Fine Dining In Manchester

Indulge in a bit of upmarket Italian fare over at Don Giovanni on Oxford Street - a great pick for halal fine dining in Manchester. Adorned with crisp white tablecloths and vibrant orange chairs, it transports you out of the city and to the European coast. From fresh pasta and pizza to exquisite seafood, there's something for all tastes. Delve into plates of rich spaghetti carbonara, grilled Atlantic salmon served with asparagus and baby prawns, plus pizza topped with spicy salami. Wash it down with a tipple from their extensive selection of cocktails, such as the tequila and Campari-based Duck Or Dawn, wines and beers.

Manchester's highest restaurant also happens to be one of its finest. 20 Stories is an iconic bar and eatery that can be found on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields. The venue has a phenomenal outdoor terrace boasting leafy foliage and glossy interiors that'll make your jaw drop. Look out across the city as you dine on an exquisite menu that showcases ingredients sourced no further than 50 miles from Manchester. Whether you're in the market for a bottomless brunch, a set lunch, a dinner affair or simply one of the many a la carte beauties (think seared pigeon or pan-fried roasted cod with fennel and cauliflower), you won't be let down at this gorgeous haunt. 

Featuring both Mediterranean and Japanese small plates across their menu, Peter Street Kitchen is a great choice for fine dining when you're feeling indecisive. Nestled within the iconic Free Trade Hall, the award-winning restaurant displays modern interiors paired with pendant lighting and marble tables. Take a trip to the Rikyū Bar or The Library Champagne Bar before dinner to sip on some tempting cocktails like a yuzu and mandarin margarita, or the vodka-based Tonka Passion Fruit. As for the food? Think grilled lobster, sea bass carpaccio and much more.

5-star restaurants in Manchester are topped off by James Martin's joint, which consistently gets stellar reviews from locals and visitors alike. Located within a Great Northern warehouse, it boasts vaulted brick ceilings and striking industrial features giving it an urban feel. The Chefs Table offers an innovative seven-course meal that's bound to impress, and the a la carte includes British classics with an international twist. Head over to try everything from gin-cured mackerel to spring chicken chasseur with pancetta, baby onions, morels and boulangére potato.

A venture from San Carlo, Fumo is the place to go if you're looking for fine dining in Manchester city centre. Upon entry, you'll be met with dazzling interiors: think soft, golden hanging lights reminiscent of delicate petals and grand, marble tables. The space is complete with a terrace as well as private dining rooms for intimate affairs, and more. Italian cuisine is on the menu, with dishes whipped up using a robata charcoal flaming grill to create succulent plates of meat such as lamb cutlets with Barolo red wine and pan-fried chicken breast with spicy 'nduja Calabrian sausage. As for dessert? Tuck into a creamy tiramisu or a classic baked vanilla cheesecake.

Tast Catala is bringing a taste of Catalan to Manchester, thanks to being run by Michelin-starred chef Paco Perez. In a beautiful, modern dining space, it promises fare inspired by Barcelona made from carefully sourced ingredients and often fired up in its charcoal oven (think seabass 'El Txiringuito' and a 40-day-aged sirloin steak). Boasting one of the largest collections of Catalonian wines in the city, alongside international bottles, it's the ideal place to enjoy patatas bravas, and tuna belly with black olives and piparra alongside a glass of red. 

Argentinian dishes are aplenty at this edgy restaurant decked out with cow print chairs, an organ and sparkling silver chandeliers. Gaucho Manchester is sure to impress whether you visit for a family meal or book a spot in this converted church for date night. Browse a South American menu featuring some of the finest cuts of prime beef. Begin by tantalising your taste buds with some salmon tartare tacos or sea bass ceviche before sharing a chateaubriand or having a ribeye to yourself. Wash it all down with some signature cocktails, like the rum-based Honey Punch or a Lychee Blossom, made with vodka and reconstructed lemon juice.

Situated in Manchester's NOMA district, Skof is an elegant, Michelin star restaurant housed in a former Edwardian drapery warehouse. The interiors combine industrial heritage with modern charm, from the exposed red brick to steel columns and a minimalist design.

This is the debut solo venture of chef Tom Barnes, promising a menu of intricate international dishes. Choose between a set lunch or a number of different tasting menus, featuring everything from heritage beef short rib to Orkney scallops and steamed West Coast cod.

When it comes to Michelin star restaurants in Manchester, Mana was the first, making it an unmissable city staple. Run by chef Simon Martin, the Ancoats hotspot serves locally sourced food with an avant-garde menu and fine wine pairings. Interior-wise, it boasts simple yet elegant furnishings, with dangling droplets of light and soft curtains surrounding a modern dining room. Previous dishes have included the likes of smoked eel, or roasted hogget with white miso sabayon, demonstrating Japanese cooking techniques.

Some of the best fine dining Manchester has to offer is available to devour at this gorgeous, French-inspired restaurant that's bringing a modern take to traditional flavours. The name 63 Degrees comes from the ethos that 63° is the ideal temperature to cook meat long and slow, and the menu incorporates this experimental theory accompanied by a list of cocktails, wines, and Champagnes. Tuck into the likes of Dover sole stuffed with tarragon, whole lobster and snails in a garlic and herb dressing in bright, airy surrounds and revel in its chic, Parisian neighbourhood feel while planted firmly in the heart of the Northern Quarter.

Kala in the city centre and Didsbury sister spot Hispi are ideal when you want recognisable bistro favourites with a fine dining twist. Rustic wooden furnishings and warm golden lights go together to create a laid-back dining destination that offers two courses for £15 and three for £20 as part of its bistro menu. Expect European flavours combined with traditional British dishes here, with plates like sticky belly bacon in a buttermilk dressing and chicken schnitzel with a shawarma spiced butter from the a la carte proving too good to miss.

For those in search of fine dining with soul, Where The Light Gets In delivers a truly unique experience. Located in Stockport's old coffee warehouse, just minutes from central Manchester, the restaurant offers a surprise tasting menu that changes daily, based on what's fresh, foraged, or grown on their own farm.

Chef Sam Buckley leads with a zero-waste, ingredient-led ethos that has earned the restaurant a coveted Green Michelin Star.

To find The River Restaurant, you'll have to dip inside the five-star Lowry Hotel on the edge of Salford. Sporting eclectic, contemporary art, ribbons of foliage and burnt orange seating, it's safe to say that the dining room is gorgeous, alongside the terrace that overlooks the water. Executive chef Bartosz Szynaka is at the forefront of the kitchen, whipping up a variety of cuisines that have won the eatery two AA rosettes. To begin with, tuck into padron peppers sprinkled with dill salt flakes, followed by 40c trout sous vide, lemon sole, then Amalfi lemon cheesecake to finish. 

Manchester-born Adam Reid is a Great British Menu winner and a chef whose signature restaurant at The French continues his high-flying trajectory, with 44 AA rosettes to his name. Not only is the Grade II-listed dining area nothing short of stunning, thanks to its grand, sparkling chandeliers and luxurious booths, but modern, British dishes use some of the finest seasonal produce available. Examples of plates that'll have you most definitely drooling include the Cornish catch of the day with curry squash sauce and mussels, plus a meadowsweet custard with baked apple, sugar biscuit and prune juice.

One of the most romantic restaurants in Manchester for fine dining is Tattu, the modern Chinese destination packed with glorious blossom trees that change colour by season. It makes for a truly striking backdrop for a first date or second, with intimate lighting and glossy tables. As for the menu? Expect sophisticated, contemporary takes on classic flavours taking you on a journey from East to West across small plates, mains and cocktails (the floral Shi Cosmo is a standout). Begin with pan-seared pork dumplings before a Wok Fried Angry Bird (chicken with roasted chilli peppers and sesame honey soy), followed by Asian pear sticky toffee pudding. 

An extension of The Lowry's Theatre and Gallery, Pier Eight's simple, contemporary restaurant invites guests to relax and indulge in modern British food with a focus on local flavours. Nestled waterside overlooking Salford Quays, the dining room sports large windows where diners can look out and delight in pretty views. Those looking to enjoy an exceptional dinner before a show will not be disappointed here, with two courses for £30 or three for only £5 more. Begin your feast with smoked salmon roulade, before inhaling char siu belly pork or sweet potato and caramelised onion Wellingtons. Then, finish with a strawberry mille-feuille or miso millionaire's torte. 

Erst is the stripped-back Ancoats eatery that's earned itself a nod from the Michelin Guide. The natural wine bar features simplistic decor with grey brickwork and a silver counter where revellers can sit and enjoy a selection of seasonal small plates. The culinary focus is on British produce, while the wine list is largely natural and biodynamic. Book now to discover your favourite spot to catch up with friends, and share the likes of Cantabrian anchovies, braised onions with stracciatella and breadcrumbs, plus panna cotta with prunes in monbazar. 

Situated in Hardman Square, Louis is a glamourous restaurant that's inspired by New York City. They offer a unique combination of Italian-American cuisine and live music, providing a supper club-style dining experience with nightly performances of jazz bands, vocalists and more.

The sultry, dimly lit space is ideal for date night, offering a range of expertly crafted cocktails. Dishes range from rigatoni alla vodka to lobster ravioli and wagyu steaks, with tasting menus available if you want to try a bit of everything. Plus, they offer brunch here as well.

A rising star on Manchester's fine dining map, Restaurant Örme is an intimate and beautifully curated experience led by chefs Tom Wilson and Jack Fields. Located in Urmston, this ten-table spot embraces sustainable cooking and local sourcing, serving an inventive tasting menu that celebrates whole-animal butchery and seasonal ingredients.

With a minimalist Nordic aesthetic and relaxed, unpretentious service, Örme strips fine dining back to what really matters: exceptional flavour, thoughtful presentation, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. No wonder it's caught the attention of the Michelin Guide.