While many people visit the Manchester Christmas Markets to stock up on gifts and trinkets, for most of us, it’s all about seeking out the best food and drink.
Just a few years ago you could barely move around the markets for giant pans of paella and swing grills holding three dozen sizzling sausages.
But these days, the markets have a much more local flavour, with plenty of well-loved local names springing up across the city’s festive huts.
As the markets have officially kicked off today, you’ll find some incredible street food at sites including Piccadilly Gardens, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square, and King Street.
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And if you’re a staunch believer in the more traditional foods, like German bratwurst and French garlic mushrooms, don’t you worry – we’ve got more on that to come.
We’ve rounded up some of the best food and drink you’ll find at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
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If you want to find out more about this huge seasonal celebration, check out the below articles too:
The best food and drink at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Yard & Coop, St Ann’s Square
Yard & Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2023Yard & Coop at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2023
If you don’t yet know of Yard & Coop – where the hell have you been loca?
This Northern Quarter institution is back at the Manchester Christmas Markets with a menu full of its usual comfort food with a festive twist.
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There are huge trays of loaded fries, like the salt n pepper tray or the Dirty Santa, plus chicken in a waffle cone and the Buff Daddy burger.
The Flat Baker, Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens
Croissant with pistachio sauce from The Flat Baker Croissant with pistachio sauce from The Flat Baker
Usually served out of a tiny hole-in-the-wall site in Ancoats, The Flat Baker is making its debut at the Christmas Markets this year.
Their pistachio-laden pastries are already the stuff of legend, and you’ll find plenty of that – along with more Brazilian-influenced bakes – at their Winter Gardens stall.
From warm cinnamon rolls topped with dulce de leche, Brazilian mince pies with tropical fruit, and their incredible croissants with dipping sauces, if you’ve got a sweet tooth this place has to be the best food stall at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Parmogeddon, New Cathedral Street
Are you drunk? Hungover? Hungry? Whatever you answered to that question, don’t let Parmogeddon’s run at the Manchester Christmas Markets pass you by.
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Inspired by the late-night parmos served up in the north east, they’re piling Béchamel sauce, melted cheese and gravy onto chips and into burgers like there’s no tomorrow.
This year’s menu includes a Christmas parmo topped with pigs in blankets, stuffing and gravy, a parmo butty with pickled slaw and garlic sauce, and loaded roasties.
El Gato Negro has always found itself in the midst of the Manchester Christmas Markets, thanks to the fact its award-winning restaurant is slap-bang in the middle of King Street. So it was only a matter of time before they joined in with their own stall.
On the menu here there’s classic patatas bravas, or you can build your own with toppings including turkey gravy (obviously yes) and manchego cheese. There are also incredible sandwiches, with freshly-cooked chorizo or goats cheese fillings.
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It even has a fancy meal deal, where you can get a sandwich, patatas bravas, and either a pint of beer or a mulled wine for £16.50. 10/10, no amends.
Waffle Kart, King Street
Waffle Kart at King Street, ManchesterWaffle Kart at King Street, Manchester
Stop what you’re doing right now and look at the above food p*rn. Just look at it.
‘What if KFC and a Chinese restaurant made a baby?’, they ask on their blackboard above the door – if this is the result, we’re all for it.
Tender buttermilk chicken with an outrageously crunchy batter is served alongside fluffy waffles, with pickles and maple syrup for drizzling; or you could get the prawn toast waffles, an unconventional twist on a family recipe. It’s all great.
Triple B, Dock 53 at Piccadilly Gardens
Triple B with the best Christmas sandwiches at the Markets in ManchesterTriple B is a long-standing favourite at the Manchester Christmas Markets
If you haven’t yet put a Triple B Christmas sandwich in your mouth, you haven’t lived.
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These guys are becoming a firm favourite thanks to their New York-style bagels stuffed with an extra bit of festive cheer, like the fried camembert bagel with winter slaw and stilton mayo, and the Christmas Reuben bagel with an extra stuffing patty wedged in.
That’s alongside their usual enormous butties like the pastrami burger, the grill melt bagel, and the Triple B cheeseburger.
Little Piece of Bahia, Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens
Little Piece of Bahia is serving the best Brazilian food at the Manchester Christmas MarketsLittle Piece of Bahia is serving the best Brazilian food at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Little Piece of Bahia might be one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets – expect it’s not: this city centre cult favourite has been serving up authentic Brazilian cuisine in the Arndale since March and has already garnered a loyal following.
Serving up regional home-style soul food from South America since 1989, when the family business first arrived in the UK, this is their first-ever stall at the Christmas Markets, where you’ll always be greeted by the ever-charming and always smiling Camila.
Deeply knowledgeable and passionate about her country’s food, as well as her Portuguese and Nigerian ancestry, she’s serving up national dishes like feijoada, hearty stews with sprinklings of cassava, chicken and beef croquettes, cheese breads, Brazilian-style sausage rolls and much more.
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Oi Dumplings, Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens
Giant XXL steamed dumplings at Oi DumplingsOi Dumplings street food stall at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Oi Dumplings has been a The Manc fave ever since we stumbled upon their tiny dumpling cabin in Marsden, so to have them on our doorstep in Manchester is downright dangerous.
Their beautiful pink neon-clad Christmas Markets hut is serving authentic dumplings, loaded fries, and celebration rice, with dumpling fillings including pork, Chinese chicken curry, and Kimchi and cheese.
They also have giant XXL steamed dumplings on the menu, and chocolate lava moon dumplings.
Korean Crunch Gansig, Piccadilly Gardens
Crunch Korean Gansig. Credit: The Manc GroupCrunch Korean Gansig. Credit: The Manc Group
These guys were the viral breakout star of 2022, with huge queues forming for their cheese pull-heavy Korean hotdogs, with fillings including cheese, potato and meat.
Deep-fried in a crispy waffle coating and then lightly rolled in sugar, these sausages on a stick come drizzled in sweet ketchup and mustard.
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They’ve been so popular since joining the markets that they actually stay put all year round – but you can guarantee we’ll be making a beeline for them anyway.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Traitors star and comedian Joe Lycett is putting cash behind the bar at two Manchester pubs
Daisy Jackson
Comedian Joe Lycett is putting money behind the bar at two Manchester pubs this week, as he continues to encourage people to get out and support their local boozers.
The TV favourite – who is also currently one of the stars on The Traitors – announced the news as he bid farewell to his fictional TV pub The Lycett Arms.
On the show, he said: “There are 45,000 pubs in the UK – go and give them some love.”
Joe Lycett then proceeded to list 30 brilliant pubs up and down the country, including two in Manchester, and announced that the drinks are on him this week.
He told audiences: “[This] Friday I’ll be putting a little bit of money behind the bar in all the pubs you’ve just seen. I hope you can have a drink on me.”
The pubs he picked out in Manchester are the iconic old boozer The Peveril of the Peak, and the excellent pub and comedy venue The Old Monkey.
The Peveril of the Peak on Great Bridgewater Street is a real icon in the city centre, with its green tiled exterior and its cosy interiors.
Until recently, it was run by legendary local landlady Nancy Swanick, who died in July at the age of 96.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterInside The Pev
Commenting on Joe Lycett’s post about his pub offer, they wrote: “You are all more than welcome at The Pev. Give me a shout and I will sort you out with a pie, Joe.”
The Old Monkey, meanwhile, is famed for its comedy nights run by Trapdoor Comedy Club, and for its open mic sessions, as well as award-winning beers.
The Portland Street pub has also very kindly agreed to match Joe Lycett’s donation, which means double the budget for pints for Mancs.
The Manchester restaurants and bars shortlisted for the MFDF Awards 2026
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards – better known as the MFDF Awards – have revealed the shortlist of local restaurants, bars, cafes, chefs, and more that are up for the city’s ultimate accolade.
Dozens of outstanding local businesses are nominated across 17 categories, covering everything from food trucks to Michelin Star chefs.
The winners will be revealed at the MFDF Awards ceremony on Monday 25 January, which this year will be held at Medlock Square’s City Hall for the first time.
Sponsored once again by Therme Manchester, the MFDF Awards celebrate the outstanding talent in Manchester’s hospitality scene.
Categories have been chosen to showcase new openings, talented chefs and producers, neighbourhood favourites, top restaurants, great pubs, and plenty more.
The shortlist has been selected from a list of submissions by the MFDF Awards judging panel, made up of leading food and drink critics, writers and industry experts.
As well as the public vote, judges will mystery shop venues in a number of categories and will score venues based on their experiences. The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight on 11 January 2027 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website HERE.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of the MFDF Awards, said: “We’re proud to reveal this year’s MFDF Awards shortlists and shine a spotlight on the very best of Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene.
“The awards celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and diversity that make our region a world-class food and drink destination. We’re encouraging everyone to get behind the nominees by voting for your favourites, visiting the shortlisted venues and showing your support for our brilliant hospitality industry.
“We’re also looking forward to bringing the industry together on 25 January 2027 for a fantastic night of celebration and to crown this year’s winners.”
The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year, sponsored by Therme Manchester, is being decided through a separate judging process. The award celebrates initiatives making a positive difference to communities across Greater Manchester, from tackling food poverty and promoting sustainability to improving access to healthy food and bringing communities together.
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement will also be presented on the night to recognise an outstanding contribution to Greater Manchester’s food and drink industry, with no public shortlist for the category.
The Manchester restaurants and bars on the MFDF 2026 shortlist
1. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year (Sponsored by Therme Manchester)
Sips n Dips in LevenshulmeNoodle Alley in ChinatownCredit: The Manc Group
Al Madina – 76 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5AL
Noodle Alley – 56A Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4FH
Sips & Dips – 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
Que Huong Viet – 76–78 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5EB
Kabana – 52 Back Turner Street, Manchester M4 1FR
Bahn Mi 782 – 782 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DR
Zaytoni’s – 12 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
Cafe San Juan – 27 St Petersgate, Stockport, Manchester SK1 1EB
Previous winner – Double Zero
2. Takeaway of the Year
Kool Runnings – 118 Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M15 4AN
Rita’s Reign – Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LY
Chicken Run – 6 Yarburgh St, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 7FJ
Viet Deli – 22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester M3 5BQ
Levenshulme Bakery – 842 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3AW
The Post Box Shawarma – 543 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PP
Daisy Jackson -
10th November 2023 
