - but it arrived with no shortbread! When we bought it up with the waitress, she apologised; as it's homemade, they didn't have any available. A fair reason but £5.25 for just a chocolate pudding (not too dissimilar to angel delight)? I'll stick to the savoury in future. I'm pleased to have revisited for food rather than my usual mixture of wine and margaritas. Sandinista may have been here for a while but they haven't forgotten their roots in good food, good wine and great music.

Argh! Sandinista has got some quite nice outside seating with a side view of St Ann's Square…read more(although loads of smokers) and an appealing food and drink menu, however we were very disappointed with our cocktails, so much so we didn't risk ordering anything else and left. I got a margarita which basically didn't taste like a margarita and my friend got a raspberry collins which tasted very synthetic. At £7 this is not good when there's multiple places in the NQ doing much better for less. There's no table service either which is a bit of a drag when you're sitting outside. Oh and my friend had to help the bartenders use their new corkscrew to open a bottle of wine. You know, the ones with the handles to make it super easy. Might explain why the cocktails weren't up to much. Would very much hesitate to return based on this experience, unfortunately. Certainly avoid the cocktails!

I used to come here 6 years ago and it was AMAZING! Great doormen, no queues, fantastic DJ albeit…read morecrap sound system but nobody cared. Prohibition used to be THE city centre spot which kicked off a top Saturday night and it was an unspoken rule: Prohibition, Living Room, Sugar Lounge, Circle - no arrangements necessary. Oh how things have changed!- my Mum and Dad were always saying this phrase throughout my childhood- and "things aren't like they used to be". After visiting Prohibition recently I am starting to sound like my parents. It has changed and not for the better. Despite outliving many of its peers, maybe this long established venue should have retired long ago. Door staff are still friendly, queues are still small but here is where the similarity with its bygone self ends. The easy entry was the highlight of the evening; Prohibition is way too dark bordering on gloomy and the Victoriana decor just looks odd and far removed from the desired Gothic chic look I think the interior designer intended. Way too many people had been let in (and I arrived early) and this was compounded by a lack of bar staff for the thirsty throng. When I did eventually get served, the price of the drinks was over-inflated for this type of venue. Glasses were poured half full and the presentation of my G&T left a lot to be desired- call me crazy, but I like ice and a slice of lemon in mine, is this too much to ask for? It was a young crowd, VERY young. I mean, check the I.D sort of place where revellers were keeping their beedy eyes on the door in case Mummy or Daddy walked in. These children were far too young to appreciate any sophistication but maybe they were in the right place as there wasn't any elegance in sight. This is a small bar which moonlights as a club at the weekend. I will only be returning here on a quiet Sunday afternoon for a coffee. Now I sound EXACTLY like my parents!!!!!!

A few years ago, in Berlin, we stumbled across a bar whose concept is entirely based upon the…read moreProhibition era. Gawwwd, it was good. It was sleek but dirty. The drinks were strong and cheap, and the DJ played about the twiddliest techno I have ever danced to. Lord help me, I cannot remember the name, though I think it might have been somewhere around Kreuzberg... Anyway, when I heard that there was a bar in Manchester called Prohibition, I instantly thought "JOY! We can recreate the wonder of that night in Berlin!" Ohhh, how wrong I was. Prohibition ain't that good, to be honest. It's just another Deansgate bar. So, you've got your designer light fittings, your velvet couches, your smokey mirrors and sexy glossy surfaces. You've got allllll of that, but where's the soul? Where's the heart? Prohibition is just another sad example of Deansgate's style-over-substance ethos when it comes to bars. The drinks are alright, with an extensive selection of retro cocktails such as juleps and Tom Collinses, all for around £6. The wines are similarly reasonably priced, starting at £13 a bottle for a drinkable red. The thing is, and I know I'm being harsh, I feel like the drinks could be twice as good, and I still wouldn't fancy coming back here. It's just a bit...dead. What's the point in having a nice glass of Syrah, when you're bored and there's no ambience? When will the managers of these bars learn that they're stifling their bars' potential with overdesign of a simple concept? If they want to really channel the Prohibition era, they need to chuck out those tacky velvet couches and take a leaf out of Berlin's book.

Best underground bar in town ! It is really easy to miss if you aren't looking for it however once…read moreyou are inside you feel like you're in another world. Lots of fun stuff to look at and great drinks. Good ambiance too !