Whether you’re after authentic Southeast Asian noodles, craft beer poured a few yards away from where it’s brewed or just a good, old-fashioned pub lunch, Stockport offers plenty to go at.
Check out our guide to the best places to eat and drink in Stockport below…
One of the newer additions to Stockport’s Underbanks, BRUK has wasted no time in proving a humongous hit. Behind the bar, you’ll find an expertly curated wine collection (which is the bar’s primary focus), a concise selection of hand-crafted cocktails and a rotating lineup of craft beer.
There’s also a lively events calendar, which includes everything from life drawing and wine tastings to stellar DJs and live rap nights.
Inspired by owner and Head Chef Y Sok’s Southeast Asian roots and family recipes passed down through the years, it becomes abundantly clear why getting a table at Mekong Cat can often require booking a couple of weeks in advance.
Once you do get in, though, you’ll find a haven of spicy pho, fragrant Thai salads, noodles, Banh Mi and crispy wings coated in secret house seasoning. You’ll also be greeted by one of the friendliest teams imaginable, and the bustling open kitchen that sits at the back of the cafe-like dining room is an enticing source of sizzling sounds and sumptuous smells that add gloriously to the whole experience.
On top of all of that, Mekong Cat offers ludicrously good value, with mains generally ranging between £10-£14.
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These days, being able to get a pint of Guinness for £4.50 is more than enough to coax us in, especially when it’s as good as it is here. Luckily, that’s only one of the positives the Banshee has going for it.
When you mention Irish bars, there’s always that risk of it being a little cliché. Here, that’s definitely not the case — it’s just a great pub, with an even better atmosphere, especially when the venue plays host to live music on the weekends.
Cantaloupe is Stockport’s newest go-to destination if you’re looking for something a little more elevated. The kitchen is led by esteemed chefs Joshua Reed-Cooper, whose CV includes Where The Light Gets In and Mana, and Mike Thomas, who previously headed up the kitchen at the excellent The Creameries.
The menu changes constantly, shaped by whatever produce is freshest and in season. Much of the offering is formed of familiar crowd-pleasers — think huge pork chops, racks of lamb and whole portions of fish — but the top-level cooking ensures these dishes are the absolute pinnacle of what they could possibly dream to be.
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A fantastic old-school boozer that happens to have one of the town’s best and biggest beer gardens. Inside, the place is a maze of cosy little nooks to explore and get lost in, and the team is renowned for dishing out a top Sunday lunch — what more could you ask for?
Described as an ‘artisan coffee bar by day, listening bar by night’, Ōdiobā is a gorgeous-looking venue and the famous sound system, which was previously housed in the basement of the beloved-but-now-closed Nam, makes it a must-visit for audiophiles and those who simply love great-sounding music alike.
Ōdiobā’s schedule is another filled with excellent DJs and selectors, along with open deck nights and even a regular, increasingly popular, jazz and chess evening.
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Where The Light Gets In deserves a sizeable chunk of credit for all of the chatter surrounding Stockport’s unlikely renaissance. Back in 2016, opening a premium, sustainable tasting menu concept in an old coffee warehouse through an alley off the Underbanks was certainly…bold. Despite that, the restaurant is now firmly established as one of Manchester’s crown jewels, and its opening undoubtedly helped spearhead a new era for the area.
Holder of a Michelin Green Star, the team’s ever-changing offering champions small, local suppliers, complemented by produce from their own community garden, all of which comes together with unwavering precision in a stunning, open-plan dining room
Another that falls into the ‘proper boozer’ category, The Alexandra is a gorgeous Victorian building slap bang in the middle of Edgeley that retains much of its original period charm. Spread across multiple rooms and with a massive beer garden out back, it’s a cracking pub and is a particularly good spot for watching the football…or for karaoke Fridays, if that’s more your thing.
The food offering, which is operated by Guilty Pleasures, is also worth shouting about. The menu is mainly focused on burgers, most of which are less than a tenner, and there’s a pretty substantial offering for vegans and veggies, too.
Merging the surroundings of an intimate, vintage blues bar with an immense selection of craft beers, sours, stouts and ciders, The Cracked Actor’s sublime aesthetics are matched only by the quality of drinks available behind the bar.
It’s not just us who think so, either. Netflix even got in touch, saying they wanted to use the bar as a set for Steven Knight’s new historical drama, House of Guinness, which is very cool, isn’t it?
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As far as lunchtime treats go, a piping hot mixed shawarma stuffed into a freshly-baked samoon with salad and heaps of chilli sauce from Leve Bakery is about as good as it gets. The fact that the goods are regularly sold out before closing time is as obvious a testament to that as you can get. What’s even better, it’ll only set you back around a fiver.
Anyone with a passing interest in craft (or just great) beer in Manchester will almost certainly be familiar with Runaway. A few years back, the team moved their independent brewery taproom from Red Bank to Stockport, transforming an industrial warehouse into a lovely space for sipping pints that are brewed mere metres from your seat.
As well as 10 lines of keg, and two of cask, in the Runaway garden, you’ll find sourdough veterans Honest Crust firing up delicious Neapolitan pizzas.
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Hands-down, one of our favourite places for a curry in the entirety of Manchester, which is a big deal considering just how strong that offering is. During busy services, which seem to be pretty much all of the time, the atmosphere in the dining room is electric, spurred on by the brilliantly friendly team who can’t do enough to make sure every last person is having a good time.
It’s BYOB, too, which is always welcome if you’re looking to keep costs down.
Stockport’s Produce Hall is perfect for big groups who can’t decide on what they want for dinner, boasting an impressive array of food traders spanning everything from tapas and pizza to burgers and Greek treats.
Our personal favourite is Mama G’s Caribbean Soulfood. Launched in lockdown as a love letter to founder Naomi’s mum, Alfina Gabriel, who made her way to the UK from Grenada in the 70s, the menu showcases big-hitting classics like jerk chicken, pepper steak and a mouthwatering curry goat.
Step into Stanley’s and you’re transported into a different era. The supremely handsome bar space mixes deep greens and dark woods with Victorian tiles and charming, dog-inspired artworks, and the larger upstairs space, which is filled with antique chairs, sofas and knick-knacks, is equally as good-looking.
The Stanley’s House Stout is also 10/10.
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By day, MØ6B is part cafe and record shop, before becoming a stripped-back, late-night bar serving a menu of various wines, beers and cocktails, including a really great Negroni. The project comes from Andrew Lyster — the DJ, designer and mastermind of local label, Youth — who regularly calls on his musical network to come down and strut their stuff on the decks.
The Spinn Off’s stylish interior keeps things simple — exposed brick meets rustic communal seating, while the bar stocks a lineup of craft beers, natural wines and a regularly updated cocktail list. Should the weather allow, there’s also plenty of seating outside, and it’s one of our favourite spots to watch the world of the Underbanks pass by while sipping on spritz or two.
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- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Thu 8 May 2025
Cafe San Juan is firmly amongst Manchester’s breakfast elite…In fact, alongside Koffee Pot, it might well be the best. Inspired by Colombian flavours, the menu features delights like the Despacito (toasted tortilla with halloumi, feta, mozzarella and mixed beans), the Patacon Sandwich (green plantain bread served with melted cheese, lettuce and your choice of protein) and a hearty Colombian Full Breakfast with chipotle habanero sausages.
Elsewhere on the menu, there’s a selection of empanadas, build-your-own burritos and fresh-roasted single-origin coffee.