Manchester Recommendations please - Child Free :)

[NC05092018]

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.

We were there last weekend and the Bee trail is still very much going on. Finishes 23rd September.

Had the best steak I have ever eaten at Rump n Ribs on Liverpool Road.

Also did a fabulous walking tour with an amazing guide - saw so much (lots of unusual things and very entertaining, not at all dry). This one Starts at 11am every day and you just pay what you think it is worth.

Depends what you like to do really - there is loads going on.

mutts that is what I love about Manchester ... There is do much and it is really inclusive.

Op let us know what you like doing

Another vote for Mackie Mayor for lunch or brunch. www.mackiemayor.co.uk
If you like excellent pasta, Sugo is fab www.sugopastakitchen.co.uk/booking-info/
For pizza, Rudys is the place, the one in Ancoats is smaller rudyspizza.co.uk

Wow thanks everyone. Sounds like we will mostly be eating and drinking, really want to try lots of these suggestions!

I think we are going to be complete tourists and take the open bus tour and then hop on and off wherever takes our fancy.

Have made a note of all the suggestions can't wait!

Federal cafe in the Northern Quarter for breakfast / brunch. Best place in town for it but make sure you book ahead.

Federal for brunch san Carlo for evening meal (tea up north)
Northern quarter for drinks

Great suggestions. I would second Salvi’s (just opposite Selfridge’s), as well as Mackie Mayor, though it can be quite noisy and busy at the weekend. Teacup in the Northern Quarter is fun for breakfasts or cake. The craft shop/gallery inside the Royal Exchange Theatre is worth a look.

We like the Indian Tiffin Rooms near to HOME (near Oxford Road station/Deansgate metro). The bar at the cinema/theatre itself is good too.

If you go out as far as the Whitworth, then Seoul Kimchi is not far away, and does excellent Korean food (it’s a bit off the beaten track otherwise, tucked away behind the Royal Infirmary).

Seconding all the previous recommendations for El Gato (not just for food - top floor bar is great for cocktails), Rudy's and Refuge. I really like Tapeo & Wine for tapas too, and it's easier to get into than El Gato. Not so bothered about San Carlo - I prefer Gran Caffe Piccolino, which is in a fantastic building near the central library (worth a visit in itself and currently site of plenty of the aforementioned bees). Finally, the northern quarter is good not only for bars and restaurants (slice is good for lunch - pizza by the slice) but also the fantastic craft and design centre.

I'm going to go against the majority and say Moose is overrated and about as good quality as frankie and bennys!

The Refuge is lovely for tapas style food and wine. Great gin selection too.

Yard and Coop in the northern quarter is a chicken restaurant with amazing cocktails and a dessert called 'crack pie'...it's AMAZING!

For cake The Richmond tearooms can't be beaten.

Bargain 2 course lunch at No1 Canal street. The mushrooms on toast were a modern twist on a retro classic.

Enjoy!

Whyme goucho was my favourite ever restaurant, found out a few months ago it's closing

Australasia is gorgeous

• You can do good walking tours that only take up a couple of hours - there are different ones, but they’ll take in things like the town hall; bridgewater hall etc, whilst telling you all about the history of the city.

• There are some good shops, including Harvey Nichols and the shops on King St. Afflecks isn’t the treasure trove it was back in the 1990’s but is still interesting.

• there are some good galleries and museums; check out MOSI and the Lowry centre

• see what’s on at the theatres at the time of your visit

• Manchester is really good for food. I would suggest deciding what type of food you like and then looking, as there’s everything. Chinatown is worth a visit; there’s a really good Brazilian that does the skewers of meat and a brilliant serve yourself buffet of all sorts of sides; there’s the James Martin restaurant; the classic chop house; Albert Schloss - loads and loads of places!

• some really good bars. Start at the Alchemist for cool cocktails. Then walk across to the northern quarter and just bar hop.