Best fine dining restaurant in Manchester

Mana may hold Manchester’s only Michelin star at the moment, but the smart money is on Musu not only catching up but overtaking. The kitchen runs like a glorious machine, serving up some of the North’s best and most beautiful dishes in a restaurant space that manages to be both stylish and timeless, all at once.

Best Sunday roast in Manchester

Diecast is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing and exciting new additions to Manchester in 2023. Based on the food alone, the forecasts are very, very good. Easily the city’s best Sunday roast, and a must for all fans of those week-ending feasts.

Best Mexican restaurant in Manchester

Madre is a dazzling addition to Kampus’s already-high-quality line-up of restaurants and bars. The food isn’t just good, some dishes are astounding, and it’s all underpinned with a deep love of Mexico and its nearby nations. Easily one of 2023’s best new restaurants in Manchester.

Best cafe in Manchester

Fancy breaking off from an NQ shopping trip for coffee and cake, without filling the coffers of a global coffee chain? There’s nowhere better than Nibble NQ, an independent female-owned café, tucked away on Oldham Street.

Best pop-up dining event in Manchester

A long-standing fixture on our must-visit list, and when we finally made it, they didn’t disappoint. The Little Sri Lankan do pop-ups all over the North, and even host special dining events at their home in South Manchester.

Most exciting small plates in Manchester

Evelyn’s has always been one of the city’s most reliable restaurants, with a suitably ‘Manchester’ atmosphere (ie. laid-back but progressive and self-assured), and food to match. But the latest menu takes diners to all-new heights.

Best bistro-style dining in Manchester

Looking for the real spirit of Manchester? You’ll find it at Nordie – a superb independent bar with some of the best food and drink options for miles around.

Best date night restaurant in Manchester

Whether you’re looking for smart cocktails or awe-inspiring food, Three Little Words has been a firm favourite of those in-the-know for a fair time now. It’s a beautiful venue with a great, relaxed vibe, perfect for dates and post-work drinks alike.

Best street food in Manchester

Often found at Grub, our favourite independent ethical food hub in Manchester, the food at Osaka Local is second to none. Try the okonomiyaki, I implore you.

Best luxury dining experience in Manchester

Sexy Fish isn’t just one of the most glamorous spots in the city, both day and night, it also serves up incredible high-end food, with a crack team of charming, expert staff. Turns out you can have both fur coat and knickers after all.

Best all-in-one food and drink destination

Whether you want to eat, drink, dance or laugh, Freight Island has the lot, and never disappoints. But the street food is where it shines – just inside the main hall Mega Gyros serves up fresh, beautiful Greek cuisine, practically next door to Mia’s Arepas A Taste of Venezuela – both must-visits. As is the glorious Indo-Chinese buffet courtesy of Payal. Oh and the in-house carvery came very, very close to taking our top Sunday roast spot too. You could visit here every weekend all year round and try something new and exciting every single time. Impressive isn’t the word.