Mentioned by Confidential Guides
Ten great date night restaurants in Manchester
"Cicchetti, Fumo and San Carlo itself are all wonderful choices for a special romantic evening. Cicchetti has a lovely marble bar that you can sit at whilst you nibble on small plates, whilst Fumo’s beautiful art deco interior is the perfect setting for a special date. And for lovers of traditional Italian food, you can’t go wrong at San Carlo."
"This was really well priced and had the best flavour and presentation. They even gave me more than one scoop. The restaurant uses traditional techniques to make their sorbet and it works for them."
"Doing lots of little things right” is a definition of perfection. And Oystercatcher – a simple seafood restaurant in Chorlton – is just that. The kitchen’s Inca grill is masterfully handled by co-owner Recep Canliisik, who churns out dishes such as char-grilled whole sea bream, and Tandoori-barbecued monkfish tail."
"This cute little neighbourhood restaurant in Chorlton specialises in super-fresh seafood and are known for grilling whole fish in their charcoal oven. The wine list is also excellent. Menus change weekly depending on what is fresh and seasonal but you can view samples on their website to get an idea."
"Vermilion is one of the best places to eat Asian food in Manchester. The luxurious restaurant can be found just shy of Etihad Stadium and is brimming with eclectic plates that range spans countries from Thailand to India, make sure to hit it up when you fancy a diverse range of dishes."
"Why: Housing a café and bar as well as an event and exhibition space, this trendy Manchester breakfast spot serves up tasty plates of crowd-pleasing combinations. The works of art on the walls are reflected on the plate with pretty presentation coming as standard. Tuck into toasted banana bread with butter and house-made chocolate spread or take things up a level with green eggs that see two crispy fried eggs served with griddled avocado, spinach and sourdough toast."
"Brunch is the main occasion at this stylish cafe, but with eye-catching plates like the warm griddled peach salad with proscuitto ham (£.7.10) and the green eggs with avocado, green salsa on sourdough (£6.10), it deserves a place in this list. Tucked away on Warwick Street, the little joint also has a hidden terrace in the back - perfect for soaking up the rays on sunny days. 8 Warwick St, Prestwich, Manchester M25 3HN / alltheshapes.co.uk"
"Sure, Prestwich may not rival Ancoats when it comes to food and drink, but there’s a lovely bunch of indie joints that are well worth the 20-minute tram from the city centre. Our favourite is All The Shapes, a casual bar-restaurant-café serving up fun, family-friendly vibes. Their speciality coffee is best enjoyed with a wedge of cake on their pretty, sun-soaked terrace (yes, sometimes the sun shines in Manchester)."
"There’s a no-fuss vibe at Habesha Manchester which serves authentic Ethiopian food. To get there you have to climb a spiral staircase inside a fried chicken shop but fear not, it’s all part of the experience. There are no desserts or starters, just £2 Ethiopian beers and £7 flatbreads piled with a choice of beef, chicken, lamb or veg curry."
"Hidden above a kebab shop near Canal Street is not the usual place to find a great dining spot, but you’ve got it in Habesha. This Etheopian restaurant is cheap, friendly and filling. Spicy stews are serve on a traditional shared injera (like a giant sourdough flatbread), which diners then use to scoop up sauces with their hands."
"Hidden above a kebab shop near Canal Street is not the usual place to find a great dining spot, but you’ve got it in Habesha. This Ethiopian restaurant is cheap, friendly and filling. Spicy stews are serve on a traditional shared injera (like a giant sourdough flatbread), which diners then use to scoop up sauces with their hands."
"Pass through a new florist that has appeared on Oldham Street and you'll find yourself inside Lost Cat. This two-storey bar was once home to Eat New York, who will still man the kitchens, but now Lyndon Higginson (of Crazy Pedro's and Junkyard Golf fame) is at the helm. It's a 'modern day social club serving serious beers and stupid cocktails', apparently, and in the not-too-distant future will also be home to an outside cinema."
"A florist, a cocktail bar, a live music venue and the NQ’s first and only rooftop terraceWhere. 64 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LEWho. Lyndon Higginson of Crazy Pedro’s, Cane & Grain, The Liars Club & more"
"If you like to be the first in line to try something new, head to Bill’s in Spinningfields. Their brand-new pancake menu will be available between 21st Feb – 1st March with a strong mix of vegan, non-vegan, sweet and savoury treats to gorge on. Location: Bill’s, Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB."
"Open from 7am, the brunch menu at Bill's is suitable for breakfast meetings and drawn-out boozy sessions alike. With a menu that includes all the classics (from fluffy pancakes to perfectly poached eggs), a morning spent here is a guaranteed solid choice."
"Giraffe is on the first floor in The Orient and is close to the escalators to the ground floor with plenty of room for buggies. The city centre also has a branch, in Spinningfields."
"Half hip café, half hip design store, Fig + Sparrow may have only been around for a few years compared to the Northern Quarter heavyweights that surround it, but it’s one of Oldham Street’s most beloved stores. In summer, the crowded outdoor tables may lull you into thinking that it is simply a café, but inside you will discover a myriad of carefully selected items for your home or for gifts. It’s also one of the best places in the area to find greetings cards and wrapping paper."
"Another city centre spot perfect for working in, Fig + Sparrow is incredibly warm and welcoming, with some outdoor seating allowing guests to take in the hustle and bustle of city life. Serving up top-quality coffee that they sourced from the North East, Fig + Sparrow also sells gifts and design products, too – a great little touch to the cosy independent cafe. Fig + Sparrow, 20 Oldham St, M1 1JA."
"A coffee shop located in Manchester’s hipster northern quarter and contender for the city’s best latte art is Fig and Sparrow. What makes this charming coffee shop stand out is its local produce, sourcing everything from coffee beans to salad leaves from local producers in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint. For this reason, the salad-based menu is rather small, but always delicious."
"Preston North End's Deepdale Stadium is located just outside of the city centre, opposite the scenic Moor Park. The attraction is an important heritage sight for those who are avid football fans and draws in visitors from all around. Brimming with history, the stadium is the site of the Dick, Kerr Ladies' first football game and is home to the famous Sir Tom Finney statue."