Italian restaurants in Manchester

The restaurant's stately Grade II listed building is worth the visit alone. Most, though, come for the accessible, authentic Italian food for which Jamie Oliver's chain is well known. 

The San Carlo chain certainly seems to know what it's doing, so the arrival of Fumo - its fifth restaurant in Manchester - is exciting most welcome. 

The Manchester voices singing this restaurant's praises might not be as tuneful as those belting out Mozart's opera of the same name, but many are as enthusiastic.

SoLita – short for ‘South of Little Italy’ due to its location just below the Ancoats Little Italy area of Manchester – aims to combine the best of New York, Italy and Manchester. Essentially, though, it’s the home of some very naughty food porn. 

Want to be on holiday everyday? Visit this authentic Cicchetti Bar in Ramsbottom.

A marriage of British and Italian cuisine is kept in check with a sensibly sized menu, so that quality isn't compromised, but there's still plenty of choice, with pastas, fish, pizzas and salads alongside larger mains, including steaks.

Part of the Individual family, which includes Zinc Bar and Grill, Bank and many more, Piccolino is where people who refuse to settle for any old Italian food go for their Italian food. 

Cicchetti (pronounced chi-ket-tee) are small snacks, designed to be shared and traditionally served in the bars of Venice. Think Italian tapas and you won't go far wrong. 

Even though the centre half no longer plies his trade at Old Trafford, Rio Ferdinand's swanky Italian on Spring Gardens continues to attract the well-to-do. 

An authentic Italian deli and restaurant at Corn Exchange.