Whether it’s for a quick bite to eat on the go or somewhere more intimate for longer evenings, our top picks of city restaurants are sure to hit the spot.
Casual Evenings | Bab NQ
Exposed brickwork and metallic furnishings bring an industrial edge to the welcoming atmosphere of Bab NQ, making it an ideal spot for a much needed catch up with friends and family. A menu of meze small plates, skewers, and shawarmas gives visitors plenty of options to graze on, accompanied with homemade spicy marinades and sauces. Flatbreads made from scratch in view from the open kitchen pair perfectly with kebabs offering something a bit different, from Aleppo chicken with toum garlic sauce to tenderstem broccoli paired with pistachio dukkah.
Babnq.co.uk
Special Occasions | El Gato Negro
Located in an indulgent three-storey townhouse on King Street, El Gato Negro is an upmarket home to passionate food and wine evoking the magic of Spain. Simple, bold, and confident tapas dishes are informed by what’s fresh and in season, taking the best traditional flavours and local ingredients to create exciting food from the likes of chargrilled lamb skewers with butter bean hummus and harissa yoghurt and grilled asparagus with romesco sauce and smoked Idiazabal cheese. The top floor’s lavish bar also provides bespoke beverages to enjoy under the restaurant’s retractable roof.
Elgatonegrotapas.com
Late Nights | BLVD
Boasting live entertainment and plush interiors, the sleek and vibrant BLVD transforms into a sprawling cocktail lounge when the evening draws in. Set a la carte menus combine fresh food produce with international cuisine, with popular highlights including vegetable penang spring rolls, teriyaki roasted salmon, and yuzu caramel brownie sundae. The chic cocktail menu also has something for everyone, from the Candy Shop made with raspberry and vanilla meringue gin to T.S.I.P. with banana rum, banana syrup, and basil.
Blvdmanchester.com
Private Dining | Peter Street Kitchen
Tucked away in the iconic Free Trade Hall, Peter Street Kitchen captures the essence of the building’s former glory for a truly unique dining experience. Exquisitely presented and balanced, the menu explores fine contemporary Japanese cuisine matched with the heat of contemporary Mexican dishes all complimented by the finest wines, sake, and signature cocktails. Diners who book the Hibachi Experience can sit by a fire pit to bask in the ambience while tasting signature dishes from the likes of tuna sashimi ribbons with kohlrabi salad and shiso soy sauce to roasted baby chicken with lemon and miso butter.
Thekitchensrestaurants.co.uk/peter-street-kitchen
Organic Produce | The Remedy Kitchen
Manchester’s first restaurant to provide dishes completely free from gluten, dairy, wheat, and refined sugar is a staple stopover for health-conscious eaters, with an all-day menu embodying seasonality and freshness. Seared sea bass and pine nut salsa, teriyaki steak and black rice, and honey-garlic chicken thighs bulk up the main menu while delicate sweet treats include toasted banana bread with seasonal berries and maple cinnamon spice peaches with candied pistachios.
Theremedykitchen.co.uk