Manchester is a city with a pulse like no other
The birthplace of the legendary Hacienda and a driving force behind the Britpop movement – think The Stone Roses and Oasis – this northern powerhouse is famous for its electrifying nightlife, deep-rooted football culture, and the unmistakable warmth of its people.
And right now, there’s another reason to visit: Manchester’s food scene is on fire, with an explosion of exciting new openings, acclaimed chefs bringing global experience to the city, an ever-growing brewery scene, natural wine bars, sandwich spots, bakeries and more. We recently spent a long weekend to soak it all up, indulging in the best food, drinks, and atmosphere the city has to offer. Here’s our guide to the must-visit spots in Manchester right now…
Skof
Skof is the much-anticipated debut restaurant from Tom Barnes, located in an old textile warehouse in Manchester’s NOMA district. After honing his skills under Simon Rogan at L’Enclume (still one of the best meals we’ve ever had) and Rogan & Co, Barnes brings his culinary expertise to this intimate 36-cover restaurant. As you’d expect, the food is outstanding – it’s all about top-quality seasonal produce, bold flavours, and precise technique.
We opted for the long tasting menu, and while we could wax lyrical about every dish, we’ll spare you the essay. That said, the langoustine with pork fat and kimchi powder on grilled sourdough, soaked in its own emulsion, and the lightly set miso custard with hen of the woods mushroom, truffle, and mushroom dashi were absolute umami bombs – just two standout examples from a menu packed with flavour. Beyond the food, we were seriously impressed by the team – surely one of the youngest in the fine dining world. Head sommelier Max, just 25, curated a wine pairing with the expertise of someone twice his age. Skof alone is worth the trip to Manchester.
Higher Ground
The team behind Higher Ground has impressive CVs, with experience at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Noma, and beyond…these guys aren’t fucking about. Higher Ground was their first opening in Manchester, bringing a farm-to-table approach (yes, they have their own farm, Cinderwood) to small plates with a laid-back, bistro-style vibe. It’s a busy spot, and for good reason – we had the seasonal sharing menu, made up of dishes from the main menu served family-style. Highlights included the green pea fritters with Quicke’s Cheddar and the potato-stuffed egg pasta with pork cooked in milk. To drink, there are some killer low-intervention wines from small scale European winemakers and a strong selection of English beers and ciders. One of – if not the – liveliest spots for drinking and dining in Manchester.
Flawd
Sister to Higher Ground, Flawd is the more casual wine bar and bottle shop in Ancoats, located right on the marina. The food follows a similar ethos to Higher Ground, keeping things as seasonal and local possible. We enjoyed a beautiful pickle plate, Shetland mussels with flageolet beans, and purple sun carrot rape with Curing Rebels ham and Pollen sourdough from the bakery next door. The wine list is constantly changing, featuring bottles from some of the most exciting natural winemakers around, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch some of them popping up at Flawd.
Shop Siop
The super cool Shop Siop serves some of the best coffee in the city – they roast their own beans, and you can tell. The interior design, with its quirky shapes and bright colour palette, makes you feel like you’re eating in a LEGO café, but this place isn’t for kids, it’s for discerning adults who appreciate some of the best baked goods in the city. We loved the savoury babkas, but the real reason it pulls in the crowds is the fluffy, super light hand-made doughnuts. We visited in spring so caught the rhubarb and custard batch – so light they almost feel good for you (and rhubarb is a fruit AKA one of your 5 a day!). It’s also open on Monday mornings and sells some hipster swag, should you want to take a piece home with you.
Erst
Erst is a trendy, industrial-style wine bar in Manchester that has quickly become a must-visit on food itineraries. It’s hard to score a seat so you’ll want to book in advance. People go mad for the seasonally changing flatbreads, but all its dishes are developed to be flavour bombs. It was one of the first natural wine and small plates spots in the city, having opened in 2018. Bag a seat at the counter, watching the chefs work whilst you work your way through the wine list, full of low intervention bangers.
Stow
Stow is lit – literally: it’s a restaurant that uses fire in some way or another for every single dish, cooking exclusively on fire using local wood and charcoal. It’s been getting rave reviews since it opened and for good reason, there’s plenty of reasons to blow smoke. We couldn’t knock any of the food; it was all killer, zero filler. However, our favourite dishes were the pork and fennel sausage with pear jam and vinaigrette; the whole monkfish tale with trout roe beurre blanc and dill; and the celeriac pappardelle with anchovy and black garlic… then there’s the smoked cream tart with forced rhubarb. Seductive smoky flavours, modern interior design and a separate bar make this place one of the hottest spots in the city.
Ad Hoc Wine Shop
Ad Hoc is one of our fail-safes; it’s a place we find ourselves in every single time we’re in town. Whether that’s to pick up some bottles to take home or to have a cheeky glass with Perello olives and Torres crisps. The Real Housewives of Clapton would approve of this spot, with its fridges and shelves full of hipster labels. It’s the perfect pre- or post-dinner pit stop.
Where Chefs Eat
Mr Hong’s
Manchester has its own Chinatown, and there are a fair few restaurants to choose from. Mr Hong’s came highly recommended by most of the chefs we spoke to in the city, and Joe, the chef from Higher Ground, was there when we visited. The key is to order from the blue menu, which features Sichuan dishes like lamb cumin skewers and cold spicy noodles. It’s not the best Chinese you’ll ever eat, but it’s decent value and open on Sunday evenings.
Pints in Pubs
We got recommended a fair few old school boozers from people in the industry but sadly we didn’t make it to all of them. From the list we loved the Grey Horse Inn, open late on a Sunday evening and a stone’s throw from Mr Hong’s; The Hare and Hounds; The Peveril of The Peak; City Arms; The Briton’s Protection; and P3 Annihilation Eve.
Pollen
Creators of THAT croissant butter, Pollen has been baking delicious goods since 2016. The hyped bakery now has two locations, though you’ll also find its signature sourdough bread on restaurant menus across the city. We love the bacon on buttery potato brioche for breakfast, as well as the sugary cinnamon rolls and croissant cookie blondies. Honestly, though, you can’t go wrong. Great coffee makes this place a must-visit (at least once) on any trip.
Nell’s
Nell’s pizza has three sites across the city serving up NYC-style pizza – that’s the one with the crispy base. The pies come in either 14″ and 22″ with a handful available by the slice. Our favourite is the signature Do You ‘Roni Honey? loaded with pepperoni and drizzled with hot honey, though there’s usually a few specials on the board too. We love popping into the KAMPUS site for a pie to go and couple of slushies for the train home.
Things to Do
Breweries
Over the last few years, the Manchester craft beer scene has exploded, and now there are some great breweries and taprooms behind Piccadilly Station. Most of them are scattered around the trading estate and in the old Network Rail arches, where a ton of housing developments are popping up. You can imagine that in summer, this area has big Copenhagen vibes with people spilling out onto the pavement. Our favourites were Track and Balance, though if you’re doing the rounds, you might as well tick them all off. It’s MADCHESTER, after all.
UNITOM
Warning – this contains nothing edible, but we wanted to shout out this place anyway! UNITOM is one of the coolest shops in the city. It’s packed with interesting publications from around the world – including ones that focus food and drink (the apple never falls far from the tree), including nice subjects such as Korean convenience stores. There are also cards, postcards, and other random bits and bobs. Be warned, you will not leave empty-handed…
Where to Stay
CitySuites
If you’re after a home away from home, CitySuites, Manchester’s first aparthotel is a brilliant choice. The rooms range from stylish mini apartments to sprawling suites, depending on what you go for (and what you’re used to!). We stayed in a huge three- bedroom suite, complete with a massive living room, the biggest TV we’ve ever seen, a fully kitted-out kitchen (yes, there’s a wine fridge), a 10-seater dining table, and a balcony overlooking the city. Oh, and did we mention the four bathrooms? One even had a roll-top bath. If you’re staying for more than a couple of nights, it’s perfect – loads of space to spread out, relax, and recharge between exploring the city. The central location makes it super easy to pop back whenever you need a break. And if you’re feeling like you need to shed some cals before your next meal, there’s a gym and a swimming pool too.