Kelly Bishop

Manchester might not be as picturesque as Munich or Vienna, but its annual Christmas Markets draw crowds from all over the UK. Every November, the city is transformed by rows upon rows of festive wooden huts laden with Christmas gifts and gubbins. Bavarian-style bars provide jugs of beer and mulled wine, food stalls bulge with enough grub to stuff a turkey dinosaur and a huge ice rink pops up by the Cathedral. But don’t just stick to the main city centre markets – the festive fun is all over Greater Manchester if you know where to look. Here are the markets you need to visit this Christmas.  RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in Manchester🍸 The best bars in Manchester🛍️ The best things to do in Manchester✨ The UK’s best places to visit at Christmas This list was written by Kelly Bishop, a writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Manchester is one of the UK’s most exciting food destinations right now (that’s why it’s never not on our list of the best restaurants in the UK). From tasting menus to food halls, the dining scene here is flourishing.  Brand-new fine dining spot Skof has just come on the scene, and already made it to the top of our list. But whatever your cravings (and budget) you’ll find what you fancy in Manchester. That’s a promise. Here are the best restaurants in the city, right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Manchester🍸 The best bars in Manchester🏛️ The best attractions in Manchester🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Manchester This guide was recently updated by Kelly Bishop, a food writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Thirsty in Manchester? It happens. But whether you fancy a few small plates and a glass of orange or a craft beer flight and a bag of crisps, you are never, ever far from a great bar inn Manchester.  And the spots here tick every box, ranging from bougie cocktails to rough ‘n’ ready live music bars. As in so many cases, Manchester is a step ahead of the curve. And its drinking scene is no exception. Wherever your night ends up taking you, here are the best bars in Manchester right now.  RECOMMENDED: 🍹 The best cocktail bars in Manchester📍 The best things to do in Manchester🏛️ The best attractions in Manchester🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Manchester This guide was recently updated by Kelly Bishop, a food writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

From Where the Light Gets In to new opening Skof, Manchester’s high-end dining scene has never looked better. But luckily, we are a city that can do both, which means if you’re strapped for cash, you’re never short of good food here. Ever!  With everything from a cult Burmese café to vegan burritos, plenty of Manchester’s most well-loved institutions come in cheap. So save your pennies for checking out our best clubs later on and opt for one of these spots, serving up no frills, just seriously good food that won’t break the bank. We’re in a cozzie livs, after all. Here are the best cheap eats in Manchester.  RECOMMENDED: 🍝 The best restaurants in Manchester📍 The best things to do in Manchester🏛️ The best attractions in Manchester🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Manchester This guide was recently updated by Kelly Bishop, a food writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Had a big night out in Manchester? You’re not alone. But fear not: this city is perfectly well-equipped to sort out even the heaviest of hangovers, thanks to its impeccable brunch scene.  If you’re looking for an classic savoury brunch dish cooked to perfection or something sweet and super indulgent, we guarantee that you will not be stuck for choice here. From stacks of pancakes to eggs and avocado (and that all-important Bloody Mary), here are the best breakfast and brunch spots in Manchester right now. RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in Manchester📍 The best things to do in Manchester🍸 The best bars in Manchester🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Manchester This guide was recently updated by Kelly Bishop, a food writer based in Manchester. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

You know the saying ‘you eat with your eyes first’? Well, we’d agree there’s something in that – and that extends from the plates to the dining rooms themselves. A great meal can taste even better in stunning surroundings. From chic, post-industrial interiors to all-neutral Japandi minimalism, lavish open kitchens, centuries-old dining rooms and seats with sweeping views over the sea, there’s no shortage of beautiful places to eat here in the UK. But we’re not about all style, no substance. A gorgeous restaurant needs to be more than just a pretty face – because what’s the use in spending your hard-earned cash on food which is fine, but a little bit ‘meh’? We reached out to our network of expert food and travel writers around the country to compile this list of stunning restos which don’t skimp on service. From the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, here are the most picturesque restaurants in the country. Tuck in.  RECOMMENDED:The best restaurants in the UK right nowThe best restaurants in London you should be bookingThe UK’s most beautiful train stations Chiara Wilkinson is Time Out’s UK features editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

The UK is a glorious place to eat, drink and generally be merry. Sure, there are loads of great restaurants in London, but there are hundreds more across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; ones where you'll make napkin-stained memories that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. Especially if you head to Cumbria, which is home of the most Michelin stars in the UK outside of the capital. But as well as the diner’s paradise that is the Lake District, here's where else you need to head in order to sample some of the finest food and downright transcendent restaurant experiences the UK has to offer. Eat up.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in the UK.

What’s the vibe?  Skof opened in May 2024 by chef Tom Barnes (of L’Enclume in Cumbria, Geranium in Copenhagen, and of BBC Two’s Great British Menu), promising ambitious but unpretentious dining in Manchester. Imagine a Cumbrian Michelin star restaurant, but swap whitewashed cottage chic for big city swagger: exposed brick, parquet flooring and super comfy leather seating. The tunes are good too.  The snacks alone have already had every food critic within a 200-mile radius getting all Wordsworth on our asses and to disagree would be childishly contrarian. From the unflappable, genuinely friendly staff to the impeccably sourced produce the whole experience is next level. Barnes has never worked anywhere without a Michelin star before, so let’s not tempt fate, but.. What are the prices like?  Dinner tasting menus are priced at £120 and £165 but there’s also a zippy four-course lunch deal at £50. A wine flight will set you back at least £80 and the botanical-driven non-alcoholic pairing is £40. What should I order? As is de rigueur with tasting menus, your choice is limited to just two options, so come with an open mind and an open wallet (or better yet, wait till your birthday). Funds allowing, we’d always advocate going for the whole shebang, especially since in this case, the longer, pricier menu currently features an unmissable lobster-based snack. If, on the other hand, the ole cozzie livs is decimating your eating-out budget, there’s always the edited highlights of the fou

What’s the vibe?  A calm, cool and candlelit space, all minimalist wooden furniture, chilled out tunes, and wine bottles in the window. What are the prices like? Surprisingly reasonable for one of Manchester’s best loved restaurants. Prices range from flatbreads at six quid up to larger meaty plates around the £20 mark - there is the occasional full blowout sharing dish too. What should I order?  Everything. The short menu changes regularly and it is possible – and affordable – to eat the lot between 2-3 people. If you insist on exercising restraint (spoilsport), the urfa chilli and beef fat flatbread is unmissable and there is always a ceviche style dish on the menu featuring whatever fish is at its best that week. Leave room for dessert which, depending on your star sign, might be a delicate pannacotta with sharp seasonal fruit or a big splodge of dense chocolate mousse topped with olive oil and sea salt. What’s worth visiting nearby?  You’re in Ancoats, baby, Manchester’s most desirable neighbourhood. Hit one of the local wine bars (there are several within walking distance), stroll down picturesque Anita Street or assimilate with the locals and hole up in a coffee shop with your bestickered laptop. Whatever would Engels make of it? The best things to do in Manchester. 

What’s the vibe? Bright orange walls, neon sign, open kitchen… This is New York influenced high-end casual dining with a hyper-sustainable focus and the friendliest service in the city. What are the prices like? You could easily spend over £200 on a meal for two with wine, especially as the BTG options are irresistible. But there’s also a set sharing menu for £55 per person in the evening or £35 at lunch. What should I order? Ideally, sit at the counter overlooking the open kitchen and watch the laid back team in action. The set menus are a no-brainer but we like to pick and choose. Start with oysters, of course, and don’t miss the Pitchfork cheddar tart which evolves with the seasons, sometimes featuring brown crab, other times courgette and edible flowers. Go hard on the veg, it comes from the restaurant team’s own Cinderwood Market Garden and is the freshest and most interesting around. There’s a whole animal focus and we recommend trying the ‘interesting bits’. Think offal ragu, pig head rillettes or beef short rib. Desserts are light and fruity and the cheese course is always a shout. What’s worth visiting nearby? The restaurant is on the edge of Chinatown so if you have room for more food, check out one of the many great basement canteen restaurants like Noodle Alley or Pho Cue. You’re also just a five minute walk from both Manchester Art Gallery and the historic Portico Library.  The best things to do in Manchester.

What’s the vibe?  Kind of like your hippy mates have created a commune in a warehouse space and invited you round for tea – except they happen to be Michelin-level chefs. What are the prices like? At the top end of the price bracket but still lower than many other dining experiences of this magnitude. A seasonal tasting menu with matched wine flight (natural ofc) wil set you back around £200 per person. What should I order? Think you’re getting a choice do you? In keeping with the ‘going to a friend’s for tea’ vibe, you’ll get what you’re given – although there is some wiggle room for dietary requirements. Expect a curious procession of dishes made from veg grown in the restaurant’s nearby allotment (on top of Ann Summers in the precinct) and various bits of whatever locally reared whole animal is in the kitchen that week – oh, and of course ferments and preserves feature in a big way too. The surprise element is all part of the fun.  What’s worth visiting nearby? WTLGI’s home town of Stockport is so oh-so-hot right now. The team operates Yellowhammer bakery nearby and you must grab a Colombian breakfast at Cafe San Juan if you’re staying over. There are also great record shops, vintage markets and a legendary Foodie Friday knees up complete with dancing in the streets.  The best things to do in Manchester.