What Makes a Stylish Restaurant in Manchester?

Getting your finest outfit on and dining in a posh restaurant can make you feel like absolute royalty. The experience gets even more immersive if you notice yourself rubbing shoulders with a celebrity in a restaurant.

Hunting down a genuine fine dining restaurant can be a challenge if you’re not already a well-seasoned diner out or a local who knows their way around the city. So what are the signs to look out for to find an authentic upmarket fine dining experience? As elite dining experts, we’ve rounded up some features to look out for when your scoping out a spot or looking online. We’ve also listed our top best restaurants in Manchester for fine dining.

What is a stylish restaurant concept?

Look for these sensory cues to determine whether a restaurant knows it’s salad fork from it’s oyster fork.

Architecture

With so many options available today, the architecture and building the restaurant dwells in could be anything from glamorous baroque to modern minimalism. We are looking for uniqueness, originality, and presence in an upmarket establishment’s location.

This really depends on the identity of the restaurant. Understated yet elite steakhouse Hawksmoor is well suited to its towering central Victorian home. In contrast, a more eclectic establishment like Vermilion sets the tone with a dramatic lead-up and entrance.

Lighting

Anyone who has winced in the artificial, blinding light of McDonalds in the early hours of the morning (either at the end of the night or the start of the day) will know how that lighting concept makes them feel.

Lighting is a subtle but vital part of interior design in a restaurant. It’s something that goes unnoticed but has an effortless impact. In fine dining settings, lighting is usually relatively low and subdued. Depending on the venue, there could be lighting in gentle colours, like the crimson glow in Vermilion’s restaurant and cocktail bar. Candlelight can be found in Manchester’s most romantic restaurants.

Furnishings

Furnishings are a huge component in creating a luxurious interior, and there’s so much variation possible here. Again, it all depends on the brand of the business. An ostentatious restaurant like Argentinian Manchester steakhouse Gaucho is OTT in all the right ways. Set in a converted church, the interior of this establishment is coated with cowskin and leather with glittering chandeliers.

But for the most part, fashionable restaurants tend to keep their furnishings tame: rich, subtle colours and prints, traditional designs, velvet, brass, wood, leather, and marble are commonly seen.

Colour Scheme

Colours are important when defining a formal restaurant from a casual one. Colour schemes are designed intelligently and creatively to complement the atmosphere of the venue. It’s no surprise that in Vermilion, powerful, deep red lighting accents can be found everywhere, building the feeling of reverence during the dining experience.

Popular colour schemes for luxury restaurants in Manchester generally include neutral, muted tones; deep, rich tones; traditional or cultural colour schemes; or naturals.

Atmosphere

Capturing the right atmosphere is a challenge because all the elements we discussed above must come together as one to pull off a successful mood inside the venue. One element that adds to the atmosphere can be music: is it live or recorded? Jazz, classical, ambience—all of these need to be considered to add to the atmosphere.

Another element often overlooked but definitely noticeable is the scent of the place. This should complement the foods and make the experience of the flavours even better. Scents that waft from the kitchen of savoury delicacies like steak being cooked will certainly get guests in the mood to dine.

Our Top Most Stylish Restaurants in Manchester

Vermilion

Vermilion is one of the most exclusive dining experiences you can have in Manchester, with an interior that transports you to a magical far East. A restaurant submerged in a soft crimson glow with dark wood screens and panelling is surrounded by a stunning cocktail bar. Designed by the man behind Paris’s Buddha Bar, Miguel Cancio Martins, Vermilion is one of the most beautiful restaurants in the city.

The menu at Vermilion is a treat whether you’re after a steak or some small snack-size plates. Guests can indulge in true fine dining with inspiration from China, Japan, Thailand, India, and Korea. See the full menu.

Vermilion is also an event venue and can host up to 1,300 people. With six different rooms, all glamorously designed to provide VIP experiences, Vermilion is the best party venue in Manchester. Contact the professional event planning team to find out about what they can offer if you’re planning a special event.

Mana

Avant-garde concept restaurant Mana is one of the coolest restaurants in Manchester and the place to go for an elite dining experience. One of the few restaurants in Manchester with a coveted Michelin star and the creation of chef Simon Martin.

Mana celebrates seasonal British flavours using local and ethically sourced produce. The small, intimate space features an open kitchen, so guests virtually feel like they are being waited on by a private chef. The price tag and scarcity of available bookings make Mana even more elusive and exclusive.

Adam Reid at The French

Snugly sat in the foundations of the regal Midland Hotel; it doesn’t get much more luxurious than The French, headed by Adam Reid, Simon Rogan’s protege. Your visit will be perfect for Instagram if you want to show off your boujie side.

The atmosphere is impeccable in this restaurant. Enter through the palatial lobby of the Midland Hotel and make your way to the cosy, luxe restaurant, accented with shades of soft charcoal and sage. Your visit will be punctuated by Reid's own personal playlist with tunes from the Beatles and Oasis to really give you a taste of the northwest.

The Alan

In a bright, airy space with majestic marble floors, exposed brick walls and sprawling, leafy plants, The Alan is a truly amazing restaurant experience in Manchester. Sink into a leather booth and soak in the atmosphere of this ‘best of British’ restaurant.

The Alan serves a selection of rotating small plates. Here, guests can find luxe spins on time-honoured classics, including croque madam, truffled mac and cheese, and salt beef sandwiches. The Alan should be on your bucket list for the best nights out in Manchester for fine dining.