Best restaurants in Manchester

Sky high 20 Stories is the first Manchester project from D&D London. The glamorous restaurant and casual grill offer distinct menus, alongside a cocktail bar and roof terrace boasting 360-degree views of the city.

Coffee lovers know that 63 degrees is the perfect temperature at which to serve it, but chef-proprietor Eric Moreau applies the rule to poultry and cake as well. Don’t miss the set weekday lunch either.

Higher Ground is a buzzy restaurant and bar that originated as a pop up and is now firmly amongst the best restaurants in the city. Serving seasonal small plates alongside excellent wines, this is not one to be missed. 

Opened by former MasterChef winner Simon Wood, this is a large, welcoming venue. Whether you opt for the fine-dining a la carte, good-value set lunch or tasting menu, the kitchen allows fresh ingredients to shine.

OSMA is the brainchild of Sophie Stoermann-Naess and Danielle Heron, the latter of whom has worked at the likes of two Michelin-starred L’Enclume and three star Maaemo in Oslo. This small plates restaurant is eager to feed from breakfast through to dinner, and offers some top tier cocktails too.

The restaurant in The Alan hotel is a little cracker, serving a flexible menu of snacks and small plates which are easily shared amongst a group. Case in point, a dish of barbecue mushrooms, yeast and black garlic that provides a serious umami punch.

This street food marketplace is so jam-packed with food merchants you’ll struggle to choose just one. It’s housed within Smithfield’s grand Grade II-listed Victorian market - grab a seat, pick a stall and get stuck in.

If you’re looking to enjoy food with a view, few places do it better than Climat. Head out on to the terrace at this wine-led restaurant and tuck into a glass of something special whilst working your way through the Parisian inspired menu.

Despite a little price hike (from six to eight quid), This & That remains astonishingly good value for a proper curry. This legendary spot has been going since 1984 now, and though it doesn’t grab the headlines, it remains an important part of Manchester’s culinary fabric. 

With its striking black and white tiled flooring, and equally bold plates, The Black Friar is certainly one to remember. More than just an old school boozer, you can expect proper pub grub, as well as carefully curated beer snacks and even something a little more refined in the main dining room.

Indian street-food specialists Bundobust have ventured across The Pennines to open this spacious Piccadilly branch. Inside, seating is canteen-style with the enticing menu of snacks and sharing plates being equally informal, and entirely vegetarian too.

Ex-L’Enclume chef Sam Buckley’s curiously named gaff is a loft-style space with views across the rooftops. Diners eat small plates inspired by what has been foraged, fermented and butchered by the team - thrilling combinations abound.

At this stylish tapas bar, you are treated to top-flight charcuterie, cheeses and a cavalcade of flawless plates. Make sure to visit the Black Cat upstairs too, a beautiful cocktail bar with a retractable roof.

Shoryu Manchester is the first venture outside the capital for this ramen bar, serving up everything from a classic tonkotsu to sides like chicken karaage and yakitori. We love this for a laid back dinner that still feels like a treat.

Part of Gary Usher’s mini empire, homely yet high-end Kala is found on King Street and offers up superb fairly priced modern European cuisine, along with a wine list that includes plenty of by-the-glass options.

This beloved modern continental spot has a burgeoning reputation for fantastic dumplings and pasta. This is not the pasta you’re used to, though - The Sparrows serves spätzle, and traditional Central and Eastern European dishes like pierogi, Russian pelmeni, and, yes, the occasional ravioli too.

You’ll be hard pushed to find anywhere that does Spanish food quite like Tast. Paco Perez, the Spanish chef who has five Michelin stars across his restaurants in Europe, knows a thing or two about Tapas and Catalonian cuisine, and judging by the cocktail and wine menu he’s a dab hand with drinks too.

This chic restaurant focuses on seasonal food, natural wines and craft beers. The pared-down menu relies on bold flavour combinations to deliver superb dishes such as salt cod with blood orange, olives, capers and oregano.

Conveniently located, Namii brings authentic Vietnamese food like summer rolls, pho and bun cha to Manchester city centre - and the cocktail selection is pretty special too. This is a great spot for a night out with friends that’s full of fun and full of flavour.

The Didsbury bistro of barnstorming chef Gary Usher has a relaxed, homely feel. It’s a convivial place for sampling the confident and concise menu of European fare. Superb-value lunch and early-evening offers also attract locals.

This unfussy yet elegant restaurant located in a Grade II listed building in Central Manchester serves up elevated classics alongside a standout drinks menu. Be sure to head down on a Sunday for the raved-about roast.

Another Hand is an intimate 24 cover restaurant that focuses on a veg-led menu, with natural wines and hand crafted cocktails. This hidden gem is worth keeping an eye out for when heading into the city centre.

This offshoot of renowned Stockport restaurant Where The Light Gets In is a triple-threat of bakery, deli and pottery. In the evenings, Yellowhammer switches gears to become a pizzeria, pairing pizzas with natural wines and live music on vinyl.

The lofty title of Manchester’s only Michelin star restaurant is reason enough to visit Mana, but the accolade is backed up by a stunning menu which showcases only the best of produce from the British Isles.

Adam Reid has kept The French at the top of Manchester’s restaurant tree for many years, and while the grand dining room is opulent, the vibe feels less formal and the food continues to impress.

Street-inspired comfort food is the order of the day at this popular Indian. Snacks such as pau bhaji are the warm-up act for mains like dum biryani and dhal makhni that promise intense flavours.

Instagram-friendly interiors are bolstered by a delectable menu of dim sum and Asian-inspired small plates at this ever popular restaurant and cocktail bar. Don’t forget to snap a pic underneath the pink cherry blossom tree.

You know the Hawksmoor drill: great steaks, banging cocktails, friendly staff and the epic dessert that must not be called a giant Ferrero Rocher. This Manchester outpost also boasts a separate bar for pre-prandial sips.