Claiming to be a New York style venue with modern alternatives for socialising, you would expect the Manhattan Bar to be flooded with those folk looking for a new and exciting way to spend an evening. Regrettably, the alternatives appear to be strikingly similar to everywhere else.

The Venue
There’s no denying that having a venue beneath the Marriott hotel with views onto West India Quay dock, would make a regular bar green with envy. The seating feels comfy yet formal with decadent reds and lovely deep rugs. The bar is a decent sized, L-shaped affair, with red underlighting, and is well stocked and well staffed. A nice touch is on the waitress’s trays - they also feature the red underlighting and it does provide a certain flair to their enquiries after you order. A lot of effort has been put into the decor of the Manhattan Bar and it really has paid off.

The Atmosphere
Wanting to let you down gently, there is little in the way of an atmosphere here. Upon sitting down, you will mostly be surrounded by businesspeople talking about business matters. Of course, if you’re looking for a venue where you can talk shop in an informal manner, then the Manhattan Bar hits the nail on the head. If, on the other hand, you prefer a night out in a lively, friendly environment then you will need to look elsewhere.


The Drink
An impressive selection of cocktails, beers and wines await you. The wine options are £20 upwards for a bottle, with a 175ml glass costing you £5 and above. The cocktail options are what the Manhattan Bar looks to specialise in, with the majority of their offerings at the £7 mark. Their 5 Star Mojito is very good and you can tell there has been some training in the creation of these drinks.

Their bottled beers feature Corona, Becks and Heineken, and on draught you have Becks Vier, Stella Artois and Hoegaarden; all of the beer selections, whether it be bottled or draught, stand at £3.50. Overall the cost is slightly above average London prices; however, you don’t begrudge it too much.

The Last Word
The drinks are very competent and if you are looking for a place to schmooze an important client you don’t need to look any further. On the other hand, if you are looking for a lively evening, a place to let your hair down, or have actually been to a New York bar, then you might feel hard done by at this homage.

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