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Life In Manchester Life is too short to eat boring food! Find the BEST Manchester foodie recommendations here 💛

HOW did I live on Chapel Street for YEARS and never try Y2 CAFE! 😭❤️This little Persian spot is all mismatched furniture...
19/10/2026

HOW did I live on Chapel Street for YEARS and never try Y2 CAFE! 😭❤️

This little Persian spot is all mismatched furniture, board games, pots of tea and long conversations. There’s community events too, and it genuinely feels like you’re sitting in someone’s living room. You could easily lose an afternoon here.

We shared a pot of Persian tea with saffron on the side, and a saffron matcha with lovely floral notes. SO good.

Food highlights include creamy homemade hummus topped with sumac and pomegranate, served with barbari bread, and kuku sibzamini - crispy Persian potato patties with fresh salad and tangy pickles.

There are traditional stews and platters, but I went for the Mama. One of the BEST sandwiches I’ve ever had!! Chicken wrapped in soft lavash with parsley, onions, gherkins, mayo and crisps. What a combo 😮‍💨

We also loved the crispy falafel baguette with gherkins, tomatoes, and coriander. Even better dipped into mast-o-khiar, a yoghurt, cucumber, mint and garlic dip.

I’m already planning my next visit and I NEED to try the desserts. Saffron halva, pistachio tiramisu and baklava are calling my name 🙂‍↕️✨

A historic MCR pub putting a spin on British classics 🤎The Oxnoble Manchester dates back to 1804, serving pub favourites...
15/10/2026

A historic MCR pub putting a spin on British classics 🤎

The Oxnoble Manchester dates back to 1804, serving pub favourites and seasonal specials. I’ve heard great things about their Sunday roasts, but we popped in for a midweek lunch.

We started with pulled duck croquettes paired with a fruity Vimto sauce, and sticky pork belly bites coated in a sweet, smoky BBQ glaze.

The 28-day dry-aged sirloin was beautifully tender, and came with hand-cut chips and portobello mushroom. The Oxnoble burger was a feast too, stacked with a beef patty, salty bacon, Monterey Jack, creamy mac sauce and HUGE onion rings in a pretzel bun.

We then shared a lemon, yuzu, and white chocolate cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. You can’t go wrong with either x

There’s something about escaping the rain and settling into a cosy restaurant for a long lunch, and El Gato Negro Tapas ...
13/10/2026

There’s something about escaping the rain and settling into a cosy restaurant for a long lunch, and El Gato Negro Tapas is one of my favourite spots for it 🍷🍂

The menu is packed with Spanish small plates, and naturally we ordered a bit of everything. Highlights included the seared king scallops, and the crispy prawn and squid croquettes topped with punchy Bilbaína sauce, lemon and dill.

For something richer, the Ibérico pork neck skewers came with smoky sobrasada, chilli oil, and sweet sherry-soaked raisins. And the Valencian shellfish rice was an interesting take on a paella, topped with crispy tempura cod cheeks and lemon aioli.

Obviously, no tapas spread is complete without patatas bravas covered in spiced tomato fritada and garlicky aioli!! And if you order anything, pls make it the peach, pineapple and padrón margarita - a fruitier, sweeter spicy marg. yum x

There’s something about escaping the Manchester rain and settling into a cosy restaurant for a long lunch, and El Gato N...
13/10/2026

There’s something about escaping the Manchester rain and settling into a cosy restaurant for a long lunch, and El Gato Negro Tapas is one of my favourite spots for it 🍷🍂

The menu is packed with Spanish small plates, from the classics to more interesting seafood and meat dishes, so naturally we ordered a bit of everything.

The seared king scallops were beautifully tender and fragrant, while the prawn and squid croquettes had crisp golden shells and soft, creamy centres topped with punchy Bilbaína sauce and a little freshness from lemon and dill.

For something richer, the Ibérico pork neck skewers came with smoky sobrasada, chilli oil, and sweet sherry-soaked raisins. And the Valencian shellfish rice was an interesting take on a paella, topped with crispy tempura cod cheeks and lemon aioli.

Obviously, no tapas spread is complete without patatas bravas, especially when they’re covered in spiced tomato fritada and garlicky aioli.

Washed down with peach, pineapple and padrón margaritas, a fruitier, slightly sweeter take on a spicy marg x

A THREE-MONTH WAITLIST… BUT IS IT WORTH IT? 🇧🇷✨SAMPA is one of Manchester’s most interesting dining experiences. Just 12...
12/10/2026

A THREE-MONTH WAITLIST… BUT IS IT WORTH IT? 🇧🇷✨

SAMPA is one of Manchester’s most interesting dining experiences. Just 12 seats, a secret location revealed 24hrs before your booking, and an ever-changing tasting menu celebrating Brazil.

Created by Caroline Martins, also behind BRASA, it’s the first Brazilian restaurant in the UK to be listed in the Michelin Guide.

The evening starts in the art gallery with Brazilian snacks and canapés, including crispy chicken coxinhas, smoked cheese custard with sweet guava paste, and warm pão de queijo with nutty brown butter.

Then it’s through to the chefs table, where the tasting menu really gets going. Delicate hand-dived scallops with heart of palm and cassava mousseline. Smoky chicken skewers with coconut and chuchu rice. A rich, meaty Brazilian black bean stew served alongside picanha, okra, rice and nutty farofa. Each dish was better than the last.

Desserts were just as playful. A refreshing laranja-lima sorbet, açaí with yoghurt and guaraná, and the showstopping ‘Dormouse’, a chocolate mushroom filled with tropical guava, blackberry and cherry. Almost too pretty to eat.

The w**e pairing sounded great but we opted for the mocktails, which were INCREDIBLE. Such interesting flavours, with each drink thoughtfully matched to the food.

The evening finishes in a cosy third room with petit fours, coffee and mate tea, a perfect final touch. Save this one for a special occasion 📌

09/10/2026

the v busy life of a Manchester-based freelance girlie✨ meetings, content, running around the city and .strips coming along for the ride | ad

Gusto has had a HUGE glow up🍸✨ has opened in the same Deansgate spot, but it feels like a completely different restauran...
09/10/2026

Gusto has had a HUGE glow up🍸✨

has opened in the same Deansgate spot, but it feels like a completely different restaurant. Think Italian golden-age glamour, a baby grand piano, live musicians and DJs, and Manchester’s first Negroni bar.

Highlights included the confit garlic pizzette, tiger prawns swimming in burnt chilli butter and Amalfi lemon, and the crispy Tuscan fried chicken served with a salty, smoky buttermilk and pancetta ranch.

The steak was cooked beautifully, but honestly I’d come back for the truffle fettuccine alone.

Save room for dessert bcos there are lots of Italian faves to choose from, including tiramisu, Marsala crème caramel and the Amalfi lemon sundae with fior di latte soft serve. 😮‍💨

Is this MCR’s poshest Sunday Roast? 🤎Set inside the Stock Exchange Hotel, tender Restaurant by Niall Keating is easily o...
07/10/2026

Is this MCR’s poshest Sunday Roast? 🤎

Set inside the Stock Exchange Hotel, tender Restaurant by Niall Keating is easily one of the prettiest dining rooms in the city. High ceilings, beautiful interiors, and a special-occasion feel without ever feeling too formal.

The Sunday menu is £40 for two courses or £48.50 for three. We went for the salt-aged Hereford beef and corn-fed chicken, both served with Yorkshire pudding, traditional vegetables, red w**e sauce and unlimited gravy.

The surprise fave was the mushroom parfait with black truffle and PX jelly, served with toasted brioche. Genuinely one of the best starters I’ve had - rich, slightly sweet, ridiculously moreish.

We ended on a crème brûlée and sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. Both excellent, although by that point we were VERY full.

Ps: it’s worth stopping by STERLING BAR downstairs for a cocktail before or after 🙂‍↕️

celebrating Oktoberfest at Manchester’s only German restaurant 🍻🇩🇪Albert’s Schloss is going all out until 25th October w...
06/10/2026

celebrating Oktoberfest at Manchester’s only German restaurant 🍻🇩🇪

Albert’s Schloss is going all out until 25th October with live oompah bands, keg tapping, wiener eating competitions, and all six official Oktoberfest beers.

we went for the sausage plate, schnitzel and alpine croquettes, exactly what you wanna be eating with a stein in hand x

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