Yes, local favourites Conni’s Focacceria are well underway for 2026 with their latest venue, and besides nailing unreal Neapolitan scran like they always have, these guys are looking to be THE place to go for those on their dinner hour in Manchester– and then some.
After years of serving Salford and popping up at various events in the city centre and beyond, such as the annual Festa Italiana celebrations, Conni’s has a new home at the base of Collier’s Yard in the Greengate area.
Now looking not only to dish out their unbelievable focaccia recipe but also other baked goods and desserts, they’ve now decked themselves out with a full brunch menu that can be made bottomless too, as well as other light bites, drinks and authentic dishes from morning till night.
Aiming to be bigger, better, bolder and louder than ever this year, Conni’s over in Unit 4 at 12 Bankside Boulevard has every intention of becoming the next lunchtime hotspot and winning you over to stay there for hours and/or come back in the evening.
The star of the show – besides the ever-frenetic foodie frontman, Francesco, himself – is their now increasingly popular panuozzo.
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Like a fine wine, their recipe only seems to have gotten better with age, and with Naples-rooted Manc adoptee ‘Frankie’ tossing the freshly made pizza dough right then and there in the clean and stylish new shop before baking it rapidly in their oven,
Whether you want a full ‘pie’, a classic Napoli slice or their trademark authentic twist on the pizza-inspired but still focaccia-esque sandwich, this is quite simply some of the nicest, most perfectly crispy and perfectly blistered yet soft on the inside carbage you’ll ever stick in your mouth.
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The variety of flavours had us almost literally salivating all over their shiny new floor, from the highly traditional mortadella, pesto rocket and fior di latte, to the smoked salmon with lemon ricotta and capers, we almost yelped reading the new menu at one point.
Meanwhile, their antipasti, charcuterie, salads and well-honed pizza varieties, rather fittingly, it’s their absolute bread and butter. Absolutely no notes.
And then there’s Mama Conni’s (Concetta, if you want to be all formal about it) famous pasta dishes; busy experimenting in the open pass whilst we filmed, she whipped us up a quick portion of a simple but hearty and super satisfying pasta e patate. Yes, pasta and potatoes in sauce, and it was great.
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Born out of the ‘cucina povera’ culture, i.e. poor kitchens simply putting out straightforward, affordable but nevertheless delicious food of the people, it was rich, creamy and perfectly filling.
It’s not exactly a revelation to state that Italian‘s like to ensure a full belly, but what we will say is that these guys do make you feel like a guest invited not only into their dining room but in full view and well within earshot of their little slice of chaos.
Francesco joked that they told his dad to crack on in the back, as he was “even crazier” than anyone else working for them, but one thing we really do love is that this place is a family-led independent through and through.
And we don’t just mean those born with the same surname…
Be it his best mates helping out behind the counter or coming in to sample the most recent iterations on the meals we’re sure they’ve had hundreds of times, to nearby residents being welcomed in as regulars, their idea of family is about building a wider community and making them feel like one of your own.
There are some big characters behind this incredible indie business that shows no signs of slowing down, arguably none more so than ‘r Frank, but one of the biggest compliments that we can give to any hospitality venue is when you can feel that it’s a team with real personalities all pulling together.
It’s that classic thing of those contributing to help this place become something greater than the sum of its parts.
Conni’s Pizza Bar and Bakery is proper song and dance, quite literally, that also happens to be delivering consistently brilliant food and drink; it’s fast, fun and noisy but in the most charming way, plus it feels like they’ve invited customers to buy into the whole package. In fact, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Anyway, we’re off to try another type of panuozzo and see exactly where it ranks on our list of Manchester’s best butties.
Mouro opens third coffee shop on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter
Daisy Jackson
South Manchester’s beloved independent coffee brand Mouro has opened its third location – and this time, they’ve headed to the Northern Quarter.
The stylish neighbourhood coffee bar has taken over a vacant unit on Tib Street, serving speciality coffee as well as sandwiches, cinnamon buns, and pastries.
The two-storey venue has been kitted out beautifully (but that’s no surprise – the team here are also behind So Marrakech in Altrincham).
There are comfy banquette seats in the window, marble and wood sunburst tables, terrazzo floors, hanging wooden lights, and all sorts of other carefully thought-out design details that set it apart from everything else in the Northern Quarter.
Outside, they’ve preserved a lot of the character of Tib Street, painting their sign directly onto the old brickwork above the door.
Mouro is already a well-established name in Heaton Moor and Altrincham, where it’s built up a loyal following for its house-roasted small-batch coffee beans.
In the Northern Quarter, you can pick up a bag of beans to take home with you – and if you do, they’ll make you a fresh coffee to take away with it.
Cinnamon buns at MouroInside Mouro on Tib StreetSandwichesThe newest Mouro opens on Saturday 15 MayMouro is opening in the Northern Quarter
Alongside those house blend and single-origin coffees, there’s a whole spread of cinnamon buns, including ones made with an espresso frosting (again, made with their own roasted coffee).
There are also sandwiches and other bakes to have in or take away.
Mouro will open its doors at 68 Tib Street on Saturday 16 May, with free coffees and matcha from 9am to 12pm on launch day.
Mouro will then be open Monday to Sunday, 8am to 4pm, and on Sundays from 9am to 4pm.
Inside Tyga, as a Manchester favourite changes its stripes for a new era
Danny Jones
We recently had the pleasure of visiting Tyga, Manchester city centre’s latest Indian restaurant, which has taken the place of former local favourite, Asha’s.
The Peter Street spot had always been a great place for a curry and progressive takes on the nation’s staples, often pulling inspiration from the Rajasthan region, but now the unit is the start of a new chapter.
In truth, the food was always pretty damn good here – often truly great, even – as we found out the last time we reviewed it; however, it’s clear that there’s been a greater honing of the concept.
Put simply, Tyga is trying to elevate what the team already did so well, whilst adding an extra layer of fine-dining refinement.
@the.manc Peter Streets Indian spot Tyga, has had a serious glow-up, bringing a more refined, fine-dining take on Indian cuisine while keeping all the bold flavours at the heart of it. The 24-hour slow-simmered lamb shank is an absolute must, as is the butter chicken which just melts in your mouth. 😍 It’s not just about the food here though, with an extensive cocktail list that brings theatre to the table, they’re the perfect accompaniment to your table full of scran. It’s the perfect spot for date night, celebrations, or when you just want to seriously impress someone over dinner. 🍸 Get it booked. 📍 47 Peter Street, M2 3NG #themanc#tygamanchester#manchesterfoodie#manchestercurry#wheretoeatinmanchester♬ original sound – The Manc
You hear sentences like a ‘contemporary twist on cuisine’ and ‘modern approaches to classics’ recycled quite a lot, and we get it: it can be a great way to get across that you’re trying to push culinary tradition(s) forward, but it often feels a bit of a throwaway term that’s used far too much.
That being said, while there’s definitely a feeling of familiarity to this recently refreshed foodie lineup, this is one of the times and places where it actually seems like that phrase means something.
While the building and stunning venue itself might have stayed largely the same, bar some knick-knacks being swapped for a few different tiger-based decorations, the authentic clay-pot lamb, ‘Tyga’ prawns, salmon tikka, and Vepudu spiced stir fry show some real innovation.
A lot of these might be rooted in a kind of food we know very well here in Britain, but these latest iterations in recipes and experimentation with their components result in some very cool creations.
The ember wings were smoky and moorish in a way that we’ve not had in a restaurant like this before, and the lamb chops alone were worth ordering by the wheelbarrow full.
Small plates have also been thrown into the mix more seamlessly this time around, too, as have some of the Indo-Chinese options that feel less like a footnote now and, instead, like a continuation of the tweaking and trying out new things seen throughout the rest of the offerings.
Even the vegetarian/vegan section of the menu has been lifted in certain aspects, too, with previously popular dishes being brought back better and more beautifully presented than ever.
Before we forget, a special shout-out goes to those beetroot dill patties.
Speaking of presentation, although they might have simplified some stuff (such as the okra fries that simply need to be dumped on the table and be devoured in seconds by gannets like us), as mentioned, plenty of other bits have been levelled up.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that they’ve just been voted alongside some fellow standout spots by the Asian Catering Federation.
They’ve never shied away from a bit of pageantry, and nothing has changed in that respect.
Everything from the plating to even giving you a rotating water jug that revolves on a single point and never spills has a bit of flair, without being too much or straying into gimmicky territory.
Most importantly of all, whether you want a classy room for your next date night, somewhere intimate the next time you go out for tea with your partner, or still fancy a more banquet-style feast for you and your mates in the form of the updated ‘Maharaja’s Grand Platter’, Tyga can turn its paw to any occasion.
Danny Jones -
13th January 2026 
