Quirky Restaurants in Manchester

The coolest kids in town, Cane and Grain is a wonderland for American-style drinking and dining. One of the most unique restaurants in Manchester, this place is a must for tucking into droolworthy burgers and ribs before heading to the tiki bar and speakeasy on other floors.

Date night with a twist? Food and fun with the crew? Boasting pizzas by the paddle, alcoholic slushies and one of the best darts experiences in the country, this tech-savvy gaming bar is one of Manchester's quirkiest restaurants.

A quirky Northern Quarter restaurant with glowing neon signage, modern decor and a menu of innovative Mexican fare, El Capo is one of the best places to eat in Manchester. Fill up on mouthwatering burritos, tacos and mezcal-laced sips to a soundtrack of live DJs at this cool spot. 

Grand Pacific is a quirky restaurant in Manchester purely for its opulent dishes and handcrafted cocktails. Taking inspiration from the age of exploration, their bold menu showcases global flavours, while interiors feature wooden panelling, dimmed lighting and luxurious touches. 

A restaurant, bar and gin distillery all in one? Three Little Words is not to be missed. Founded by the team behind Manchester Gin, this sleek hideaway is tucked away under the arches, offering gin cocktails, delicious food and the chance to distil your very own bottle of gin.

One of the best places for outdoor dining in Manchester has to be The Lawn Club. This quirky summer restaurant and bar will keep you fed and watered with handcrafted cocktails and scrumptious light bites, with bookable areas including comfy chairs, cosy greenhouses and private pods.

Spread across three floors, this is a bar, restaurant and immersive theatre experience rolled into one. When you're not being dazzled by Impossible's performers or molecular cocktails, you can feast on delicious grill food in their restaurant before unearthing the hidden gin palace.

With a name like this, you just know Crazy Pedro's Pizza Parlour is doing its best to keep things cool and quirky. The Deansgate joint makes mouthwatering freshly baked pizzas which can be paired with incredible slushy cocktails and rounds of beer pong. 

One of the coolest restaurants in Manchester, Trof is a staple in the Northern Quarter for its easy-going vibes, delicious grub and purse-friendly prices. Swing by to mix with a buzzing crowd while grazing on daily specials served fresh from the kitchen. 

Located on the corner of Cutting Room Square, Elnecot is serving up some incredible small plates. From a Manchester egg to a spiced cabbage that might just change your life, the food should be enough to get you down, but while you're there, why not dive into the cocktail selection too?

Recognisable by its golden interiors, Cottonopolis one of the coolest places to eat in the city and it's certainly one of the most unique. From their expertly mixed selection of cocktails down to their artistic sushi plates and swoon-worthy interiors, this former warehouse has had a real glow-up.

Colourful, bright and bringing you the best that the Middle East has to offer, Comptoir Libanais shines in the casual dining department. Head on down for luscious Lebanese dining with a twist as you can also purchase plenty of dining and commercial products from within the restaurant itself.

There's a motorbike over the entrance, the food takes an American leaning and the bar serves up bourbon and whiskey; Bunny Jackson's is a quirky Manchester restaurant through and through. When you're not munching through the menu, check out the live bands and karaoke nights.

With stained glass windows and bright yellow booths, Dishoom Manchester is a snazzy spot that combines the city's history with the culture of Bombay's Irani cafes. Set in a Grade-II listed hall, the restaurant has got a loyal following thanks to its innovative twists on Indian food.

Starting life as a street food stall, Platzki is a slick Polish restaurant that has gone from strength to strength. Expect queues at this Spinningfields spot, which serves up a weekly menu of goodies, including the likes of dumplings, slow-braised ribs and beetroot gnocchi.

If yiou fancy a country escape but can't get out of the city, this is the quirky restart in Manchester for you. Join Allotment for botanical-inspired cocktails and rustic British plates while relaxing against a backdrop of foliage, wooden plots and gardening tools. 

From the upside-down canoe suspended from the ceiling through to the experimental Mexican menu, Wolf at the Door is one quirky restaurant in the Northern Quarter. A haven for foodies in Manchester, this place serves droolworthy tacos, bao buns and loaded fries. 

Bringing a slice of sunny LA to Manchester, FoodWell is a unique concept restaurant based in Salford. The large warehouse space isn't just about food, though don't miss out on its all-day menu of healthy bites, as it offers experiences like reggae yoga supper clubs and sensory high teas.

Menagerie is an office block turned beautiful space with flower walls, suspended art and neon signs, making it one of the coolest and pretties restaurants in Manchester. Stopping by for brunch? Make sure your phone is charged as this place is seriously Instagrammable. 

The Ivy Spinningfields is ago-to quirky restaurant if you're after a night of sophisticated dining in a luxurious setting. With its patterned interiors, emerald green bar and picture perfect rooftop terrace, the venue serves a brasserie-style menu with handcrafted cocktails to match. 

One of the wildest restaurants in Manchester, Albert's Schloss doesn't slow down for anyone or anything. Not only can you hunker down for big meat and even bigger Bavarian beer, but also table dancing, entertainment, in-house bands and jaw-dropping antics almost every night.

While we know that many would suggest you don't play with your food, this place does. One of the most fun places to eat in Manchester, Dog Bowl not only comes at you with burgers and American inspired bites aplenty, but you can also close dinner with a go on their bowling lanes.

The first English opening from Scottish chef Nico Simeone, Six by Nico is his unusual concept restaurant. From American diner through to eating by the seaside, the space's theme changes every six weeks, meaning that multiple visits are a must.