12 of the best private dining rooms in Manchester

Whether it be a milestone birthday, an engagement party or just a long overdue get-together, nothing makes an occasion feel more special than booking a private dining room. With a top-class venue and your own exclusive area, we find that everyone gets just that little bit more excited to attend. Plus, many restaurants with private dining options also offer drinks packages so that your guests can be met with a glass of fizz, or even a carefully curated menu to highlight the best signature dishes.

With the guiding hand of an events team, the experience of organising a shindig is more enjoyable, too. From music choices to the cocktail menu, let one of Manchester’s best venues for private dining help you make your gathering a walk in the park – leaving you to enjoy the best bits of catching up with those you love.

And, there are lots of options to boot. Maybe you’ve been imagining a heated terrace for a large group and plenty of drinks to go around, or an intimate dinner in a chic setting looking out to beautiful skyline views. There are plenty of places to pick from with the experience and excitement to help host your party.

We’ve done the research on which Manchester-based restaurants, bars and events spaces offer options for private dining and have detailed the type of occasion they might work best for, as well as how many people can be catered to.

If you’ve never considered opting for a private dining room in Manchester before, this is the perfect time to explore the idea. Many don’t charge a hire fee or minimum spend, but allow your group to enjoy a bespoke experience. So, it’s time to get planning, send out some invites and put on your dancing shoes for an evening of fun and catching up with your favourite people. Discover the best private dining rooms in Manchester for special occasions, whether it's a private birthday bash or a corporate event with colleagues.

Best private dining rooms in Manchester for birthdays

Everyone likes to feel special on their birthday, and having your own space especially for your nearest and dearest to enjoy is one way to make an occasion feel extra memorable. We like that these venues put an emphasis on aesthetics as well as the food, with beautiful settings that will look great on pictures as well as delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy.

Hawksmoor Manchester

What: With dark-hued wall panelling, low lighting and wooden furniture, Hawksmoor Manchester has a cosy, old-world feel which is perfect for an intimate get together. The space houses a central oval table to facilitate group conversation and there are multiple menu options available. Treat your gang to cocktails on arrival and choose between three specially designed sharing menus which include Hawksmoor classics.
Maximum capacity: 14
Where: 184, 186 Deansgate, M3 3WB
Book now: Hawksmoor Manchester

Zouk Tea Bar & Grill

What: This buzzing restaurant serves a menu of accessible Indian and Pakistani food, albeit with a modern twist - think Punjabi chicken lollipops and the very popular butter chicken bao buns, as well as a majestic king prawn biryani. Best of all, Zouk has lots of great spaces available for private hire, including a gorgeous terraces covered in foliage, and a mezzanine level for 90 guests that looks out over the main restaurant.
Maximum capacity: 150
Where: Unit 5 Quadrangle Chester Street, M1 5QS
Book now: Zouk Tea Bar & Grill

Fazenda

What: Fazenda is a South American restaurant which aims to deliver an authentic gaucho experience. With high-quality grilled meats, Fazenda offers rodizio-style dining which comes from Brazilian culture. The chain’s Manchester branch has three spaces for entertaining private parties, for both smaller and larger groups. The snug dining room allows guests to choose from the main menu, but if you’re planning a less intimate spread, the heated outdoor terrace or main bar works for a drinks reception.
Maximum capacity: 14
Where: The Avenue, Spinningfields, M3 3AP
Book now: Fazenda

Kala Bistro

What: Kala Bistro is the minimalistic neighbourhood restaurant that lets the food really shine. Offering a first class menu in an unpretentious setting, the team here serve the kind of food you genuinely want to eat, showcasing simple dishes that have been executed with finesse. Available for large group dining and exclusive hire, it makes for an ideal spot to celebrate everything from birthdays to milestone anniversaries.
Maximum capacity: Up to 70 people
Where: 55 King Street, M2 4LQ
Book now: Kala Bistro

Best private dining rooms in Manchester for corporate events

Want to impress your boss by organising the company’s next team away day? One of these sleek Manchester-based venues could just be the trick. With sophisticated vibes and top-notch food, the office will be singing your praises in no time.

Tast Catala

What: This vibrant Catalonian spot in central Manchester is famously part-owned by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, so we imagine there’s a small chance you might spot him there if you’re lucky. Tast is no mere cash-in, though - authentic Catalan food is done true justice here, and private dining groups can hire the Bar and Terrace, Restaurant or a 30-seat private dining room, making this ideal for all sorts of occasions.
Maximum capacity: 70
Where: 20-22 King Street, M2 6AG
Book now: Tast Catala

Hard Rock Café Manchester

What: Packing in up to 230 guests across its two floors and many private areas, Hard Rock Café Manchester is perfect for big, bold celebrations, as well as big corporate networking events. The menu is everything we know and love from Hard Rock Cafe - stacked burgers, New York strip steaks, and all the American diner-fare you can eat. Plus, it’s just a few minutes walk from Manchester’s main stations and the centre of a town. Bonus!
Maximum capacity: 230
Where: The Printworks, M4 2BS
Book now: Hard Rock Café Manchester

Best private dining rooms in Manchester for large groups

Well, look here – aren’t you popular! If you’re planning a bash for a large amount of people these venues can cater into the hundreds.

Tender Cow - Mackie Mayor

What: Mackie Mayor is quite a sight, with its triple height ceilings and period features, taken from the redesigning of Manchester’s old meat market. Steaks are the order of the day here, but the team at Tender Cow specialise in alternative cuts of meat - you won’t find your typical sirloin or fillet here, instead the team recommends similar, lesser-known (and often cheaper) cuts. There’s no private dining room here but Tender Cow is available for exclusive hire from Tuesday to Friday, with a maximum capacity of 150 people.
Maximum capacity: 150
Where: 1 Eagle Street, M4 5BU
Book now: Tender Cow - Mackie Mayor

Gino D'Acampo Manchester

What: Iconic TV chef Gino D’Acampo has teamed up with hotel giant Melia to create this bright, airy and beautiful restaurant on First Street. It’s a lovely space, perfect for all sorts of occasions, and paired up with the classic regional Italian cooking that you know so well from Gino’s TV shows, ranging from authentic pasta dishes to mushroom risotto, oven-baked pizzas and a long list of aperitivo cocktails.
Maximum capacity: 100 
Where: First Street, Innside, M15 4RP
Book now: Gino D'Acampo Manchester

Cane & Grain

What: Cane & Grain is a multi-faceted bar and restaurant, drawing inspiration from skate culture, tiki bars and secret speakeasys. The menu focuses on American fare, giving special attention to meat-based dishes such as belly ribs and fried chicken. The venue has three floors, each with a different identity. For example, on the second level you’ll find the Science and Industry floor, inspired by a laboratory, with low-lit atmosphere and zany neon signage.
Maximum capacity: 50
Where: 49-51 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1NA
Book now: Cane & Grain

Banyan Bar & Kitchen Corn Exchange

What: Banyan spans four regional venues across the UK, each offering informal but aesthetically pleasing dining options, perfect for big groups. The Manchester branch has three private hire options, depending on the size of your party.  For a dinner of 18, The Well offers a snug and stylish room with a long dinner table for everyone to gather around. While elsewhere the main restaurant can be completely taken over, holding up to 130 for a proper shindig. There’s also a selection of food and beverage options to ensure your guests are fed and watered, including welcome prosecco or beers, and buffet food of chicken, burgers and pork skewers.
Maximum capacity: 130
Where: Unit 4, The Corn Exchange, Exchange Square, M4 3TR
Book now: Banyan Bar & Kitchen Corn Exchange

Best private dining rooms in Manchester for small groups

Organising something cosy for you and a few lucky friends and family? These spots are perfect, offering a more intiimate private dining vibe as well as excellent grub into the bargain.

Sushi Mami

What: This beautiful, simple, modern Japanese spot is right near Manchester Oxford Road, and offers an enormous menu of sushi, including maki rolls, nigiri and temaki handrolls, as well as some excellent Japanese home cooking as well. Sushi Mami’s VIP Room has room for 20 guests to enjoy an all you can eat sushi party, or you can nab part of the restaurant for semi-private hire for up to 30 guests.
Maximum capacity: 30
Where: 111 Portland Street, M1 6DN
Book now: Sushi Mami

Peter Street Kitchen

What: Peter Street Kitchen fuses Japanese and Mexican cuisine in a sleek, sophisticated setting. With an experimental menu of small plates, the experience is an atmospheric and culinary delight, especially if you take over the private dining area. This space offers a Hibachi table, complete with its very own fire pit, located in The Kabe, a secluded part of the restaurant.
Maximum capacity: 12
Where: Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, M2 5GP
Book now: Peter Street Kitchen

On a budget? You might like our pick of the best cheap eats in Manchester