Great Restaurants in Manchester
These great restaurants in Manchester make up the city’s dining scene and have made this vibrant city an outstanding foodie destination. From classic pub grub served in historic taverns to trendy eateries, Manchester’s English heritage and progressive northern roots can both be found on menus across the city.
With new restaurants appearing on almost a weekly basis, there’s always something fresh to try. So, whether you want comfort food, fine dining, or a sizzling curry done right, this list of Manchester’s great restaurants has you covered. Read on for ideas on where to eat in Manchester and the great combinations of features and flavours on offer.
1. Sam’s Chop House
Hearty British food in a historic pub
Sam’s Chop House has been a cornerstone of Manchester’s food scene for over 150 years. Serving up home-cooked classics made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Sam’s is where you go for a good, honest meal.
The decor is classic, with wooden beams and a monochrome tiled floor living up to the promise of the pub’s historic exterior, and a life-sized bronze statue of long-time patron L.S. Lowry (the famed artist of urban scenes and matchstick figures) introducing an element of novelty. If it’s comfort food you’re seeking, then Sam’s is happy to oblige, serving up such local favourites as Lancashire hot pot, corned beef hash, and - a must, given its name - hearty lamb chops.
Location: Back Pool Fold, Manchester M2 1HN, UK
Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 12 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 12 pm to 10 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +44 (0)161 834 3210
2. Street Urchin
A European-style restaurant with a British twist
Sreet Urchin is a fashionable restaurant in Manchester that features upcycled furniture, abundant greenery and inventive fish dishes. If this floats your boat, then you should make your way to the Northern Quarter. Opened in 2019, this Ancoats eatery became a restaurant-du-jour through word of mouth alone, which surely tells you all you need to know.
Old-school blackboards list an ever-changing range of dishes made with ultra-fresh, seasonal produce. You can go tapas style, sharing small plates like native Colchester oysters and crab and preserved lemon gnocchi. Or, if sharing’s not for you, snaffle a large plate for yourself. With tempting dishes like rich seafood bisque and megrim sole with almond butter, nobody could blame you.
Location: 72 Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5BG, UK
Open: Tuesday–Thursday from 5 pm to 11 pm, Friday from 1 pm to 3 pm and 5 pm to 11 pm, Saturday from 1 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 1 pm to 9 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +44 (0)7470 804979
3. Elnecot
Industrial space serving up masterful British-influenced small plates
Elnecot serves up stylish small plates in a modern, minimalist space in the bustling Ancoats neighbourhood of Manchester. With so many trendy places feeling pretentious, it’s refreshing to see that Elnecot never takes itself too seriously, managing to create an informal and homely vibe. This is made all the better by the outstanding staff, who are friendly and knowledgeable.
The main menus are based around small plates, including tempting Devon brown crab crumpets, king oyster mushrooms with roasted yeast sauce, or intriguingly named ‘sexy-greens’. Try the bottomless brunch on a Saturday, or visit on a Sunday for high-end roasts, including confit chicken leg, pork belly, and Wagyu beef.
Location: Cutting Room Square, 41 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AJ, UK
Open: Daily from 11 am to 11.30 pm
Phone: +44 (0)7412 574324
4. Peter Street Kitchen
Japanese and Mexican influences fuse to create this multicultural eatery
Trendy Peter Street Kitchen has created a contemporary Japanese-Mexican eating experience that’s going down a storm with Manchester diners. Housed in the city’s historic Free Trade Hall, from the bright white lighting to the curved wood cladding and endlessly high ceilings, the decor is something else.
When it comes to the food, Peter Street Kitchen certainly impresses. With simple but precise presentation, the dishes – which include gyoza tacos, and crispy duck with papaya chilli dressing – are modern, unique and creative. Similarly, the drinks menu offers standout options, including Japanese whisky, sake, and an impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals.
Location: Free Trade Hall, Peter St, Manchester M2 5GP, UK
Open: Wednesday–Thursday from 5 pm to 10 pm, Friday–Saturday from 4 pm to 10.45pm (closed Sunday–Tuesday)
Phone: +44 (0)161 835 8941
5. Wood Manchester
A casual fine-dining restaurant with tasting menus
Wood Manchester is a fine-dining restaurant in the city’s First Street area. Serving only tasting menus, Chef Simon Wood offers 7 or 9 courses of contemporary cooking, designed to showcase technique, flavour and texture to create an all-senses experience.
Dishes are amusingly named, such as The Best Bit of the Chicken with Cured Lamb and Mushrooms and Yorkshire’s Forced Rhubarb, Ewes Milk, and the Tree from Last Christmas. It’s refreshing to see this playful side, which is enhanced by the down-to-earth staff who work hard to make your meal at Wood memorable.
Location: First Street, Jack Rosenthal St, First St, Manchester M15 4RA, UK
Open: Wednesday–Thursday from 5 pm to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from 12 pm to 1.45 pm and from 5 pm to 11 pm, Sunday (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: +44 (0)161 236 5211
6. The Edinburgh Castle
A classic 1800s pub serving pimped Sunday roasts in trendy Ancoats
The story behind The Edinburgh Castle is a Mancunian tale of rags to riches. A forgotten watering hole is reborn as a gastropub, serving up giant plates of mouthwatering roasts, a varied selection of ales, beers, and a regularly updated wine list.
Upstairs in the dining section, the vibe’s dark and sultry, with black walls, red banquettes and bronze tables and chairs. Downstairs, a classic pub feel has been retained, providing a bright and airy space that’s perfect for post-work pints. Weeknight menus are seasonal, prepared using all-British ingredients. But Sunday roasts are the star of the show. Huge plates overflow with roasted meats, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, and plenty of gravy. Make sure you arrive hungry.
Location: 19 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5EP, UK
Open: Monday–Thursday from 3 pm to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from 12 am to 12 pm, Sunday from 12 pm to 11 pm
Phone: +44 (0)161 414 0004
7. TNQ
Simple, modern, and British sum up this bistro perfectly
TNQ takes up a corner of High Street in Manchester’s always-popular Northern Quarter district. Overlooking the iconic Smithfield Fish Markets through its vast picture windows, this seems an appropriate location for a restaurant so typically Mancunian.
A simple but classy interior complements the refined menu, which changes to reflect the seasons. TNQ offers unassuming starters like heritage tomato salad and citrus cured salmon, followed by classic British-inspired roast lamb rump or flavourful sea bream with chorizo and gremolata. The mid-range price point at this award-winning restaurant is guaranteed to keep you coming back to see what tasty dishes they have coming up next.
Location: 108 High St, Manchester M4 1HQ, UK
Open: Monday–Saturday from 12 pm to 10 pm, Sunday from 12 pm to 7 pm
Phone: +44 (0)161 832 7115
8. The Ivy Spinningfields Manchester
Maximalist decor and Brit-centric food
The Ivy Spinningfields Manchester is a restaurant in Manchester that serves traditional English dishes. You may not expect the corporate district of Spinningfields to house a restaurant as extravagant as The Ivy, but it works surprisingly well. A highly decorated exterior leads you into the plant-and-pattern-filled interior, where the concept of an English country garden has been turned up to eleven.
On the menu, you can expect to find classics like The Ivy shepherd’s pie, or everyone’s favourite fish and chips, alongside more inventive dishes such as monkfish and prawn curry, or blackened cod fillet. Everything is presented beautifully, making The Ivy perfect for a special occasion meal. Afternoon teas are also popular and are ideally suited to the glamorous surroundings.
Location: The Pavilion, Byrom St, Manchester M3 3HG, UK
Open: Sunday-Thursday from 8.30 am to 1 am, Friday-Saturday from 8.30 am to 2 am
Phone: +44 (0)161 503 3222
9. MyLahore Manchester
One of the best curry houses on Rusholme’s famous curry mile
MyLahore on Rusholme’s famous curry mile is a colourful restaurant where you’ll instantly be transported to a melting pot of British and Asian influences.
The expansive menu includes traditional curry classics like butter chicken and jalfrezi but also nods to international tastes with stir fries and pasta making an appearance. There’s even a dessert section dedicated to old-school puddings like jam roly-poly. While it could be accused of being unfocused, MyLahore cooks all its dishes with such skill that its variety becomes an advantage rather than a hindrance.
Location: 14-18 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TQ, UK
Open: Monday–Thursday from 12 pm to 12 am, Friday from 12 pm to 1 am, Saturday from 1 pm to 1 am, Sunday from 1 pm to 12 am
Phone: +44 (0)161 248 8887
10. Mana
Michelin-starred, seasonal excellence in Manchester city centre
Mana was awarded a Michelin star at a time when there was a distinct lack of recognition for Manchester’s quality food scene. And with the kitchen team’s reputation for precision, deep understanding of seasonality, and respect for British ingredients, it’s no wonder this restaurant rose to the top in the way it did.
The setting of Mana is crisp and modern, decorated in a mostly white colour palette, accompanied by a high ceiling and an entire wall of windows. Once you’ve settled in, mana takes you on a journey across a multi-course tasting menu designed to showcase Britain’s quality produce, flavours and heritage. Prices are high, but for a special occasion, this restaurant is second to none in Manchester.
Location: 42 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BF, UK
Open: Wednesday from 7 pm to 12 am, Thursday–Saturday from 12 pm to 1.30 pm and from 7 pm to 12 am (closed Sunday–Tuesday)
Phone: +44 (0)161 392 7294