Portfolio

Portfolio is the latest drinking and dining destination to pop up on Bridge Street. It first opened in late 2025 as a champagne boutique, and if there was ever a sign that a city has outgrown its scally past, it’s when it gets a champagne boutique. 

Following a successful, boozy few months, the food side has launched, in the capable hands of Julian Spizer, ex of Another Hand, one of Manchester’s greatest independent restaurants of recent years. He teams up with Cameron Foster, founder of Deux Six Wines, an importer specialising in artisan Champagnes. 

Two big beasts in their respective fields, who assure us that they never cross the streams. Julian in charge of dining, Cameron the drinks. All propped up by the great and good of Manchester’s city’s fine dining scene – if you’ve enjoyed teeny tiny portions of hogget, chawanmushi and obscure Danish wine in the past few years, you’ll recognise a familiar face or two. 

In the restaurant, it’s all about the set menu: lunch, evening and even-longer evening, priced fairly for this level of experience. And it is an experience. Every single person involved is operating at the top of their game, without getting all shouty about it. 

For your money, you get a series of bite-size portions, spread out over two to four hours, suitable for dates and mates alike. Highlights include a beautiful rose crafted from beetroot, resting on a combination of burnt cream, cocoa and pine; a miniature kebab-style series of duck cuts, teamed with a chocolate mole and sour cherry; and the sweet finale, a delicate array of kiwi, blackberry and mint in a lighter-than-air marshmallow bite.

The food is worth a visit in its own right, but without the paired wines you’re only getting half the story. Each glass of Champagne delivers the goods, trotting through bubbles, red and rosé, adding as much joy to each course as the comestibles. Many high-level restaurants say as much attention goes on the drinks, but this is the first place of note where that genuinely feels the case.

Portfolio is a powerful addition to Bridge Street, taking the swagger of the nearby Stow and throwing in some of the most memorable drinks and intricate eats you’re going to find in Manchester for a long time. An absolute must-visit for fizz-loving food adventurers.