Manchester
Food & Drink

Mana in Ancoats is Manchester's only Michelin-starred restaurant, run by Chef Simon Martin. For steaks, Hawksmoor in Deansgate is rated the UK's best. Adam Reid at The French inside The Midland is exceptional fine dining. For great value, Rudy's Neapolitan Pizza (Ancoats) and Dishoom (Ancoats) are consistently outstanding.

The Curry Mile is on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, approximately 1.5 miles south of Manchester city centre. It features over 70 South Asian restaurants — the highest concentration outside London. The best way to get there is the 142/143 bus from Piccadilly Gardens or a short taxi from the city centre.

Manchester's best food halls include: Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter (Grade II listed Victorian building, 20+ vendors, rated one of the UK's best food halls), Escape to Freight Island in Mayfield (large industrial space with a rotating roster of vendors and a bar), and GRUB in New Islington. The Arndale Food Court is also popular for quick lunches.

For special occasions in Manchester: Mana (Michelin star tasting menu, Ancoats), Hawksmoor (premium steaks in a Victorian bank, Deansgate), 20 Stories (rooftop dining with skyline views, Spinningfields), Adam Reid at The French (classic fine dining inside The Midland Hotel), or El Gato Negro (multi-level Spanish tapas in a stunning former bank on King Street).

Manchester has excellent vegan options. Top picks: Bundobust NQ (vegan Indian street food), Earth NQ (100% plant-based), V-Rev (vegan American diner), Elnecot (plant-forward fine dining). Chorlton is the city's most vegan-friendly neighbourhood with multiple independent vegan eateries. The Curry Mile in Rusholme also has many outstanding vegan South Asian dishes.

Rusholme (the Curry Mile) offers outstanding value — a full meal at many restaurants costs £10–15. The Northern Quarter has many affordable independent cafés and lunch spots. Chinatown on Faulkner Street has authentic Chinese food at low prices. Bundobust in the Northern Quarter offers brilliant Indian street food for under £15.

Yes — Manchester has two Michelin-starred restaurants. Mana in Ancoats (Chef Simon Martin, New Nordic cuisine) has held one Michelin star since 2019. Adam Reid at The French, inside The Midland Hotel on Peter Street, also holds a Michelin star for its modern British fine dining.

For late-night eating in Manchester: the Curry Mile in Rusholme has many restaurants open past midnight. Bundobust NQ is open late on weekends. There are multiple kebab shops and pizza joints around Piccadilly and the Northern Quarter open until 3–4am. Elnecot and many Ancoats restaurants take last orders at 10:30pm.

Manchester has a brilliant brunch scene. Top spots: Elnecot (Ancoats) for weekend brunch with fire-cooked eggs; Grub (New Islington) for casual outdoor brunch; Ezra & Gil (Northern Quarter) for excellent coffee and all-day brunch; The Refuge (Oxford Road) for classic brunch in a grand Victorian hotel; and independent cafés in Chorlton and Didsbury serving weekend brunch until 3pm.

Ancoats is Manchester's most exciting neighbourhood for dining. Must-visit restaurants include: Mana (Michelin-starred New Nordic tasting menu), Elnecot (fire-cooked Modern British), Rudy's Neapolitan Pizza (wood-fired pizza, expect queues), Dishoom (Bombay café with legendary bacon naans), Bundobust (Indian street food), and Erst (natural wines and seasonal food). The neighbourhood also has excellent coffee shops and bakeries.

Manchester's best food markets: Mackie Mayor (Northern Quarter — Grade II listed Victorian building, 20+ permanent vendors); Escape to Freight Island (Mayfield — large industrial food and drink space with rotating vendors and a bar); GRUB (New Islington — outdoor street food market, open weekends); Arndale Food Court (city centre, quick lunches). The Northern Quarter also has regular weekend street food markets.

Manchester is excellent for budget eating. Best options for students: the Curry Mile in Rusholme (full meal for £10–12), Bundobust NQ (Indian street food from £4), Chinatown on Faulkner Street (authentic Chinese for under £10), the NQ Food Market, and the Oxford Road corridor which has numerous budget cafés catering to university students. Many restaurants offer student discounts with valid ID.

Manchester's best pizza: Rudy's Neapolitan Pizza (Ancoats and city centre) is widely regarded as the city's finest — wood-fired Neapolitan, expect queues on weekends. Honest Crust (Mackie Mayor) is another excellent wood-fired option. Crazy Pedro's (Northern Quarter) is the go-to for late-night slices until the early hours.

Manchester has one of the UK's best plant-based food scenes outside London. Dedicated vegan restaurants include: V-Rev (Northern Quarter — vegan American diner), Earth (Northern Quarter — 100% plant-based), and numerous options in Chorlton. Most mainstream Manchester restaurants now offer strong vegan menus. Bundobust's entire menu is vegetarian. The Curry Mile has outstanding vegan South Asian food.