Manchester

SORA Deansgate offers a stylish escape above the city, where panoramic views meet bold, contemporary dining. Drawing inspiration from vibrant Asian flavours and modern small plate culture, the experience is designed for sharing and socialising in a sleek, rooftop setting. With a focus on quality ingredients, elegant presentation, and a lively yet relaxed atmosphere, Sora brings a fresh perspective to the heart of Manchester.

Can Petit in Ancoats is a warm and lively Spanish tapas bar tucked inside Cocoa Cabana. Serving up authentic flavours, it’s the sort of place where classics like patatas bravas, albóndigas and gambas al ajillo share the menu with more inventive finds like pork cheek sandwiches and Galician‑style chorizo. Tapas are generously sized and mostly £5 per dish, so it's perfect for sampling and sharing. The ambience is relaxed but upbeat; expect friendly service, cosy interiors and a buzzing crowd. Ideal for dinner with friends or a casual night out when you’re in the mood for good food and great value.

Located in Spinningfields, Fenix is a theatrical, high-concept destination reimagining Greek-Mediterranean cuisine. Inspired by the mythical firebird, the dramatic interior features a visual mezze of volcanic stone, limewashed coves, and pampas grass, centering around a live charcoal Robata grill. The menu prioritises sophisticated sharing-style plates, combining ancestral Hellenic flavours with contemporary fine-dining techniques. Signature dishes include a deconstructed short rib moussaka with Graviera cheese, silky white smoked taramasalata with orange roe, and rich beef paccheri pasta with short rib and truffle. It is a glamorous, flavour-driven sanctuary offering a luxurious, modern taste of Mykonos

A stone's throw from Manchester Town Hall, El Kabron arrived in September 2024 with serious Spanish pedigree behind it — the team responsible have been serving some of the city's finest Iberian small plates through La Bandera for over a decade. Here, the focus shifts to pintxos — those tiny, skewered morsels of Basque bar culture, elevated well beyond the usual: think beef cheeks, tortilla de patata, and bites that pack far more punch than their size suggests. Larger tapas plates sit alongside for those wanting more, and the drinks list is every bit the match for the food. Set in one of the prettiest corners of the city centre, El Kabron is compact, characterful, and very hard to leave after just one round.

Tucked just off Deansgate on Ridgefield, La Bandera has been a Manchester favourite since 2014. The name means "the flag", and the menu gathers flavours from all over Spain under one roof, with a distinct Canary Islands streak. Don't miss the award-winning squid ink croquetas, the gambas volcán (king prawns in Canarian spices, known in the kitchen as the Canarian curry) or the twice-cooked Galician octopus with mojo rojo. Pair it all with a glass of Albariño or a jug of sangria and settle in. A proper taste of Spain in the heart of the city.

On the corner of Great Ancoats Street and Port Street, Proloco is a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant made for sharing. It comes from chef Richard Carver, founder of Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza, and Dan Hope. The heart of the menu is the 18-inch deck-oven pizza, made with flour grown and milled for them in the Lake District and topped with the best local produce, on a selection that changes week to week. Alongside sit seasonal sharing plates and a carefully chosen wine list, with house-made ice cream for dessert, churned using organic Cumbrian milk.

On Tib Street in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Soots is a cosy pasta restaurant named after its founders' cocker spaniel. Ellie Proudfoot, a former private chef, and Ruth Duarte first built a loyal following at Altrincham Market before opening here in 2025. Everything on the menu is plant-based and made in house, from fresh pasta to seasonal small plates, with menus that change regularly and never feel like a compromise. The space is small and intimate, with green arches lining the walls, candlelit tables and an open kitchen in full view, plus a huge window that opens straight out onto the street.