Manchester’s branch of Selfridges extends glossily back from Exchange Square, with wide glass windows on its street-facing front and polished floors inside. It’s home to designer brands and two different eateries – San Carlo Bottega on the second floor and Farmacia del Dolce on the lower ground. The former does Italian small plates, while the latter is a tempting sugar haven for weary shoppers.
Transforming Cathedral Gardens into Little Italy, Festa Italiana Manchester is the country’s biggest festival designed to celebrate Italian food, drink and culture.
free entry
The much-loved Góbéfest returns this June with a joyous showcase of the arts, culture, food and drink of the fabled-region of Transylvania.
This contemporary production transforms Wilde’s dandies into social media obsessives, who document their every move in a desperate bid for internet supremacy.
from £10.00
This contemporary adaptation promises a “whirlwind of sweaty dance-offs” and “drum and bass love anthems” in a celebratory nod to Manchester’s dance, music and rave culture.
from £10.00
You can get the behind the bar and mix with the best of them in a cocktail making masterclass from The Botanist on Deansgate.
from £39.95
Experience the history, architecture and folklore surrounding Chetham’s Library in on e of their daily guided tours.
from £6.50
Step into a world where fairy tales and pop music collides to create some seriously sensational magic.
from £27.50
Every Wednesday at Ape & Apple, Manchester’s official underground comedy club, Comedy Balloon’s friendly and warm comedy night takes place.
free entry
San Carlo Bottega brings its Italian small-plate menu to Selfridges
Like steak? Like gin? This could be just the place for you.
Harvey Nichols department store showcases a range of designer brands; be guided to the perfect outfit (or wardrobe) by a style concierge. The second floor brasserie is rather good.
A high-end eatery and bar housed on the second floor of department store Harvey Nichols
Banyan Bar & Kitchen is a smart modern restaurant in Manchester’s Corn Exchange, serving up a wide range of dishes and drinks.
The Corn Exchange is a collection of modern restaurants in one Grade II-listed, 19th century building. A dining destination – Mughli, Banyan Bar & Kitchen and Tampopo stand out.
A Joseph Holt’s pub in Manchester’s Shambles Square.
Proper Tea sits opposite Manchester Cathedral, serving up artisanal teas (with instructions on how long to leave them brewing), sandwiches, soups and excellent cake.
High-quality food and wine in the in-house restaurant for the Royal Exchange Theatre on St Anne’s Square
This authentic Berlin kebab and bier haus is the latest addition to the ever-growing Corn Exchange food family.
The Tampopo cooking school specialises in appealing East Asian cuisine for all.
Pizzaluxe serves up luxury artisan pizza served at Manchester Arndale’s stylish new food court, including some impressive vegan options.
Gearing up for a sunny July? Take some eating-out tips from this month's guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
Make bread, throw axes, learn costume design and drink beer like you've never done before in this month's Tours and activities guide.
All-dayers make a strong showing in our latest music picks, from dance music marathons to vibrant showcases of South Asian artistry.
School year, complete! And as we say goodbye to what seems like a rather long summer term, we can look forward to the summer holidays, with lots of exciting activities...
This month we look at Indie Horror Summer, outdoor movies, and a brand new film festival in Sheffield.
Interactive circus, arts festivals and new writing, our guide features a show-stopping selection of theatre happening indoors and outside.
In between working out, then working through, your holiday reading pile this summer, find inspiration for your next bookish acquisitions from our selection of live events and exhibitions.
Virginia Woolf and lasers, environmental recovery through wildness and thoughts on motherhood - all this and more in our exhibition top picks!
Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region's most cherished orchestral forces and venues.
