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I would struggle to pull together a robust itinerary for this Northern English city, as every time we visit, we end up catching up with friends, doing a pub crawl, and listening to live music at the Warehouse Project. So here’s an overview of the food and drink we had in Manchester.
Manchester Food & Drink Options
Mythai Restaurant
We’ve eaten here a few times and always appreciate the casual pace and varied menu.
The spring rolls, chicken satay, and the enormous Pad Thai are easy recommendations.
And make sure you check out the comically oversized wine glass…
Nancy Spains
Nancy Spains is a jumping live music pub in the Northern Quarter.
The bar has plenty of standing room, a small seated area, and a large bar.
It’s named after one of London’s first Irish female pub landladies, which is a nice touch.
Acai & The Tribe
Looking for a fresh start to our Saturday, we checked maps for acai near me, and while it wasn’t the closest, it was worth the wee walk to Acai & The Tribe.
We arrived at the right time and managed to get a seat while our order was put together quickly.
The acai was thick and loaded with fruit.
One request would be broader or taller bowls, as we ended up losing quite a lot of the toppings to the table while trying to dig in.
Albert’s Schloss
Drawn in by the stunning Christmas decor archway, Albert’s Schloss was just as colourful inside.
We ordered a pint and a boozy hot chocolate and had a great chat with the bar staff just before the band and dancers took over the stage and beer hall tables.
I’ll 100% be returning to Albert’s Schloss with pals.
I love the energy of the punters and musicians.
The Kimpton Clocktower
One of the nicest bars in Manchester has to be The Refuge at The Kimpton Clocktower.
You can’t help but be in awe of the architecture, arches, and tiling of this 19th-century assurance building.
We really enjoyed the live DJ set, perfect tempo and ambience for a late Saturday afternoon.
With cocktails and spritz on the menu, the queue at the bar was a bit testing.
Table service would be a welcome addition to an otherwise superb experience.
Crazy Pedro’s
By the time we made it to Crazy Pedro’s, it was definitely time to soak up some of the booze after a few failed attempts to grab a slice earlier in the day.
This is a fun spot with staple slice flavours alongside a rotating menu.
We went traditional with a margherita and pepperoni.
Cheap and cheerful, the bar is also known for serving drinks in red cups.
Voyeur
Blink, and you’ll walk past Voyeur.
A slick cocktail bar with friendly staff and a fun, entertaining menu.
A great spot for a date night or catching up with pals – good tunes without being too loud.
Can’t beat the disco ball.
Mackie Mayor
We just about managed to squeeze into Mackie Mayor’s food hall before closing time, so it might not have been the best slot for a proper review.
We tried Taiko by New Wave Ramen, and it was fine.
Really love the concept of the food hall though – similar to Bonnie & Wild in Edinburgh, which I recommend to all my Scotland trip planning clients.
The Ducie at Native
This was probably the most disappointing meal of the trip.
I loved the hotel, with its striking red brick and industrial-style modern rooms.
The breakfast, however, was pricey, and the sourdough used instead of baps (they’d run out by 10 am) was brick-hard.
I’d definitely stay again, but would probably skip the food.
