Ten of the best restaurants and bars to visit on a date in Manchester
From swanky sky-high bars, restaurants and terraces to chilled out daytime venues, we've picked out some of Manchester's best places to go to on a date
Dates are meant to be fun, romantic, staring into each other’s eyes and all the rest. But the stress of organising them is far from enjoyable.
Scrolling through Google, Instagram and TripAdvisor reviews from two years ago is exhausting and gets you nowhere, leaving you tearing your hair out before the date’s even begun.
Stress no more, though, because we’ve done the research for you to help you bring back the breeziness to your dating life.
Keep reading to discover our list of perfect venues to take a date in Manchester.
With the choice of sitting in either the restaurant or bar whilst enjoyin some of the best views of the city, 20 Stories is a date night must / Image: 20 Stories Manchester
20 Stories
Spinningfields
Picture this: reclining on an oversized cushion, cocktail in hand, low lighting and an unbeatable 360-degree view of our stunning city of Manchester. Romantic right? Well, you can live the dream at 20 Stories.
Kitted out with a rooftop restaurant, cocktail bar and rooftop garden terrace towering above Manchester, 20 Stories is located in the heart of Spinningfields.
Cocktails are a given and they even have their own Tanqueray menu, but if that doesn’t tickle your fancy then try their Afternoon Tea instead and add a new element of class to your dating life.
Note that the dress code is smart, they kindly ask you to ditch the football shirt and we would recommend making a booking, their views are in pretty high demand.
Image: Dukes 92
Duke’s 92
Castlefield
Duke’s 92 canalside car overlooks the Rochdale canal and is perfect for a chilled but romantic evening out. Subtly flirt over classy starters like crispy chilli beef before getting down to the good stuff with mains like 10oz rib-eye steak and pan-fried seabass.
Relax on the wooden terrace and watch the sunset over Manchester’s iconic redbrick canals or, for those who prefer it by the fire, the interiors here are also stunning – and you can watch the bar staff whip up some impressive cocktails behind the huge bar.
Bookings are not necessary, there is a large number of tables for food and drink on a first-come, first-served basis every day.
Image: Bar San Juan
Bar San Juan
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
For those who want to get away from the city, Bar San Juan is a hidden gem in the suburbs of Manchester. Date the Spanish way with authentic tapas dishes, red wine, sangria and round wooden tables set against mismatched tiled walls.
If you’re a croquette lover, chorizo kind of couple or just really into your padron peppers, it’s all delicious quality at really affordable prices.
Diners can eat alfresco on the edge of Chorlton’s colorful streets or tucked into the intimate booths inside. Not only do you feel you’ve gotten away from Manchester, but you might as well have hopped on a plane to Spain together.
Image: Australasis
Australasia
Spinningfields
If you’re going for super chic elegance, this is the place to go. A real dress-up spot perfect for date night, Australasia aims to capture the true essence of modern Australia with light and open decor.
A unique cocktail list includes sweet martinis flavoured with rose and lycee, green apple, or kiwi and honey martini, amongst staples like pornstars and gin and tonics.
You and your date can go unnoticed in their intimate booths, enjoying cocktails and sushi in private. Come prepared to spend a bit more than usual, splitting the bill is probably a good idea here.
Image: Hatch
Hatch
Under the Mancunian way on Oxford Road
A bustling hub of different bars and street food traders, Hatch is a party amongst large shipping containers. A great place for a lighthearted casual date with lots of people around, your conversation can flow easily – but if there are awkward silences you can happily make three a crowd.
Find street food, communal tables, and lots of beer in this independent village hidden beneath the Manchester bypass in a tangle of fairy lights and greenery. Hatch is a sanctuary from the concrete streets outside.
Image: Tattu
Tattu
Spinningfields
Get your cameras ready, because the whole interior at Tattu screams “Instagram me!” A huge, pink statement blossom tree sits in the middle of the upstairs restaurant, surrounded by oriental hints and sleek dark features.
Contemporary Chinese cuisine and cocktails labeled Geisha’s secret and crouching tiger are as sexy as they sound and great to set the mood. Previously named as one of the most romantic restaurants in the world, Tattu has long been a favourite date night spot for some of Manchester’s most famous couples.
Tattu’s attention to detail will make your date flawless and definitely a night to remember. Be warned, your bank account will probably remember it too.
Image: YES
YES
Charles Street, Manchester
Grab a slice and a cocktail in the downstairs bar, then head up to the roof garden for an absolute class setting for a date. Think exposed brick and hanging plants, a covered outdoor terrace and a cosy little nook inside too.
An absolute steal on the cocktails deals, YES is also very generous with slices of pizza costing just £2.80.
At three stories high, YES has loads of events on offer in the afternoons and evenings. If you don’t want your date to end, then head down to The Pink Room on the middle floor to catch some live music – there’s always something good on here.
Image: Mackie Mayor
Mackie Mayor
Swan Street, Northern Quarter
Who says dates have to just be in the evening? If you’re someone that prefers a cool daytime meet-up, Mackie Mayor is the place to be.
Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, vegan, veggie – they do it all. Dine under the amazing glass roof of the 1858 market turned cosmopolitan food hall. All open plan, simply place your order and then wait for them to bring the food (and drinks) to you.
An easy location in the Northern Quarter means your date doesn’t have to end there, in fact, if it’s going well you can go on to enjoy an afternoon visiting all of Manchester’s sights.
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and more near Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a million-pound Victorian-style mansion that has 10 bedrooms and its own personal swimming pool just outside of Greater Manchester.
Just like the childhood nursery rhyme, “There were three in the bed and the little one said… there’s another seven beds, roll over!” or at least that’s how they remember it in this character property.
Located in Warrington, less than an hour away from Manchester city centre, this property is a semi-detached Victorian property built in 1860, with 10 bedrooms and its own private swimming pool, all spread across four floors.
As soon as you enter the foyer, your eyes are drawn to the sleek silver chandelier before you notice the grand staircase, which feels like a piece of living history.
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market)
The ground floor hosts two of a whopping 10 bedrooms alongside a teal-toned farmhouse-style kitchen and that extremely impressive swimming pool with its own built-in projector.
In the kitchen, the focal point is the large wrap-around kitchen unit, which is accompanied by a variety of hanging lights and a big central island.
On the way to the swimming pool, there are a handful of lockers identical to those found in a leisure and as you enter the room, your eyes are drawn to the island-inspired feature wall.
Venture upstairs to the first floor and you’re greeted by five spacious bedrooms with one having its own en-suite while the rest share a main bathroom.
Each of these bedrooms follows a completely different design style, with the largest following a muted grey palette with pops of yellow thanks to the artwork and bed accessories.
The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
As you go upstairs again, you’ll find (you guessed it) even more bedrooms, three to be exact, with the standout
The stand-out of this second floor is the navy-walled bedroom with a vintage vanity unit, patterned floor-to-ceiling curtains and a similarly dark-blue rug to match its four walls.
Another flight of stairs and you’ve finally reached the top of this property, and there’s an LED-lined ceiling and a neutral bedroom colour scheme of greys, whites and everything in between.
There are various amenities nearby, including three schools and three train stations… for if you get fed up of strolling around your four-floored ten-bed, swimming pool-owning mansion.
Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
We know this property may not be in the price range and might not be affordable for a lot of readers, ourselves included, but we can dream, right?
You can check out this Victorian mansion and flick through even more pictures of this property – Snooping never hurt anybody? Official site HERE.
As always, make sure to check out The Manc‘s property page to check all the other stunning structures currently on sale/in progress across Greater Manchester and in the nearby North West.
Beat-Herder Festival 2025 – a magical weekend of music, madness, miniature worlds and more
Emily Johnson
Some festivals give you good music. Some give you great crowds. And a very rare few create a world so immersive, you forget you’re even at a festival; the cult favourite Beat-Herder Festival does it all – and then some.
Tucked into the Ribble Valley countryside in the Lancashire town of Clitheroe, The Beat-Herder Festival isn’t your average weekend of tents and tunes.
It’s a handcrafted, mind-bending wonderland built by a small crew of dreamers who clearly love what they do and want you to feel the same.
Whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth, the moment you step through the gates, you know you’re in for something special
Then there’s Hotel California, not just an Eagles reference but a site where you could catch a full-on rave in a wild west saloon, as well as The Parish Church: a gothic fairytale where choirs turn into choons and the altar doubles as a DJ booth.
One of the weekend’s highlights came tucked inside The Beat-Herder Working Men’s Club, where The Clone Roses had the entire crowd bouncing with their uncanny tribute to The Stones.
When ‘I Am the Resurrection’ dropped, it was hands-in-the-air euphoria; a true pinch-me moment. Ian Brown might as we have been on the stage, the way the crowd were going wild.
And it wasn’t just music. The Working Men’s also hosted ‘Beat-Herder’s Got Talent’, which is a chaotic and charming mix of poetry, dragon dancing, comedy sketches and more. Heartfelt, hilarious and very Beat-Herder.
Truly immersive worlds
Venture deeper into the wonderful world of Beat-Herder and you’ll find entire miniature towns within the festival. There’s a literal high street, complete with its own tattoo parlour, barbers, a swap shop and even a secret swimming pool.
We’re not going to disclose its location, but let’s just say if you find a dodgy-looking wooden gate and hear splashing on the other side – knock twice and bring a towel…
Late-night mayhem
As the sun went down, the party really came to life. The Beyond Tunnel was your portal to new dimensions, opening out into a maze of secret stages and psychedelic visuals.
From psytrance at The Sunrise Stage, to bassline chaos at The Laundrette and candy-coloured chaos at Bubba Gumma, it was a rabbit hole of sound you never wanted to leave.
Then there was The Temple – a fire-breathing stage that became a haven for breakbeats, jungle, techno and house. Tim Reaper’s set here was a standout for us – fast, furious, and euphoric.
And just when we thought the night was over, we found ourselves at a secret 3am b2b set with Tim Reaper and Samurai Breaks that blew us away – two talented DJs that had the crowd wanting even more despite the sun quite literally rising on the next day.
Another hidden gem was The Ring, an intimate open-air arena where we caught Jungle pioneer Goldie, alongside Sheffield’s own Silva Bumpa and Soul Mass Transit System for a bass-heavy b2b set that rattled your bones and lit up the crowd.
Then there’s The Factory – a steel-clad rave bunker pumping out electro, acid and heavy techno deep into the night. Dancing inside while the rain pelted the tin roof added a layer of gritty industrial magic – proper spine-tingling stuff if you’re into that sweaty, underground energy.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes Fowler’s Garage: a chaotic, petrolhead fever dream of a stage where you can literally dance on top of cars. DJs spin sets from inside the vehicles, cooking up a storm from the front seat while the crowd parties on the roof.
It’s unhinged in the best way possible and one of the most unique spaces you’ll ever rave in.
Power and the people
What really makes Beat-Herder feel different is the people. There’s an unspoken code of friendliness here – everyone’s up for a chat, a laugh, or a spontaneous dance. You could spill your pint and end up making a friend for life. That kind of energy is rare, and Beat-Herder wears it like a badge of honour.
The merch stand has that signature hand-crafted feel. All of the merch is hand-printed, with designs that feel like proper collector’s items rather than throwaway souvenirs. We spotted punters proudly repping Beat-Herder tees from as far back as 2012 – testament to how deep the community pride runs here.
Even on the way out, with vans and cars getting stuck in the mud, everyone mucked in to help push – proof that the Beat-Herder spirit sticks with you long after you’ve left the gates. Just a bunch of lovely people all getting together to have a good time and make memories for life.
Credit: Andrew Whitton
Fantastic fancy dress
Saturday brought the iconic fancy dress theme – this year, the letter G. And wow, did people go for it. Giraffes towered above the crowd, Gnomes danced in groups, Gardeners handed out seed packets, and one hero turned up as ‘Garbage’, wearing an actual dustbin with a lid strapped to his head. We laughed for a full five minutes.
Final thoughts from the fields
Even though Beat-Herder was slightly scaled down this year due to budget cuts, it never once felt like anything was missing. If anything, it brought a tighter, even more magic-filled experience. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the atmosphere are still unmatched – a reminder that this isn’t just a festival. It’s a fully fledged world of its own.
If you’re looking for something different – stick this one at the very top of your list. But be warned: once you’ve been, you’ll never stop going back.
Tickets for next year go on sale on Thursday, 31 July, and you can be ready to grab your tickets HERE.
You can guarantee you’ll see us at back-to-back Beat-Herder Festivals again in 2026.
Dolly Busby -
4th October 2021 
