Manchester eats well, and it eats widely: Neapolitan pizza in old Ancoats mills, charcoal grills on the Curry Mile, Victorian chop houses and rooftop cocktails. This list keeps to ten places with a track record that are confirmed open in 2026, so you can plan a weekend without finding a shuttered door. Between them they cover breakfast, a long lunch and a big night out.
The top restaurants in Manchester
1. Rudy’s, Ancoats, England
Rudy’s started in Ancoats and helped turn the neighbourhood into the city’s favourite place to eat. The pizzas are Neapolitan-style: soft, blistered crusts and short, simple topping lists. The original pizzeria is still in Ancoats, with more around the city, including Peter Street and Portland Street. Book ahead for weekend evenings.
Best for: a quick, excellent, good-value dinner.
2. Sam’s Chop House, England
A classic Manchester dining room down a flight of steps off Cross Street. The business dates back to 1872, and the painter L.S. Lowry was a regular; a life-size statue of him now leans on the bar. Order traditional British plates in the ornate dining room, with a pint of the house bitter from the handpumps.
Best for: a proper northern lunch with history.
3. Hawksmoor, England
Hawksmoor’s Manchester branch fills a grand Victorian courthouse on Deansgate, next to Spinningfields. The steaks are cooked over charcoal and the cocktail list is one of the best in town. The Sunday roast runs from noon to 5pm.
Best for: steak and a big occasion.
4. Dishoom, England
Dishoom’s Manchester café on Bridge Street serves its Bombay café menu from 8am on weekdays, so it doubles as one of the city’s best breakfasts. It’s mostly walk-in, though groups can book. Queues form after 6pm and at weekends, so go early or for breakfast.
Best for: breakfast and a lively group dinner.
Tip: Dishoom’s queues are usually short at breakfast and lunch. Save your evening for somewhere you can book.
5. Mughli Charcoal Pit, England
On Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, the stretch known as the Curry Mile, Mughli serves what it calls Indian soul food: charcoal-grilled meats, street-food snacks and slow-cooked curries. It opens in the evening, until late. Take the bus south from the centre along Oxford Road.
Best for: a late, generous curry.
6. Bundobust, England
Bundobust pairs Indian street food with craft beer, including its own brews. The Piccadilly site is a basement just off Piccadilly Gardens. Share small plates of chaat, bhajis and dhal, and bring a group; tables can be booked for up to 32.
Best for: sharing plates and beer lovers.
7. Kala, England
A city-centre bistro from the team behind Hispi and Sticky Walnut, cooking humble bistro food with excellent ingredients. Its set lunch menu, served Monday to Thursday afternoons and Friday lunchtime, is one of the best-value meals in central Manchester.
Best for: a relaxed, grown-up lunch.
8. Mackie Mayor, England
A beautifully restored Victorian market hall on the edge of the Northern Quarter, on the way to Ancoats. It’s now a food hall with long shared tables and independent kitchens serving everything from pizza and ramen to tacos and doughnuts. Grab a seat, order from a few counters, and let everyone choose.
Best for: groups with different tastes.
9. 20 Stories, England
A restaurant and rooftop bar at the top of No 1 Spinningfields, with views across the city skyline. Come for a cocktail on the terrace, then stay for dinner if the light’s good. Bookings are for groups of up to 12. It’s dog-friendly, too.
Best for: sunset drinks and a view.
10. Tattu, England
A dramatic, modern Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in Spinningfields, known for its cherry-blossom-tree dining room. The menu is modern pan-Asian, built for sharing. It’s dressed for celebrations, with a weekend brunch and a Sunday roast with a twist.
Best for: a celebration dinner with a wow factor.
How to choose
Pick by neighbourhood. Ancoats is the city’s food quarter, with Rudy’s and Mackie Mayor close by. Spinningfields and Deansgate suit a polished night out at Hawksmoor, 20 Stories or Tattu. For curry, head south to the Curry Mile for Mughli, or stay central at Bundobust or Dishoom. For a long lunch, Kala and Sam’s Chop House are hard to beat.
Think about timing, too. Dishoom opens from breakfast, while Mughli opens only in the evening. Hawksmoor’s Sunday roast and Tattu’s weekend brunch make good anchors for a Sunday, and Mackie Mayor suits a casual lunch for a mixed group of friends or family.
Tip: Manchester’s best restaurants fill up on Friday and Saturday nights, especially on football and concert weekends. Book ahead where you can, and treat walk-in spots as lunch or early-evening options.
Visiting in winter? Combine dinner with our Manchester Christmas market guide. Leeds is less than an hour away by train; see our weekend in Leeds. Heading south? Our best restaurants in London has ten more proven tables. Browse the best places to visit in England and check this weekend for events.
FAQ
What is the best area for restaurants in Manchester?
Ancoats has the strongest concentration of independent restaurants, including Rudy’s and Mackie Mayor. Spinningfields and Deansgate suit smarter dinners, and Rusholme’s Curry Mile is the place for South Asian food.
Where is the Curry Mile in Manchester?
The Curry Mile is the stretch of Wilmslow Road through Rusholme, south of the city centre. Buses run there along Oxford Road.
Do I need to book restaurants in Manchester?
At weekends, yes, for anywhere popular. Dishoom is largely walk-in, so go early or expect to queue.
Where can I eat with a view in Manchester?
20 Stories, on top of No 1 Spinningfields, has a rooftop bar and terrace with views across the city.
Is Tast in Manchester still open?
No. Tast, the Catalan restaurant on King Street, closed in December 2025. Cottonopolis in the Northern Quarter also closed.
