New Openings in Manchester

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Is there another city growing as fast as Manchester? If there is, we don’t want to know about it. That’s Northern exceptionalism for you, as defined by our Commander-In-Chief, Tony Wilson, whose legacy has been absolutely rinsed by our capitalist overlords, God bless him.

If you want to know how much things have changed, just look at a photo of the city skyline from 10, 20 years ago and compare it to now. From grey flatness, to a Singapore-style array of shiny skyscrapers.

At the moment, it’s pretty good for the city’s food scene. We’re seeing big investment coming in, while most (but not all, notably) of the independents are managing to co-exist happily in this new era. Will it last, or will the city turn into a Dubai-style soup of corporate chains and corporate chains masquerading as indies? It’s all to play for.

In the meantime, why not check out what recent food and drink venues have opened in and around the city? We can’t promise they’re all workers collectives who exist outside the concept of private profit, but, to the best of our knowledge, they’re a far cry from the worst excesses of modern capitalism. Who can say fairer than that?

Our top picks

Horse and Jockey Chorlton

Horse and Jockey Chorlton, 9 Green Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9HS - Visit now

The Horse & Jockey, one of Chorlton’s most iconic pubs, has reopened following an extensive renovation under new leadership – the same team behind Salford’s impressive Black Friar.

Tangerine

Tangerine, 13-17 New Bailey Street, Salford, M3 5FS - Visit now

Tangerine is Manchester’s latest greatest must-visit multipurpose venue, found straddling the gap between the two warring cities of Manchester and Salford. It’s best described as a food-hall-meets-creative-hub if that’s your thing.

Tangerine
Ian Jones

Posie

Posie, 17 Marble Street, Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 3AW - Visit now

Posie is a new cocktail bar from our favourite team of restaurateurs and bar-owners, the 10 Tib Lane crew.

Bar Posie
Ian Jones

Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar

Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar, 3 Bankside Blvd, Salford , M3 7HD - Visit now

Kallos is a small plates restaurant and wine bar just outside of Manchester city centre, showcasing dishes from Greece and Southeast Europe. You’ll find it around the corner from The Black Friar in Colliers Yard, where it has carved out an oasis of Mediterranean-style calm. Head over when the sun is shining, and it’s the nearest thing to Santorini Salford has to offer.

Sampa

Sampa, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 - Visit now

Manchester’s most exciting chef is at it again. Born in Brazil and adopted by the UK, Caroline Martins is the very definition of independent. No shady hedge fund backers, no corporate overlords reining her in, just dazzling idea after dazzling idea. Sampa is her new, slightly-secret project, and you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Bar Lina Manchester

Bar Lina Manchester, 17 Quay St, Manchester , M3 3HN - Visit now

Bar Lina is geared around classic ideas and time-honoured recipes but with a flourish, rather than flashy.

Bar Lina
Ian Jones

Pip at Treehouse Manchester

Pip at Treehouse Manchester, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 2EQ - Visit now

Everyone’s favourite low-waste chef, Mary-Ellen McTague, helms the kitchen at Pip, the ground-floor restaurant at one of Manchester’s most impressive – and certainly most unique – hotels.

Stow

Stow, 62 Bridge St, Manchester , M3 3BW - Visit now

Move over Erst, watch out 10 Tib Lane, there’s a new small plate heavyweight in town. Stow opened in early 2025 – it blew minds then and it’s still blowing minds now. A must visit.

Chotto Matte Manchester

Chotto Matte Manchester, 1 St Michaels Building, 36 Jacksons Row , Manchester, M2 5WD - Visit now

Ok, so there’s money behind it, but at least it’s been spent well. Chotto Matte is all about the other Manchester, the ruffian-free bit, the new, forward-thinking, skyscraping Manchester. It’s also high up in the eaves, giving panoramic views across the city.

Winsome

Winsome, 74 Princess St, Manchester, M1 6JD - Visit now

Chef extraordinaire Shaun Moffat has had quite the impact on Manchester since landing in the city in 2022. He’s transformed multiple restaurants with his style of bold British cooking and now has his very own place, staffed by the region’s brightest and best.

Winsome
Ian Jones

Where to go in Manchester

Manchester
Restaurant
Dahlia Stereo

Dahlia Stereo is a Latin American-inspired open-fire kitchen and bar off the Northern Quarter’s Stevenson Square, with a pitch perfect soundsystem.

Balance Taproom
Manchester
Restaurant
Balance Taproom

Manchester has a glut of taprooms, and Balance Brewing’s is far and away the best. Drinks, decor, service – all a cut above.

Manchester
Restaurant
Sampa

Sampa’s underground space is the perfect place to learn about both her new mind-expanding dishes and vintage sherries, reimagined for the late 2020s.

Northern Quarter
Restaurant
Sicilian NQ

Busy backstreet Sicilian restaurant in the Northern Quarter, serving up traditional dishes with well-executed vegan versions that more than match up.

Manchester
Restaurant
Maki & Ramen

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.

Restaurant Orme
Manchester
Restaurant
Restaurant Örme

A hidden gem in the suburbs of Greater Manchester, serving high-level British small plates to a soundtrack of indie rock and roll.

The Abbey
Manchester
Restaurant
The Abbey

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.

City Centre
Restaurant
Portfolio

Portfolio is a Champagne boutique on Manchester’s Bridge Street, offering a set menu of fine-dining small bites.

Manchester
Gallery
Gwafu Vegan
at Bridge 5 Mill

Cameroonian chef Ngwafu Tansie brings allotment-grown, plant-based cooking to Bridge 5 Mill’s solar-powered Ancoats venue, pairing bobolo with cabbage parcels and live vinyl.

Deansgate
Restaurant
Podium

Podium delivers high-end, seasonal dishes, largely geared around produce and ideas from the British Isles, but with a few deft twists and turns.

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