Birthday treat for DH, thinking Manchester. Any tips, restaurants, places to visit?

[NightFright]

We were going to go to London but alas, currently no trains running on the Sunday we need to be back, so I was thinking Manchester, but I’ve only been to a few museums with DS.

Any tips? Places to eat, theatres etc?

DH is an old rocker so the fancy cocktail bars probably wouldn’t be his scene.

Any recommendations greatly received. Going to possibly stay over a couple of nights, nice Hotel, looked at Hotel Gotham but it’s not available on our dates.

Or Liverpool? 😆

Six by Nico do a reasonably priced tasting menu and it's a fairly casual set up.
City Art gallery just around the corner

Kimpton Clock Tower is really nice and as a bonus is bang opposite two rock pubs - The Salisbury (more old rocker) and Grand Central (used to skew a bit more student but is deffo rock). Salford Quays and the Lowry are worth a visit, there's Media City and the Imperial War Museum. If he's into computer games Arcade Club out in Bury is fantastic, or there are a couple of gaming bars called NQ64 in town itself. It may also be worth checking bars like Gullivers, Night and Day, Rebellion, Yes or Oldham Castle to see if they've got any local bands on. They're all in the city centre and walkable.

Loads of great places to end, so would depend what sort of thing you like.

Dishoom for food. Amazing food and service. Or Evuna

22 Degrees in the Northern Quarter is a lovely French restaurant.
The French in The Midland Hotel is fab too!

@LakeFlyPie Six by Nico looks really interesting, unfortunately no dates available for our stay but one to look out for in the future! 😃

@Microwaveableteapot thank you, some great suggestions and the pubs you describe sound right up DH street, especially the old rocker pub! 😃 I’m going to Google your suggestions.
We both love Chinese and Indian food, a good bar and possibly something good to watch at the theatre.

Thanks @AuntieMarys and @MissFritton65

we have tried to book Dishoom in London but have never been successful (we always do it last minute) so this might be worth a try in Manchester.

In regards to theatre it will obviously depend on your dates but it's worth checking out The Lowry (both the Quays and the Lyric), Royal Exchange (new Maxone Peake musical about Betty Boothryod coming soon!), Opera House and Palace Theatre - tends to be the big touring musicals at those two and Opera House will move into panto soon.

Dishoom has good food but can be patchy with service I've found, just to warn you!

Call into Corbiers … it’s a cave, with an amazing jukebox …

Plenty of great old-fashioned boozers.

Hotels, I love The Midland, there is a great restaurant The French. There is also Woods which is a great restaurant

The Oasthouse worth a try

The markets might be on, dependant when you are coming up

There’s a fab aparthotel right at the railway station we stayed in, also there’s an amazing burger place - I’ll look up the links later

Lust, liquor and burn, plenty of bars in the Northern quarter.

Blues Kitchen might be worth a look (I haven’t been but am going next month).

If you’re looking for something a bit more ‘special’ but not too posh, Hawksmoor is fabulous for steak.

I like sandinista next to the royal exchange for drinks, food wise can't go wrong with yard and coop in the northern quarter.

I vote The Blues Kitchen too. Great music (live too), great food and excellent service. I just took my partner for his 40th birthday - we had a fab night, highly recommend.

Some great suggestions, thanks to everyone so far.

I’m reading everyone and going to have a good Google later.

We’re hopefully going at the end of November, trains permitting!

Evelyne’s (I’m Tib Street) does amazing brunch!

Not stayed at Kimpton Clock Tower but Stock Exchange and Hotel Dakota both good. Agree with Blues Kitchen & Corbieres.

Agree with Dishoom and Refuge (Kimpton Clock Tower). Surprised to see several replies on here already and no mention of El Gato Negro yet - it’s always up there for local favourites. Tast Catala is good too, but has a more industrial, less cosy feel. I’d go to either of those for tapas over Evuna - have been twice recently and thought quality and service both very poor compared to how it used to be. The Black Friar in Salford is good for a special meal too, especially if you can get a reservation in the glass annex.

More casual places I’d recommend (maybe for lunch the next day) are Pasta Factory, Oke Poke and Cocktail Beer Ramen + Bun. Mackie Mayor if you like food halls. So many places to eat, so little time...

We visited Wings Restaurant in Manchester on Sunday which is Chinese. Would highly recommend.

Another vote for Dishoom here! Easier to get into than London and amazing food!

I think dishoom has really gone downhill.
Echo the poster who said Pasta Factory, they also own a pizza place called Noi Quattro, where the service is questionable but the food is divine.
Also agree with Cocktail, Beer, Ramen + Bun but it s loud and I am old!

Elnecot for Sunday lunch
Another Heart to Feed for brunch
If he’s an old rocker there are some brilliant old venues still going - Koffee Pot and Night and Day cafe.
Brilliant pubs that have escaped becoming northern quarter nonsense - Castle Hotel, Britons Protection, Peveril of the Peak and Crown and Kettle.

Had a great meal at Pho Cue last year, worth booking as was queued out the door when we left.