Oh, so you thought the new restaurant openings would slow down a little now that Manchester is running head-first to the end of the year, did you? You couldn’t be more wrong.
The city keeps on pushing forward with loads more new bars, cafes, pop-ups and restaurants popping up on the scene.
In December, we’ll see new spots open that are already loved nationally, like Blank Street Coffee at Piccadilly Gardens (Molly-Mae’s a huge fan, apparently).
Then there are some very familiar names that are returning to Manchester, like late-night favourite Hold Fast and Fairfield Social Club.
And that’s alongside all the huge openings we had in November, like Fenix, Dear Sailor, and Six By Nico.
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Read on for our picks of the best new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester in December.
One Eight Six has risen from the ashes (quite literally) and is ready to inject some life and live music back into Manchester’s nightlife scene.
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The subterranean bar on Deansgate, shuttered by a huge fire on New Year’s Eve in 2021, has been fully reborn.
Founder Dean Mac said: “After nearly two years, we are finally allowed to be back on our feet giving the people of Manchester what they have been waiting so patiently for.
“Thank you again for sticking with us and supporting our journey this far. This new chapter of ONE EIGHT SIX will be better than ever. Same vibe. Same location. Just a whole lot sexier…”
Restaurant, shop, and wine bar in one, this newbie is definitely one worth venturing across to Cheshire for.
Linden Stores started life in London before its owners, Chris Boustead and Laura Christie, moved up north.
This latest opening is their third, and it’s a stunner. On the menu you’ll find British and low intervention wines, alongside seasonal menus.
15 Minshull St, Knutsford WA16 6HG | Open now
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Fairfield Social Club, Green Quarter
Fairfield Social Club will open a new pop-up in Manchester in December. Credit: Supplied
An old favourite is back, with Fairfield Social Club running a winter pop-up before making their full return in spring next year.
Tucked under the railway arches in the Red Bank area, the space will be home to two bars, a huge 250-seater event space, and a secret garden – plus a Christmas Tree shop.
There’ll also be a fully-stocked BlackJack Beers craft beer bar, and rotating pop-up traders, including the much-loved and now-closed shop Oklahoma.
Irk Street, Manchester M4 4JT | Opening 1 December
Piccolino Grande, Wilmslow
The highly anticipated new Piccolino Grande opened its doors this week, showcasing the very best of Italian hospitality.
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The Piccolino brand is well-known for its decadent food, opulent interiors and outstanding service, and their newest venture in Wilmslow is no exception.
Following a £2m transformation, Piccolino Grande on Swan Street is a real feast for all the senses.
A long day on the slopes, followed by a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a whole vat of molten cheese laced with champagne. Except lose the slopes bit, you’re in Manchester here.
Fondue is a pop-up on the terrace at The Refuge, inspired by the chalets of the French Alps, from its cosy al fresco decor to its menu.
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You can tuck in to slow-cooked French onion soup; the ultimate Gruyère and Champagne fondue, and a Manchester rarebit featuring Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese, Bury black pudding, dukkah and Pollen bakery sourdough.
It’s ‘basically a speakeasy’, but one they want you to talk about – so here we go.
Down in the basement level beneath Purezza in the Northern Quarter, you’ll soon find Parla – a queer bar, community project, vegan cocktail spot, and ‘super sexy space’, with a ‘big sexy curtain’.
They’ll even have Desert Island Dumplings, the geniuses behind cheeseburger gyozas and salt and pepper hash browns, in house on a kitchen residency.
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Sounds like our kind of place, to be honest…
Basement, 75-77 High St, M4 1FS | Opening 14 December
Hold Fast, Northern Quarter
People dancing in Hold Fast in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
No no, you haven’t time-travelled back to 2015 – Hold Fast really is coming back to the Northern Quarter.
This nautical-themed late-night institution (with the best smoking area in the city) is reopening and it looks like it’ll be business as usual – resident DJs and open mic nights (with a free drink for those brave enough to hit the stage), a bespoke secret cinema room and a range of retro Sega video games.
Describing itself as a sailor’s drinking quarter, the bar will be dimly lit with ship lanterns and candles, with a wide selection of craft beers and 15 cocktails on its drinks menu.
How could you have missed this new Manchester restaurant opening – the queues were so long they left the Arndale and went onto the street outside.
It’s a fried chicken shop, but the hyper is all because of the men backing the place – YouTube heavyweights The Sidemen.
The double coated Nashville tenders are tossed 120 times, no more, no less and if you’re into your wings their seven signature sauces are the perfect addition.
From humble beginnings to absolutely unreal growth in three years, Blank Street Coffee is now heading to Manchester for the first time.
Their incredibly aesthetic green-and-white-fronted stores are found all over London these days, with people always traipsing out the door clutching beautiful swirling iced lattes, pistachio lattes, and blueberry matchas.
So far, so high-end – but then comes the location. Blank Street Coffee has chosen to open slap bang in the heart of Piccadilly Gardens, next to fellow viral sensation Bunsik.
Piccadilly Gardens, M1 1RG | Opening 13 December
Dainā, St John’s
Dainā (that’s pronounced day-nah) is a brand new Asian dining concept launching at Side Street Studio in St John’s and one of the most exciting new Manchester restaurants opening this month.
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The kitchen residency will bring together chefs Jake Huxley and Samuel Jethro, who’ll use British ingredients and Asian techniques to create a menu of dishes including homemade bao, red braised pork belly, and smoked mackerel with daikon and lemon.
They said: “Our concept is a collision of love and appreciation for Chinese cuisine combined with the science of making perfect dough. We want people to enjoy the food we enjoy creating.
“Our food is best enjoyed in good company in a relaxed environment, making Side Street Studio’s setting an ideal backdrop. Our aim is to elevate some familiar and unfamiliar ingredients into wholesome dishes so we can showcase the brilliant art of Asian cooking in a way that brings something new to the table.”
ABC Buildings (Corner of Quay Street and Lower Byrom St, M3 4AE | Open now
Papparoti, Northern Quarter
Much-loved Malaysian dessert brand Papparoti is now open in the Northern Quarter, where you can pick up coffee-coated sweet buns and fruit teas.
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The brand now has more than 400 cafes and kiosks globally and its first Manchester site is extremely good looking.
The premium bakery chain has a huge menu of speciality coffees and topping options for its buns.
Transmission House, 28 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN | Open now
Know of a new Manchester restaurant we’ve missed? Let us know on our The Manc Eats Instagram page.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
The 13 best bakeries in Greater Manchester, for bread, pastries, cakes and more
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester has one of the best food scenes on the planet, and when it comes to bakeries, our corner of the UK really shines.
From traditional British bakeries selling old-school northern favourites, to artisans who have put Manchester on the global map, we’re not short of options here.
There are tiny little award-winners, family-run favourites, viral sensations, and plenty more besides.
We came up with a list of 10… then kept remembering more places, so you can have a baker’s dozen of 13 great bakeries instead. Here we go!
Pollen, Ancoats and Kampus
PollenPollen at Kampus
Pollen is perhaps the name on this list that just about everyone in the nation will have heard of.
The brilliant, artisan bakery started life in a railway arch behind Manchester Piccadilly and quickly had queues down the street for its towering, flaky cruffins.
Since then, it’s opened its own waterside cafe and bakery in Ancoats, as well as a gorgeous modern space in the leafy Kampus, and is widely accepted to be one of the best bakeries in the North – if not the entire country.
Order a cruffin, and take a loaf of sourdough home with you for later.
Long Boi’s Bakehouse, Levenshulme
Long Boi’s Bakehouse in Levenshulme has been named one of Britain’s Best Bakeries in the Good Food Guide
Long Boi’s Bakehouse is a neighbourhood, women-owned bakery, which was recently named in the Good Food Guide’s list of Britain’s Best Bakeries (alongside Pollen for Greater Manchester).
The colourful bakery operates from a former off-license in a residential corner of Levenshulme, first finding fame with its homemade Pop Tarts, but it’s done A LOT of amazing baking since then.
Fans will travel great distances for their savoury pain au pickle (pictured above), as well as fluffy Lamington cakes and other sweet pastries.
Half Dozen Other, Red Bank and Oxford Road
Halloween specials at Half Dozen OtherPistachio cookie at Half Dozen Other, Manchester
From its all-pink warehouse in Red Bank, Half Dozen Other is one of the Manchester bakeries that everyone is talking about.
You’ve got a few options to visit, either popping in to pick up a treat from the main bakery, or visiting their cafe on Oxford Road (or indeed, grabbing a croissant from Pot Kettle Black).
Head baker Mark is a fountain of baking knowledge and inspiration, somehow coming up with brand-new creations every single week.
From Halloween specials in the shape of brains and fingers, to ever-changing flavour variations on pain suisse and pain au chocolat, there’s a reason people have made this a staple in their weekend plans.
La Chouquette, Didsbury
Bread at La Chouquette
La Chouquette is widely accepted to be one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries, famed for its traditional French pastries, desserts and cakes.
The queues out the door every weekend speak for themselves – these are almond croissants worth travelling for.
Founded by Mairead Deignan and Florent Verove, La Chouquette has grown in size and gone on to open a second site, Piqniq, serving sandwiches on proper baguettes.
Hive Bakehouse, Westhoughton
Pistachio cruffins, fresh focaccia, and sticky toffee Danishes – have we caught your attention yet?
What started as a lockdown hobby in the owner’s garden has flourished into a beautiful cafe set inside an old stables, and we definitely recommend giving Hive Bakehouse a visit.
Whether you want to visit their cafe to try their delicious bakes, or you’re a business looking for bread suppliers, Hive Bakehouse has got it all – and by visiting them, you’re also supporting a lovely family-run business, too.
The Flat Baker, Ancoats
Viral Manchester bakery The Flat Baker
If you haven’t seen The Flat Baker on social media, you must not be on social media at all, because this place is an online sensation.
And the bakes really live up to the hype, too. Owned by Debs and Matt, who started the business out of their flat in lockdown, they’ve gone from a tiny hatch in Ancoats to their own sunny cafe just next door.
There’s a counter packed with their phenomenal Brazilian and French bakes, including traditional brigadeiros, their famed pistachio range, and delicate savoury pastries. There’s not a bad order to be had, truthfully.
Companio, Ancoats and Northern Quarter
There’s something about Companio that feels more honest-to-goodness than most of the other bakeries in Greater Manchester – maybe it’s the way you can see the bakers pummelling dough just behind the counter.
Now with two sites in the city centre, there’s even more chance to pick up giant sourdough loaves, freshly-made Danishes, or maritozzi bursting at the seams with cream.
There’s something VERY satisfying about sitting eating a freshly-baked pastry while you watch a baker roll out the next batch right in front of you.
Polish bakehouse Sticky Fingers now has a new (second) home, which means even more chance of grabbing one of their insane bakes.
Run by partners Adrian and Klaudyna, the new Underbank cafe is serving up all of their usual best-sellers, alongside proper good coffee to pair with it.
The new spot is stacked with all their cult classics – think blackcurrant Bakewell brioche, rich banoffee danishes, and cherry-topped pastries. It’s no wonder they sell out the minute stuff hits the trays.
This family-run bakery was set up by teacher-turned-baker Matt Townley, whose bread delivery business went pretty busy during lockdown (look, not all of us got into baking our own sourdough).
They’ve always got loads of specials worth popping in for, whether it’s a tear-and-share brioche heart for Valentine’s Day, or a supersized Easter hot cross bun loaf.
It’s a real class act, and you can see the talented team of bakers at work inside the cafe too.
Lottie’s Bakehouse, Chinatown
There’s a fabulous Chinese bakery right in the heart of Chinatown, serving up traditional Chinese treats and Japanese fusion baked goods.
There’s everything from pandon coconut buns and maple syrup toast, to seaweed rolls, pineapple buns, coffee rotis, and LOADS more.
You can even customise your own cakes, as well as enjoy matcha, coffee, and traditional Chinese drinks on the side too. Don’t miss their bow-shaped croissants.
Loafi, Ramsbottom
A cross-section of the custard tartInside Loafi in Ramsbottom
Forget your fancy-pants artisan bakes or viennoiseries – this bakery up in Ramsbottom is all about old-fashioned and traditional northern bakes. And it’s absolutely brilliant.
Whether it’s a sticky-bottomed Eccles cake, a corned beef sandwich on a soft milk roll, or a primary school reminiscent cornflake tart, Loafi is really celebrating the North West in all its eras.
And then the star of the show – their custard tart. These fly off the counter within minutes of landing, but we’ll go to great lengths to get our hands on that Manchester Tart again in this lifetime.
Hidden on an industrial estate in Salford, Mayya is dishing out some of the best baked goods around – and yes, that includes cinnamon rolls so good they might ruin all others for you.
What started as a homegrown hobby has flourished into a cosy spot for proper Turkish comfort food, from freshly made gözleme (or gozzies for short) to bigger dishes if you fancy sitting in.
Grab yourself a fresh juice or one of their silky coffees to sip on and you’ve got the ultimate little treat.
As with all good neighbourhood venues, All Things Nice wears a few different hats.
By day, it’s a cafe and bakery where you can tuck in to fresh pasties, homemade bagels, and brunch dishes perched atop their in-house loaves; by night, it’s all about homemade sourdough pizzas, great wine, and premium meats from local butchers.
Their bakes and cakes are absolutely beautiful – they really do hit the nail on the head with everything they pop on the menu.
Inside Plere, Chorlton’s sunniest new bar with great wines and tinned fish
Daisy Jackson
Chorlton’s sunniest street has a new addition, with the arrival of wine bar and small plates restaurant Plere.
The new opening comes from couple Lee and Fiona, who’ve taken up a unit on Beech Road that’s been vacant for a few years and turned into a beautiful, light-flooded neighbourhood venue.
Plere takes its name from the Latin term ‘to fulfill’, and that’s exactly what this new spot has been doing ever since its arrival last month.
Plere’s menu is made up of easy small plates, including charcuterie and cheese plates, Portuguese tinned fish, and hummus, all served with quality bread from Holy Grain.
There’s a decent selection of craft beer too, including their own lager on draught in collaboration with Cloudwater, and tonnes of different wines available by the glass.
Inside Plere in ChorltonThe sunny terrace at Plere
There pavement terrace is a proper little sun-trap too, so it’s perfect for enjoying a pint or two in the Manchester sun.
With DJs spinning vinyls until late across the weekend and a solid team on the bar, this is a new opening you should get behind.
On launch weekend, Lee and Fiona wrote: “We are completely overwhelmed by all the lovely comments and amazing responses from you all on our opening weekend.
“Thank you so much for making us feel so welcome, we look forward to seeing you soon.”
Daisy Jackson -
1st December 2023 
