Romantic bars and restaurants in Manchester that are perfect for Valentine’s Day
From fine dining restaurants with views across the city, to intimate neighbourhood bistros and underground cocktail bars, if you're stuck for date inspiration this Valentine's we've got you covered.
With Valentine’s Day in Manchester fast approaching, the city’s restaurants and bars are turning on the charm to create some seriously romantic settings.
With so many great restaurants, if you’re looking to take your other half out to eat you are quite literally spoilt for choice.
For those lost in a sea of menus and wondering where to book, we thought we’d help make things a little bit easier by recommending some of our favourite romantic restaurants in Manchester and a few other popular date night spots to help get you started.
Keep reading to discover our top picks for where to take your date in Manchester this Valentine’s Day.
Chotto Matte, St Michael’s
Chotto MatteCocktails with a view
Manchester is climbing ever-higher, and so is the calibre of its restaurant – enter one of the city’s newest spots, Chotto Matte.
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For a real get-dressed-up-to-the-nines date night, you could do a lot worse than this lavish newcomer, which has a menu of Nikkei dishes and some of the best views in town.
The restaurant space itself wraps around the new St Michael’s building, with views right over the Town Hall on one side and the city skyline on the others.
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Circolo Popolare, St Michael’s
Inside Circolo PopolareA giant lemon meringue pie
You may not quite have the budget to whisk your loved one off to Sicily at this short notice, but there’s a restaurant in Manchester that’s trying its best to bring that magic to town.
Circolo Popolare opened last year from the Big Mamma Group, serving authentic and hearty Italian dishes and a gravity-defying lemon meringue pie, too.
It’s got to be one of the most opulent interiors in the city – there are ceilings draped in jasmine, thousands of vintage booze bottles, hand-painted crockery and more.
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Blacklock, Peter Street
Blacklock’s cocktail trolley which roams their Manchester restaurant. Credit: The Manc Group
You might not immediately think gorging yourself on red meat is the most romantic way to woo your loved one – but Blacklock proves you wrong.
This cosy basement restaurant is all about top-grade meat, affordable cocktails, and its legendary white chocolate cheesecake scooped straight from the dish and dolloped onto your plate.
It’s a more laid-back date night spot for those who like ‘hearty fare and rowdy comfort’.
Opened by the team behind the Michelin-recommended Corvena in Chester, it boasts a stunning wine list (the name nods to the importance of weather in creating incredible wines) as well as some reportedly ‘genius’ dishes on its menu.
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Serving a mixture of small and large plates, it also has one of the best panoramic views of the city skyline – looking down across Manchester from the restaurant’s perch on Blackfriars, especially at sunset, is pretty romantic.
Hawksmoor Hawksmoor Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Not many London brands successfully make the move up to Manchester, but one that has done it with aplomb is premium British steakhouse Hawksmoor.
It’s pricey but worth it, with a stunning wood-panelled cocktail bar available next to the restaurant to help you get your date off to a flying start.
Serving the very best dry-aged beef, sustainable seafood and seasonal farm produce from the UK, steaks come out beautifully blackened and charred thanks to its Josper grill whilst sides are indulgent (typically laden with rich cheese, nutmeg and cream).
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The aforementioned cocktail list is excellent, as is the wine list. All around a 10/10 spot with friendly service to boot.
The Sparrows, Green Quarter
Mix and match pierogi at The Sparrows. / Image: The Manc Eats
The Sparrows signature dish, spatzle. / Image: The Manc Eats
One of the best restaurants in Manchester by a long shot, it is run by a married couple – with Polish-born Kasia Hitchcock positioned out front and her chef-partner Franco Concli working away busily in the back.
Spatzle (pictured above) is the house specialty, said to mirror sparrows in flight – hence the restaurant’s name. It’s best eaten with a simple sauce of butter and sage, but there are numerous sauce options – plus countless European dumplings, a fine sake selection and an organic wine list.
The hushed, sleek interiors, meanwhile, will have you convinced you’re somewhere in New York – not on the back streets of the Green Quarter.
With sultry low lighting, quality cocktails, £1 oysters and plenty of tucked-away seating spread over three floors, 10 Tib Lane could’ve been made for date night.
Serving a tantalising small plates menu alongside some beautiful low-intervention wines, its Cumbrae oysters with mignonette are a must-order to get your date night going.
Followed up with the likes of steak tartare, lamb sweetbreads, duck in port sauce, bone marrow and pommes anna, and charred hispi cabbage in shallot sauce, foodies should be in absolute heaven.
Erst, Ancoats
Erst has just earned itself a Michelin Bib Gourmand, a prestigious honour that recognises exceptional cooking but still at great affordable prices.
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Open Tuesday to Saturday, with its concrete floors and relatively sparse settings, it’s the food here more than the restaurant’s decor that makes Erst so romantic.
A love of fermentation and pickling has clearly passed from one sibling’s kitchen into another. Plates here are ordered to share, with a list of around a dozen to choose from.
Each designed simply to showcase the natural flavours of the produce, order as many as you can muster then tuck in with a good bottle of natural wine on the side.
Bar San Juan, Chorlton
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
This teeny tiny tapas bar in Chorlton is a treasured local gem, and for good reason.
Named Manchester’s Neighbourhood Venue of the Year at the 2022 Manchester Food and Drink Awards, this cosy little slice of Spain on Beech Road is as unassuming as it is full of European charm.
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From the warmth of San Juan’s staff, for whom nothing is too much trouble, to its impeccable dishes, it’s easy to see how this cosy neighbourhood spot is so beloved. If you’re after an intimate date with top-notch food, you cannot go wrong here.
Inside Ornella’s Italian restaurant in Denton. Credit: The Manc GroupOrnella’s Kitchen has teased a new restaurant
Home to some of the best pasta in Greater Manchester, you do have to schlep all the way out to Denton for it – but if incredible Italian food is part of your partner’s love language then trust us, it’ll be worth it.
By day, Ornella’s is very much a tiny deli cafe with room for just 12 diners at once. By night, the combination of the small space, low lighting and mouthwatering dishes make it a pasta lover’s paradise.
Dish-wise, think plump lobster ravioli, butter-drenched crispy sage and hazelnut spinach ricotta ravioli, and carbonara bucatini liberally doused in pepper and egg yolk, with crisp flecks of guanciale on top – all freshly made on-site by hand that day.
Sitting right on the waterside next to Ancoats Marina, if good wine and small plates is your love language then Flawd is an absolute must visit – even if you just pop in for a glass before heading on for a swanky dinner elsewhere.
With views across the water, you’ll find a knowledgeable team pouring gorgeous low intervention wines in a casual but romantic, laid-back setting that feels more European than Manchester usually does.
Plates comes from acclaimed chef Joseph Otway, using their own organic produce grown on the team’s sustainable farm Cinderwood Market Garden in Cheshire.
Sterling, Spring Gardens
Nestled in an old bank vault in the basement of Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel, this swanky bar from the accomplished Schofield brothers oozes charm and seduction.
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With dark wood panneled walls, low lighting, sensory cocktails and table service, plus small plates to keep you going through the drinks, it’s a great place to enjoy some romantic drinks on a date – and there are even hotel rooms upstairs.
20 Stories, Spinningfields
It feels like this Spinningfields rooftop restaurant needs no introduction at this point, but we’re going to do it anyway.
A glamorous establishment with a huge, heated outdoor terrace, it sits right at the top of the No.1 Spinningfields building overlooking the swanky glass towers of the business district from its position on high.
Long favoured for romantic date night thanks to its breathtaking views of the Manchester skyline, this swanky restaurant’s menu is not to be sniffed at either with a selection of delicious modern British dishes on offer.
Evelyn’s and The Daisy, Northern Quarter
The DaisyEvelyn’s in the Northern Quarter
If you’re after more of a laid-back eatery with a casual setting, Evelyn’s is a great choice – offering a mixed menu of small plates that can be ordered to share or larger ones to enjoy alone.
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A popular Manchester cafe by day, at night it comes alive in a whole new way, the restaurant lit up romantically with plants trailing down from hangers above your head.
Evelyn’s also boasts a ‘secret’ bar below, The Daisy, where you can sneak off with your date afterward to enjoy a few cocktails (or wines) in a romantic setting.
El Gato Negro, King Street
This AA Rosette and Michelin-recommended restaurant on King Street is a fail-safe date option in our (humble) opinion.
Serving up a mix of tapas dishes split into sections like fish and shellfish, meat, charcuterie, vegetables and para picar, tuck into the likes of Catalan bread, Padron peppers, salt cod croquettas and Morcilla scotch eggs.
Alongside a great wine and cocktail list, El Gato is also known for its sherry and vermouth selection – and both make a great complement to this style of dining.
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For an ultra-romantic twist, if you love the idea of having a bit of theatre whilst you eat you can opt to sit at the chef’s table which faces directly into the kitchen.
Dishoom, Bridge Street
If you ask us, romance doesn’t have to be all white tablecloths and rose petals – sometimes it’s more fun to get stuck in and share a curry with your loved one.
Since it opened in Manchester with queues out the door, Dishoom has remained one of the city’s most popular curry houses whilst maintaining an elusive, sultry feel – thanks, in part, to its setting within the city’s stunning former Masonic Hall.
Nestle up in one of its many beautiful corners on Valentine’s Day, with walk-ins always welcome.
Where’s your favourite romantic restaurant in Manchester? Let us know via Instagram at @themanceats.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Manchester
War Child UK announce Foo Fighters charity prize draw for sold-out Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Amidst all the live music madness this week, with the intimate BRITs gigs happening, other big city centre shows and, of course, the mighty Foo Fighters coming to town, it can be hard to keep track of everything – but when we heard about a prize draw for free tickets, we couldn’t let you miss it.
That’s right, the Foos and War Child UK are getting ready to hand out limited pairs of tickets to their recently announced gig at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, which sold out in the blink of an eye.
They’re not even performing as part of BRITs Week lineup, but given it’s such a big moment for the city and an opportunity to raise money for the cause, they thought they’d throw their hats in the ring, so long as you chip in on your end.
So, ‘What’s the deal?’, we hear you ask. Well, look no further:
Put simply, all you have to do is enter the prize draw as advertised; plus, you know you’ll be doing your bit for a good cause, too, which is always an added bonus.
Given that the Ritz is already pretty much at capacity (approximately 1,500), they only have a small number of tickets to give away.
There are just four pairs up for grabs, to be specific, but with hundreds of people having already entered the charitable competition, nearly £17,000 has been raised for War Child UK already.
Incredible stuff.
For anyone still unclear on War Child’s mission, the organisation does crucial outreach not only here in Britain but all over the world, delivering emergency aid, specialist mental health support, and much more to children in need whose lives have been torn apart by conflicts across the globe.
This show, which has already generated huge funds towards those efforts through ticket sales, and local band The Covasettes are now even campaigning to get legendary frontman Dave Grohl to join them on stage after their stage times were shifted to make way for the Foo Fighters gig.
🚨 MANCHESTER UPDATE 🚨
With @foofighters playing the Ritz after us on Friday, our gig will now take place slightly earlier. Get down for doors and give the supports a night to remember!
Once again, the show itself is fully sold out, and there’s little chance you’ll find spares floating around ahead of a truly massive night.
Better still, if you are after one last lucky shot at getting yourself in that room, why not help raise some money for War Child while you’re at it?
As we’re sure you know, the gig itself is on Friday, but if you want to stand a chance, you must donate and choose your number of entries – £10 for one, three for £20, or £50 for a total of 10 entries – before 10am GMT this Thursday, 26 February.
All the artists performing at the BRIT Awards 2026 in Manchester – so far
Daisy Jackson
The BRIT Awards 2026 are right around the corner, and will be taking place in Manchester for the first time – but who will be performing?
The huge music awards have been drip-feeding us announcements all year so far ahead of the actual BRITs on Saturday, 28 February.
With seven names announced to date, it’s already shaping up to be one of the biggest events Manchester has ever seen.
From the world’s biggest pop stars to a producer who’s worked with the biggest names on the planet, the BRIT Awards have called upon some serious stars who’ll be performing for the audience here in Manchester.
Here are all the names that have been announced so far.
Who’s performing at the 2026 BRIT Awards in Manchester?
1. Harry Styles
Harry Styles will be performing at the BRITs in Manchester (Credit: Johnny Dufort)
Harry Styles will finally be performing at the Co-op Live – a venue he’s a major investor in – for the first time this year, thanks to the BRIT Awards.
The megastar will be performing his new single, ‘Aperture’, which has broken a years-long drought of new music from the former One Direction singer.
And given that his upcoming UK tour dates are exclusively in London, this will be a rare chance to see him on home turf… barring the BRAND NEW ‘intimate’ show announcement here in Manchester.
The first name to be announced as performing at the BRIT Awards was solo singer-songwriting superstar of the moment, Olivia Dean.
Olivia Dean has also been announced as a performer for the BRITs (Credit: Jack Davison)
She’ll be taking to the stage at the Co-op Live as a Grammy Award-winner too, having taken home the Best New Artist trophy last week.
Olivia Dean has also announced an unbelievably intimate show in Manchester, too, as part of the wider BRITs Week for War Child concert series, performing at the Albert Hall.
3. Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice are performing at the Brit Awards 2026 (Credit: Press shot)
Wolf Alice – one of the UK’s most celebrated bands – will be performing at this year’s BRITs, hot off the back of their own headline arena tour, which received serious praise across the board.
The group are nominated for three awards this year – ‘Group of the Year’, ‘Alternative/Rock Act’, AND ‘Mastercard Album of the Year’ for their fourth studio LP, The Clearing.
This will be the first time they’ve performed at the Co-op Live, joining the biggest names in the industry for the BRIT Awards 2026.
4. Mark Ronson
Outstanding Contribution To Music winner Mark Ronson (Credit: Supplied)
One of the greatest producers of a generation will be getting a double-whammy at the BRIT Awards 2026 – both a slot to perform, AND the highly coveted ‘Outstanding Contribution To Music’ award.
Mark Ronson has created some of the world’s biggest hits with other top artists, including ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars, ‘Shallow’ with Lady Gaga, and ‘Back to Black’ with Amy Winehouse. He already has two BRIT Awards and nine Grammys – and now he can add a lifetime achievement to that trophy cabinet.
Ronson said: “This is the most meaningful honour of my career. I think of the times I’ve watched artists I revere accept this same award. The idea that I’m now standing in that lineage feels impossible.
“I left England as a kid, but this country runs through everything I’ve made. The UK artists I’ve worked with—their brilliance and refusal to compromise—shaped not just my work but how I understand what music should do. And more than anything, it’s the crowds here who’ve sustained and shown up for me.
“The fans, the festival crowds, the record buyers and streamers—the love has always been overwhelming. I’m beyond grateful for all of it.”
5. Rosalía
Credit: Publicity pictures
As for the most recent name added to the BRIT Awards’ live music lineup for 2026, that goes to Spanish-speaking and multi-lingual pop superstar, Rosalía, who also just so happened to deliver one of our favourite albums of the year this past November.
The Lux singer, still just 33, has seen an incredible rise over the last few years and is understandably huge in Latin American and other Hispanic countries, but her presence continues to grow worldwide, so securing her for a mini Manchester gig at the upcoming ceremony is another real coup for the BPI.
With this being her BRITs debut following a number one record that saw her speak in 14 different languages, this genre-bending solo artist’s performance will be one watched all over the planet.
This was back in 2019, and she’s only got bigger since then.
6. KPop Demon Hunters – yes, the real ones
Golden by HUNTR/X is going up up up!
The original song from KPop Demon Hunters by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI has officially hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global Charts. pic.twitter.com/b3xZSZhQfh
In arguably one of the coolest names on the lineup of BRITs performers, singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI – a.k.a. the real voices of fictional girl group ‘HUNTR/X’ from Netflix’s global phenomenon, KPop Demon Hunters – have now been confirmed for a very special performance.
This will be a first for the smash-hit animated movie and musical released last August, and it’s not anything like the annual awards ceremony has seen before, either.
Even if you haven’t seen the feature film for yourself, we can promise you’ll have at least heard that one track which has been nominated for ‘International Song of the Year’ – or even if not, you’ll definitely find your toe-tapping along as you watch from home.
Reacting to being added to the roster, the group of vocalists said,“We are beyond thrilled to be nominated for 2 BRIT awards this year, celebrating the music of KPOP DEMON HUNTERS! We can’t wait to bring a special performance to Manchester. See you soon, UK Fans!”
As if half a dozen names weren’t enough already, another one of 2025’s breakout stars has also been called up to the stage.
Rising pop artist Alex Warren will also be performing in the flesh this month, bringing his folk-influenced solo material to Manc crowds for the very first time.
He was a big success at both the most recent Hits Radio Live and Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball back in December, with the Californian already amassing a strong transatlantic following.
Alex said of the honour: “The UK is where ‘Ordinary’ first broke and changed my life last year. I am so grateful for all the love from my fans there, and I can’t wait to bring a big performance to the BRITs’ stage for the very first time.”
8. SOMBR
SOMBR is the latest artist announced to be performing at the BRITs in Manchester. (Credit: Supplied)
One of the world’s most talked-about new artists – and the man behind the summer’s biggest and catchiest hits – is next up to perform at the BRITs 2026 in Manchester.
SOMBR, a.k.a Shane Boose, is nominated for two BRIT Awards this year, for International Artist of the Year and for International Song of the Year with his hit ‘Undressed’.
His smash single ‘Back to Friends’ topped Spotify’s global and US charts last year, leading to sold-out headline tours in the US, Europe and Australia.
SOMBR said: “I’m so honoured to be performing at the iconic BRIT Awards. I am so thankful to everyone who has supported me this past year. I love the UK and all the British people, it’s my second home!”
9. RAYE
SHE'S BACK 🤩 we're thrilled for @raye to return to The BRIT Awards 2026 stage this weekend 💋
don't miss her performance this Saturday 28th February on ITV1 & ITVX in the UK at 8:15PM and on YouTube globally at 8:45PM GMT pic.twitter.com/yzoyVMgaR3
Announced just days before the actual awards night getting underway, the one and only RAYE has also been confirmed as having now joined the BRITs live music lineup for 2026.
We’ve only just got over seeing her in the flesh after what feels like literally yesterday at Co-op Live already, but now – fresh off two fantastic nights and five-star reviewed shows across the board – soulful solo star is returning to the arena for another go around the block.
Commenting on making a quick comeback, the multi-award-winning artist said: “We are so grateful to the BRIT Awards for having us back on their stage. Me and the band are very excited.”
Honestly, even if we get a little taste of the show she put on earlier this month, we’re in for an absolute treat and then some…
Gosh, we really are being spoiled, aren’t we?
Oh, and if you haven’t heard about all of the incredible acts coming to town for BRITs Week ’26 (as mentioned previously with Ms Dean), you’re about to scream your heads off even more.
The Manc -
10th February 2026 
