Food and Drink in the North

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Welcome to the springtime edition of our monthly deep dive into the world of food and drink in Manchester and the North. We’re even getting some sun at the moment, which is a rare treat. Time to make the most of it and get out there and eat and drink under those rays, or at least at a table by the window.

And don’t forget it’s Mother’s Day at the end of the month. We have a wealth of day or evening-out ideas below, including but not limited to afternoon tea, Brazilian tasting menus, spa days and modern British cooking at its best.

Grab a pen and take notes, here’s this month’s food and drink guide to Manchester and the North.

Our top picks

The Shoegaze Cafe

The Shoegaze Cafe, 108 Tib St, Manchester, M4 1LR - Visit now

The Shoegaze Cafe might not be here for a long time, but it’s certainly here for a good time. That is if your idea of a good time involves My Bloody Valentine, Tarkovsky and Ostalgie. And if those terms mean nothing to you, move on, square.

Sampa

Sampa, 24 Dale Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M1 1FY - Visit now

Caroline Martins has finally done it. The much-loved Brazilian chef and honorary Mancunian has finally opened her own fine dining destination after many years of pop-ups and national TV appearances. And it’s a true delight –  how could it not be?

Winsome

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

Head chef Shaun might be South African-born, but he does modern British food better than most. No bells, no whistles, just magnificent ideas and graceful execution.

Winsome
Ian Jones

Exhibition

Exhibition, Exhibition, St George's House, 56 Peter St, Manchester , M2 3NQ - Visit now

Exhibition is undoubtedly the best-looking and most elegant of Manchester’s growing number of food halls. It’s all about high ceilings, beautiful drinks and next-level dining, with a more intimate and vibrant atmosphere than some of its more sprawling rivals.

Chakalaka

Chakalaka, 105a Oldham St, Manchester , M4 1LW - Visit now

Chakalaka is one of the Northern Quarter’s more unique restaurants, offering the very best of South African cuisine in an intimate, friendly space.

Chakalaka
Ian Jones

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa, 91 London Rd, Manchester , M1 2PG - Visit now

Like a spa? Like afternoon tea? Now imagine the two together – no, not at the same time, that’d be messy. Set aside a day for compound relaxation at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly.

The Lowry Hotel

The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 5LH - Visit now

Mother’s Day 2025: The Lowry Hotel in Manchester is hosting a special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Buffet in the Grand Ballroom. The buffet will include unlimited sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, cakes, and sweet treats, along with a selection of teas and coffees. Live music entertainment will be provided throughout and it lasts for a mum-tastic two hours. Tickets are £45 per adult and £15 per child, with sittings starting from 12 pm.

The Daisy

The Daisy, 44 Tib St, Manchester , M4 1NB - Visit now

The Daisy is one of Manchester’s more in-demand basement bars, offering an underground Paris-inspired night out and “late-night escapism”.

The Daisy
Ian Jones

More food and drink events

Craft Beer Tour Around Manchester
Until
ActivityManchester
Craft Beer Tour Manchester

Join Craft Beer Tour Manchester for a journey through some of the cities best local breweries and artisanal beer serving bars. Discover the personality of Manchester’s beer through a diverse range of pints.

from £35
Walking Tour Stock imagery
Until
ActivityCity Centre
The Manchester Music Walkabout

Manchester’s famous musical legacy comes to life in this walking tour around the city, which will take you from the 1960s to the present day.

from £25.00
Ego Death
Spotlight on

Hidden Bars in Manchester

Manchester's best secret, hidden and hard to find bars - here's our guide.

Take me there

Food and Drink in the North

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

A table with a view of Liverpool at the fine dining restaurant Panoramic 34
Liverpool
Restaurant
Panoramic 34

Panoramic 34 boasts ceiling to floor windows with a breathtaking 360 degree aspect, but there’s plenty more to get giddy about than just the views.

The garden at Free State Kitchen
City Centre
Restaurant
Free State Kitchen

With a large beer garden and commitment to using locally sourced produce, Free State Kitchen in Liverpool isn’t just-another-burger-joint.

Hobo Kiosk Liverpool
Baltic Triangle
Bar or Pub
Hobo Kiosk

‘Good Beer and Fine Company’ is the motto at Hobo Kiosk and that’s exactly what you’ll get.

Culture Guides

A woman sits in a car with hands holding the steering wheel.
Cinema in the North

Vintage Alfred Hitchcock and a family friendly film festival are amongst our highlights this May.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Dynamic dance, party-performance, high-energy stand-up and a site-specific show set in a pub. All this and more in our newest theatre guide.

the artist
Music in the North

The outsiders, the oddities and the outrageous – we’re keeping it weird with a hot new batch of underground gigs about to hit Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool.

A large sphere floats in a dark room with an ornate wall pattern, flanked by two arched windows and a checkered floor.
Exhibitions in the North

From precarious ceramics to photography festivals, spring is here and brings with it a breath of fresh air in visual art and exhibitions.

Poet Imtiaz Dharker. Photo by Ayesha Dharker
Literature Events in the North

It's like the Woolies pick'n'mix counter this month in live literature land – so much choice, we're not sure where to start digging in.

Classical Music in the North

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.