Manchester is jam-packed with foodie things to do – to the extent that it can be hard to know where to start. We’ve put together a list of Manchester highlights that takes in food halls and baking, fine dining and Italian language evenings, Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s sure to be something on our list.
Food hall: Mackie Mayor
Visit Mackie Mayor in the Northern Quarter and bounce from coffee, to Bao to wine to pizza, to fish and chips. Newly opened in October 2017, the food hall feel ensures there is lots of choice and whether you go there on a Sunday afternoon or a Thursday evening there is guaranteed good vibes. The building is truly beautiful, and incredibly well restored from its previous life as a meat market. Our highlight: Fish Finger Sandwich (£8.50) from Fin which comes on ciabatta with mushy peas. Read our guide to the best eats.
Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU. www.mackiemayor.co.uk
Craft breweries galore on Sheffield Street
Check out the line of craft breweries on Sheffield Street, behind Piccadilly Station. Working breweries which have claimed these old railway arches as their own, open their doors to the public on certain days of the week. Kitted out with blankets to protect you from the lack of central heating (or doors), you have a choice of interesting beers for brewery prices. These include Cloudwater, Track Brewery, and round the corner Alphabet Brewery (North Western Street).
Alphabet, 99 North Western Street, Manchester, M12 6JL. www.alphabetbrewing.co.uk
Cloudwater Brew Co, Arch 12, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M12ND. Tel: 0161 661 5943, www.cloudwaterbrew.co
Track, 5 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M12ND. Tel: 0161 273 4832, www.trackbrewing.co
Sourdough straight from the source at Pollen Bakery
Pollen, another Sheffield Street occupant, likewise opens its doors to the public from Wednesdays to Saturdays, and close their doors when they’ve sold out. Supplying some of the best restaurants in Manchester, this is your chance to get it straight from the source. You can also have coffee there and get a takeaway lunch, pastries and sourdough which is renowned throughout the city. They’ve opening a new branch soon in Ancoats and have a Kickstarter which you can fund here.
Pollen Bakery, 2 Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2ND. Tel: 0161 273 3171, www.pollenbakery.com
Coffee classes & Italian exchange at Lupo Caffé Italiano
Lupo Caffé Italiano, has found a new place to call home after closing its doors on Salford’s Chapel Street. Now on the Exchange Quay, they are fully back in business with coffee classes, Italian language evenings and the best tiramisu in the city.
Lupo Caffé Italiano, Boat Shed, Exchange Quay, Salford, M5 3EQ. Tel: 07847 028685, www.lupocaffe.co.uk
Coming soon: The Creameries, Chorlton
Book your table at Chorlton’s new The Creameries, a restaurant project from Mary Ellen Mctague and Sophie Yeoman set to open this Spring. The bakery and kitchen will also be host to a range of events, lectures and classes.
The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester M21 0SD. @hellocreameries
Fine dining, re-energised, at Where the Light Gets In
Save up to try the new-wave haute cuisine of Sam Buckley’s critically acclaimed Where the Light Gets In in Stockport. Having come from a finer dining background, WTLGI is youthful and hyper-relaxed in setting, with some of the most innovative food in Britain today. Set menu from £75 a head.
Where the Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY. Tel: 0161 477 5744, www.wtlgi.co
Indie and traditional beer festivals
Manchester knows how to throw a festival, and especially when it comes to beer, you have the option of choice. Why not go down the indie beer festival route and book tickets for Indy Man Beer Con in October.
Indy Man Beer Con: Thu 4 Oct – Sun 7 Oct 2018, Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, M13 0FE. Tel: 0161 224 2020, www.indymanbeercon.co.uk
Arty eats at The Gallery Café
Enjoy a gourmet Breville toastie and sandwiches at Manchester Art Gallery café, with fillings such as smoked salmon with samphire, horseradish yoghurt & pink peppercorns on rye bread. There is also a pay-as-you-feel menu for kids.
The Gallery Café, Manchester Art Gallery, Mosely Street, Manchester M2 3JL, Tel: 0161 235 8888, www.manchesterartgallery.org
Bagels
Enjoy massive bagels at The Bagel Shop (pictured), or a whole pile on a Sunday from Coopers. Eat the Reuben on rye at The Bagel Shop on Oldham Street – you won’t need to eat for a week. Open till 2am on Friday and Saturday it is also now serving cocktails. Fancy more for less? Head to Coopers Let’s Fress Deli in Whitefield on a Sunday and tuck into their 6 bagels, smoked salmon, cream cheese and chopped herring and egg mayo – all for £5.
The Bagel Shop, 64 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE. Tel: 0800 689 3896, www.eatnewyork.co.uk. Coopers – Let’s Fress Deli,70 Bury Old Rd, Whitefield, Prestwich, Manchester M45 6TL. Tel: 0161 798 0343
Rooftop dining at 20 Stories in Spinningfields
Enjoy a cocktail on the roof terrace the new D&D rooftop restaurant and bar, 20 Stories, fronted by Aiden Byrne at No1 Spinningfields. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and a huge outdoor terrace. Joining it is the Ivy Brasserie, who are planning to open a brasserie on Spinningfields later this year.
From Feb 2018, 20 Stories, No. 1 Spinningfields, Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3JE, www.danddlondon.com
For more great food and drink ideas around town, click here.
- Words:
- Miranda Gamble
- Published on:
- Wed 20 Jun 2018
