Chillin’ With Mike Manning
Mike Manning is an American actor, producer, and activist who first rose to prominence on MTV’s The Real World: D.C. in 2009.
Born on April 12, 1987, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he spent his childhood between Florida and Colorado, where his passion for acting began in high school theater.
Following his reality TV debut, Manning transitioned into scripted roles, notably portraying Nick Swift in Disney Channel’s Cloud 9. He has since appeared in series such as Teen Wolf, Hawaii Five-0, This Is Us, and Days of Our Lives. His film credits include Love Is All You Need?, Son of the South, and The Way Out.
As a producer, Manning has worked on socially conscious projects like the documentary Kidnapped for Christ, which premiered at Slamdance, and the Emmy-winning digital drama The Bay. He earned two Daytime Emmy Awards—one for producing The Bay in 2020 and another in 2021 for his supporting role as Caleb McKinnon in a daytime fiction program.
An openly bisexual advocate, Manning has been involved with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and Boo2Bullying, using his platform to support LGBTQ+ rights and youth empowerment.
We caught up with Mike to chat about his favorite bars, home bar essentials, and the one person he’d love to share a drink with—Jesus.
Tell us about the projects you are working on.
I’m currently part of a new daytime drama on CBS and Paramount+ called Beyond the Gates. The show centers around the Dupree family and takes place in an affluent community right outside of Washington, D.C. “Smitty” (my character) is an ex-investigative reporter who is itching to get back into the field after taking a couple years off to adopt kids. The show is having an incredible response so far from daytime fans and we have a ton more drama to come.
I also just wrapped a film called “Eyes in the Trees” with Oscar-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ashley Greene. I co-wrote the film and it’s loosely inspired by the classic book “The Island of Dr. Moreau” by H.G. Wells. We had a blast shooting in the jungles of Thailand, and I’m stoked for the works to see the final film.
With your busy schedule, what do you like to do with your downtime?
I’m a Colorado boy at heart, so I love spending time outdoors – hiking, snowboarding, skiing, kayaking, boating, fishing, you name it. My favorite thing to do is to play with my two big dogs “Brando” (for Marlon Brando) and “Jake.” They’re both pit bulls and the sweetest dogs a guy could ask for.
When you go out to eat, where do you like to dine?
When going out to eat, I enjoy going places I’ve never been before, especially if I’m with someone who knows the menu and can make recommendations. I like trying new things. I prefer seafood, sushi, or anything that’s a creative fusion of a traditional style with a modern twist. Places with unique cocktails and bartenders who take pride in their creations are a big bonus.
What types of dishes do you typically order?
I try to eat healthy, so I’ll usually go for the chicken or fish, with veggies and a healthy starch like sweet potatoes instead of bread. Sometimes it’s not as fun, but with the roles I’m playing these days, people expect me to be in shape. I can either try to eat on the healthier side or grind it out in the gym even harder. I don’t really eat pork and try to limit the beef. I’ll eat locally sourced beef or cows I know were treated humanely, but I’m not one to go for a fast-food hamburger. The older I get, the more respect I have for the “art form” that is a well-prepared dish. I know a few chefs and it’s admirable how much pride they put into their work.
Any favorite bars?
In Los Angeles, I go back and forth from preferring dive bars and trendy nightlife bars. Right now, my favorites are The Roger Room in West Hollywood, Melrose Umbrella Company on Melrose Ave, E.P. & L.P. if you want a rooftop vibe, Skybar at Mondrian for private events, Spire 73 if you want a date night that basically sits in the clouds.
I moved to Atlanta recently for the CBS show and went to a speakeasy yesterday that I liked. It’s called Eleanor’s and it’s back through an ice cooler door in a restaurant called Muss & Turners.
In New York I like Casa Cipriani for the view and the bellinis. I would list more, but New York has so many good bars and speakeasys it’s hard to choose.
Internationally I like the Fado bars in Lisbon. As I understand it, Fado is a type of music people would sing to sailors as they set off in their ships. Today, there are rows of bars that keep the tradition alive. It’s magical. We went to Clube de Fado, but there are dozens of good ones to choose from. And then of course, if anyone reading is a Scotch drinker, you need to go to Edinburgh, Scottland and bounce around the whiskey bars.
What drinks do you order when out? Favorite drink?
It all depends on the occasion. I’m a big fan of pairing the drinks with whatever the night calls for. If it’s a dinner with friends, I’ll experiment with specialty craft cocktails or different wines. I typically stick to red wine. I’m not really a white wine drinker. And then if it’s a “night out,” I’ll start my night with an espresso martini and move towards vodka, tequila or gin and soda. I rotate. I also love negronis and a good old fashioned.
My favorite evening-starter drink at the moment is a beverage called BOMANI. Sometimes when I go places, the espresso martinis are inconsistent, so I’ll check if they have Bomani. Their Vanilla Espresso Martini is my favorite. It comes in a can and more bars are carrying them now.
Do you prepare drinks at home?
Yes. I love hosting game nights or dinners or small hangs at the house. Most of the time I’d rather do that than go out. So, I always make sure I have “the supplies” for people (or me) to make whatever anyone might want. Sometimes I’ll have themed parties, so obviously the drinks reflect the vibe. Or I’ll let people pick whatever they want.
Tell us about your home bar. What is it stocked with?
We put a custom bar in the kitchen when we moved in. We’re pretty serious about our hosting. Usually, we have at least a couple types of vodka, gin, and tequila. And then we’ll have a rum, some beer, seltzers, mixers…. And then 25 different whiskeys. We also have a wine fridge with dozens of reds. And then of course a case of Bomani for people if they want an espresso martini. I feel like now everyone is in their “espresso martini era.” People who never used to drink those start the weekend with one.
Have you ever been a bartender?
No, I haven’t, but I was a waiter in college, so I know a bit about the different drinks people order. I have several friends who are bartenders, so I know making really impressive drinks is an art.
If you could share a drink with anyone, who would it be?
I mean, I think I have to say Jesus. Is that an acceptable answer? I’d order water and ask him to please turn it into wine. Because wouldn’t you want to know WHICH wine Jesus chooses when he does the “water into wine” thing? Also, Jesus, I have some questions…
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