The Ivy Asia

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor
Image courtesy of the Ivy Asia.

New Year’s Eve:

No question, The Ivy is one of the hottest spots on Manchester’s dining scene. And it’s not hard to see why — with four floors and over five hundred covers, this is an impressive place, and the perfect setting if you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve with a bit of dazzle.

This year, the specially-curated menu is themed around Tokyo. It it begins strongly with Poached Lobster with Gochujang Hollandaise & Caviar on Blini, before a sharing menu that features everything from Tuna, Yellowtail & Salmon Sashimi with Truffle Miso Dressing and Yuzu to Snow Crab California Maki Rolls, Black Cod & Miso and Wagyu Beef Fillet, ending with Salted Caramel Cheesecake with Manchester Bee Honey Ice-Cream.

With a glass of Dom Perignon champagne thrown in for good measure, the New Year’s Eve set menu doesn’t come cheap at £175 per person, but nor does the calibre of food it entails. And hey, if you can’t push the boat out on New Year’s Eve, when can you?


 

Restaurant review:

No expense has been spared on this Spinningfields venue. Beautiful marble floors, chandeliers, plush pillows – so many pillows – and practically everything else that screams opulence. As is routine by now, this has led to mixed reports from grumpy locals tutting at the very idea of luxury, implying that Manchester should ‘know its place’. All of which is wearingly tiresome – it’s fine for a meal out to be a special event, dressing up and treating yourself is not a crime.

Buttermilk fried chicken, kimchi mayonnaise

Moreso, a restaurant should be judged largely on its cuisine, decor is just an interesting sideshow, and certainly not the main event. So, onto the food.

Today, we visit The Ivy Asia, the upper floor restaurant that focuses on, you guessed it, East Asian cuisine. Much like Tattu, the restaurant adds a splash of innovation to classic dishes, so while you’ll recognise ingredients and basic elements, there’s always something about each dish that elevates it above the norm.

Crispy duck bao, hoisin and five spice

First, buttermilk fried chicken with a little bowl of deliciously creamy-but-tangy kimchi mayonnaise. The chunks of chicken come in bitesize morsels – soft white meat with a crunchy coating comprising an impressive number of herbs and spices. They’re one of the more simple dishes on offer but a fine way to kick things off.

The raw scallops are where things get interesting. Razor thin slices of high-end seafood, layered with crunchy pickled slices, then dotted with Oscietra caviar and a tangle of subtly-flavoured noodles – it’s an immediate hit for both the eyes and tastebuds. Did we forget to mention the gold leaf? If you’re looking for wow factor, here’s your plate.

Thai sea bass, coriander, lime and chilli

The crispy duck bao is one of the more popular items on the menu, and for good reason. A soft spongy bun holds thick chunks of duck, rich in hoisin and five spice flavours. The Thai sea bass is excellent too, boasting a crispy skin and soft flaky flesh, full of coriander, lime and chilli flavours but never overpowering – plus the low-key addition of Thai basil adds a neatly complex element to the whole plate.

Duck massaman curry, cashew nuts

But the duck massaman curry is the standout dish. You don’t get much for your money – it’s a decidedly small bowl – but the combination of flavours are stunning. The inspired choice of duck meat blends beautifully with the creamy, spicy curry sauce, each mouthful delivering a new flavour, aniseed one minute, cashew nuts the next, shortly followed by an impressive thwack of heat.

If anything the desserts are even better. The creme brulee is a sheer delight, the faintest hint of matcha green tea balanced out with eye-wateringly sweet crushed raspberries and that all-important crunchy sugared top layer.

Matcha green tea creme brulee, crushed raspberries

But the white chocolate sphere is the optimum way to end such an extravagant meal. It’s exactly what it says on the tin, a perfectly round sphere, onto which the waiter pours a hot caramel sauce, which melts away to reveal passionfruit, meringue and yuzu foam. It’s a stunning end to an excellent, albeit pricey, meal.

White chocolate sphere, passionfruit, meringue, yuzu foam, caramel sauce

You probably wouldn’t visit The Ivy Asia on a daily, or even weekly basis, not unless you have endless pockets and a penchant for gout, but when it comes to event dining it’s up there with the best. Ignore the nay-sayers, it’s fine to dress up and treat yourself. Manchester is a world-class city, The Ivy provides food – and an experience – to match.

The Pavilion, Byrom St, Manchester M3 3HG
Telephone: 0161 5033222 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Monday8:00am - 1:00am
  • Tuesday8:00am - 1:00am
  • Wednesday8:00am - 1:00am
  • Thursday8:00am - 3:00am
  • Friday8:00am - 3:00am
  • Saturday9:00am - 12:00am
  • Sunday9:00am - 1:00am

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near The Ivy Asia

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
Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.

£8.50 with concessions
Until
ComedyManchester
Creatures of the Night Comedy Club

An insanely committed seven-nights-a-week, Creatures of the Night Comedy Club opens its doors (20.30-22.30 typically, though please check) for evening after evening of side-splitting comedy.

from £5.00

Where to go near The Ivy Asia

Yoga classes for all levels and aims.
Leeds
Yoga Hero

Yoga Hero offers various classes, including within their studio and online for all levels and all aims.

 Patrick, SpongeBob and Squidward at the UK's only Nickelodeon Land.
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
Nickelodeon Land

Combine the thrill of an amusement park with the colourful world of Nickelodeon at the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land, located within Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort.

Leeds
Restaurant
Archive

Archive serving up speciality coffee and bespoke events to the people of Kirkstall, including craft fairs, vintage pop ups and exhibitions.

Ego Death
Manchester
Restaurant
Ego Death

Ego Death is a speakeasy-style secret bar in the Northern Quarter with a cocktail menu as good as its atmosphere.

Flat Iron Leeds
Manchester
Restaurant
Flat Iron Manchester

Relaxed restaurant in the centre of Manchester, serving impressively high-quality steaks at an affordable price point.

hotel2
Hotel
Hilton Liverpool

The riverside location of Hilton Liverpool makes it one of the most centrally placed hotels in the city, close to the all attractions, big and small.

hotel
Baltic Triangle
Hotel
Maldron Hotel

The Maldron Hotel is perfectly located on the edge of the Baltic Triangle and offers comfortable stays and luxurious breakfasts.

hotel4
Liverpool
Hotel
The Halyard

The Halyard is one of Liverpool’s newest hotels, with top floor suites offering sweeping views of the city and delicious treats in the restaurant.

shop
Liverpool
Shop
COW Liverpool

Cow Liverpool is one of the city’s favourite vintage shops, with clothing, accessories and homeware in a spacious shop on Bold Street.

Culture Guides

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in latest live music round up.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Documentary performance, groundbreaking dance, world premieres and fresh takes on classic works - check out our early theatre highlights for 2025.

A man and a woman stood in front of a window at night look into each others' eyes
Cinema in the North

Hollywood greats and early bird film fest tickets are on our horizon as we start the New Year.

Olaf Falafel
Family things to do in the North

We might be past the holiday season, but Manchester and the North's arts and cultural calendar is still packed with brilliant events and activities for families