Feature

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

Dolly Busby Dolly Busby - 4th October 2021

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Feature image- theworldbyemstagram via 20 Stories

Feature

Ravyn Lenae at Gorilla Manchester – Our ‘One Wish’ was granted

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

This was Ravyn Lenae’s first rodeo at Gorilla and it’s safe to say she had the Manchester crowd hooked on her live set like ‘Candy’ (sorry).

Only two lines in and three puns deep but Ravyn’s performance was nothing to joke about, especially with her to-die-for vocals and killer live accompaniment.

Her most recent album and tour are both branded, Birds Eye, and while Gorilla may not be the most panoramic place in our beautiful city to overlook the Manchester skyline, the bubbly and engaging crowd sure painted a pretty well-rounded picture of the Mancunian hospitality. 

The introduction to ‘Bad Idea’ feels like a spaceship descending to earth and it couldn’t be more fitting because let’s face it, an artist this good simply can’t be living on the same planet as us she’s simply out-of-this-world.

Similarly, the follow-up ‘1 of 1’ has an identical space-tech vibe with a static-filled opening and instrumental making it a perfect predecessor. These two tunes have impressive soundscapes with the live drums even more so helping to excite a sold-out venue.

Ravyn Lenae Manchester show
Ravyn Lenae wasn’t shy on stage, commanding the Gorilla stage.
Ravyn Lenae Manchester Gorilla
Lenae appreciating the roars of the Manchester crowd.
Credit: Audio North/The Manc Group

Seven tracks into the setlist, Lenae knows how to keep Gorilla at her fingertips performing hits ‘M.I.A’, ‘The Night Song’ and ‘Candy’ back-to-back-to-back – easily the holy trinity of track runs on this tour.

Taken from her debut outing Hypnos, the afrobeats and lo-fi inspired ‘M.I.A’ doubles as a dancefloor filler and an instant crowd pleaser, ironically we were lost in the music.

The middle of this three-track-run ‘The Night Song’ keeps spirits high and boosts our confidence as the 25-year-old has us singing, “Hair down, feeling alright/ Got my edges on tight, It’s a party tonight”.

Her sweet-named album track ‘Candy’ jet sets us to a tropical paradise with its reggae-fused rhythms, and after a full ten minutes of side-stepping and attempting to dance, the cold temperature outside didn’t even cross the crowd’s mind.

Besides being some of her best numbers, these three upbeat tunes take us through a small piece of her past three projects with each of the singles featuring on a different respective release from 2018 all the way up to present day.

Ravyn lenae showing some love to at the Manchester show.
Nothing but love from Ravyn Lenae and her crew for the Mancs.
Ravyn Lenae live
Lost in music, Lenae and band at Gorilla, Manchester.
Credit: The Manc Group

Steve Lacy produced ‘Sticky’ was another standout, her rocker chic-esque vocal style flaunts all over the live band’s arrangement as she flaunts, ‘What did you do?/ Got me confused’.

‘One Wish’ was ethereal; I may have an unfair bias with this single being my personal favourite in the American star’s discography, but the vocal delivery and Lenae’s characterisation elevated this to new heights – even better than its original studio recording, maybe.

Manchester never misses the chance for an encore, especially not when it’s the plucky guitar bop ‘Love Me Not’. Up there with one of her best.

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The crowd erupted as Lenae asked, “You want one more?”, before whistling, “See right now I need you, I’ll meet you somewhere now”, it was obvious concertgoers wanted this show wasn’t done.

The Manchester date marks the final show of the whole tour and Lenae was feeling very reflective during song breaks, telling the buzzy crowd, “I’m so grateful that I still get to tour this part of the world and I appreciate you all braving the cold for me”.

When you’re getting to witness someone as remarkable as Chicago-born singer Ravyn Lenae, a little bit of nippy Manchester weather is nothing!

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Feature

The best, biggest and bouijiest hotels to stay at in Manchester city centre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The best hotels to stay at in Manchester city centre

Hotels are opening in Manchester city centre at a rate that’s hard to keep up with, diversifying the overnight offering with every passing minute, and they’re also some of the very best in the UK.

We’ve got plenty of familiar boltholes if you can’t tear yourself away from the familiarity of a Premier Inn purple bedroom, or the reliable comforts of a Hilton, but also plenty of smaller names offering a stylish place to rest your head.

We’ve rounded up a dozen of the very best that Manchester has to offer – expect rooftop pools, riverside terraces, grand architecture and celebrity chefs.

And not all of them come with an eye-watering price tag…

The top 10 hotels in central Manchester

1. Dakota

If you want a hotel with loads of atmosphere as well as a grown-up space with a dark, moody interior, then Dakota is absolutely the one for you.

This beautiful hotel opened back in 2019; a huge £30m black box on the outskirts of the Northern Quarter that has seen celebrity guests such as Hugh Jackman, Molly Mae-Hague, Mel B and many more.

The deluxe suites here will set you back around £765 a night, and come with their own living room and loads of luxuries. No wonder it was voted ‘one of the best places to stay in the world’.

Even if you’re not stopping the night, the riverside terrace is an absolute gem for a civilised drink, filled with plants and natural light.

29 Ducie Street, M1 2JL | dakotahotels.co.uk

2. voco Manchester

voco hotel mcr
what happened to hotel brooklyn manchester?
Credit: voco Manchester

Formerly Hotel Brooklyn – we all know Manchester has a habit of drawing comparisons to New York, albeit a smaller, soggier version, – voco Manchester still has all the glamour as was originally intended.

The hotel first opened at the worst possible time, being thrust in and out of lockdowns within weeks of opening, but since then it’s attracted rave reviews and been named among the top 20 ‘hottest new hotels’ by Traveller’s Choice among many glowing reviews.

Even after being over by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) in December 2023, the 189-room hotel has taken on a new life, boasting the in-house Runyons Restaurant which still keeps those US connections, as well as an open-plan lobby lounge featuring a big screen for live sport and entertainment.

It may be different from what it was but there’s still plenty of style to be seen here.

59 Portland Street, M1 3HP | ihg.com

3. The Lowry Hotel

Just across the border into Salford is The Lowry Hotel, and a big, sweeping curve of pure class sticking out above the river. It’s got a global reputation and it’s no surprise when its guestbook features some of the biggest celebrities of all time.

Remember when Taylor Swift rented out the entire place, or Jose Mourinho decided to just live there, rather than find an apartment, during his time as Manchester United manager? Not to mention Britney Spears, David Beckham, Rihanna, Take That, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and countless others.

Having undergone a £5m bedroom refurb, The Lowry has one of the smartest and brightest interiors in the north of England, one of the region’s most expensive hotel rooms (a casual £4,500 a night for the presidential suite), as well as a super high-tech spa. We also enjoy just heading there for the Lowry bottomless brunch, to be honest.

50 Dearmans Place, M3 5LH | thelowryhotel.com

4. Kimpton Clocktower

The Kimpton Clocktower – previously known as the Palace and Principal Hotel, among multiple other monikers – oozes timeless sophistication, a relic of Victorian grandeur but with a boutique hotel feel to it.

The lobby is one of the most impressive spaces in Greater Manchester, all polished tile and marble beneath a glass-domed ceiling, setting the scene for the rooms themselves (high ceilings, big windows, and plenty of historical details).

Another big plus when it comes to the Kimpton is its in-house bar and restaurant: The Refuge, which is a cut above the average hotel offering and is very much its own entity with a reputation for fabulous late-night and seasonal events, a divine bottomless brunch and plenty of other distinct draws.

Oxford Street, M60 7HA | kimptonclocktowerhotel.com

palace hotel manchester
The lobby at Kimpton Clocktower
kimpton clocktower hotel room prices
One of their many stylish rooms
Credit: Kimpton/The Manc Group

5. The Midland

If only walls could talk, The Midland Hotel would have some of the best stories on Earth.

The landmark hotel has been part of the fabric of Manchester for more than 100 years, with 312 luxurious rooms, and it’s storied that it’s where Charles Rolls and Henry Royce (of Rolls Royce fame) were introduced.

Then there are the communal spaces, even fancier now after their £14m refurbishment, including restaurants Adam Reid at The French and Mount Street Dining Room, and the incredible circular champagne bar in the middle of the lobby.

It’s also the place to come for a traditional afternoon tea and has a truly cracking spa. This place doesn’t need any kind of sale pitch: it’s unquestionably one of the best hotels in Manchester – if not the best.

16 Peter Street, M60 2DS | themidlandhotel.co.uk

midland hotel review
Credit: Tecmark Ltd (via Flickr)

6. Whitworth Locke

The curb appeal of Whitworth Locke is something else, from its decadent bar housed in a Parisian-style conservatory and fine culinary offerings (Peru Perdu and a Foundation Coffee House are both in here), to its incredible location right on the edge of the Gay Village.

Each of the rooms is a self-contained haven, from studio apartments all the way up to two-bedroom duplex suites, decorated in a Pinterest-worthy palette of greens and pinks (a muted sample of the terracotta bricks outside).

There’s a free workspace area that spills into a truly stunning conservatory bar, as well as a packed calendar of events too, so whether you’re an out-of-town guest or a local Manc looking to fill a few hours, you’ll be kept busy enough.

74 Princess Street, M1 6JD | lockeliving.com

Whitworth Locke hotel review: This historic Manchester building is home to one of the city’s most beautiful hotels
Safe to say we’re big fans of this much-loved Manchester hotel.

7. King Street Townhouse

You have, almost without a doubt, seen photos of the King Street Townhouse before – this is the hotel that introduced the infinity pool to the city centre, with views of the Town Hall (well, currently of scaffolding).

The hotel has its own cinema room, a rooftop terrace bar, a new gym, and incredible afternoon teas.

The smart rooms range in size from ‘snug’ to ‘cosy’ to ‘comfy’ to suites, with suites priced at around £430 a night.

From afternoon tea and lunch deals to spa offers, big group events, private screening and so much more, King St Townhouse isn’t just one of the best hotels in Manchester, it’s also one of the most well-rounded in terms of its overall hospitality.

10 Booth St, Manchester M2 4AW | kingstreettownhouse.co.uk

8. The Alan

One of the newest hotels to open in Manchester (and they are popping up like daisies) is The Alan, which has stripped the old Princess Street Hotel back to expose and celebrate its original features.

There are 137 bedrooms, each with high ceilings and warm textures, an open-plan kitchen, a restaurant and bar, as well as event spaces.

The devil is in the detail here and the design has been carefully thought-out. The floor is made from a collage of discarded marble, and the dried flowers illuminated beneath the bar were actually foraged by the hotel’s owners at the time they secured plans for The Alan… while they were broken down on the side of the motorway.

18 Princess St, Manchester M1 4LG | thealanhotel.com

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There’s another new hotel in Manchester – and The Alan is a beauty
It’s gone on to become comfortably one of the best luxury hotels in Manchester since it opened in 2022.

9. Stock Exchange Hotel

Famous names absolutely litter Stock Exchange Hotel, which is easily one of the grandest spaces in all of Greater Manchester.

Not only does it come from Gary Neville’s rapidly-booking hospitality empire, but it’s also backed by world-famous hotelier Winston Zahra, not to mention high-profile chefs and hospitality figures like Tom Kerridge and The Schofield Brothers having run the kitchen.

You could be looking at as much as £1500 for a night in the suites, but the rooms start at a much lower rate – and then there’s ‘The House’, an enormous fully serviced, ultra-exclusive penthouse apartment with its own roof terrace.

4 Norfolk St, Manchester M2 1DW | stockexchangehotel.co.uk

10. The Reach

The newest addition to Manchester’s ever-growing hotel and resort sector, The Reach has landed just a short walk from Piccadilly Station and is only a few minutes away from the bustling Northern Quarter, meaning that like Dakota, it’s picked a prime logistical and cultural location.

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But enough about topographical perks, this place is simply sublime, serving exquisite food and drink from its Lock 84 restaurant overlooking the Rochdale Canal, with rooms that are just as spacious as they are luxurious.

Perfect for business or pleasure, The Reach is already becoming a popular choice for those visiting Manchester and has comfortably landed itself on the list of the very best hotels we have to offer here in the city centre.

7 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JB | thereachmcr.com

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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