Where is nice for lunch in Manchester?

[CalmDownPacino]

Daughter is 16 on Friday and planning to take her into Manchester for shopping and birthday lunch. Can anyone recommend somewhere nice for lunch? If she had her way we would be in Nando's but i'd rather do something a bit nicer, potentially with cocktails! Not looking for swanky, just....nice. I said nice too many times.

Thanks!

I went to Randall & Aubin a couple of weeks ago and LOVED it - it's not cheap but it felt like good value for money. The food (British and French, lots of seafood) was of a very high quality, and it's a pleasant setting. The cocktails are decent too.

The Ivy is very popular and is nice inside (I don’t really rate the food, but others do). Banyan (near the Ivy) is a nice (new) bar with decent food. Loads of chains in Spinningfields - Wagamama etc.

There are lots of places in the Corn Exchange (opposite Selfridges), which is handy if you’re shopping in the Arndale. Wahaca is my favourite and might suit a nando’s loving teen.

Do you like Cats? A treat for my dd is The cat cafe, they charge by time though, not what you have.
If you are shopping don't forget Afflecks.
catcafe.co.uk/

Tampopo is fab if you like Asian food - there's the St. Peter's square one and one in the place I can't rememebr beginning with corn! Never had a bad meal there and the Thai curries are divine.

Indian- Mowgli is FAB. In fact this is my favourite all time restaurant in Manchester I reckon.

Pizza - try dough if it's still open, super popular and nice pizzas.

Otherwise anywhere in spinningfields is always nice for a treat and most places aren't too expensive.

Just trying to think of where else. Last date night I had in Manchester was at pieminster - a truly northern date - and I'm guessing you want somewhere a little more fancy

Cottonopolis is quite nice as is Tariff and Dale - both are in the Northern Quarter.

The first is more Japanese inspired with regards to food and the second is a pub/bar but a lovely setting and excellent food.

Your dd won’t be served cocktails at 16 , only larger or wine and that’s at restaurants discretion.

The cocktails will be for me to ease the pain of the spending

Some great ideas here, going to have a look - thank you all!

Australasia is amazing!

I don't know if you are being sarcastic Gilbert but it is legal at 16 or above to have beer or wine with a meal, but not spirits, and cocktails probably count as spirits, despite them often having hardly any alcohol in them compared to wine.

Lots of great suggestions. My vote would be Bundobust, but I'm not sure they do cocktails, craft beers is more their thing.

Australasia is good and they do a lovely selection of non-alcoholic cocktails/flavoured waters which are just as luxurious as cocktails.

I’ve been going since before I was 18 and I go for most birthdays. It is a wonderful experience all round.

What kind of food are you both looking forward to? There’s so much choice in Mcr!

Evelyn’s is very popular (maybe try to book or go early) and El Gato Negro is lovely.
Umezushi or Yuzu for cosy authentic Japanese - or even Tattu which is v showy but also serves delicious haute cuisine.
Caffe Grande Piccolino makes a lovely relaxed lunch in glamorous surroundings, or you can go to The Pasta Factory for amazing pasta (obv).

What I meant was, in the UK, normally you have to be 18 to drink alcohol in pubs/bars restaurants etc, ie it's a bit obvious that normally a 16 YO couldn't have a cocktail, hence why I thought you might be being sarcastic .

But there's a little known rule, that a 16 YO can have beer or wine with a meal in a pub/bar/restaurant, although another poster has suggested that not all venues may allow this, they may have a blanket 'over 18s only rule'.

But as I said previously, cocktails may not be allowed, as they have spirits in, even though some seem to put hardly any spirits in - a shot or two at most in a glass that is mostly ice, so there's probably more alcohol in a glass of wine.

What about booking afternoon tea at the 21st floor of the Beetham Tower? I think it's called 21. They do cocktails and cocktails and Fab views of the city.

Neither of us like heights so sadly the tower is out!

Think she might like the Brazilian place by the corn exchange. Need to have a good look through all these suggestions!

Annie's round the corner from the Royal Exchange Theatre has lovely lunches, great ambience, nice young staff. Or the restaurant inside the theatre itself is very good, it's called The Rivals. Lots of theatre posters to look at and a very good craft shop.

Our fave place to eat is El Gato Negro Tapas, we have never had a disappointing meal here. You do have to book for busy times, but we have walked in before at quieter times.