The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this week
Think a new dive bar selling hotdogs in a doughnut dough casing, plus the return of Piazza's burrata-loaded pasta, a new food hall in Sale and loads more
As we roll full steam ahead into Christmas, hospitality is showing no signs of slowing down. The Manchester Christmas markets are in full swing, and there’s a whole host of new restaurants and bars opening their doors in Manchester.
This week, we’ve got plenty to talk about – from a new beer shop by suburban craft heroes The Epicurean, to the return of the burrata-loaded pasta kitchen known simply as Piazza.
Elsewhere, Northern Soul Grilled Cheese’s Church Street home has been transformed into dive bar Dust Dogs and is selling beef and plant-based hot dogs encased in doughnut bread, whilst Sale prepares to welcome its new food hall.
Keep reading to discover our top food and drink picks from the new restaurants and bar openings in Manchester this week.
Burger slingers What’s Your Beef will be a permanent addition to the new Sale Food Hall alongside artisan pizzeria Basilico / Image: What’s Your Beef
Sale Food Hall
Opening this Thursday, November 18, the newest addition to General Store’s popular foodhall concept lands in Sale with artisan pizza from Basilico and oozing smashed patty burgers from What’s Your Beef, plus a stint from Eat Dutch.
ADVERTISEMENT
The mini pancake slingers will be in residence in the pop-up kitchen here throughout November and December bringing a taste of the Christmas markets to Sale’s newest foodie addition.
The new 150-cover food hall replaces the former Groceries and Beer unit, and also includes a bar serving local craft beers, wine and spirits, a coffee shop with a bakery, and a General Store retail space.
ADVERTISEMENT
Find it at Stanley Square, Sale M33 7XZ.
Image: Dust Dogs
Dust Dogs
A new hotdog spot from the team behind Manchester restaurant Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, here at Dust Dogs you’ll find premium quality hotdogs delivered in a dive-bar setting.
Made using either beef or 100% plant-based ingredients, its buns are created using doughnut flour and are all vegan. The team has turned its old Church Street unit into a dive bar and is now slinging out hot dogs and ‘American mouth water’ beers hand over fist.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dogs come drizzled in sauces and a variety of toppings, whilst drinks-wise think craft beers and classic cocktails with a twist. The house signature here is the beerita (yes, that is a margarita topped with beer), but you can also opt for the likes of PBR or Red Stripe.
Find it at Unit 10, 11 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN.Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 – 10 pm.
Image: The Epicurean Ancoats
The Epicurean
Already a popular neighbourhood go-to for craft beer lovers in the suburbs, with established shops in Didsbury, Chorlton and Heaton Moor, you can now also find The Epicurean in Ancoats as it opens its fourth Manchester site – its first in the city centre.
Inside, you’ll find over 500 beers – including some rare and niche selections – split across nine fridges at the new Henry Street store. Look out for selections from local breweries like Track and Pomona Island alongside international favourites Amundsen, Cassel and Ayinger.
Find it at 5 Henry St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5DD.
ADVERTISEMENT
Piazza
Founded by the team behind popular Ancoats pizzeria Ciaooo, Manchester restaurant Piazza specialises in pasta dishes – but hasn’t been available at its home in the Arndale Market for a while. Fans of its burrata-loaded pasta dishes will be chuffed to hear it’s returned and is now cooking out of the same kitchen as Ciaooo on Swan Street.
There’s eight different pastas to choose from, including three vegetarian options, with classic choices like pomodoro, carbonara, arrabiato and bolognese listed alongside the likes of ‘abruzzo’ (truffle and mushroom pasta with sausage, burrata and parmesan) and ‘pesto’ (pesto, mushroom, chilli, sundried tomatoes, parmesan, burrata).
Find it at 62-64 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JU. Open Tuesday to Thursday (5 – 10 pm), Friday and Saturday (4 – 11 pm), Sunday (1 – 9 pm).
Image: Namii
Namii
Newly opened inside the former Blackhouse Grill site on New York street, new Vietnamese-style Manchester restaurant Namii is serving up traditional favourites like Pho, Bahn Mi, and summer rolls.
The new restaurant and bar also offer twists on classic brunch dishes, and an innovative cocktail menu inspired by Vietnamese mythology and folklore.
ADVERTISEMENT
Find it at New York St, Manchester M1 4HN.
Feature image – Piazza / Namii / Dust Dogs
Eats
A huge new Irish bar has opened in Manchester city centre (yes, another one)
Daisy Jackson
There’s another new Irish pub in Manchester city centre, this time on one of our busiest nightlife strips, Peter Street.
Katie O’Brien’s has officially thrown open the doors to its enormous two-storey venue, taking over and transforming the former Peaky Blinders bar.
Inside, there are three bars pouring both Guinness AND Murphys, a huge elevated stage on its own mezzanine level, which will host live musicians seven nights a week, and walls packed with decor transporting you to the Emerald Isle.
The makeover they’ve given this massive unit really is quite something, creating all sorts of cosy corners and snug areas where you can nurse a pint of stout.
Faux fireplaces, leather booth seating, and low ceilings all set the tone for a relaxed pint in the snugs.
Or if you want something a little livelier, head to the heart of the bar, where you can dance the night away to the live entertainment above your head.
Manchester’s Katie O’Brien’s is set to be their largest Irish bar yet, with existing locations all over the UK, including in Leeds and Sheffield.
Their rapid expansion has now brought them to the heart of Manchester, where they’ll be neighbouring bustling nightlife spots like Albert’s Schloss, Manahatta, and Impossible.
Katie O’Brien’s has opened on Peter StreetIt’s taken over the old Peaky Blinders barCosy snugs in Katie O’Brien’sIt serves both Murphy’s AND Guinness
The venue has taken over what was once the Peaky Blinders bar, which shut down back in March.
The previous occupier had themed its venue and menu around the hit gangster show, with cocktails named after characters.
They wrote at the time: “It is with an extremely heavy heart that we unfortunately have to announce the closure of Peaky Blinders Manchester with immediate effect. On behalf of our entire team, we are truly thankful to every guest who has stepped through our doors since opening in 2018.
“We are devastated it has had to end this way, but grateful for the journey. Thank you so much for your continued support over the years. It’s been a blast, Manchester!”
Katie O’Brien’s is open now on Peter Street in Manchester.
One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots is opening its second location
Daisy Jackson
A brunch spot with queues down the street, and an edible Labubu French toast on the menu, is opening a second location this summer.
Bruncho has revealed plans to expand from its home on Deansgate and take on the Northern Quarter.
The all-day brunch cafe is set to move into the huge unit left empty by the shock closure of Feel Good Club.
Bruncho is known for its brunch dishes that have a real knack for going viral on social media, including New York-style breakfast rolls in croissant bread; fresh coconut water and matcha served in the coconut; and its absolutely stacked French toasts.
It’s consistently packed out at its original location on Deansgate, and now it’s taking over a 4,378 sq ft unit in the Northern Quarter too, set to open this June.
Omer Umut Mutlu, owner of Bruncho, said: “Manchester has shown Bruncho so much love, and expanding into the Northern Quarter feels like the natural next step for us.
“Hilton House gives us the space to elevate what we do – more covers, more events, and a new home for the kind of food and atmosphere people will make the journey for.
The viral Labubu French toast at Bruncho in ManchesterA breakfast spread at Bruncho
“We’re excited to bring something fresh to the neighbourhood, with the opening scheduled for June 2026.”
Paul Shakeshaft, Head of Property Management at CERT, commented: “We’ve found the ideal tenant to join the Hilton House community. Bruncho provides a new focal point for the building and for the community.
“They’re a fantastic operator with big plans that bring the right fit and the right atmosphere to the building and neighbourhood.
“Signing Bruncho brings Hilton House back to full occupation, including a full refit in just seven months, underpinning our neighbourhood vision for our commercial properties, and their continued success and appeal far beyond their completion.”
Bruncho will open their second Manchester cafe in the Northern Quarter this June.
Georgina Pellant -
15th November 2021 
