The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | March 2023
From vegan sushi with 'mock meat' to new ramen spots, a gorgeous bistro in Marple and the relocation of longstanding favourite Vnam, there's loads going on this month.
This March, once again we’ve got some absolutely cracking new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester to shout about.
From a new street food stall serving delicious Brazilian curries inside Manchester Arndale Market, to a relocation for longstanding favourite Vnam into the old VRev site, there’s lots to get excited about – as ever.
Add to that a new cocktail bar in Chorlton, the return of vegan sushi favourite CB Sushi to Ancoats General Store and a gorgeous-looking bistro over in Marple, and we’re sure your tummy will be rumbling in no time.
Keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.
Vnam
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Image: Vnam
Image: Vnam
First established in 2010, Vnam claims to be Manchester’s first ever Vietnamese restaurant. It’s certainly made its mark on the city these past thirteen years, originally operating as a street food stall inside the Arndale market before opening a bricks and mortar site in Ancoats on Oldham Road.
Now, the restaurant is relocating into the heart of the Northern Quarter. This Sunday, it will open the doors to its new home – tranforming what was once VRev, Manchester’s original vegan junk food spot, into a haven of aromatic pho, summer rolls and spicy seared meats.
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5 March
97
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Brought to Chorlton’s bustling Beech Road by the team behind Tariff and Dale and The Lead Station, new cocktail bar 97 is offering up some absolutely quality drinks in a fun format – each displayed on Top Trumps cards.
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The drinks menu, crafted by Chorlton native Ellie Craddick, features plenty of homemade shrubs, tinctures and syrups. Made up of 25 drinks in total, discover a mixture of signature cocktails and classics with a 97 ‘spin’ such as a double-shaked whiskey sour that uses wild mushrooms for added funk.
Officially opening on 10 March, the new bar will also serve a list of exceptional wines and craft beers alongside light nibbles.
10 March
A Little Piece of Bahia
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
A Little Piece of Bahia is a new Brazilian street food stall in the Arndale market that is bringing authentic regional curries to the city centre for the very first time.
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We’re talking plantain curry, carne de sol, feijoada and bobo de camarao, acaraje and more, all made using high quality ingredients (its owners tell us that they never use water in their curries, only coconut milk).
A business with a rich family heritage, Little Piece of Bagia first began in 1989 and is now making its way to Manchester 34 years later.
Open now
CB Sushi
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Vegan sushi spot CB Sushi is popping up inside Ancoats General Store (AGS) once again this month, slinging out tiny Japanese-style Katso sandos and a variety of sushi rolls filled with ‘mock meat’.
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At AGS throughout March, here you’ll find a variety of colourful sushi rolls filled with the likes of hoisin ‘duck’, vegan ‘pork’, ‘beef’ and katsu ‘chicken’.
Packed with flavour, the CB Sushi hoisin ‘duck’ rolls are packed with pulled ‘duck’ meat, cucumber and spring onion, then topped with hoisin glaze and a delightful onion crunch.
A new pan-Asian eatery and bar is opening inside the Great Northern Warehouse at the end of this month, however those who are really keen can order an early taste via Deliveroo.
Serving up bao, dumplings and steaming bowls of ramen noodles alongside fun cocktails and a selection of craft beer, Suki Suki is already bringing bags of flavour to this quarter of the city – we can’t wait to see how the restaurant looks.
Live on Deliveroo now, restaurant opening end of March.
Fold Bistro
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Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Newly opened in Marple is Fold Bistro, a gorgeous little eatery and bottle shop serving up biodynamic wines and cocktails alongside some beautiful small plates.
Serving a menu of delicious British seasonal sharing plates, with multi-cultural influences and a touch of North West nostalgia running throughout, think Chip Shop Croquettes with monkfish and champagne curry sauce and Earl of Stonham Wagyu Tartare with IPA Pickles.
Developed by Executive Chef, Ryan Stafford, and Head Chef, Craig Sherrington, each dish on the menu uses responsibly sourced ingredients and local quality suppliers where possible.
2 March
Maki & Ramen
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Image: Maki and Ramen
Image: Maki and Ramen
For a long time, Manchester suffered a shortage of ramen shops. Not any more. Yes, we’ve just said goodbye to late night fusion spot CBRB *sigh* but we’ve still got some absolute bangers in town – not least Tokyo Ramen and New Wave Ramen.
Now, we’ve got another on its way. First opened in 2015 by Teddy Lee, a former chef who studied at a sushi academy in Tokyo, restaurant chain Maki and Ramen will open its doors to its first northern branch on New York Street this month.
That said, it’s not all ramen. As the name suggests, you’ll also find a lot of sushi here with maki being something of a speciality.
TBC
The Waltzing Matilda
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Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Image: The Waltzing Matilda
Not entirely new, but back after a period of closure, the popular wood-fired pizzeria on a canal boat The Waltzing Matilda will return this month after a refurbishment.
Dropping anchor at Tramway Wharf in Marple from 11 March, fans can once again find all of their Neapolitan pizza favourites alongside hot coffee and bakes. Sounds like a perfect stop off for a weekend walk, if you ask us.
Artisan chocolate cafe Knoops is opening in Manchester this month, bringing a huge range of chocolate milkshakes, iced chocolate, hot chocolates and mochas with it.
The London brand will open its first northern store later in Manchester city centre, taking over a vacant unit on the corner of Cross Street and South King Street close to the Town Hall.
Offering twenty different styles of hot chocolate and six styles of rich and creamy chocolate milkshakes, on the menu sweet tooths will find a huge range of different percentage chocolates to choose from.
TBC
Eat Like A Greek
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Good news for the people of Monton this month, who will soon welcome a new Greek eatery to their neighbourhood.
Having made a name for itself on the street food scene, Eat Like A Greek is set to bring its famous gyros to Monton alongside a range of mezze and loaded chips, opening inside the former Wok Brothers unit next to Blacksticks on the High Street.
TBC
Feature image – The Manc Eats / Vnam / The Manc Eats
Eats
Bottomless curry deal returns to popular Manchester Indian restaurant Zouk
Danny Jones
One of the best-loved Indians in Manchester has relaunched its bottomless curry offering and is chucking in free rice and naans to boot.
Zouk over on Chester Street has brought back its endless curry, rice and naan deal to ease the last of those January blues.
Every night this week, you’ll be able to tuck into a full buffet of the tea bar and grill’s award-winning, authentic curries, showcasing dishes from all over the Indian subcontinent.
Costing just £20 a head, you can feast until your heart’s content on some of the very best curries in the city – no exaggeration.
What does ‘bottomless curry’ night at Zouk look like?
The bottomless curry deal at Zouk first ran this year back in January, but it’s now back for National Curry Week (6-12 October 2025), and we can’t wait to stuff ourselves silly yet again.
Every single day, there’ll be four different curries to choose from, always including two meat options, a vegetarian curry and a vegan dish.
What exactly can you get on Zouk’s bottomless offer?
As mentioned, each booking also includes unlimited rice and naan to go with your curry of choice.
Tables are for 90 minutes per booking, giving guests plenty of time to take on the increasingly popular bottomless curry challenge.
Question is, do you have the stomach for it?
With an ever-rotating selection of curries inspired by various distinct regions and speciality cuisines, you’re not short on variety either. You can see Zouk‘s current bottomless curry menu in full below:
Monday
Chicken Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of chicken cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
Lamb and Potatoes – Tender chunks of lamb cooked with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Mutter Paneer (V) – Indian Paneer cheese with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Chole Masala (VG) – From Delhi to Punjab, this authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic.
Tuesday
Tamater Kadei Murgh – A delicious chicken and tomato curry cooked with mild spices. Perfect with rice or bread
Lamb Do Pyaaza – Medium-spiced North Indian speciality: tender pieces of lamb slowly cooked with lavish amounts of caramelised onions in a spicy masala
Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce
Gobi Mutter (VG) – Spicy cauliflower sautéed in a rich tomato masala with peas
Wednesday
Chicken Do Payaza – Spiced North Indian chicken dish with tomatoes and caramelised onions
Lamb & Bindi – Tender pieces of lamb cooked in a spicy masala with ‘lady fingers’ (okra)
Chole Masala (V) – Authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic
Mili Juli Sabzi (VG) – Fresh vegetables fused together with herbs and spices
Over the halfway hump, room for more? (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Thursday
Chicken Tikka Masala – A simple classic chicken tikka masala. Chicken pieces marinated in yoghurt tossed inside a balti of garlic and ginger.
Lamb Rogan Josh – A speciality from Jammu and Kashmir, with chillies and juicy tomatoes.
Dall Makhani (V) – Black lentils in a smooth and creamy sauce.
Palak Aloo (VG) – Spinach leaf and fenugreek cooked with new potatoes and coriander.
Friday
Chicken Handi – Punjabi-style chicken curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
Lamb Jalfrezi – Lamb pieces cooked with capsicum, onions and tomatoes in a thick spicy sauce.
Bengan do Pyaza (V) – A medium-spiced North Indian dish of aubergine cooked with tomatoes, spices and lavish amounts of onions.
Bindi Do Pyaza (VG) – A medium-spiced North Indian dish of Okra cooked with tomatoes, spices and lavish amounts of onions.
And now we’re stuffed…
If you’re looking for somewhere to get bottomless curry in Manchester, this is the place for you. (Credit: The Manc)
Zouk has become one of Manchester’s leading restaurants since it opened in 2009, even drawing in famous fans like Rihanna, Drake, Manchester United stars and, of course, many a Mancs each and every day – because there’s never a bad time for a curry.
Available all throughout this week, you can make the most of this incredible bottomless curry deal like we do every year and trust us, Manchester: it genuinely NEVER disappoints.
You can find more information – including all terms and conditions – on the website and book your visit HERE, or over the phone on 0161 2331 090.
First vendors confirmed Glossop Market Hall, including two indie Manc traders
Danny Jones
The first vendors for the upcoming Glossop Market Hall have been announced, and the lineup includes two beloved Greater Manchester independent businesses.
Better still, the third is another noteworthy name from the North West.
Glossop Market Hall is scheduled to launch later this year, setting up shop in the historic town hall complex, where the High Peak Borough Council, a retail shopping arcade and various other municipal buildings have stood in various different iterations for nearly well over a century.
With the Derbyshire town set to celebrate the opening of the newly revamped market hall, those behind the new Glossop attraction have now revealed the first three names set to take up residence there.
As you can see, the biggest names already signed on to cook from one of the six kitchens is a Manchester favourite food hall in its own right: Hello Oriental.
The Pan-Asian paradise not only has a subterranean space below Circle Square, but also at The Trafford Centre, as well as a dessert spin-off in Freight Island.
Indie trader number two comes in the form of B&V Trading, who are based at Stanley Square in Sale and specialise in eco-friendly, UK-made treats, toys and essentials for four-legged friends.
After proving a hit with the locals, their small stall at nearby Altrincham Market has grown to see them open up not just a second site in the leafy Cheshire suburbs of Knutsford back in 2022, but now boast a third location in neighbouring Macclesfield.
Speaking of Macc, local gin and whisky makers, Forest Distillery – based up at the famous Cat and Fiddle Inn pub towards the Peaks – they round out the first wave of regional businesses set to pop up in Glossop Market Hall (GMH) when it finally arrives this winter.
And once again, as the update on social media reads: “This is just the beginning”.
Natives, day-trippers and tourists from all over are bound to visit this place when it opens sometime in November (exact date still TBC), and with space not only for a dedicated bar, dining space and a coffee shop, but a total of 17 retail spaces, we can’t wait to see what comes next.
GMH becomes just the latest among a growing trend of food and drink halls popping up all over our part of the country, with virtually every Greater Manchester borough now boasting at least one of their own – or, in the city centre’s case, what feels like a dozen now.
Exhibit number… not sure, we’ve lost track at this point.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd March 2023 
