Manchester is one of the top places in the country to eat out if you’re trying to go plant-based, be that for Veganuary or any other time of the year— and we have the best vegetarian and completely animal-free restaurants and more casual food spots to prove it.
The city, its outskirts and beyond all boast some great dedicated vegan restaurants, serving up everything ranging from ‘dirty’ plant-based fast food to sit-down gastropub and fine dining-style restaurants, giving those exploring a plant-powered diet a real boost when it comes to eating out.
But beyond that, you can even trust that most restaurants in Manchester and its surrounding areas – even if they’re not specifically designed for the vegan or vegetarian diet – will likely have one or two suitable dishes on their menu.
Truth be told, the time when you could get away with not catering to this ever-growing group of foodies has come and gone. Or it has in Greater Manchester, at least.
20 of the best vegan and veggie food spots in Greater Manchester
If you’re thinking of exploring a more plant-led diet, simply curious as to where you might find the best vegan restaurants in Greater Manchester, or at least predominantly vegetarian to get you started, we’ve pulled out a list of must-visit places for you to try below.
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1. Momo Shop – Chorlton
Starting off maybe too strong here, Momo Shop isn’t just one of the best places in town when it comes to catering for veggie and vegan foodies, it’s quite literally one of our favourite restaurants in Manchester, full stop. Yes, it really is THAT good.
From their unbelievable trademark dumplings, gyoza and Nepali twists on potstickers, to choosing the way you want them cooked and that incredible array of sauces, you can mix and match pretty much however you want without missing out on even an ounce of flavour.
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Each of their chana and alu salads is fresh and to die for, and we’re also not exaggerating when we say the vegetarian momos done ‘Saneko style’ and then tossed in the buttered flavour might just be the very best thing on the menu. If you haven’t tried it yet, you need to rectify that mistake like yesterday.
Wholesome Junkies was a firm favourite of the Arndale Market during its years there, and after dropping off the map for a spell, they’re now back at a total of three different locations: Hinterland alcohol-free bar, Hinterland; their delivery kitchen over in Ardwick and now New Century Hall.
You can expect plenty of delicious meals made with mock meat, from a hearty Sunday lunch to bao to burgers. Put simply, if you’ve never tried it, it’s like cheat food for vegans.
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3. Maray – Lincoln Square
Maray in Manchester has loads of vegan and veggie options.One of the best restaurants in Manchester for vegans and veggies.Maray’s Manchester site is comfortably one of the best restaurants when it comes to its vegetarian options. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Middle Eastern/Parisian restaurant Maray is a must for its veggie and vegan small plates, brilliant cocktails and spiced falafel roast dinner.
Must-tries here include the signature ‘Disco Cauliflower’, which comes baked whole and loaded with sauces and pomegranate seeds, the warm garlic flatbread, hummus and bright green house falafel. Easily one of the best places for vegan and veggie food in Manchester, even if they do dabble in plenty of meat and seafood.
This Indian cafe has developed quite a cult following in the 25 years it’s been in the heart of the Northern Quarter, with its authentic Indian curries and wraps.
And everything on the menu is vegan, as of four years ago — much to the surprise of unsuspecting meat-eaters who wander in search of some quick late-night scran. Incredible flavours.
5. Gooey – Also NQ + Ducie Street and Trafford Centre
Unbelievable hash browns at Gooey in Manchester.Gooey’s crispy tofu sando at Gooey is a viral sensation. Credit: The Manc Group
While Gooey might be best known for its fat cookies studded with chocolate, and for its enormous slabs of French toast, it’s also got a lot on offer to suit vegetarians and vegans… including Lizzo, who raved about its plant-based offering while staying in Manchester.
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Their vegan crispy tofu sando (especially when served Lizzo-style with a side of hash browns) has genuinely cemented itself as the stuff of legend.
This award-winning plant-based restaurant takes vegan food in Manchester and reimagines it in a gastro-pub style spot just next to the Cathedral, with dishes like butternut lasagne, chestnut bourguignon, and a brown sugar-glazed tofu ‘ham’.
Elsewhere, you’ll find small plates like cauliflower wings, satay tofu skewers, miso maple mushrooms and a plant-based take on a prawn cocktail. At lunchtime from Monday to Friday, you can get two dishes and a hot drink for £15 here too. Bargain.
7. This & That Cafe – Northern Quarter
If you know, you know… (Credit: The Manc Group)
Manchester’s favourite curry house and the home of the rice and three, This & That has been a favourite since it was established in 1984. Here you’ll find a huge choice of delicious curries, with loads of vegan options to boot.
Tucked away on Soap Street, it might take you a minute to find out, but once you do, trust us, you’ll never look back. It’s a local treasure for a reason. One of the best hidden gems Manchester has to offer, and a sneakily good restaurant when it comes to vegetarian food.
First established in 2014 as a vegetarian Chinese takeaway, Lotus now caters to vegans with an extensive selection of plant-based dishes – following a rebrand that saw them search high and low to source animal-free alternatives used in traditional Chinese and Asian recipes.
No dishes contain onion or garlic here due to the owner’s personal beliefs, but the food here is still packed with punch. From an extensive dim sum list to sharing platters, rice and noodle dishes and a large list of mains including hot pots, sweet and sour, kung po and more, the menu is, quite frankly, huge.
Bundobust has long been a favourite on Piccadilly Gardens since it came across from Leeds, but now diners have two options in Manchester after the eatery opened a second site on Oxford Road, with a brewery inside.
Head down for Indian street food favourites like okra fries, vada pavs, ‘Bundo’ chaat, paneer tikka and more. We never get tired of this place.
10. Franco Manca – Piccadilly/King St, Didsbury and Trafford Centre
Now, perhaps contrary to popular belief, we’re not anti-chain here at The Manc Eats; we will back anyone serving up good food anywhere in Greater Manchester, and for many, Franco Manca still remains their go-to pizza spot no matter what part of the country they’re in.
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With that in mind, it’s also worth noting that the London-born franchise that has four different sites across the region is pretty darn good when it comes to vegetarian and vegan pizza options – such as their regular Veganuary specials, for instance, available here in Manchester and all over the UK
Speaking of good plant-based pizza, first originating in Brighton, Purezza has been helping elevate the veggie and vegan version of the already oversaturated foodie genre since opening its doors inside the former Dough site in Manchester’s NQ.
The all-vegan pizzeria is known for its mozzarella, created specifically for Purezza in a laboratory by scientists over a number of years, and the proof is right there in the final product.
The special recipe is apparently unrivalled, so if you’re a vegan who still loves cheese, you simply have to put this one on your list.
An institution on the Oxford Road corridor, The Eighth Day Shop & Cafe has long been a haven for non-meat eaters – way before the rest of the city caught on.
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Upstairs, the shop sells a range of different food products, perfect if you’re doing veganuary and need to top up your store cupboards with new ingredients. Whilst downstairs, a cafe serves hearty soups, sandwiches and more – all catered to vegetarian and vegan diets.
13. Go Falafel – Northern Quarter, Deansgate and Rusholme
So we've noticed a HUGE increase in Tabouleh orders and we LOVE it. We also think everyone should try it especially as it's VERY healthy! Seasoned simply with lemon juice and olive oil, you can't go wrong! 💚🍃#GoFalafel#GoHealthypic.twitter.com/8Maz9iCMoD
Great for a quick grab-and-go lunch, Go Falafel has several sites dotted across Manchester and is pretty reasonably priced, with a medium wrap costing you £6.95. For that, you’ll get fresh falafels, house pickles, red cabbage, hummus, salad, chilli and tahini, with the option to add on fried aubergine or vine leaves for an additional sum.
Not feeling a wrap? There are also some hearty salad bowls on offer here, as well as a wide range of freshly made juice blends for those planning on starting the year on a serious health kick.
One of Manchester’s pasta OGs, The Pasta Factory is up there as one of the best in the city for vegans thanks to the fact that the team make their own (brilliant) vegan parmesan here. Of course, that’s not all: they also make their own pasta and sauces, too.
Think of a large selection of pasta dishes, with plenty of choices for vegans, plus regularly changing specials, traditional starters, and bags of freshly-made pasta available to take home, and you’ll soon see why locals love this spot so much.
This little spot in Withington is a long-standing veggie and vegan treasure trove. Ahead of the curve, it’s been dishing out vegan breakfasts well before most of the places on this list even opened their doors.
From breakfast to dinner, there are loads of dishes to suit on the menu here – think cakes, burgers, fry-ups, soups, you name it – and if you stay late, you might even catch a gig too. They’re pretty well known for putting on good acts here.
16. Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine – Ashton-under-Lyne
Lily’s Vegetarian in Ashton-under-Lyne.Just look at it.Lily’s is comfortably one of the best vegetarian restaurants outside of Manchester city centre. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Family-run business Lily’s has been an institution in Manchester since it opened in 1972. Starting their journey at a small shop selling Indian sweets and savouries on Cotton Street East, Ashton–Under–Lyne, today Lily’s is an award-winning restaurant known far and wide for its vegetarian cuisine.
The restaurant is named in Lily’s honour, as she sadly passed away before seeing it open. Chefs here come from all over North India, South India and Rajasthan, and their passion ensures that each dish exudes authentic Indian flavours.
Sticking with the Indian theme, there aren’t many places that do vegetarian and vegan stuff that genuinely rival the animal-based offerings on their menu than street food favourites and, in our opinion, one of the best chain restaurants, Mowgli.
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Some of our very favourite things they do can be found in the vegan section, including the bhel puri, those oh-so-sweet treacle tamarind fries and the temple dahl. It might be franchised, but that doesn’t stop it from slapping every single time.
18. Sanskruti – Withington
Listed amongst The Sunday Times and The Guardian‘s best restaurants, Sanskruti is already a go-to for local veggies and vegans in the know.
Serving everything from street food, daal, and thali to Punjabi and Gujarati mains, rotis/naan, thali and more, the menu here is extensive – and there’s plenty for those with particular dietary requirements. With the majority of dishes also vegan-friendly, you just can’t go wrong.
Wawin is the fully vegan Chinese restaurant based on Ordsall Lane that genuinely blew our minds a little bit when we first tried it for Takeaway Champions back in 2023.
From mock chicken drumsticks, super crispy spring rolls, flavourful noodles, soups and sauces, just to highlight a few of their very high points, this Deliveroo-only special feels like a bit of a hidden gem that is definitely up there with some of the best vegan food we’ve had in Manchester.
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20. Soots – NQ
Last but not least, we simply cannot overlook the success story that is Soots, which started out over at Altrincham Market but has now sprung up in a new city centre unit.
Not only is it impressive that they’ve managed to put together such a flavourful menu of entirely plant-based and nourishing homemade dishes, but it might genuinely be up there with some of the best pasta you’ll find in central Manchester, full stop.
And that’s your lot for the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in and around Greater Manchester – at least for now, anyway.
There are, of course, so many other places that we would have happily included on this list of plant-based perfection, but this should get you started for now.
Whether you’re giving Veganuary a go, just trying to reduce your carbon footprint or wanting to cut out animal products altogether, you’ll be glad to know you live in an area that’s making it easier and easier to do so each year.
12 new openings to still look forward to this year in Greater Manchester
Daisy Jackson
We may be halfway through the year already, but the second half of 2026 is shaping up nicely with some huge new openings still to come.
There are reborn pubs, glitzy new restaurants, giant street food venues, and even a bookshop/wine bar hybrid.
On the list of new openings coming to Greater Manchester this year, you’ll spot a fair few familiar names from the region, some total newcomers, and some big businesses from elsewhere in the UK.
And these new openings span everywhere from Stockport to the city centre, and from the Etihad Campus to… well, a secret location we actually don’t know yet.
Here are a dozen things to look forward to this year.
12 new openings coming to Manchester in 2026
1. Prologue, Stockport – opening this summer
A huge new bookshop, cafe and wine bar is opening in Stockport
Could you imagine a better afternoon than buying a new book and then reading the first few chapters with a glass of wine? Me neither, which is why you’re going to LOVE this Stockport newcomer.
Prologue will be a bookshop, cafe, and wine bar, from the same team behind Bramhall’s award-winning independent bookshop Simply Books.
It’s set right in amongst the new Weir Mill development from Capital&Centric, and will be hosting all sorts of writing workshops, book clubs, live music and other events.
2. Zadie’s, Etihad Campus – opening this autumn
Manchester City’s £300m Medlock Square development is shaping up to be something impressive, with a new Man City museum experience in the works along with The Medlock Hotel.
And now there’s major restaurant news to look forward to at the new entertainment complex too, with the arrival of Zadie’s.
Zadie’s will be an intimate and glamorous pan-Asian restaurant, offering high-end dining, cocktails which ‘border on the chaotic’, and late-night entertainment.
3. Manchester Street Food, Piccadilly – opening this summer
Inside the new Manchester food hall opening in a Grade II-listed building
It’s all gone a bit suspiciously quiet over at Ducie Street Warehouse, where the Grade II-listed building is being transformed into an enormous food hall concept.
It’s tipped to open this summer still, and will be home to 11 kitchens plus an outdoor terrace, mini cinema, tequila bar, and game rooms.
Manchester Street Food will also have a self-service beer tap wall and two stages, with space for 450 people inside plus another 180 on the south-facing terrace outside.
The Shamrock, an iconic old pub in Ancoats, is set to reopen under a new name this year after a major £2m refurbishment.
Set to relaunch as The Spinner’s Rest, the 200-year-old pub will be operated by the family-run Joseph Holt Brewery.
There’ll be space for a truck or cart to run an independent food operation for the pub, plus one of the few beer gardens in the neighbourhood.
They promise that while the refurb will be ‘extensive’, the historic charm of the pub will be preserved.
5. Gardens Lounge, Salford – open now
Gardens Lounge in Salford is open now
This one caught a lot of eyes for the wrong reason at first – it decided to house a live Macaw, beautiful Rio, in the middle of the restaurant in a glass box.
But now Rio is gone, and it’s time for us all to pay attention to what’s going on beyond the birdcage.
Gardens Lounge is a new Mediterranean restaurant and shisha lounge, right on the banks of the River Irwell.
With beautiful interiors, and huge windows overlooking the water, it’s a stunning new addition to the Salford/Manchester border.
Beloved Manchester street food OGs GRUB are bringing their signature events programme and award-winning chefs to a new location this summer – a car park.
Plans are in place for GRUB to take over a space in the heart of Stretford, filling it with independent street food traders, family-friendly experiences, and more.
It’s set to be an 18 month residency that will host everything from neighbourhood socials and town fairs to match day warm ups and beer festivals – including the World Cup this summer.
By day the 300 capacity venue will be home to a bakery, coffee shop and popup bottle store before transforming into a larger-scale evening destination.
7. Locker, NOMA – opening this autumn
New Century to open new 450-capacity gig venue, Locker, in Manchester
Following the whispers of New Century’s ‘new chapter’ earlier this year, the venue is now introducing a 450-capacity, intimate live music space called ‘Locker,’.
Opening this autumn, the venue is set to host a wide range of genres from rock, jazz and hip-hop to electronic music, alongside one central food concept.
This new gig venue has vowed to showcase some quality emerging talent from Manchester and further afield, creating opportunities for artists and providing amazing live performances at an affordable price.
And their existing bar is there to stay, alongside the spectacular outdoor seating area which will remain capturing the sunlight just right in these summer months, as well as there being plenty of exciting plans in place for us over summer, including screenings for the World Cup and much more.
8. Ad Maiora – very secretive
Everyone’s favourite homemade focaccia sandwich spot Ad Maiora is expanding to a new location here in Manchester. Aren’t we lucky!
In case you’ve been living under a rock – Ad Maiora serves up huge traditional Tuscan schiacciata bread, packed out with premium Italian ingredients to create beloved butties like the Nonna, the Colosseo alongside crisp Sardinian beers to quench your thirst.
This shop has well and truly won the heart of Manchester. So much so, we’re getting another – Daniela and Enrico have teased a second location is on the way soon.
While we haven’t been told much more just yet, it’s fair to say 2026 is looking up, and we’re so happy to see a (quite literally) homegrown business like this doing so well. Make sure you pay them a visit.
9. Forbici, Trafford Centre – opening this summer
Forbici is opening at the Trafford Centre
One of the North’s fastest rising foodie names is set to expand yet again.
Rooted in Naples, formed in Manchester, then making its debut in Sheffield earlier this year, Forbici have just announced yet another location, this time at the Trafford Centre.
After being dubbed some of the ‘best pizza I’ve ever had’ by Marco Pierre White, these stone-baked showstoppers will soon be available to all of you shopaholics.
Whether you’re in desperate need of some energy mid-way through a spending spree, you need a pick-me-up after breaking the bank or you make the trip for the food alone, you won’t be disappointed.
10. Bruncho, Northern Quarter – opening June
A glimpse inside Bruncho Northern Quarter
One of the city’s favourite brunch spots, Bruncho, is getting closer to opening its second site in the Northern Quarter this June.
Since launching in Deansgate, Bruncho has soared in popularity with people queuing down the road to secure a table. Like many, we’re hoping that this new location will alleviate some of the waiting and allow everyone to get their hands on some of the best breakfast food in town.
The team have now confirmed that their new venue will have a salad bar, vegetarian buffet and even coffee raves with DJs at select hours.
We just can’t wait to see it.
11. The Nest and Sister Moon, Deansgate – opening this summer
A glimpse at Sister Moon, the new sky-high restaurant opening in Manchester
When one rooftop restaurant closes, another opens. Only a day after Climat announced its closure, we were treated with news of a brand-new sky-high spot opening this summer.
Sister Moon will be the latest project from acclaimed chef Sam Grainger, who’ll be opening a Southeast Asian BBQ concept, boasting bold sharing dishes made with the freshest produce in a relaxed setting way up above the city on the 14th floor – now that’s what we call food with a view.
Not only that, there will also be a brand new bar – The Nest – which is set to be a private rooftop lounge on the uppermost floors of the Treehouse Hotel Manchester.
12. The Abbey – open now
One of Manchester’s beloved historic pubs, The Abbey, is opening its very own 100-capacity live music venue, facilitating a brand new space for grassroots artists and emerging talent, right in the heart of Hulme.
This iconic pub has forever been a cornerstone here since the 1890s, with a stunning 19th-century bar that is set to remain at the heart of the venue, alongside lots of exciting changes and not just one, but two beer gardens to choose from.
On the taps, you’ll find their own house pilsner, alongside beers from Manchester’s Blackjack Brewery and with Pieminister as their in-house kitchen, you can now grab an unreal pie and a pint for £9.99.
A traditional pub, new music, outdoor seating and top notch pies whilst you’re there – what more can you ask for?
Five genuinely cheap eats and great value-for-money lunch deals in Manchester city centre
Danny Jones
A daily dilemma for us seems to be deciding what to have for dinner (you heard), especially as we’re all trying to save more pennies nowadays, but luckily, Manchester does have some great lunch deals if you look hard enough.
You just need to know where, and in some cases, exactly when to find them…
That’s where we come in; we’re not talking about anything close to a tenner either, as that’s more of a monthly treat and few can feasibly afford to spend that kind of money on scran every day.
So, without further ado, here are some of the best and ACTUALLY cheap lunchtime deals and offers in Manchester city centre.
Five of the best lunch offers in central Manchester
1. Vanilla Fudge – Bridge Street
Up first is an old favourite of ours that doesn’t seem to have changed over the years, no matter how much the cost of living crisis continues to linger. We’ll be honest, we first tried this place after a night out in Mojos next door way back when, but we’ve been coming ever since we saw the specials board.
It may look like one of many standard Manc butty shops/kebab houses when the sun sets, but for our money, Vanilla Fudge still has one of the best lunch deals in Manchester to this day: TWO big, well-packed wraps ‘of the day’, complete with protein, plenty of salad and your choice of sauce for just £5.50.
You’ll always find a few in the know on their break.We always hope to see Cajun chicken as the special. You can add cheese for an extra quid, or chips and a drink for £8.50. Bosh. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
2. Zaytoni – Multiple
Any cheap eat in Manchester that starts from under a fiver in this day and age is a winner in our books, and with Zaytoni, you can get plenty for just that and no more than a ‘bluey’; better still, their menu – be it the low-end or stuff that creeps over that amount – always slaps.
With two regularly busy sites (hardly a shock) on Oxford Road and the edge of the Northern Quarter/Piccadilly, you can get some very solid pizzas and garlic breads from between £4.50 and £7, but our advice is to go for a super-filling fatayer, with loads of fresh salad, and split one with a mate.
From one simply but satisfying spot to another, you can’t do a round-up of the best deals you can grab on your dinner in Manchester city centre without mentioning the local breakfast and lunchtime institution that is Rustica over in NQ.
Run by Manc mum to many, Jeanette, she and her team have literally been given a lifetime achievement award not only for keeping their food affordable for more than 25 years now, no matter what state the economy is in – and with lines around the block almost every single day without fail, it’s no wonder.
Next up is the still incredibly best and well-kept secret, Meridian Cafe and Bar, tucked down the side streets not far from Market and King Street, and just around the corner from Pall Mall. Well, we say ‘secret’ – it’s not really anymore, sorry… But this is some of the best halal Asian fusion in town.
That being said, it never fails to surprise us how many people haven’t heard of this place when we bring it up, and the weekly midday crowd is still relatively manageable given just how good their offer is: a massive lunch box starting from just £5.80. You can add more if you want, but trust us, you won’t need it.
The catch is, it’s only up for grabs during a specific window – find out when right here.
This and That – NQ
Last but not least, it would be nothing short of a crime to overlook one of the most legendary lunch deals in Manchester: the original rice and three offer from the storied This and That Cafe on the otherwise unsuspecting Soap Street, just around from NQ’s bustling Thomas St strip.
This place should need no introduction, really, and it may not be the only place that does this kind of offer, but with nearly four whole decades of serving up some of the tastiest curries in the city centre for cheap, this is the epitome of what we want from the Manc foodie scene on our dinner hour. Iconic.
Honourable mention
Bunny Jacksons
Last but not least, to round things up to a nice even half dozen in case none of these takes your fancy, how could we possibly forget Bunny’s? Arguably the best dive bar not just in Manchester but the entire world, this place is built on serving up great value-for-money scran, especially in hard times.
Wings from just 20p have kept us going until the end of many a long month waiting for payday, and while this place truly comes into its own come the evening when the playlist gets even louder, and the likes of bandaoke get going, it’s still a great place to nip at noon. Six is plenty, and 12 is more than enough.
Danny Jones -
12th January 2026 
