Ten rooms, one question: where in Manchester do you eat when the meal is the plan for the evening? The spread is wide — Caribbean jerk and rum at Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd, old-Bombay café cooking at Dishoom Manchester, a Big Mamma trattoria under cascading ceiling flowers at Circolo Popolare Manchester, modern Chinese under cherry blossom at Tattu Manchester, Spanish tapas across three floors at El Gato Negro Tapas Manchester. The centre carries most of the ten, and the rhythm is shared: all serve late, all work on Sunday.
The differences are what you book on. Some sell the building first — Browns Manchester in a grand former bank of 1902, marble and ironwork intact; The Refuge, whose glass roof keeps the Winter Garden green all year; The Blues Kitchen Manchester in a Victorian eye hospital. Others sell the kitchen: the day-long marinade behind the jerk at Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd, the open-fire meze at Fenix Restaurant and Bar, Manchester. Only Dishoom Manchester opens early, so breakfast is a shortlist of one. Choose by what the evening is for.
At a glance
| # | Place | Score | Reviews | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd | ⭐ 9.7 | 24 821 | Editors' pick |
| 2 | Dishoom Manchester | ⭐ 9.7 | 10 422 | — |
| 3 | Circolo Popolare Manchester | ⭐ 9.9 | 8 107 | People's favourite |
| 4 | Tattu Manchester | ⭐ 9.3 | 5 655 | — |
| 5 | Browns Manchester | ⭐ 9.3 | 4 716 | — |
| 6 | El Gato Negro Tapas Manchester | ⭐ 9.3 | 4 587 | — |
| 7 | Gusto Italian – Manchester | ⭐ 9.3 | 4 331 | — |
| 8 | The Blues Kitchen Manchester | ⭐ 9.3 | 4 206 | — |
| 9 | The Refuge | ⭐ 9.1 | 4 112 | — |
| 10 | Fenix Restaurant and Bar, Manchester | ⭐ 9.5 | 3 611 | — |
Highlights
-
Editors' pick:
Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd -
People's favourite:
Circolo Popolare Manchester
Opening hours
Every place in this selection stays open late.
Open early, from 8am or sooner: Dishoom Manchester.
Check the hours before you set out — they shift on holidays and out of season.
Full ranking
1. Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd · ⭐ 9.7
(24821 reviews)
+9 photos
33-35 Oxford St, Manchester M1 4WB, United Kingdom
Turtle Bay Manchester, on Oxford Road, brings the Caribbean to the city — a lively, beach-inspired room with Caribbean rhythms and a central rum bar. It's as much about the vibe and cocktails as the food. The heart of the menu is the jerk pit: ingredients marinated 24 hours in a signature rub and flame-grilled. Order Jerk Chicken or Curry Goat with rice and peas, or Brown Stew…
«The best bottomless brunch we've ever had, all the staff were wonderful, but Rosie, Jen an…»
2. Dishoom Manchester · ⭐ 9.7
(10422 reviews)
+9 photos
32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Indian
Dishoom Manchester brings the much-loved restaurant's tribute to old Bombay and its Irani cafés to the city, with the same distressed-café charm, vintage details and warm lighting. The atmosphere is lively yet intimate, from breakfast to late-night dinner. The famous dishes are the Bacon Naan Roll (crispy bacon, chilli-tomato jam, cream cheese in soft naan) and the 24-hour Hous…
«We had a wonderful time, and I'd like to personally thank your team for such an unforgetta…»
3. Circolo Popolare Manchester · ⭐ 9.9
(8107 reviews)
+9 photos
No 1, St Michael's, 36 Jackson's Row, Manchester M2 5WD, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Italian
Circolo Popolare Manchester brings the cult Big Mamma group's most photogenic Italian to the city — cascading ceiling flowers, white-washed stone and walls lined with thousands of bottles. With a Sicilian, Mediterranean spirit and a vibrant, candlelit atmosphere, it feels like a joyful, oversized trattoria.
«I'd like to note that the overall service was truly exceptional. The restaurant's atmosphe…»
4. Tattu Manchester · ⭐ 9.3
(5655 reviews)
+9 photos
3 Hardman Square, Gartside St, Manchester M3 3EB, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Asian
Tattu Manchester is the contemporary Chinese restaurant that made the brand's name — as famous for its looks as its food. The interior is a masterpiece of modern elegance, known for its statement cherry blossom chandelier and trees, with a moody, atmospheric setting made for special occasions. The menu reinvents Chinese classics — small plates, dim sum, meat, seafood, rice and…
«I really enjoyed this place. The food was truly amazing — every dish looked incredible, an…»
5. Browns Manchester · ⭐ 9.3
(4716 reviews)
+9 photos
1 York St, Greater, Manchester M2 2AW, United Kingdom
Cuisine: British
Browns Brasserie & Bar occupies one of Manchester's most beautiful rooms, on King Street in a grand 1902 building by Charles Heathcote. Once a bank, its Edwardian baroque architecture and art nouveau details — high ceilings, marble, wood panelling and wrought ironwork — are retained with a modern touch, for an elegant, historic setting.
«For breakfast I ordered the French toast with strawberries and cream, and it was incredibl…»
6. El Gato Negro Tapas Manchester · ⭐ 9.3
(4587 reviews)
+9 photos
52 King St, Manchester M2 4LY, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Spanish
El Gato Negro is one of Manchester's best-loved Spanish restaurants — a Michelin Bib Gourmand tapas spot from chef Simon Shaw, across three floors of a historic King Street townhouse, with a ground-floor bar, a buzzy restaurant and a rooftop terrace with retractable cover. Lively music and warm décor make it vibrant and welcoming.
«Overall 4.5/5. Tasty food and atmosphere. Small portions, but full of flavour. Highly reco…»
7. Gusto Italian – Manchester · ⭐ 9.3
(4331 reviews)
+9 photos
4 Lloyd St, Manchester M2 5AB, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Italian
Gusto Italian brings its contemporary take on Italian cooking to central Manchester, in a striking room that blends modern decor with intimate lighting and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with a clear emphasis on quality. The menu is Italian with a contemporary touch. Signatures include pan-seared scallops and a praised cauliflower steak, plus fresh lasagna, sea bass and a rich p…
«Everything was wonderful, we came a little early, and it wasn't a problem, we waited by th…»
8. The Blues Kitchen Manchester · ⭐ 9.3
(4206 reviews)
+9 photos
13 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN, United Kingdom
Cuisine: American
The Blues Kitchen Manchester, in Spinningfields, pairs American soul food with live music every night until late. Set in a former Victorian eye hospital, it's a character-filled space with original features, reclaimed materials, a warm dining room and cosy booths, with resident musicians playing blues, soul and funk.
«After one night at Blues Kitchen you'll come away with memories you'll fondly remember for…»
9. The Refuge · ⭐ 9.1
(4112 reviews)
+9 photos
Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA, United Kingdom
Cuisine: International
The Refuge is a distinctive Manchester destination restaurant in the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, created by DJs-turned-restaurateurs Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford (the Volta team). A glam-meets-industrial space, it flows from an all-day café into a buzzy drinking den, with a stunning glass-ceilinged Winter Garden full of greenery.
«Where do you start… probably with the fabulous Mina — concierge, problem solver, and alway…»
10. Fenix Restaurant and Bar, Manchester · ⭐ 9.5
(3611 reviews)
+9 photos
The Goods Yard Building, Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG, United Kingdom
Cuisine: Greek
Fenix is one of Manchester's most ambitious restaurants — a relaxed yet elevated take on Greek-Mediterranean cuisine, led by chefs Ippokratis Anagnostelis and Zisis Giannouras. The lavish space represents a phoenix's nest, with limewashed coves, terrazzo floors and pampas grass, and by night it turns into a high-energy destination with OPA events and live music.
«This place is beautiful. The atmosphere is wonderful, an absolutely stunning setting, and…»
Questions & answers
Which place tops the ranking? Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd — score 9.7/10 (Editors' pick).
How many places are in the list and how were they chosen? The selection includes 10 places chosen by our editors based on rating and reviews.
What is the average rating in the top? 9.4/10 — average score of 10 places in the list.
Which place has the most reviews? Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd — 24821 visitor reviews.
For a big group the ready answers are El Gato Negro Tapas Manchester, where groups of seven and over share a set feast with a vegan version, and Gusto Italian – Manchester, with a private room for sixteen and a mezzanine for more. Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd keeps an upstairs party room with its own bar. For music with dinner, The Blues Kitchen Manchester plays blues and soul nightly, while The Refuge hands its Public Bar to resident DJs at week’s end. For open air, El Gato Negro’s covered rooftop works in any season.
The limits, plainly. This is a centre-weighted going-out list: no Japanese or French table, nothing Middle Eastern or Eastern European, no wholly vegetarian kitchen — though Turtle Bay Manchester Oxford Rd keeps nearly half its menu plant-based and Gusto Italian – Manchester keeps vegan and gluten-free options. These rooms are built for friends, dates and celebrations rather than a family daytime stop; neighbourhood favourites beyond the centre are a different list.
See also:
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