Alvarium

Original cocktails at an intimate, green-fingered wine bar with pop up lasagneria.

Alvarium
8 Dorsey Street, Manchester, M4 1LU
0794 755 6275

Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 11pm
Friday & Saturday : 11am - 1am
Sunday: 11am - 11pm

If the Victorian walls of this place could talk they’d have plenty of stories to tell, with the address having been home to some of the city’s best-loved drinking destinations over the years. None were prettier than Alvarium, a neighbourhood cocktail and wine bar with happy hour running from 4pm on weeknights, including Fridays, and bright interior design with statement mural adorning brick and tile work. Think bees (this is Manchester, after all), colourful flowers, and lush green grasses, all overlooked by the increasingly iconic silhouette of our hometown’s rapidly developing skyline. People flock here for two things above all else — first and foremost, the strong selection of unique cocktails on offer. Highlights for your glass include the ultra-refreshing Cherry & Mint Sling (Beafeater Gin, pineapple, grenadine, lemon and fresh mint leaves), or, for fans of bitters, the Sage & Orange Spritz (Malfy Blood Orange Gin, Aperol, lime, homemade chilli and sage cordial, with a soda top). But the list, of course, could go on. And on.

A more recent addition has seen the in-house kitchen taken over by Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria. First launched in 2021, amid rolling lockdowns, this pop-up garnered a huge following serving stunning slabs of pasta, melted cheese, tomato and béchamel sauces from a doorway, and hasn’t looked back. Since expanding the menu — and then extending it again for this collaboration — guests can choose between generous portions of Classic (beef, pork and pancetta), Vegan (with plant-based meat substitute), and a revolving door of Specials. You’ll also find stacked sub sandwiches such as Funghi (a mushroom-lovers dream), Pizza (chilli marinara), Aubergine Parm, and Meatball. Mac and cheese is another prominent addition, with toppings including Fried Chicken and Vodka Penne. Loaded Fries are in abundance, too, and the extensive range of sides fill a menu in their own right.