The Manhattan Line
Little Stanley Street, South Bank
You would think it would be hard to achieve a dive-bar feel in an open-walled setting, but The Manhattan Line somehow achieves this, with the staff fondly referring to it as ‘grunge al fresco’. The walls and surfaces are covered in graffiti, some done by local graf artist Powell, others by staff members, friends and the occasional passer-by. The bar itself is branded with some classic hand-penned wall banter, often reserved for bathroom stall doors, with the menu sprawled across overhanging butcher’s paper in black felt-tipped marker. The Manhattan Line has a distinct urban New York look, highlighted by its American-inspired hot dog menu and Yankee-themed cocktail list, as well as a strong focus on whisky and beer.