I’d been meaning to try the small, Mediterranean-themed, plant-based plates at Bar Chulo in Manchester ever since a brilliant afternoon where I met Maria, the manager. She told me this great story about how she’d never cooked professionally before, but learned the ropes from the chef at Soot, their other venue, starting with how to segment an orange, and the rest is history. They were pitching the concept as clever, immersive takes on classic cocktails alongside fresh plant based food, which sounded like exactly the kind of Sunday afternoon I was looking for.
The building itself carries some local history. It’s housed in the old bungalow from the days when UMIST occupied the space and used it as a security hut. Now, it’s been transformed into a special spot for pop-ups at Kampus, yet it still feels deeply tied to that local heritage. Sitting right next door to the Gay Village and overlooking the canal, it features a really lovely mix of both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Step inside, and it actually delivers on that low-key, intimate promise and lives up to its translated name as ‘cool’, and it is. The whole vibe is modern and geared towards fresh, relaxed eating. What really makes the place, though, is the staff. They are brilliant, refreshing, and genuinely understand what good hospitality and customer service actually mean. It’s the kind of spot where the team instantly makes you feel at home, even whipping up off-menu items in a completely relaxed, pressure-free atmosphere.
When it came to the food, my sister went for the snap peas with confit garlic, which is a really smart, simple play on Mediterranean and French fusion. The garlic wasn’t overpowering at all; instead, it was smooth, super tasty, and stood up beautifully to the crisp, warm snap peas. The rich, sweet roasted garlic and smooth olive oil worked brilliantly together, keeping the whole dish light without ever feeling heavy.
On my side of the table, the chickpeas with Romesco sauce were calling my name. Usually, eating out when you go out can feel like an exercise in negotiation, but here, the kitchen is plant-based, which is great for me with dairy allergy. Because the entire menu is plant-based, there was zero stress about dishes being safe. The rich, stunning Romesco sauce paired with perfectly tender chickpeas was brilliant, but the real star of the show was the pile of pale ale shallots sitting on top. They were cooked right down until they became incredibly sweet, sticky, and full of warm paprika flavour.
If we had one minor bit of feedback, which we did pass back to the friendly kitchen team, it was simply that they were out of stock of a few menu items during our visit. It meant we had fewer dishes to choose from, which made the meal lean a bit heavily towards deep, strong flavours and lacked a touch of raw freshness. Giving guests a slight variation in dish temperatures or a few more crisp options would make what is already a great plate of food absolutely foolproof.
To drink, we started with some simple mint and cucumber water, but the cocktail menu was far too interesting to ignore. Crucially, the bar offers a great little palate cleanser beforehand, which is a rare, thoughtful touch that shows real effort. Their New Fashioned is a great case in point, offering a clever, updated take on the classic cocktail. We also tried the Gentle Rum and Pineapple, a special off-menu creation, which was exactly what a lazy late afternoon drink should be: smooth, sweet, and incredibly easy-drinking.
Ultimately, Bar Chulo is a really, welcoming addition to the Kampus and Gay Village neighbourhood. Combining local ingredients with a genuine sense of history and warm staff makes it feel like it truly belongs here. I’m already planning a return trip just to try the kohlrabi salad, which looked wonderfully fresh on the table next to us. If this opening run is anything to go by, it’s well worth dropping in on a Sunday for a chilled-out afternoon from 3pm onwards.
To book: Pop in Thursday – Sunday 3 till late
Perks: 10% off the whole bill, with VIP Canal Street Membership
James
For Canal Street Media