Amazing and Cool Restaurants in Manchester

From Michelin stars to rubbing shoulders with celebs, Manchester is the place to find the coolest establishments for dining, drinks, or partying. So what makes a restaurant so sought-after? Is it the famous reputation? The designer restaurant interior ideal for Instagram? Or just that little something extra that you can’t find anywhere else?

Read on to show off your Manchester prowess or discover something new. Here are our top picks for Manchester’s coolest food and drink spots.

Vermilion

Most of the coolest places to go out in Manchester are well-hidden, and Vermilion’s one-of-a-kind restaurant is no different. This three-storey restaurant on the edge of the city centre is one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets. Vermilion is a beautiful fusion-Asian restaurant experience offering cuisine that intertwines tastes from Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, and India with impeccable presentation. See the full Vermilion menu. Get settled in Vermilion’s Cinnabar cocktail bar when you arrive and soak in the atmosphere before enjoying a spectacular meal.

Vermilion is also one of the best party venues in Manchester, with six individual event function rooms offering a variety of aesthetics and experiences. Talk to the professional event planning team at Vermilion for weddings, corporate events, and birthdays.

Another Hand

Image source: anotherhandmcr.com

Cafe by day, restaurant by night, this stylish Manchester restaurant tempts customers with intimate, casual dining with sharing plates featuring ingredients from ethical local growers. Choose from a handsome selection of natural wines, craft beers, and cocktails to top off your meal.

Unit F, 253 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN.

Albert’s Schloss

Known for being one of the best nights out in Manchester, Albert’s Schloss is a bavarian experience you’ll want to be part of on a Friday or Saturday night. Roaring fires, heavy wood furnishings, and live entertainment will set the mood. Enjoy delicious bavarian food and choice beers in the evening and even have a little dance later on.

27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR.

Bundobust

Image source: bundobust.com

There are several Indian street food restaurants in Manchester, but Bundobust is definitely the coolest of them all. Hidden beneath Piccadilly Gardens, enter into a bright and bustling food hall with retro cinematic wall art and long cafeteria-style benches. Bundobust also boasts a fine selection of craft beers, the best accompaniment for its sharing street snacks, making it certified as one of the most fashionable restaurants in Manchester.

61 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2AG.

Dishoom

Image source: www.dishoom.com

If you’re looking for a luxury Manchester restaurant that serves Indian, we recommend Dishoom. This Bombay-inspired restaurant has seen visits from celebrities, including Ed Sheeran. Dishoom Manchester opened following the massive success of the London establishment. Dishoom serves a smashing breakfast all the way through to late-night bites.

32 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT.

Hispi

Didsbury-based Hispi is an award-winning restaurant that serves “humble bistro food”. Find Hispi hidden away on a backstreet just off East Didsbury’s main high street where you can enjoy uncomplicated dishes in an intimate setting. Hispi is also part of the North-West-based Elite Bistro Group.

1C School Lane, Manchester M20 6RD.

Greens

Image source: greensrestaurants.co.uk

One of the longest-standing stylish and upmarket restaurants in Didsbury, vegetarian restaurant Greens has had a spot on Lapwing Lane since 1990. This romantic dining spot uses produce from ethical, local sources and sports a totally vegan drinks menu. Loved by vegetarians and meat-eaters both, Greens ethos is aptly “it’s not your lifestyle, but your tastebuds we care about.”

41-43 Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2NT.

Mughli

Traditional yet modern charcoal pit Mughli is an amazing Manchester restaurant found on The Curry Mile in Rusholme. Serving up Indian soul food for around 30 years, The Telegraph and BBC’s Good Food Guide have both names Mughli ‘One of Manchester’s Best Restaurants’. Find sharing plates in tapas style here on the theme of Mughal kitchens and street food.

30 Wilmslow Road Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TQ.

Erst

Image source: www.erst-mcr.co.uk

With just about 20 covers, Erst is a little restaurant with a buzzing atmosphere, found just out of the city centre in fast-developing Ancoats. Despite its size, the tall ceilings and bar seating give Erst a fresh and open feeling. Choose from a selection of delicious sharing plates, all at affordable prices.

9 Murray Street, Ancoats, M4 6HS.

Rudy’s

With restaurants in Ancoats, Peter Street, Chorlton, and Didsbury (not to mention others all over the country), Rudy’s clearly has a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Manchester. This truly authentic Neapolitan pizzeria is rated the fifth-best pizzeria in this continent, which, in our book, makes this one of the coolest restaurants to tick off your list in Manchester.

See all Rudy’s locations.

Where The Light Gets In

Travel out to Stockport for a trendy open-plan kitchen and restaurant. WTLGI uses only select seasonal produce from local growers and farmers (including its own farm) to create a truly unique and simple menu. Guests to this private and understated establishment will also be recommended perfect wine pairings on the night, depending on the dishes they choose.

7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY.