A Polynesian party vibe at new lounge
EXTRAVAGANT tiki lounge Mahiki opens its doors in Manchester this weekend, offering cocktails, DJs and partying till 3am.
Promising the same Polynesian party atmosphere as the flagship club of the same name in London, the bar is on Central Street, and features decadent interior features by the champagne-bucket load.
Open to the public from Sunday October 1, no expense has been spared on the decor. Inside, it’s split into two areas: the Lanai Lounge and the Mahiki Club. The lounge is decorated with hand-carved totem poles, bamboo cladding, Chinese jade tiles, and stunning tropical Versace wallpaper.
Bar seating is cushioned with kitsch 1950s-inspired tiki fabric, while bamboo tables and chairs are dressed with flower petals and chopsticks. Here, visitors can order from the Mahiki menu, which includes the likes of sushi, sashimi and wagyu beef steaks available until 10pm.
The bar is well stocked with around 80 rums, and a plethora of rare and interesting spirits for partygoers to explore. Cocktails are priced between £10-12 and include the zombie, made with Absinthe and Mahiki’s house blend of rum.
For big groups looking to splash out, Mahiki offers the treasure chest sharer for £140, packed with homemade Mahiki grog, peach liquor, and topped with a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne. And after a few super-strength cocktails, visitors will be ready to move into the neighbouring club, which features a separate bar, DJ box, dancefloor and six cosy booths which can be booked out.
As the night goes on, the Lanai lounge will close as the club – which has a separate entrance on Southmill Street – takes over. Entry to the lounge is free, but entry to the Mahiki club will cost £10.
The party palace is the latest venue to be opened by GG Hospitality, a food and drink company coowned by United football legend Gary Neville.
Mahiki first opened its doors on Dover Street in London in 2006, and has since become one of the world’s most famous night spots.
It’s a bar known for its A-list celebrity clientele in London, but Neville insists that their Manchester pad will be ‘the very opposite of pretentious.’
Speaking to the M.E.N, Gary said: “I always think this city turns its back on things that are pretentious, and Mahiki is nothing like that. If you think of the music, the sharing drinks, the relaxed vibe, it’s as far away from pretentious as you can get.” Gary Neville, co-owner of GG Hospitality