Sometimes a meal should just be that: a meal. Simple but still great and well worth your hard-earned quids. Save the Michelin star airs and graces for another time, this guide is all about those drop-in, quick bites, that could stretch out into a long, lazy meals if you feel like it.
Follow the guide below, your friends and family will thank you for it.
In the pantheon of great Manchester bakeries, Pollen is right up there. It’s been doing its waterside thing in New Islington since 2018, when it upped sticks from Piccadilly and planted itself here. The name was built on sourdough and pastry, and the reputation holds.
At heart, Beeswing is a wine bar with a tapas menu, but one that gets all the elements right. Think relaxed backstreet-in-Barcelona rather than hectic modern ‘Manny’.
Rally your mates and book a table, this is a dining event that won’t cost an arm and a leg. Although you can probably consume a leg’s worth of cow, if that’s your thing.
Stow has taken over the kitchen at Trof, as such the refurbished dining room on the second floor has been transformed into one of the area’s most elegant eating spaces – all mahogany fixtures and natural light. And the menu is one of the best to eat through, naturally.
Tai Wu is not a salubrious restaurant. In fact, it might be the least salubrious restaurant I’ve visited in the past decade. But who gives a hoot about salubrity when there’s spicy beef to be devoured?
At first, teaming BLVD with Caribbean cuisine seems like an odd match. But in a weird way, it makes sense. They’re both flamboyant, in-your-face and proudly bombastic, maybe even a little boombastic. It’s a bold move, or, rather, a BLD MV, but it works astoundingly well. Sunday roast fans should head on over to check out without delay.
Ethiopian food is one of Manchester’s more prominent sub-Saharan cuisines, and affordable Northern Quarter restaurant Asmara Bella is one of the most quietly respected of the lot.
Come for the drinks, stay for the food. The new Head Of Steam in the Northern Quarter has messy, award-winning food from Salford superstars That Burger Place. We strongly, strongly recommend the chicken wings (and hot honey).
Sure, it’s a pub, but it’s a cut above typical pub grub. The newly revamped Horse & Jockey has a quality menu, designed for drop-in dining with friends and family.
In Japanese, Yane – or rather, 屋根 – means roof, as in the roof of the owner’s home. It fits. There’s a family-style feel here, where the welcome is warm and friendly and the food is unfussy but meticulous, all at the same time.
Kallos is as kallos does. In ancient Greek, it means beauty, and from top to bottom – food to drinks, venue to service – it looks and feels stunning.
Chakalaka is one of the Northern Quarter’s more unique restaurants, offering the very best of South African cuisine in an intimate, friendly space.
In an area packed with excellent restaurants, Pho Cue stands proud. It might not be the showiest place on the block, but, name aside, greatness doesn’t have to mean gobby too.
Maray never disappoints. Its menu is full of loosely Levantine creations that seem simple but have fascinating hidden depths. It’s the kind of place you can pop in for one, two, hell, five or six dishes, and feel like you’ve experienced something special.
WakuWaku in a nutshell: easy on the eye, with drinks and dishes that more than live up to the looks. Kawaii meets washoku, all the way down.
This is fast food that you can choose to be light on oil and fat – classic street food, served up in vibe-appropriate foldable boxes. And don’t stop there. Salt & Pepper’s menu has some of the best dine-and-dash dishes in Manchester. Try one, try them all.
Japanese sushi and ramen restaurant on High Street, Northern Quarter, founded by Teddy Lee. House-made noodles, eight-hour broths, plus sushi, donburi and vegan options.
A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.
Historic Hulme pub with a very good live gig space, brought to you by the very capable team behind YES, Gorilla, Now Wave and Manchester Psych Fest.
Relaxed waterside cafe spin-off of the main Tibetan Kitchen restaurant on Upper Chorlton Road.
Portfolio is a Champagne boutique on Manchester’s Bridge Street, offering a set menu of fine-dining small bites.
Long-standing, trend-swerving Chinese restaurant on Manchester’s Upper Brook Street, with a reputation for authentic dim sum and traditional Cantonese cuisine.
A highlight of Manchester’s K-Food space, Bab Korean Food serves up authentic, well-made dishes at the Kargo MKT food hall in MediaCity.
Longstanding Greek taverna Dimtri’s delivers traditional, fuss-free Greek food, aimed at everyone from courting couples to multi-generational families in Manchester.
Kong’s isn’t like other chicken shops. This much-loved Northern Quarter restaurant is all about high-grade ingredients and expert preparation.
Trading Route serves up time-honoured Sunday grub, in a modern Manchester setting. Worth a visit for the expertly-curated soundtrack alone.
Butter Bird is a newly opened casual but stylish restaurant in Ancoats, based around the very delicious concept of tea-brined chicken.
Whether you’re a proud vegan or merely ve-curious, let us guide you towards the best vegan and veggie food in Manchester.
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Take me there
It's heatwave time, so set your small talk phasers to 'weather' and get out there and grab some cold drinks and delicious food.
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Five exhibitions worth your time this month - and between them, a lot of ground covered.
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Step away from the usual. Tours and activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity and offer something refreshingly different.
