Manchester's got some of the UK's most delicious dining spots, and did you know some of your faves offer up incredible set menus that won't break the bank? With everything from French fine dining and stunning restaurants with a view, to the most insane Indian cuisine and an exclusive celebrity hotspot, there's something for everyone. Have a read through our guide to the best set menu restaurants in Manchester.
A homage to the golden age of high society, Grand Pacific is a brilliantly bougie spot right in the heart of the city. All art deco vibes, statement lighting and gold accents, it's perfect for date nights and special celebrations.
The Churchill Set Menu showcases the kitchen's best creations. Take your pick of delicious dishes like chicken liver parfait, steak frites, gnocchi and vanilla creme brulee.
2 or 3 Course Festive Set Menu - From £39 and 2 other offers
Situated in Manchester's iconic Free Trade Hall, Peter Street Kitchen serves up delicious Japanese and Mediterranean dishes. This stunning restaurant offers a stunning, but affordable, set menu where you can get two mouth-watering dishes for just £23, or three for £28. Some of the plates include seared beef gyoza tacos and rigatoni alla vodka.
Just down the road from the AO Arena, Riva Blu is perfect for a pre-show pitstop, as well as a drink and a bite just because. Expect a delicious mix of signature and classic Italian dishes, paired with cracking wines and creative cocktails.
Available all day, every day, the Riva Venti menu gives a choice of two courses for just £20. Choose from the likes of calamari, arancini, polpette, pizza, lasagna and plenty more.
Looking for the best dinner set menus in Manchester? Browns Brasserie and Bar is just the ticket. Set in a historic banking hall, this stylish restaurant serves a whole host of British classics, as well as a great selection of cocktails and Champagne (for those special occasions). They also offer an affordable early dinner set menu, where you can indulge in three courses for just £24.50. It includes all the good stuff, including moules frites, followed by salted caramel profiteroles.
Located on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields, 20 Stories is home to those 360-degree views of Manchester's skyline that make it such a mainstay on people's social feeds. But aside from its looks, this swish restaurant also offers fine British fare, including set lunch and dinner menus.
Expect two courses for £30 or three for £35 at lunch, or £39.50 for three courses at dinner. While a more affordable way to enjoy this rooftop restaurant, you'll enjoy top dishes like grilled chicken escalope, with crushed new potatoes, and creamed leeks.
Mowgli serves up sensational Indian street food from Manchester's Corn Exchange. With several set menus up for grabs, there's something here for every size of appetite.
Get down here on Fridays or Saturdays for the Supper Club - with a choice of curries and street plates for just £40 per person. On the lighter side, the Lite Tiffin menu gives you a choice of sharing platters for just £15 per person.
For a dining experience that hits the sweet spot between quality and value, look no further than Side Street. Tucked away in the iconic ABC building, this vibrant bar and kitchen offers a stellar Sunday set menu for just £30 for two courses, or £36 for three, between 12pm and 6pm.
Expect mouthwatering dishes like mini chicken Kievs, half rotisserie chicken, and a decadent chocolate brownie to round things off. Whether you're after a casual midweek feast or a stylish start to your weekend, Side Street delivers on flavour, atmosphere, and creativity.
Situated in Deansgate's Elliot House is Gusto Manchester, a fabulous Italian restaurant and bar. Boasting chic 1920s interiors and high-end Italian dishes, you can't go wrong with this dining hotspot. Choose from their silver set menu (£30 per person), gold (£40) or platinum offering (£50) for a delicious three-course meal consisting of Italian favourites, such as creamy burrata, pan-seared scallops, and crab linguine.
From the team behind Tattu, Fenix is a stunning Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Manchester's St John's district. Curated by executive head chef Ippokratis Anagnostelis, its set menus serve up a sample of its most sensational dishes.
The all-day option (two courses for £29.50 or three for £34.50) packs in a choice of perfect plates, from spicy meatballs and chicken souvlaki to sea bass fillet and rib eye steak. Booking in for dinner? The evening set menu adds a few more options, from smoked Iberico ribs to vanilla creme brulee.
In the heart of Spinningfields, you'll find The Ivy, a celebrity hotspot with the most stunning decor and incredible foodie options. Expect a British food menu focusing on fresh and seasonal ingredients; there's even a gorgeous roof terrace to enjoy while you drink and dine.
They've got a very popular 'taste of spring' set menu on offer, where you can devour everything from Scottish smoked salmon and haddock fishcakes to half roast chicken, included in two courses for £27.95, or three for £32.95. It also boasts a heritage set menu, which is two courses for £20.95 per person.
Slap-bang in Hardman Square, Louis is a glamorous, New York-inspired restaurant, all decked out with plush leather booths, art deco accents and mood lighting. With Ippokratis Anagnostelis and Matteo D'Elia in the kitchen, it serves up all kinds of Italian-American staples.
Take your pick of its set menus to tuck into the likes of steak tartare, spicy meatballs, Dover sole, rigatoni alla vodka and grain-fed Angus rib eye - all from just £85 per person.
Tucked away in Castlefield, Albert's Shed is one of Manchester's most popular restaurant and bars. On a mission to serve up top quality dishes without fine dining price tags, it's built a loyal base of happy customers.
For just £15.95, you can take your pick of plates on the two-course set menu. Expect to tuck into the likes of chicken orzo soup, fish and chips, crispy pork belly and burnt Basque cheesecake.
A wonderland of eclectic decor, pink blossom and stunning artwork, Tattu is a showstopper before you've tasted a single dish. When you do, this place gets even more incredible.
The all day set menu gives you a choice of plates, from pan-seared pork dumplings and white miso salmon to soy aged steak and Asian pear sticky toffee pudding. Tuck into two courses for just £29.50 or three for £34.50.
The popular bar and steakhouse, Hawksmoor, offers some of the most delicious meaty plates and award-winning cocktails. And if you're looking for the best set menu in Manchester, then Hawksmoor is definitely a strong contender. You can bag yourself a three-course meal for just £26 as part of their early evening menu, or a set lunch featuring two courses for £26, or three for £26. This mouth-watering set menu includes potted beef and bacon, rump steak and a sticky toffee sundae to finish.
Get a taste for Argentinian steaks, incredible wine and Latin flavours at Gaucho Manchester. This chic restaurant in the heart of Deansgate offers an array of set menus, including their lunch (£17.95 for two courses, or £19.95 for three), or legacy (£30 for three courses). Expect to be wowed by their ancho and lomo steaks, as well as their dulce de leche pancakes. They're all *chef's kiss*.
The third Sexy Fish restaurant landed in Manchester's Spinningfields in the autumn of 2023 and the aquatic-themed interiors, waterfall backdrop and tropical aquarium really take the bait. Despite being one of Manchester's celeb hotspots, you can still dine here without breaking the bank.
Their set lunch menu can be booked all day Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm, offering two courses for £21, and their 'sexy' set menu is available every day, with three courses for £28. Expect delicious tiger prawn tempura, spicy sashimi and Japanese wagyu (and that's not even half of it).
Backing onto The Lowry Theatre and Gallery is Lowy Bar & Kitchen, a stylish restaurant and bar overlooking the waterside on Salford Quays. Serving up modern British dishes such as a hearty tomato soup and tender pan-fried cod, and if you're looking for set menus in Manchester City centre, you can book in for a three-course meal here for just £38. It makes for the perfect pre-theatre dining and drinking date.
