Eats

First look inside Zadie’s, the glamorous new restaurant with views into the Etihad Stadium

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th September 2026

You don’t get an opening like this very often – Manchester’s newest opening, Zadie’s, has windows that look straight onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium.

The glamorous new restaurant is promising Japanese-Italian dishes, theatrical cocktails, and late-night entertainment, right at the heart of the Etihad Campus.

Zadie’s will officially open at Medlock Square on Wednesday 23 September, bringing a new 258-cover restaurant and bar to the rapidly developing destination next to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

The restaurant was first revealed earlier this year as the flagship venue at Medlock Square, with a team of heavyweight names from the hospitality world behind it.

Now, ahead of opening night, we’ve been given a first look at what diners can expect from Zadie’s – from the food and cocktails to the art-filled interiors.

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Sat high above Medlock Square, Zadie’s has been designed as a glamorous, high-energy destination with panoramic views stretching towards the South Pennines as well as across the pitch far below.

Inside, deep and luxurious banquette seating surrounds a striking central bar, while the walls feature a collection of work from some of the UK’s emerging and breakthrough artists, curated with Manchester artist and curator Meg Saoirse Williams.

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At launch, the collection will feature work by Fern O’Carolan, Danny Davidson, Pat Flynn, Jamie Holman, Sondra Meszaros, Trackie McLeod, Magdalena Wysocka, Claudio Pogo, Shaun Peckham, James Tailor, Alistair Woods, Matthew Wood and Williams herself.

At the heart of Zadie’s is a menu inspired by the Japanese tradition of Itameshi – a style of cooking that brings Japanese ingredients and flavours together with Italian techniques and presentation.

Head chef Paulo Bianchi has worked with some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry, including Zuma, Alain Ducasse, and Lucky Cat, as well as at Les Grandes Alpes in Courchevel 1850.

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His menu is designed to balance familiar luxury with more unexpected combinations, with dishes ranging from caviar, lobster, veal tonnato and Bluefin tuna to nashi pear, yuzu koshu and calamansi.

Among the highlights on the opening menu is burrata with nashi pear compote, basil oil and bubu arare, while the tortelloni cacio e pepe comes with white soy burro bianco, furikake and chives.

There’s also a Japanese-leaning take on the Italian classic veal tonnato, served with bonito dressing, garlic chives and toasted panko.

For something more substantial, diners can order roast lobster, available as either a half or whole lobster, with a choice of tomato ponzu or yuzu kosho.

And then there is Zadie’s signature beef sharer – a hefty 1.3kg British Wagyu tomahawk served with roast potatoes, sesame glaze, chives, mushroom ponzu and chimichurri sauces.

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The drinks menu has been developed by award-winning Head of Bars Cressida Lawlor, with the same playful approach applied to the cocktails.

Expect a Purple Old Fashioned, made with Maker’s Mark bourbon washed with taro butter before being sweetened with ube and vanilla syrup and finished with bitters; a Pandan Grasshopper with pandan, coconut milk, and more; and the Champagne Problem, with plum wine, champagne, yuzu and jasmine cordial.

Zadie’s officially opens on Wednesday 23 September at 5pm.

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Featured image: The Manc Group