Lunch in Manchester

Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU

A ‘Time Out Food Hall’ style venue packed with an impressive array of local artisan food and drink businesses, in a stunning Grade II listed market building in the Northern Quarter.

GRUB Manchester, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M4 4HF - Visit now

Manchester’s legendary street food festival GRUB has set up camp just behind Piccadilly Station, where independent businesses and grassroots traders are serving up an incredible array of freshly prepared food and drink every weekend. (The Plant Powered Sundays are not to be missed!)

V Revolution, 20-26 Edge Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1HN - Visit now

Fast food meets tofu; V-Revolution’s 100% vegan menu delivers hangover curing, carb-heavy delights in an all-American diner style setting.

Nibble, 36 Oldham St, Manchester, M1 1JN - Visit now

A great independent café in Manchester’s bustling Northern Quarter. Perfect if you’re looking for high-quality homemade produce.

The Refuge, Oxford Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M60 7HA - Visit now

Big news for those who think lunch is the most important meal of the day. The Refuge has relaunched The People’s Lunch – hearty bowls of soul food for just £7.50. You can choose from meat, fish or vegan options, each week, available Monday to Friday from 12 til 3 pm. Expect dishes such a homemade parpadelle, grilled brassicas, torched mackerel and sweet potato curry. Every week features a ramen dish, from ultra-traditional pork tonkotsu to a vegan mushroom-based ‘shoyu’.

LEAF on Portland Street, 113–115 Portland St, Manchester, M1 6DW - Visit now

Housed in the former CUBE Gallery and RIBA building on Portland Street, the long-awaited Manchester outpost of Liverpool’s legendary LEAF is finally here.

Federal Cafe, Basil Chambers, 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1EY - Visit now

A New Zealand and Australian style café with incredible coffee, brunch, drinks and lunch options (plus: nice interior design).

Yuzu, 39 Faulkner Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 4EE - Visit now

A tiny Japanese restaurant on the edge of China Town in Manchester; Yuzu is simple, refined and exquisite.

North Tea Power, 36 Tib Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LA - Visit now

The mighty North Tea Power is a Northern Quarter favourite thanks to its addictive grilled cheese sandwiches, serious good selection of teas and coffees and captivating playlist.

The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M15 6ER - Visit now

Alfresco dining without stepping outside. Overlooking the park and with floor-to-ceiling windows, the Whitworth gallery’s ‘Café in the Trees’ serves up some spectacular views alongside its deliciously seasonal, locally sourced menu. Run by award winning chef Peter Booth.

Fig and Sparrow, 20 Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 1JN - Visit now

Not only a beautiful lifestyle store, Fig and Sparrow in the Northern Quarter also boasts a coffee bar, complete with a tantalising selection of loose leaf teas, seasonal food and homemade cakes.

Common Bar, 39-47 Edge Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1HW - Visit now

Head to Northern Quarter stalwart Common Bar for cocktails, BOGOF burgers, smashed avo and popcorn cockles.

Trove Restaurant, 1032 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Greater Manchester, M19 3WX - Visit now

Formed by a passionate group of local food and drink vigilantes who believe in making things from scratch and by hand, this small Levenshulme café places a big emphasis on organic ingredients and locally sourced produce. And you can taste it.

Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Manchester, M1 1DF - Visit now

Bubbling vats of soup are the order of the day here, with flavours erring towards the unusual, alongside old favourites. Stop in and perch on one of the long wooden benches, or take-away.

Eighth Day, 111 Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 7DU - Visit now

Not only a great place to pick up your hemp milk and agave syrup, but also a deliciously hearty, fairly priced vegetarian/vegan lunch in the laid-back downstairs café.

TAKK, 6 Tariff Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 2FF - Visit now

You may know Takk as a coffee hang-out, but this Icelandic-inspired spot is also a great place to enjoy a working lunch. Check out the satisfying range of Mediterranean sandwiches, flaky pastries and chunks of cake on offer throughout the day.

Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 5WW - Visit now

A bar, kitchen and music venue from the people who brought you Trof.

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

Based in a converted Methodist church, Gaucho is one of the best-looking restaurants in Manchester. If you fancy pushing the boat out for lunch, get your teeth into this steak-heavy menu.

Real Junk Food Project Manchester, 85 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EQ - Visit now

Enjoy a gourmet lunch for whatever price you feel and help fight food waste. Overseen by acclaimed chef Mary-Ellen McTague, the Real Junk Food Project Manchester has finally found a permanent home, ideally located along Oxford Road. And business is booming.