The 30 Best Restaurants In Manchester, UK

Welcome to Manchester, one of the most prominent cities in Northern England and a place famed countrywide for its vibrant gastronomic culture. Whether you're a local wanting to explore more hidden gems or a visitor to the city hoping to get a feel for the vast array of eateries, this list will surely inspire you to visit some of the great spots this special city has to offer. Along with all the best fine-dining establishments, we're taking a look at the under-the-radar culinary secrets in the suburbs and the boundary-pushing bistros in the lush countryside surrounding the city.

There's something for everyone in Manchester, whether you're craving a juicy burger, Spanish-style tapas, comforting pasta, Indian street food, contemporary Chinese cuisine, or elegantly plated gourmet seafood. Looking for a memorable restaurant with the "wow" factor, complete with a Michelin-starred tasting menu? No problem. Or are you just looking for a trendy place to hang out with friends with meals you can enjoy despite differing dietary preferences? We've got you covered. Are you prepared to get incredibly hungry while reading? If so, what are you waiting for? let's take a food tour around Greater Manchester.

Opened by seasoned Manchester chefs, Another Hand in Deansgate is all about local, ethical food. The eatery describes the food as "veggie led," sourcing its vegetables from small suppliers such as the community-run Platt Fields market garden and Cinderwoods, a compact, one-acre regenerative farming project.

As expected from a restaurant focused so intensely on local produce, the menu changes regularly, depending on the available crops. Morning-goers should try one of the cult-status sandwiches made with Holy Grain Sourdough bread and whey butter. In the evening, it's all about embracing the community feeling and sampling as many flavors as possible, so expect to order an array of small plates for the table. We'll leave the exact choices up to you — everything's great here.

Pizza is a worldwide phenomenon likely first initiated in Naples, Italy. When other countries adopted Italian food, different types of pizza were born, though many people insist that original Neapolitan pizza is still the best there is. One of those preserving the art of Neapolitan pizza is Rudy's Pizza, which opened its first restaurant in Ancoats, Manchester in 2015. Today, it has several locations across the North of England and has even spread to the South, too.

True to its origin, Rudy's Pizza uses a "00" flour dough to create the characteristic thin base with a charred and bubbly crust. In addition to starters, you can choose from over 12 varieties, including a vegan option with fennel "sausage," caramelized onions, and basil "cheese" sauce. There's also a fiery affair with wild boar salami, spicy 'nduja, and sweet roquito peppers.

Mumbai, the financial center of India, has a delightful secret: Hidden in the alleyways are dozens of Irani cafes opened by the Zoroastrian refugees who made the city their home. Manchester restaurant Dishoom follows these traditions in more ways than one. Not only does the food pay homage to Irani-Indian cuisine, but it's also hidden in one of the city's most fascinating buildings — the 1920s, Grade II listed Manchester Hall, which was once a secret meeting spot for the Freemasons.

Walking into Manchester Dishoom is like being transported to mid-20th century Mumbai. The air carries a subtle waft of incense, the melodies of Indian jazz dance through the rooms, coy signs in Hindi catch the attention, and the walls proudly display old photographs narrating tales of bygone days. The menu offers treats such as akuri, bun maska, and keema per eedu (with soft, fluffy pav) for breakfast. For mains, tuck into our favorite: Mumbai vada pav to start, followed by chole puri served with sweet sooji halwa.

Those seeking glamor and sophistication should head to the glitzy financial center of Manchester, Spinningfields. There you'll find a stunning restaurant named Tattu. The interior design is jaw-dropping: Intricately carved screens, dark timber, twinkling lights, and — the pièce de résistance — a real cherry blossom tree.

Depending on the occasion, you can choose from several menus. At the higher end are set tasting menus (vegetarian included), while a "choose three" lunch is more casual, and à la carte offers the most choice. The food at Tattu is modern Chinese, theatrically presented. Expect all your favorites — steamed and fried dim sum, meat, seafood, tender vegetables, rice, and noodles — but elevated to an entirely new echelon of cookery. Reviewers recommend the seven-spiced seared tuna with caviar, rich truffle aioli, and citrus ponzu.

Hispi may have racked up the accolades (the restaurant won an esteemed AA Rosette award for culinary excellence in 2023), but there's nothing pretentious or fussy about the food. This place is an example of highlighting British ingredients in an understated, delicious way. The menus are reasonably priced, offering two or three courses for a set price plus optional sides (the purple carrots with puffed rice shouldn't be missed).

What's great about Hispi is that it also offers dedicated menus for those with special dietary requirements, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. More than an afterthought, the options are carefully crafted. Reviewers specifically rave about the Sunday lunch, which includes options such as stuffed and rolled pork belly, roast beef with all the trimmings, king oyster mushrooms with kale ragout, and crispy carrot cakes.

Sometimes, great things come in unassuming packages. That's the case with Erst, an industrial, minimalist, Scandinavian-style eatery found in Ancoats, an area known for its industrial past. Before Erst, the team of friends behind it ran Trove, a still-active bakery famous for its artisan sourdough and brunch selection. After realizing they wanted to explore beyond brunch, Erst was born: a small-plate restaurant and bar.

The menu isn't available ahead of time, but, true to its roots, Erst never skimps on the bread. Bubbling, charred, and subtly flavored flatbread with whipped lardo is nearly always on offer and a must-order, especially when eaten alongside earthy artichokes, pickled mussels cooked in tender leeks and cider, or salt-sprinkled, olive-oil-drizzled tomatoes with buffalo ricotta.

Tender, crisp, vibrant green asparagus drizzled with herbed chimichurri and bold romesco sauce. Crispy squid with zesty lemon aioli. Fried ibérico ham croquettes with a creamy, melted interior and golden-brown crumb. If these dishes remind you of Spain in summer, you wouldn't be wrong — El Gato Negro (The Black Cat) seeks to transform traditional Spanish tapas into a modern dining experience. 

Spanning three floors of an old Manchester townhouse, El Gato Negro Tapas has al-fresco, European-style outdoor seating for warm days, a bar serving up the finest Spanish wine and liquor, a "chef's table" within full view of the open kitchen, and an airy terrace with a retractable canopy. It's the perfect place for a date night or catch up with delicious food.

Gourmet fine dining menus, specifically tasting menus, are renowned for being unattainably expensive to the masses. However, Six by Nico in Manchester is the perfect way to experience the glamor of fine dining without a hefty price tag.

The restaurant's name is indicative of its menus – six courses, changing every six weeks. Menus are always themed and inspired by travel, memory, or tradition. The most famous theme, "The Chippie," takes a classic British meal and elevates it; chips and cheese transform into a crisp potato terrine with curry oil and airy parmesan foam, while the meal ends with a deep-fried mars bar served with Irn-Bru sorbet and luscious chocolate pave. Regardless of which menu is running, it's well worth checking out.

Spearheaded by the same team that brought Hispi into the limelight, Kala Bistro opened in 2019 and unsurprisingly shot to almost instant success. With an AA Rosette to its name, this hip, stylish restaurant has garnered praise from critics and the public; reviews describe the food as "out of this world" and "relaxed fine dining."

While some popular dishes feature on both Hispi and Kala's menus, this centrally located eatery is its own entity. A long, open-kitchen stretches across one wall, where diners can watch the chefs prepare tempting dishes such as roasted celeriac with creamy black bean hummus and salsa macho (from the bistro menu), or crispy ribeye pork with fresh salad, charred pineapple, and sour cream (from the main menu). We're suddenly very hungry!

Nestled among the bustling kebab shops and hookah bars, the family-run Walnut Persian Restaurant is a hidden gem offering sophisticated decor, a calm ambiance, and delightful food. Located on Wilmslow Road, at the heart of an area known as the Curry Mile, the family-run Walnut Persian Restaurant may have a lot of competition, but the food speaks for itself.

Stop by for fresh mazeh (small side dishes), including hummus, marinated olives, and smoked aubergine. For something heavier, we recommend traditional Persian gheymeh stew (lamb flavored with spices, aubergine, lentils, and tomato) or a mixed grill platter with freshly baked fluffy naan. Vegetarians can choose from herby, zesty dishes with hearty vegetables and pulses. Finish on a sweet note with bamiyeh (syrup-soaked doughnuts).

Bringing the taste of sunny Catalonia to Manchester, Tast Cuina Catalana is a minimally decorated, stylish restaurant in the central district. Although Spain is most famous for tapas, everything is done differently in Catalonia, including the food.

Small dishes are known as "tastets" and focus on the local produce of the area. Modernized and gorgeously presented, there's something for everyone — fried calamari with dramatic squid ink mayonnaise, bao buns filled with decadent wagyu brisket and traditional beef sauce, and roasted pepper croquettes are among the delights available here. The real standout, though, are the dishes cooked on charcoal. For example, there's Catalan-style rice, with its distinctive crispy crust and whole lamb leg accompanied by root vegetables.

Manchester is a city with splendorous brick-and-stone monoliths every way you turn. Perhaps the most impressive of all the restaurants in Manchester is Grand Pacific, boasting commanding floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-paneled roofs, twinkling chandeliers, and huge tropical plants. The restaurant describes its atmosphere as a "homage to the golden age high society," and we agree — it's sure to impress. 

As for the food, it's Asian-inspired fine dining. Imagine roast seabream and mussels with a fragrant green curry broth and salty samphire, lamb massaman in soft roti with curry salt, or crisp vegetable gyoza in a silky, unctuous mushroom dashi broth. Grand Pacific also has one of the best high teas in Manchester, complete with savory sandwiches, tempting desserts, and freshly steeped tea.

There are a few memorable steakhouses in Manchester, but one that never fails to be brought up is Hawksmoor. Located in a reclaimed Victorian courthouse on one of the city's main thoroughfares, the ambiance here is effortlessly relaxed and classy.

You can expect a perfectly cooked filet, rib eye, sirloin, or rump served with traditional sauces of your choice (we recommend the peppercorn), triple-cooked chips, creamed spinach, or extra bone marrow (and many more alternatives). Aside from the best meat in town, Hawksmoor distinguishes itself with the outstanding array of seafood on offer. Most famous are the briny Jersey Rock scallops, though you may also be tempted by succulent lobster swimming in garlic butter or seabream subtly seasoned with lemon, chili, and garlic.

We so often overlook hotels when considering a new restaurant to explore. In this case, that would be a massive mistake. Welcome to The Alan, a modest-sized hotel snuggled in the center of Manchester, directly opposite the Manchester Art Gallery. The eatery, called Dine + Drink, is not to be missed.

The open-plan dining room is gorgeous, featuring exposed brickwork with plenty of light, white marble tabletops, and a sleek design. The meals are no different; elegantly plated mushrooms with vibrant wild garlic, whey butter, and a bed of ancient grains sing, as does a delicate whipped cod's roe accompanied by slivers of radish and crispy rosti. And for oyster fans, there's a real treat: Happy hour (between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm) offers Cumbrae oysters for just £1 a shuck.