Manly · Bar
The Cumberland
Speakeasy cocktail and whisky bar behind a deli fridge door.
The local take
The Cumberland is a speakeasy cocktail and whisky bar at 17-19 Central Avenue, just off the Corso. You get in through a small bodega-style deli at street level: the door to the bar is hidden behind a fridge, and the room itself is a candlelit basement with deep banquettes and vintage bits and pieces.
Owner Pete Ehemann opened it in September 2019 after 14 months of building, and it was named Small Bar of the Year at the 2021 Australian Bartender Bar Awards. The cocktail list draws on old maps and local history of Manly Cove, and the back bar holds more than 250 whiskies, alongside natural wine and craft beer. Food is Spanish-style snacks and platters of cured meats.
The basement flooded in March 2022 and the bar was closed until November that year. It opens from Wednesday to Sunday evenings. Come for a serious cocktail or a whisky flight in a quiet, dark room.
The Cumberland is also in our food guide — see the restaurant page for the kitchen side of the story.
In our guides
Nearby
Ratings and review counts are from TripAdvisor. Hours come from the venue's own website where it publishes them, otherwise from its listings, and were last reviewed in October 2026. Bars shift their hours with seasons, gigs and public holidays, so check ahead for a big night. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
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