Over on Spinningfields’ Hardman Boulevard, the cultural melting pot that is Habbibi has recently opened its first Manchester location and we went along to try their selection of set menus.
Launching to the public fully on Friday, 2 August, they’ve created a trio of new themed set menus taking cues from all over the globe in truth, but with strong roots in Arabic and Mediterranean cuisine, and after a soft launch to more than 300+ covers you could say they’ve gone down pretty well.
You only have to take a quick glance at the interior to notice some Dubai flare; the restaurant itself is as elevated and elegant as you’d expect from a new opening in the heart of Manchester’s sophisticated financial district, but forget all that for a minute – it’s the food that’s shone for us.
Their core influences, combined with some creative tweaks from the chefs, have resulted in Habbibi Manchester doing some very clever things to some dishes you may be very familiar with but have never tasted quite like this.
What better way to start a meal? (Credit: The Manc Group)
Now, the first and only problem we had was deciding which one to go for, so we just decided to sample a few items from each of the three new weekend offerings: the seafood-inspired Atlantis menu (£45pp), the Jumeirah (£55), where the heat and char off the specially designed kitchen is centre stage, and the Burj Al Arab, which lends its name from the iconic towers situated on Dubai‘s artificial island (£75pp).
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We kicked things as you would any good taste of the Med, with olives and some lovely toasted flatbreads elevated by some Arabic spices, along with possibly the smoothest houmous we’ve ever eaten – big words, we know. Note to self (and you lot), sprinkle pomegranates on top the next time you make it.
A fine start to affairs but nothing compared to the mouth-punch that came next with the stunning king scallops in kataifi pastry nest – a challenging but intriguing texture – and the ‘bang-bang’ chicken, which was saucy, spicy and tangy without beating you over the head with acid.
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Then we were treated to another pair of perfectly cooked portions of meat and seafood, with the grilled cod loin served on a bed of lightly crushed purple potatoes with a luxurious but still delicate saffron sauce, as well as an Irish wagyu sirloin with tomatoes on the vine and their take on peppercorn sauce.
Some seriously sumptuous mouthfuls on show here. (Credit: The Manc Group)
It was in these moments that we saw the perfect combinations not only of classic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours but other styles of cooking coming through, almost as if to punctuate each varied set of courses.
With Head Chef Djafar Yousfi and many of his crew having not only reunited after a number of years at the likes of First Street’s all-Halal steakhouse Ribeye and Hotel Football next to Old Trafford but also sharing classic French training, the final product feels like a rich blend of experience and different ideas.
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As if we weren’t impressed enough already, they somehow managed to serve up some unique twists on some classic desserts: a super light and aerated tiramisu, a confit pear mousse in the shape of an actual pear, and a rocher cake which we genuinely could have eaten three times over were we not so full.
There was even a great-looking bonus eclair-esque dish that was impressive even though it was still being workshopped, once again proving that Habbibi is looking to push their food in a new direction with these new set menus.
All in all, whilst there is an obvious level of decadence to Habbibi Manchester and its new offerings that any fan of fine dining will enjoy, one thing we would reiterate is that there’s also a refreshing level of accessibility to this trio of set menus when compared to other restaurants in similar culinary spaces.
Even having the three tiers of set menus to choose from means you can go in with your budget in mind and still have a top-quality meal that feels with every penny no matter how far you push the purse strings. We genuinely didn’t have a bad or even remotely average bit of food all evening.
We also enjoyed seeing how many people walked in during the middle of a work day to enjoy a drink, flashy cocktail or simply sample some shisha on the terrace.
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All three set menus and their four total waves can be viewed HERE to see which one appeals to your palate the most; you can book a table online, over the phone or by walk-in and check out an extended look at the restaurant down below.
Manchester’s popular pop-up cafe full of hundreds of sausage dogs is making a big return this bank holiday.
Are you a big dachshund fan? Love seeing lots of little sausage dogs in the same place? Looking for your little pup to make some sausage friends? Don’t even have a sausage dog but want to join in on the fun anyway? Well you’re in luck, as the Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back in our city for its second time this year… and what better day than bank holiday Monday.
Having already proved to be a smash-hit success in the years it’s visited Manchester since 2018, the dachshund pop up cafe – or we should say ‘pup up cafe’ – will be filling another popular city centre venue with so many sausage dogs.
Organisers are expecting more than 250 dachshunds to join in on the fun this time around, and there’s loads for them to look forward to.
Manchester’s popular pop-up cafe full of hundreds of sausage dogs is back this bank holiday / Credit: Supplied
Sausage dogs and their owners are all invited to descend on Revolution Parsonage Gardens in the city centre from 10am, with several other timed sessions throughout the day to book onto – as organisers Pup Up Cafe have managed to secure the whole venue the dogs to roam free and enjoy some wholesome fun in a safe space.
Whether you own a sausage dog yourself or you’re simply just a dachshund fan, you’ll get the chance to mingle with many furry little friends, take part in a range of activities, and stock up on dachshund-related goodies.
The pups themselves will get to enjoy unlimited dog treats and free puppuccinos, and play to their heart’s content with other sausages.
It sounds like it’s going to be a jam-packed day to remember, so luckily, there’ll be plenty of photo opportunities throughout.
Organisers are expecting more than 250 dachshunds to join in on the fun / Credit: Supplied
The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe will arrive in Manchester on Monday 26 May from 10am-3:30pm, with different morning and afternoon sessions during the day, and numbers limited to 50 sausage dogs allowed per session.
Fancy ‘a sausage mad day’ then? Tickets will set you back £10 if you’re a sausage dog owner, and £15 if you’re just a dachshund fan who’s keen to go along for the fun anyway, and you can get yourself some tickets here.
Don’t have a sausage dog, but do have another four-legged furry friend instead? Not to worry, as Pup Up Cafe has a session open to all friendly dogs on the day too, which you can get tickets for here.
And if you miss out on Manchester, there’s also events in Nottingham and Southampton this bank holiday too.
Featured Image – Supplied
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RADAR Festival returns to Manchester with huge lineup this summer and you can still get tickets
One of Manchester’s best festivals for discovering new genre-busting music talent is back this summer, and you can still get tickets.
The award-winning RADAR Festival is set to return to one of the city’s best-loved indoor venues this July, and it’ll be bringing a ‘breathtaking’ selection of modern and progressive music to the stage – with the full lineup announced, including headlining acts Carpenter Brut, Bob Vylan, and UNDERØATH, as well as performances by Zeal & Ardor, Vukovi, Normandie, and so many more.
If you’re unfamiliar with RADAR Festival, it’s a musical celebration that launched back in 2019 but moved to Manchester in 2023, and has been calling our city its home ever since.
The festival is all about pushing boundaries and introducing fresh new music genres to its stages.
With its mixture of international talent and confirmed homegrown success, RADAR Festival – which is taking over O2 Victoria Warehouse when it arrives in the city this summer – has already positioned itself as a champion of forward-thinking, guitar-led progressive music.
But that’s not all what it’s about.
Beyond the music, the event features a daily series of intimate masterclasses, live podcast recordings, and loads more.
Organisers say RADAR is ‘more than just a music festival’, as it offers attendees a unique experience that merges the festival’s mutual love of contemporary progressive music, gaming, and musical instruments, all in one place.
RADAR Festival is returning to Manchester with a huge lineup this summer / Credit: Claire Alaxandra (via Supplied)
So as well as getting to the chance to discover what could potentially be your next favourite music artist, you’ll also have the opportunity to play some of the finest instruments by cutting-edge brands and independent builders alike, compete head-to-head in some of the latest game releases on state-of-the-art gaming PCs, indulge your addiction to painting miniatures, and even participate in a screaming competition… if you feel like it.
Each day of the festival will continue long into the night too, as there’s also the addition of incredible afterparty acts on each of the three nights of the event.
With rave reviews from both the press and attendees in the years gone by, it definitely sounds like this year’s RADAR Festival is shaping up to be a must-attend event for music lovers seeking unique and innovative sounds, and luckily there’s still tickets available.
Tickets for this genre-busting festival are still available / Credit: @moshmallows (via Supplied)
RADAR Festival will return to Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse from Friday 4 – Sunday 6 July 2025, and tickets are now on sale – with both day tickets, and weekend-long ‘Tier 3’ tickets with 10% discounts available to get your hands on.
Also demonstrating its commitment to new bands, RADAR will continue to donate a portion of ticket sales proceeds to Music Venue Trust and Save Our Scene’s Liveline Fund, in order to support grassroots music venues across the UK.
Danny Jones -
1st August 2024 
