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Best restaurants in Manchester
- Gurdeep Loyal
- , Tony Naylor
Published: August 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM
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Manchester’s food scene is buzzing, with fine dining to street food, hidden cocktail bars to craft beer joints. See our pick of the best places to eat and drink
Looking for Manchester restaurants? We've found the best places to eat and drink in Manchester, from the trendy Northern Quarter to neighbouring Salford.
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For more exciting restaurants and weekend ideas for food lovers, check out our best UK city breaks and UK's best artisan bakeries. For more foodie guides, discover the best restaurants in Birmingham, best restaurants in Liverpool, best restaurants in Glasgow and the places to eat in the Lake District.
Best places to eat and drink in Manchester
Bar Shrimp – cool seafood restaurant
This lively seafood and cocktail lounge is the vision of Daniel Craig Martin, Joseph Otway and Richard Cossins – the trio behind Higher Ground and Flawd who are driving Manchester’s recent culinary revolution. The venue combines British shellfish with exquisite mixology and a killer sound system, with a plush aesthetic and intimate banquettes that will get you in the mood to party.
Start with British and Irish oysters served on ice with fireside vinegar and lemon, then tuck into plates like monkfish ravioli, Morecombe bay langoustines with wild garlic butter, and the famous cuttlefish sandwich with parsley mayonnaise. Signature cocktails include a blackcurrant gimlet and Shrimp spritz, with deftly crafted shots including the Mezcal Disco Ball and Lemon Drop. If you still have room there’s a Cherry Blossom soft serve with maraschino cherry to finish. barshrimpmcr.co.uk
Skof – for Michelin-starred dining
Located within a handsome phalanx of Victorian-era buildings, Tom Barnes’ debut restaurant is a suitably class act. A former exec chef at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume, Tom deftly deploys exceptional produce (some from Rogan’s Cartmel Valley farm) across tasting menu dishes of, say, Orkney scallop, barbecued kohlrabi, apple and watercress, or miso custard, mushrooms, truffle and dashi. This is precise, flavour-forward food served with a rare polished ease in a warm, comfortable dining room. Skof was awarded a Michelin star in February 2025. skofmanchester.co.uk
Winsome – for prime seasonal British produce
After winning acclaim at Manchester’s The Edinburgh Castle gastropub, chef Shaun Moffat has moved across town to create Winsome, a restaurant and adjoining bar at Whitworth Locke, a hip aparthotel on the edge of the city’s Gay Village. “Thoughtful British cooking” is the tagline, with Shaun using prime seasonal produce, from Yorkshire rhubarb to Brixham crab, in multi-size sharing dishes of, for example, confit mussels and trotter on toast, pork chop with a sorrel, mustard and trout roe sauce, or whole brill with parsley liquor. These are served with European wines and, from the Winsome bar, well-executed classic and original cocktails. winsomemcr.co.uk
Idle Hands – for brunch
Serene, canteen-feel hang-out, serving excellent coffee and well-executed brunches including Turkish eggs with garlic yogurt, chilli butter and za’atar focaccia, and garlic and thyme mushrooms on sourdough in a fennel cream. Idle Hands’ sweet pies (think pecan, chocolate cream, banana and cherry) are much-loved, too. idlehandscoffee.com
Stow – for open fire cooking
When Stow opened in late 2024 its mission statement was “great ingredients cooked over open fire with very little faff”, which landed with an appealing
directness. In the open kitchen at this 30-cover restaurant and bar, chef and co-owner Jamie Pickles leads the team in creating seasonal, smoke-kissed sharing plates using a custom-built grill by Somerset’s Fire Made, a pizza oven and barbecue. Dishes range from red peppers with sherry vinegar or overnight roasted beetroots, ricotta and smoked honey, to brined chicken with tarragon jus or monkfish tail in a trout roe beurre blanc. These are accompanied by French wines, neat cocktails and a discerning, modern beer list. stowmcr.co.uk
Exhibition – for three independent kitchens in one restaurant
This striking open-plan venue is unusual and unusually good. It houses both a large bar (good cocktails, DJs, 1am finish at weekends) and a restaurant where you can order from three kitchens, simultaneously. These are Baratxuri, a seriously good homage to the Basque Country, Scandi-influenced Osma, and Jaan, specialist in topped, Persian-style flatbreads. Whether having lunch with family, or cocktails with your crew, Exhibition works from all angles. Note: Jaan is a spin-off from Another Hand, a cool, creative restaurant hidden up on Deansgate Mews, and a must-visit in itself. exhibitionmcr.co.uk
Slap & Pickle@Society – for food-hall favourites
From the Arndale Market – home of the legendary, Mexican-owned Pancho’s Burritos – to Mackie Mayor, grand offspring of Altrincham Market, Manchester has a varied food hall scene. At Society, we can’t get enough of Slap & Pickle’s next-level smash burgers; also, Yoki’s Korean fried chicken or mandu dumplings, and Chaat Cart’s Indian dishes. The bar features a vast range of beers from excellent West Yorkshire brewery, Vocation. societymanchester.com
Madre – for Mexican
In its Sunday markets, pop-up events and venues such as NY-style pizza bar, Nell’s, and bakery-café, Pollen, the Kampus residential development is something of a foodie hub. Stylish, clubbable Mexican restaurant Madre is a key draw. Do not miss its slow-cooked beef birria tacos; wood-fired, pistachio-crusted lamb; and epic crispy potatoes with garlic cream. thisismadre.co.uk
Leno @ DIECAST – for relaxed daytime dining
From frozen daiquiri tanks at the bar, to caravans in the beer garden, this vast indoor-outdoor space is unique. Adding to the spectacle, as the DJ cranks up the BPMs, the platforms and runways snaking around this former foundry come alive with dancers and performers (Thursday-Saturday nights). Food-wise, the main focus is on Leno’s NeoPan pizzas, a steel-pan-baked take on classic Neapolitan pizza. Expect a side order of seasonal vibes: night markets, sausages and steins, a bandstand and mulled wine. diecastmcr.com
Higher Ground – for local produce and natural wines
A restaurant, yes. But also in its sourcing and ethos, a model for hospitality’s sustainable future (think seasonal, heritage UK ingredients; whole animal butchery; minimal-waste cooking; natural wines). Often using produce from allied market garden, Cinderwood, chef Joseph Otway creates dishes both arresting and irresistibly comforting: an Isle of Mull cheddar tart; marinated celeriac, whipped goat’s curd and salted gooseberry; roast pork with a mushroom grain porridge. For a more casual taste of this aesthetic, Higher Ground has a wine bar, Flawd, at New Islington Marina. highergroundmcr.co.uk
Kargo MKT – a waterfront food hall
This waterfront food hall features around 20 traders, showcasing northern (street) food talent such as Brazilian chef Caroline Martins (aka Rio-Mex), Vietnamese stars VNam or Ethiopian and Eritrean kitchen House of Habesha. Its weekend DJs, live music, monthly themed shows and events, from craft workshops, to kids’ discos, offer a feast of entertainment. kargomkt.com
Go Falafel – for lunch on-the-go
This corner of town (Gujarati snacks at Bundobust, the veggie-slash-vegan options at Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurant, Asmara Bella) is home to some of Manchester’s tastiest meat-free food. If you’re dashing around, Go Falafel is an essential stop. Packed with vibrant pickles and salad items, lush hummus, tahini and perfectly crisp, light falafel, its takeaway wraps are brilliant. gofalafel.co.uk
Erst – for a natural wine bar and sharing plates
The Ancoats side of Manchester city centre is alive with good food, from cutting-edge Michelin-starred Mana to Detroit-style pizza destination, Ramona. Natural wine bar and restaurant Erst, a chic, minimalist space with a convivial buzz, is a neighbourhood favourite of national renown. Chef Patrick Withington handles vivid flavours with great confidence across sharing plates of, for example, grilled scallops in roe and charcuterie sauce; short rib ragu with cavatelli pasta; or bream tartare, blood orange and radish. erst-mcr.co.uk
Lupo – for everything Italian
Tucked away on a Prestwich trading estate, about three miles from central Manchester, Nico Pasquali’s Lupo, a combined restaurant, take-out counter and bakery, is a cult favourite worth hunting out. Seated in a cosy, colourfully decorated nook of this warehouse space, you can relax over quality pasta dishes, pizzas and family recipes such as a starter of agrodolce fried peppers. lupocaffe.co.uk
Nell's – for New York-inspired pizza
A homage to New York pizza, Nell’s was created by Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, owners of the legendary bar Common in Manchester’s hip Northern Quarter. The foundation for Nell’s pizza – served in slices and whole 14-inch or 22-inch pies – is a 36-hour fermented dough made with Shipton Mill organic flour. Examples of its creative toppings include the Corn Supremacy (miso corn, Lancashire cheese and crispy onions with garlic and jalapeño creams) and the Funghi Jambon’s combination of roast ham, mushrooms, vodka sauce, mozzarella and oregano. Nell’s has four locations to choose from. nellspizza.co.uk
Companio Bakery – for baked goods and classes
In addition to its original Ancoats outlet, Companio now has an attractive bakery-café in the Northern Quarter, where – as well as retailing A1 breads, pastries, savouries and coffee – co-founders Baneta Yelda and Neil Large are hosting collab events, supper clubs and baking classes. Tutorials in sourdough breads, brioche dough or cinnamon rolls will be seasoned with, for example, events where Iraqi-born Baneta explores Middle Eastern cooking. companiobakery.co.uk
Rudy’s – for pizza
Rudy’s is an unanimous favourite among Manchester’s foodies that has now spread across the UK. It’s a go-to place for pizza and cocktails with your pals. Pizza dough is made on site twice a day and cooked for no longer than a minute to produce a springy base. Choose from toppings including classic margherita with buffalo mozzarella, spicy nduja sausage with tomato and fior di latte, or white pizza with smoked mozzarella, Tuscan sausage and wild broccoli.
The aperitivo list uses some of our favourite Italian brands to create great twists on classic cocktails – gin fizz is spiked with Cynar (a bittersweet artichoke leaf liqueur) and Disaronno is mixed with limoncello, lemon juice and fresh basil for a refreshing amaretto sour. Otherwise, go for a creamy Dolci Colline prosecco, a bright and citrusy Sicilian white or forest-fruity Puglian red. rudyspizza.co.uk
10 Tib Lane – for date night
Its scale and location (two compact floors on a back street), décor (candles, wood, distressed walls) and feel (calm, welcoming) make 10 Tib Lane a date night doozy. Start with cocktails, such as the whisky and soda made using a house yogurt-washed Chivas Regal. Revived, head upstairs for on-point sharing plates of smoked trout mousse, roe and brioche toast; sea bream with champagne sauce; or sea salt caramel tart. 10tiblane.com
Pollen Bakery – for 28 hour fermented sourdough
With its rich, caramelised crust, Pollen’s 28-hour sourdough was a game changer when it hit Manchester in 2016. Pollen’s Kampus and Ancoats Marina bakery-cafés, both stylishly functional spaces, maintain similar standards in their stellar brunch dishes (think eggs benedict with smoked ham hock, brown butter hollandaise and crispy kale) and pastries ranging from cinnamon morning
buns, made using laminated croissant dough, to seasonal specials such as light joconde sponge cakes, topped with pistachio and Yorkshire rhubarb. pollenbakery.com
Another Hand – for casual dining and natural wines
In their slick Deansgate Mews hideaway, chefs Max Yorke and Julian Pizer marry the ancient (foraging and fermenting books share shelf-space with natural wines), and the modern – rare species of mushrooms cultivated indoors in Altrincham, for example – to produce visually dashing, highly creative plates. Think charred Hispi, pickled clams and burnt butter, or a trout tartare in a stunning smoked turnip and burnt apple dashi. anotherhandmcr.com
Mackie Mayor – for global food against a historical backdrop
This 1852 Grade II listed market building is the only one remaining fully intact in the city’s historic Smithfield Market and is now home to 10 independent bars and kitchens. Its high window-lined ceiling means the space is always flooded with natural light and even when it’s busy, doesn’t feel overcrowded.
It’s a great brunch spot for sharing a tray of Pico’s breakfast nachos layered with salsa roja or verde, queso fresco and topped with a runny fried egg. You don’t need to book, plus it’s dog friendly. instagram.com/mackiemayor
Freight Island – for social street food, live music and rollerskating
Just five minutes from Manchester’s Piccadilly station is one of the city’s latest examples of urban regeneration: a food hall in the footprint of what was formerly a freight depot, now a vibrant centre for eating and socialising. The space is packed with multi-level terraces, long benches and tables for trying diverse eats from the variety of street food joints, but there are quiet spots dotted around if you’re after a more relaxed date-night.
Venture past the live music stage and you’ll find o Mayfield Park, the new green space, which opened in September 2022 as Manchester’s first new city park in 100 years. It’s 6.5 acres big, perfect for mooching around to walk off your food. escapetofreightisland.com
Siop Shop – for alternative artisan doughnuts
Coffee and doughnuts are the specialties here, but whatever you’re imagining, it’s better. Siop is the Welsh word for shop and this is just one of many personal, creative touches that owners, Iwan Roberts and Lucy Jackson of Blawd Bakery have curated to create a relaxed and welcoming pit stop on Tib Street.
The doughnut menu changes regularly. During the Manchester Coffee Festival in November, we tried the brand’s limited edition coffee bean, ‘48hr cold proofed carbonic macerated thermal shock brioche with coffee creme diplomat injection’ doughnut.
For firework night, they developed an apple compote-filled number with a toffee glaze on a lollipop stick. This is fun, delicious food. siopshop.co
The Midland Hotel – for regal afternoon tea
Its elegant tea room is a modern addition but the Grade II Midland has been acing the scone game since 1903. Said scones arrive with clotted cream and award-winning jams from Cheshire’s Mrs Darlington’s, amid a regal parade of sandwiches and enticing work from pastry chef, Austin Appleton. Think Valrhona dark chocolate mousse with salted caramel or raspberry opera cake with lemon grass panna cotta. The Midland’s loose leaf teas include three unique blends created with supplier Quinteassential. themidlandhotel.co.uk
Wash House speakeasy – for satisfyingly secret cocktails
Before Covid descended, the password to this speakeasy on Shudehill Street was reportedly, ‘I’d like to put a wash on.’ Now you book in advance, but the concept remains the same. Laundrette on the outside, cocktail bar within, the Wash House is inconspicuous to those not in the know and for those who do, an adventurous cocktail menu awaits combining a liquid alchemy full of surprises. washhousemcr.com
Bundobust – for Indian street food and craft beers
Bundobust is many things (craft beer haunt, Indian street food hangout, veggie restaurant) but it sells itself as a ‘beer and Indian joint’. The basement bar is filled with casual, communal tables that encourage interaction with fellow punters, and has a relaxed order-at-the-bar system that keeps the crowd mingling.
The food menu is all about vegetarian Indian street food. We suggest opting for one of the combos that arrive on wooden trays – a modern twist on the thali. Plant-based are filled with paneer and mushroom tikka skewers marinated in yogurt curd, crisp onion, broccoli and kale bhajis spiced with fennel, and tarka lentil dhal to mop up with deep fried bhatura flatbread. Our highlight was the bundo chat – layers of crisp samosa, sweet-and-sour tamarind and frilly little crunchy bits on top.
Beers include collaborations with Leeds brewery Northern Monk and several Manchester breweries (see some of the best in the Beermoth section below). There’s simple house chai for a booze-free option, though you can add a dash of bourbon or cognac if you’re after more of a kick. bundobust.com
Federal – for leisurely brunch
This popular antipodean cafe drags loyal Northern Quarter locals out of bed at the weekend for its epic brunches. Emily’s homemade banana bread is treacly and dark, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg with a fragrant vanilla mascarpone. If you’re really hungry, the hefty French toast is very popular, laden with homemade summer berry compote, almonds, whipped vanilla mascarpone and salted caramel; while corn fritters with a choice of toppings make a worthy savoury choice.
Federal’s owners are committed to excellent sourcing, with sourdough bread brought in from Lovingly Artisan in the Lake District, and coffee carted up from London’s Ozone Coffee Roasters (try a signature espresso martini made with vanilla infused vodka and Ozone espresso).
It’s a lovely spot to spend a few hours – above wooden floorboards mustard banquettes hug two sides of the almost triangular corner room, and lush green plants spill out of tiny hanging pots. federalcafe.co.uk
El Gato Negro – for stylish small plates
This upmarket tapas restaurant opened in 2016 and quickly gained a reputation as Manchester’s go-to spot for a splash-out dinner, and now has a branch in Liverpool too.
Set over three storeys of a converted townhouse, there are plenty of choices when it comes to seating – a ground floor bar framed with shiny black tiles and seats that spill out onto the pavement, and red leather stools overlooking the open kitchen on the first floor, allowing punters to inhale aromas from the Josper grill. Then there’s el Gato Negro’s trump card, a swish rooftop dining area, complete with sliding roof, where you can enjoy a glass of fresh and fruity Albariño wine from Galicia.
The restaurant’s small plates menu sees chefs adding modern twists to traditional tapas dishes. Though we thought some additions weren’t needed (Galician octopus, for example, was so soft and beautifully finished on the Josper grill that it didn’t need the punchy pickled shallots), other dishes really shone – long, slim heritage carrots were drenched in walnut pesto, miso and aubergine purée, while croquettas entailed an extra cheesy béchamel encased in crisp breadcrumbs. elgatonegrotapas.com
Bunsik – for Korean street food
A viral sensation in London, Bunsik’s Korean-style corn dogs have now landed in Piccadilly Gardens. These crispy, deep-fried skewers of battered, crumbed chicken sausage (with the option of added mozzarella and diced fries) share a menu with Korean street food faves, including ddukbokki – tubular rice cakes in a spicy sauce – and fried chicken. bunsik.co.uk
Beermoth – for craft beers by the bottle
This small shop on buzzy Tib Street is jam-packed with bottles, cans and kegs of beers from Manchester, as well as from the UK and across the globe.
Brews from the inner city include neon-packaged Runaway Brewery (smoked porter, summer saison, American brown ale), Track Brewing Co. (visit its weekly brew tap events under the arches of Picadilly), and Cloudwater (which has gained a global reputation over the past few of years).
The friendly staff sure know their porters from their DIPAs, so make sure you pick their brains. We came across a fab new favourite from Northern Ireland after describing our preferences. beermoth.co.uk
Adam Reid at The French – for fine dining
Hidden behind a curtain in a corner of the grand lobby of the Midland Hotel, there’s more than a feel of Alice in Wonderland as you are transported through mirrored doors into the dining room of The French. Soft grey and sage green tones give everything a muted luxurious feel and there are two huge cylindrical chandeliers which throw light back and forth via the mirrored panelling around the room.
Chef Adam Reid’s cooking is inventive and playful but executed with real precision and flair. When we visited, a nibble of the creamiest smoked cod roe with puffy squid ink wafers kicked the six-course tasting menu off in style. Crispy pig’s trotter to start, proper came as fall-apart meat slowly braised in a rich deep umami soy base then breadcrumbed and deep fried into a crisp nugget, with pickled onion purée. Courses to follow include corned beef and potato hash, brill with silky artichoke and basil purée and suckling pig belly served with fermented cabbage and punchy cherry sauce.
Reid won the Great British menu in 2016 with his Empire apple dessert – a blown sugar apple filled with a meadowsweet custard mousse – and our incredibly pretty pud is a take on that, this time a shiny orange clementine sugar shell filled with airy white chocolate mousse. It’s a little piece of cooking wizardry which perfectly reflects the rest of the menu at this magical place. themidlandhotel.co.uk/thefrench
20 Stories – for modern British with a view
All-day restaurant, bar and grill, 20 Stories sits on the 19th floor of the No1 Spinningfields building in central Manchester.
The modern British menu in the main restaurant showcases local produce, with the majority sourced within a 50-mile radius of the city. Herdwick lamb sits on potato gnocchi and chanterelle mushrooms, poached John Dory is served with a smart langoustine velouté and white asparagus, and butter-poached salsify is topped with burnt leeks and parsnip purée. There’s also a more casual brasserie focussing on the grill, serving the likes of Yorkshire beef steaks, grilled heritage beetroot salad, and bone marrow burgers topped with beef cheek, mushroom and an onion ring.
With 360-degree views, the swish space also brings the outside in with glamorous interiors inspired by nature (plenty of wood, hanging plants, stone features). The bar and outdoor terrace is dedicated to cocktails, including the signature 20 Stories cocktail made with Tanqueray gin, vermouth, honey and herb cordial, and grapes shaken with fresh lemon. 20stories.co.uk
Salut – for wine by the glass
“Salut aims to be the place where you want to break bread and drink wine with your pals,” says Sara Saunby, co-founder of Salut Wines, which she opened with husband Jon in 2014. With the help of an Italian Enomatic wine preservation and serving system, Salut offers around 60 wines by the glass as well as a large range of craft beers and spirits. salut.co.uk
Porta – for inventive tapas
Founded by brothers Ben and Joe Wright, there are now four Porta wine and tapas bars spread across the north-west. The Iberian-influenced tapas – staples of jamón, croquetas and patatas bravas but also slow-roasted ox cheek, pickled walnuts and purple sprouting broccoli with romesco sauce – is complemented by a carefully curated selection of Spanish wines, cava, beer, sherries and vermouth. portatapas.co.uk
A weekend break in Manchester
Mooch around Manchester’s Northern Quarter and adjoining trendy Ancoats neighbourhood for the weekend. Start at antipodean-style Federal, and brunch on French toast laden with summer berry compote or corn fritters piled high with toppings. Work your way through the Northern Quarter’s network of shops, cafés and bars – Beermoth is jam-packed with local brews. Amble over to Ancoats’s New Islington Arena to scandi-cool Pollen Bakery to enjoy canalside Manchester tart cruffins and cuddles with Maru the chow chow. For dinner, Rudy’s is the local go-to for Neapolitan pizza and refreshing aperitivo with pals.
The next day, head over to The Feel Good Club for crumpets with thick lashings of butter and jam, or Mackie Mayor for a less traditional nacho brunch beneath the high glass ceilings of the former Smithfield market, built in 1852. For something sweet, pass Siop Shop to grab an artisan doughnut before venturing down to Mayfield Park, circling back to visit Escape to Freight Island’s self-contained deck courtyard lit by strings of festoon lights for wiling away long afternoons with Pomona Island craft brews and plates from its restaurants within. For a whistle-stop tour of Manchester’s cultural and foodie history on foot and more meals than you can fit in, try a bespoke Scranchester Food Tour.
Where to stay in Manchester
Converted textile warehouse Native Manchester is part of the Grade II listed Ducie Street complex of serviced apartments under five minutes walk from Piccadilly station. Each apartment comes kitted out with a well-equipped kitchen, living room and super comfy bedrooms, plus the lobby doubles up as a restaurant, bar and all-day deli. There are also classes available at BLOCK gym in the basement. Studio doubles from £125 per night, check availability at booking.com
Words by Gurdeep Loyal, Alex Crossley, Tony Naylor and Mark Taylor
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Authors
Gurdeep Loyal
Tony Naylor
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