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AIBU?

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Original poster

Manchester Recommendations please - Child Free :)

36 replies

NC05092018 · 05/09/2018 13:24

DH and I have a weekend in Manchester coming up. Staying in the city centre, don't know the area at all.
Can any of you lovely people recommend some restaurants (incl breakfast places), bars, anything else we should check out? We will be child free :)
Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
californiascreaming · 05/09/2018 13:29

I don't often go into the city centre but I was there a few weeks ago for a special lunch and we went to 20 Stories - fab outdoor terrace (on the 20th story!!!) with great views of the city - food and service were brilliant.

We quite like a museum - MOSI is good and very central. Also took the kids to Manchester Musuem (university area of town) to see Stan the t-rex. If you are fans of Natural History in London - then it might seem a bit small but kept us occupied on a rainy Sunday.

Bars/nightime - sorry can't help - know that most of my friends would head to Northern Quarter for a night out...

Namechangepuppo · 05/09/2018 13:30

Moose is fantastic for breakfast if you like bacon, sausage and pancakes!

eyycarumba · 05/09/2018 14:00

Cane and Grain if you like nice cocktails in a laid back/hipstery setting - they have a restaurant too, quite americany, meaty food. Anywhere up the northern quarter really

Original poster
NC05092018 · 05/09/2018 19:49

Thank you! Anyone else?

OP posts:
AnguaUberwaldIronfoundersson · 05/09/2018 19:58

I second Moose Coffee! The Grande Bouche is to die for!

BlueSuffragette · 05/09/2018 20:03

Sky bar in the Hilton hotel also foes fab cocktails. May need to book a slot if you are not staying or go up early pm/late afternoon. Good views of the City. The comedy store on Deansgate locks is good fun Fri/Sat night. The area is full of bars. Lots of restaurants/bars in The Triangle and have a beer/wine in the very old pub next door in shambles square.

positivepixie · 05/09/2018 20:16

I third Moose but also Federal for brunch. Food - depends what you're after, Spinningfields area has lots of choice (Iberica, Artisan, Manchester House, Fazenda all good). Best tapas in town is El Gato, you'd need to book. Northern Quarter area for more edgy bars - Too many to list but Cottonopolis, Pen & Pencil and more pub type places like Port St Beer House. Mackie Mayor is wonderful, like an artisan food hall.

pineapplecrush · 05/09/2018 20:18

I like Salvi's Restaurant at the Corn Exchange, authentic Italian restaurant, it's fairly small and there is a shop selling Italian foods on the ground floor and the restaurant is in the basement. Gino di Campo's restaurant is very close and also very good. Spinningfields has nice bars. The Northern Quarter is the hipster area, not really my thing but very popular - it's a bit out of the nice part of Manchester, i.e. King Street, St Ann's Square, Albert Square, Deansgate.

namechangedtoday15 · 05/09/2018 20:18

20 Stories for the views from the roof terrace - I wasn't that impressed with the food but the cocktails were great. El Gato Negro on King Street is lovely (good quality tapas) and I love Grand Pacific for cocktails. I like Rosso too. The Northern Quarter is where you head to for bars and an atmosphere at weekend.

namechangedtoday15 · 05/09/2018 20:20

Oh and Australasia - love the food there!

mooncuplanding · 05/09/2018 20:20

Hawksmoor in deansgate for a lovely steak

whymewhyme · 05/09/2018 20:22

The cloud for drinks, Goucho for food! Spinning fields has lots of bars and restaurants well worth a visit

Guiltyworkingmumoftwo · 05/09/2018 20:26

Beastro in Spinningfields for Brunch, 20 stories is nice or Albert Schloss for a drink. SAN Carlos or Gaucho for a meal too. Loads of great bars and restaurants all over the place. Northern Quarter good too.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 05/09/2018 20:29

What sort of thing do you like doing?

People's history museum is great if you like british political and social history

Whitworth Art Gallery is worth a visit - and I'm not normally an art gallery sort of person

Changos does the best burritos ever

KimKatCourtney · 05/09/2018 20:31

Refuge is gorgeous

holycityzoo · 05/09/2018 20:32

If you can get a table tattu is phenomenal.

doodleygirl · 05/09/2018 20:33

Definitely San Carlos, its delicious. Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter is fab, its like a foodie market, different foods and great for brunch/lunch.
Junkyard golf is fun, indoor mini golf, silly courses and delicious cocktails.
Manchester Art Gallery and the Craft Centre in NQ is good for a wander.

We currently have a Bee hunt in Manchester, you need to grap a map and go hunting.

Have a fab weekend.

Lauren83 · 05/09/2018 20:42

I'm from Manchester. Terrace is nice for lunch, Pen and Pencil for cocktails,cottonopolis is also v nice for brunch (and cocktails) all in the Northern Quarter and about 5-10 min from Piccadilly, also definitely check out Mackie Mayor even if it's just for a drink (also NQ)

Doobigetta · 05/09/2018 20:43

I think the bee hunt has finished.

The best breakfasts in town are at Home Sweet Home, either in the Great Northern or the Northern Quarter.
El Gato is ace but there’s no way you’ll get a table now for this weekend. I like Evuna for tapas- very simple, but really well done. I’d also recommend Hawksmoor or the Grill on the Alley for steak, Salvi’s for Italian, or Randall & Aubyn for seafood.
Try Refuge or Cloud 23 for drinks, both very cool. Revolucion de Cuba and Albert’s Schloss are good as well, but get insanely busy at weekends.

ResistanceIsNecessary · 05/09/2018 20:56

The Koffee Pot in the Northern Quarter does a great breakfast - it's my go-to place on a weekend. Elaine's is also really nice.

El Gato Negro is amazing for tapas but usually booked solid although it's worth a wander in and seeing if they have any seats at the bar - if so then you can get a 'tapas lite' version of the menu which is really good. Fazenda is also good as is Iberica. If you like steak then Alston Bar and Beef is great. If you want something a bit more informal then Pieminister is awesome - the fresh pork scratchings and apple sauce starter is very more-ish and the pies are yum. The place is tiny and very popular so go early or book ahead.

Comfy shoes and have a good wander on foot. The Northern Quarter is one of my favourite places to hang out - it's very hipster but still a bit grungy with it in places. If you fancy coffee then The Foundation is very good and does all sorts of fancy stuff. Chapter One is a nearby book shop cum coffee shop and is very relaxing to hang out in.

LOliver123 · 05/09/2018 21:02

Definitely go to 20Stories for drinks! San Carlo, Restarant Bar and Grill, Grill in the Ally, Rosso - all nice for food

Hairytangerine · 05/09/2018 21:03

Try to find the washouse!! www.the-washhouse.co.uk

Cat cafe

Ziferblat

20 story’s but might be too late.

Spinning fields for stroll, cocktails and celeb spotting!

Unescorted · 05/09/2018 21:06

The French patisserie on Williamson square.

Sunday morning market on Williamson square (not every weekend)

Bee hunting is fun

Ryland Library

For a quick coffee - Department of Coffee & Social Affairs or the place on Leaver Street that roasts its own.

The Korean on Stage Peters Square (which is worth a visit anyway)

Fred Aldous art supply shop. I love it there. I can mooch for hours.

Pieceofpurplesky · 05/09/2018 21:07

If you are there for Sunday lunch go to Artisan - it's fabulous

QueenOfMyWorld · 05/09/2018 21:11

San Carlo is a gorgeous Italian restaurant,the lobster ravioli is heaven