Food and Drink in Manchester and the North

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Last Updated 3 July 2019

Welcome to the midsummer edition of the guide to Food And Drink in Manchester and The North. Yes, the nights are getting shorter but we’ve got plenty of sunny weeks left before dreaded autumn comes along. In the meantime, why not work your way through this month’s edition of our quad-weekly food guide. The weather might be all over the shop, but the restaurants below are all wonderfully high-quality and well worth a visit, or two, or five, over the next few weeks.

This month, we have fantastic cocktails in Liverpool, new market halls, incredible steaks in Manchester, perfectly-formed tasting menus at one of Manchester’s best fine-dining restaurants, a Crown Court-themed menu in Knutsford, plus new menus and revamps from a host of other worthy inclusions.

So take a deep breath, check your bank balance and join us on a trip through the best places to eat across the North this month. The list covers everything from traditional Italian cuisine to unforgettable Chinese food, with more than a couple of flamboyant British restaurants along the way. Unbuckle your belt and prepare to add a couple of well-earned inches.

Here are our picks

1. Gaucho Manchester

Gaucho Manchester

Gaucho Manchester, 2a St Mary’s Street, Manchester, M3 2LB - Visit now

The steak scene in Manchester has hit fever pitch in recent years, with countless newcomers trying to make their mark. But Gaucho takes a more elegant approach – nothing too pompous or macho, just top-quality produce prepared beautifully, with countless subtle touches that most competitors couldn’t even imagine.

Read more
2. Aether

Ian Jones

Aether, Liverpool One, 8 Kenyons Steps, Liverpool, L1 3DF - Visit now

Whether you’re looking for drinks or a quick bite to eat, Aether delivers the goods, and more. The place is a delight, the staff superb and the food is flawless.

Read more
3. Wood Manchester

Ian Jones

Wood Manchester, Jack Rosenthal Street, Manchester, M15 4RA - Visit now

If you like beautifully-presented, but understandable food, this is the place. WOOD never disappoints.

Read more
4. Banyan Bar & Kitchen

Francesca Wilson

Banyan Bar & Kitchen, Exchange Square, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 3TR - Visit now

Banyan is the easy-going, fail-safe that will keep your gin topped up and your belly full – what more could you really want?

Read more
5. Duke Street Market

Duke Street Market

Duke Street Market, 46 Duke St, Liverpool, L1 5AS - Visit now

Liverpool’s new market hall is a thoughtfully beautiful venue, with equally as considered vendors within.

Read more
6. Rosso Restaurant & Bar

Ian Jones

Rosso Restaurant & Bar, 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BG - Visit now

Rosso has always been one of Manchester’s most elegant restaurants, moreso after the stylish upgrade back in early 2017. Owned, famously, by Rio Ferdinand, it caters for the more discerning diner, with food to match.

Read more
7. Barristers Restaurant & Bar

Ian Jones

Barristers Restaurant & Bar, The Courthouse, Toft Road, Knutsford, WA16 0PB - Visit now

Barristers treads a fine line between fascinating fine dining and traditional hearty fare – much like the venue itself, which proves a lot more interesting than most places in this neck of the woods, even a little macabre, while still serving as a beautifully classical place to stay when visiting this neck of the woods.

Read more
8. 20 Stories

Ian Jones

20 Stories, No. 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB - Visit now

Brian Hughson was appointed the new Head Chef at 20 Stories back in February and we were given a sneak preview of the kind of forward-thinking dishes he has planned for the future of this beautiful restaurant. Spoiler alert, they’re all stunning.

Read more

Activity 26 March–23 July 2019, from £9.50

Taste of The Monastery at Gorton Monastery

Discover this Victorian neo-Gothic gem just outside the city centre in Gorton. Taste the Monastery is a guided tour followed by lunch in the Victorian Pantry.

Families 3 May–29 September 2019, FREE

Grub Food Fair at Mayfield

GRUB’s Food Fair returns to Mayfield Depot, with a bigger site and a huge array of top-class local food traders.

Families 22 May–3 November 2019, FREE

Get Your Body Tudor Ready at Little Moreton Hall

Throughout the year discover Tudor attitudes to health and food, with a different activity to try each month from making butter in a churn to creating a Tudor pinch pot to keep your remedies in. Explore the way in which the Tudors looked after their health and wellbeing, and get your body Tudor ready! This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Families 26–28 July 2019, FREE

Festa Italiana

Festa Italiana Manchester is the country’s biggest festival designed to celebrate Italian food, drink and culture. Transforming Manchester city centre’s Cathedral Gardens into Little Italy once again from the 26th to 28th July.

Activity 26 July 2019, from £45

Vegan Supper Club at the Vegetarian Society Cookery School

For those eager to expand their Vegan culinary repertoire the Vegetarian Society Cookery School’s new Vegan Supper Club is a must. With easy to follow instructions from expert tutors you can create sumptuous vegan meals which are then enjoyed as a group.

Families 31 August–1 September 2019, FREE

Vintage by the Sea in Morecambe

Celebrate the brilliance of 20th century design, fashion, vehicles and entertainment at this award-winning festival set around Morecambe’s famous art deco Midland Hotel.