The Best Places to Eat in Manchester

Discover some of the best restaurants to eat at when visiting Manchester England! From Michelin-starred restaurants like Mana to cozy cafes like Pollen Bakery or lively bars like Three Little Words - there's something for everyone here!

The Best Places to Eat in Manchester

Manchester is a city that has seen a lot of transformation over the years. From its post-industrial days of urban decay and crime to its current status as a vibrant and bustling metropolis, Manchester has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant, a cozy cafe, or a lively bar, Manchester has it all. Here are some of the best places to eat in Manchester, England.

Mana is the Michelin-starred restaurant of Simon Martin. This cuisine and its tasting menu of more than 14 dishes earned Manchester its first Michelin star in 42 years. If you're planning a special occasion or just a weekend getaway to Manchester, make sure you book well in advance: reservations open at noon on the first day of every month two months in advance.

Pollen Bakery

is a popular spot for pastries and coffee. Its first proper establishment in Ancoats came after several years of devoted customers queuing up for up to an hour under a railway arch to enjoy their excellent pastry, in particular the exclusive cruffin, a delicious combination between a croissant and a roll filled with cottage cheese or custard.

Its success means that it has opened a new second location: a bakery and a coffee shop in the Kampus neighborhood.

Three Little Words

is an impressive bar with luxurious velvet stools under a roof of evocative brick vaulted railway arches. The cocktail menu is inspired by the stages of love and features exclusive gin, sake, apricot, ginger and aloe vera juice. It's worth taking a taxi from the center of Manchester to experience this unique bar.

My %26 Pho

is a Vietnamese restaurant located in Northenden, just a short drive from the airport. This simple neighborhood spot is capable of doing great things.

Sugar Junction

, North Tea Power, and Richmond Tea Rooms are all great places to buy vintage-style tableware.

The Richmond tea rooms have an Alice in Wonderland theme and are located in an alley in the gay town.

Refuge by Volta

, inside the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, is perhaps one of the most attractive places to eat in the city center. With high ceilings and glazed tile pillars in its impressive Grade II listed Victorian setting, this restaurant offers free palate cleansers such as a refreshing mix of star anise, citrus and mint.

Wonder Wendy

, located at The Three Little Words bar, is a 14-foot-high copper still that can produce up to one million bottles of gin a year. This quadruples the distillery's production.

Escape to Freight Island

, located in a former cargo depot near Piccadilly Station, features outdoor and indoor seating, daily entertainment and food that ranges from Michelin star chef Brad Carter's kebabs to champagne and oysters.

The Sparrows

, located in Manchester's Green Light District, is an intimate restaurant with 24 seats. It offers contemporary dishes with elements from Simon Martin's childhood in Manchester.

Reservations are opened on the 1st of every month at noon two months in advance.

My %26 Pho

, located in Northenden, is another great spot for Vietnamese cuisine. This simple neighborhood spot is capable of doing great things.

Dishoom

, with two locations in Manchester, has become one of the pillars of the city's vibrant dining scene.

You'll need to book well in advance to secure a table.

Simon Martin's Fine Dining Restaurant

, located in Ancoats, continues to raise the bar on Manchester's hotel scene. Starting with its signature bar appetizer, the vol-au-vent of mushrooms and Berkswell cheese, and going through whole turbot, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and bone-in cuts and ex-dairy products, this restaurant is off to an amazing start.

Mana

, Manchester's only Michelin star restaurant, is quite busy and it's essential to book ahead.

If you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience while visiting Manchester, England then you've come to the right place! From Michelin-starred restaurants to cozy cafes and lively bars - there's something for everyone here! Here are some of our top picks for where to eat when you're visiting Manchester: Mana - Simon Martin's Michelin-starred restaurant offers an exquisite tasting menu with more than 14 dishes that earned Manchester its first Michelin star in 42 years! Pollen Bakery - This popular spot for pastries and coffee has become so successful that it has opened up two locations - one bakery and one coffee shop! Three Little Words - This unique bar offers cocktails inspired by the stages of love as well as luxurious velvet stools under evocative brick vaulted railway arches! My %26 Pho - This simple neighborhood spot serves up delicious Vietnamese cuisine! Sugar Junction - North Tea Power - Richmond Tea Rooms - These three places are great spots for vintage-style tableware! Refuge by Volta - Located inside the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, this restaurant offers free palate cleansers such as star anise, citrus and mint! Wonder Wendy - Located at The Three Little Words bar, this 14-foot-high copper still can produce up to one million bottles of gin per year! Escape to Freight Island - This former cargo depot near Piccadilly Station features outdoor and indoor seating as well as daily entertainment! The Sparrows - Located in Manchester's Green Light District this intimate restaurant offers contemporary dishes with elements from Simon Martin's childhood! No matter what type of cuisine you're looking for or what kind of atmosphere you prefer - there are plenty of amazing restaurants to choose from when you're visiting Manchester! From Michelin-starred restaurants like Mana to cozy cafes like Pollen Bakery or lively bars like Three Little Words - there's something for everyone here! So make sure you book your reservations ahead of time so you don't miss out on any delicious meals while you're visiting this vibrant city.

Marianne Graen
Marianne Graen

Infuriatingly humble bacon specialist. Certified bacon guru. Lifelong coffee trailblazer. Devoted internet buff. General coffee nerd. General coffee junkie.