Kelly Bishop

Manchester’s food scene is flourishing. Mana was awarded the city's first Michelin star in 40 years back in 2019, and retained it in last year’s awards. But new gems are popping up all the time; the likes of Climat, 10 Tib Lane, and British bistro Higher Ground have just found their way to our top ten.  Here you'll find everything from pho to pizza and Middle Eastern to French, with well-loved neighbourhood joints sitting alongside swanky fine dining spots. Whatever you've got a hunger for, Manchester has something to satisfy your cravings. That's a promise. Here is our 2023 list of the best restaurants in the city.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Manchester🍸 The best bars in Manchester🏛️ The best attractions in Manchester🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Manchester This guide was recently updated by Kelly Bishop, a food writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

What’s the vibe?  A calm, cool and candlelit space, all minimalist wooden furniture, chilled out tunes, and wine bottles in the window. What are the prices like? Surprisingly reasonable for one of Manchester’s best loved restaurants. Prices range from flatbreads at six quid up to larger meaty plates around the £20 mark - there is the occasional full blowout sharing dish too. What should I order?  Everything. The short menu changes regularly and it is possible – and affordable – to eat the lot between 2-3 people. If you insist on exercising restraint (spoilsport), the urfa chilli and beef fat flatbread is unmissable and there is always a ceviche style dish on the menu featuring whatever fish is at its best that week. Leave room for dessert which, depending on your star sign, might be a delicate pannacotta with sharp seasonal fruit or a big splodge of dense chocolate mousse topped with olive oil and sea salt. What’s worth visiting nearby?  You’re in Ancoats, baby, Manchester’s most desirable neighbourhood. Hit one of the local wine bars (there are several within walking distance), stroll down picturesque Anita Street or assimilate with the locals and hole up in a coffee shop with your bestickered laptop. Whatever would Engels make of it? The best things to do in Manchester. 

What’s the vibe? Bright orange walls, neon sign, open kitchen… This is New York influenced high-end casual dining with a hyper-sustainable focus and the friendliest service in the city. What are the prices like? You could easily spend over £200 on a meal for two with wine, especially as the BTG options are irresistible. But there’s also a set sharing menu for £55 per person in the evening or £35 at lunch. What should I order? Ideally, sit at the counter overlooking the open kitchen and watch the laid back team in action. The set menus are a no-brainer but we like to pick and choose. Start with oysters, of course, and don’t miss the Pitchfork cheddar tart which evolves with the seasons, sometimes featuring brown crab, other times courgette and edible flowers. Go hard on the veg, it comes from the restaurant team’s own Cinderwood Market Garden and is the freshest and most interesting around. There’s a whole animal focus and we recommend trying the ‘interesting bits’. Think offal ragu, pig head rillettes or beef short rib. Desserts are light and fruity and the cheese course is always a shout. What’s worth visiting nearby? The restaurant is on the edge of Chinatown so if you have room for more food, check out one of the many great basement canteen restaurants like Noodle Alley or Pho Cue. You’re also just a five minute walk from both Manchester Art Gallery and the historic Portico Library.  The best things to do in Manchester.

What’s the vibe?  Kind of like your hippy mates have created a commune in a warehouse space and invited you round for tea – except they happen to be Michelin-level chefs. What are the prices like? At the top end of the price bracket but still lower than many other dining experiences of this magnitude. A seasonal tasting menu with matched wine flight (natural ofc) wil set you back around £200 per person. What should I order? Think you’re getting a choice do you? In keeping with the ‘going to a friend’s for tea’ vibe, you’ll get what you’re given – although there is some wiggle room for dietary requirements. Expect a curious procession of dishes made from veg grown in the restaurant’s nearby allotment (on top of Ann Summers in the precinct) and various bits of whatever locally reared whole animal is in the kitchen that week – oh, and of course ferments and preserves feature in a big way too. The surprise element is all part of the fun.  What’s worth visiting nearby? WTLGI’s home town of Stockport is so oh-so-hot right now. The team operates Yellowhammer bakery nearby and you must grab a Colombian breakfast at Cafe San Juan if you’re staying over. There are also great record shops, vintage markets and a legendary Foodie Friday knees up complete with dancing in the streets.  The best things to do in Manchester.