From Hip Hangouts to Gastronomic Delights: Unearthing Manchester's Newest Hotspots

There’s something truly special about Manchester. Its fascinating past, friendly locals and courageous spirit makes it one of the best places to both live and visit in the UK. And that’s before we even get started on its burgeoning culinary scene.

From a fancy restaurant courtesy of one of the world’s most famous Michelin-starred chefs, to cocktail bars inspired by the late night dive bars of New York City, here’s our lowdown on the tastiest new openings that have come (or are coming) to town.

Madre

Fancy yourself a bit of a Mezcal connoisseur? Then this one’s for you. Madre has been a huge hit in Liverpool since opening its doors in 2019, and now the Mexican ‘taqueria and mezcaleria’ has finally set up shop in Manchester City Centre.

Sitting pretty at the Kampus Development near the Gay Village and Piccadilly train station, the 90-cover restaurant serves up the best of Mexican cuisine including tacos, pork carnitas, beef birria and fresh seafood cooked over a wood-fired grill – we’re talking the likes of butterfly sea bass, oysters and prawns - all designed to be washed down with a stellar drinks list inspired by the founders’ travels to Guadalajara, Oaxaca and Mexico City. Expect a collection of more than 100 types of tequila and mezcal served alongside an exciting list of internationally-inspired cocktails.

Madre is open daily from 12pm-12am. The Churchill, 41 Chorlton Street, Manchester, M1 3HN.

Lucky Cat

It’s been a long time coming, but Gordon Ramsay’s highly-anticipated Asian restaurant is finally open for business on King Street, marking the first major opening for the Michelin-starred chef in the city, and the second Lucky Cat worldwide.

Housed in a beautiful Art Deco building alongside Manchester’s iconic Hotel Gotham, the restaurant spans three floors with numerous different dining vaults inspired by the eclectic atmosphere of 1930s Tokyo kissas and drinking dens, where guests can indulge in the likes of Korean spiced black cod, sushi, sirloin weeping tiger and the legendary Lucky Cat bonito fried duck leg bao, courtesy of executive head chef Andre Camilo.

An exciting wine list, cocktails and live DJ sets seal the deal.

Lucky Cat is open Tuesday – Wednesday from 12pm-12am and Thursday – Saturday 12pm-2am. 100 King Street, Manchester, M2 4WU.

Gail’s

Following hot in the footsteps of openings in the leafy Cheshire suburbs of Altrincham and Wilmslow, fans of Gail’s Bakery can now get their sourdough fix directly on King Street.

Famous for its freshly-baked breads, cakes, pastries and cinnamon buns, the popular London bakery boasts plenty of seating on both the ground level and in its basement, while a pretty outdoor terrace makes for a picturesque spot for people-watching. Its interiors happily continue Gail’s theme for recycling too, with reclaimed bricks for the huge cake counters, refurbished flooring and even recycled orange peel light fittings.

Gail’s is open daily from 6.30am-6pm, with the terrace opening at 11am. 16-18 King Street, Manchester, M2 6AG.

Public

The latest new addition to the Northern Quarter’s vibrant assortment of bars and restaurants, Public in Stevenson Square is the brainchild of the team behind the buzzy Evelyn’s Café & Bar, so you already know you’re onto a winner.

Inspired by the late-night dives of New York’s lower east side, Public is all about the cocktails, with a top-class drinks list including the likes of a divine sounding Margarita Seltzer crafted from tequila, Cointreau, sour mix and ‘Co2’ and an Aperol-ish, which is a merry concoction of Savoia Americano Rosso, orange wine and lacto raspberry.

While primarily a spot for drinking, you can soak up all that booze with a small selection of plates including Hot Oil Gun Gun noodles, a buttermilk chicken sando and house prawn toast. Don’t mind if we do.

9 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DB.

Monkey Trio

Fancy a sip or seven of sake? Then you’ve come to the right place. Monkey Trio, Manchester’s first ever Japanese sake bar, has opened at Circle Square, which is fast becoming one of the best places in town to enjoy Asian cuisine.

Specialising in the trendy Japanese rice wine as well as whiskies, matcha beers and Japanese-inspired cocktails, choose from a selection of premium sips alongside fruity flavours including umeshu, mango and yuzu. Try to take it easy though – at 15%-22% ABV, a round of sake shots almost guarantees a sore head the next morning.

For something a little different, be sure to order the sake flight which, for £30, will get you three different sakes alongside a bottle of sparkling sake with the bar team on hand to explain each drink.

Monkey Trio is open Wednesday to Sunday from 4pm - midnight. 3 Valette Walk, Circle Square, M1 7GA.

Roti

If you find yourself in Urmston anytime soon, be sure to check out Roti. Breaking many hearts when it closed its doors in Chorlton recently, India meets Scotland at this fusion restaurant, which mashes up the dual heritages in one quirky and delicious menu.

Menu highlights include recognisable favourites like a tarka daal, samosa chaat and sheekh kebabs, as well as the popular haggis pakora, ‘mince & tatties’ (spiced pork mince with chole potatoes), and ‘wee poori parcels’, or crisp, hollowed puris filled with yoghurt, chilli, tamarind chutney and masala spices. Although, let’s be honest, we’re probably most excited about the Roti-style ‘chip butties’, Indian-style Scotch Egg and a ‘sausage supper’ which comprises spiced battered sausages, masala potatoes and Edinburgh-style ‘salt and sauce’ - brown sauce, salt and vinegar.

Roti is open Monday to Thursday from 12-10pm, Friday to Saturday from 12-11pm, and Sunday from 12-9pm. 38 Flixton Rd, Urmston, Manchester, M41 5AA.

King Pins

The perfect spot for a family-friendly day (or night) out in Manchester, grab the kids, grandkids and everyone in between and head on over to the Trafford Centre, where King Pins recently opened its doors to an eager public.

Dubbed the "crown jewel of bowling," the interactive new venue is home to everything from 15 lanes of Ten Pin bowling, four lanes of Duck Pin bowling (a shorter-landed, faster game of bowling), shuffleboard, ice free curling, air hockey, karaoke booths and arcade games galore for visitors of all ages.

Iconic Manchester pizza joint PLY and Asian street food favourite, Little Bao Boy are feeding the masses, so be sure to arrive hungry.

King Pins opened on Monday 17 July at Trafford Palazzo, Trafford Centre.