Are you a sucker for the weird and the wonderful? Got hankerings for the unusual? Feeling hungry on top of all that? Then it's these quirky restaurants in Manchester that can sort you right out. From hidden eateries and basement burgers to Stateside-inspired joints, there's no shortage of unique places to eat - and we're here to show you where to find them.
Last edited by Kiera Chapman
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 cocktails, delicious food and the chance to distil your very own bottle of spirit.
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Whipping up an eclectic mix of Japanese and Mexican small plates, Peter Street Kitchen is an unusual but quality restaurant. Topping it off? Their bar is mixing a range of signature cocktails to accompany their list of Champagne and sake.
Spread across three floors, this is a bar, restaurant and immersive theatre experience in one venue. When you're not being dazzled by Impossible's performers or molecular cocktails, you can feast on delicious grill food in their dining area, before unearthing the hidden gin palace.
If you're on the hunt for the top restaurants offering up something a little different, Flight Club has your back. 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 sure to be a hit.
Point Blank Shooting is a fun destination where you can have a go on a simulation range, all while quaffing a selection of two for £12 cocktails and munching through American-style plates like pizza, hot dogs or nachos. Oh, yes.
One of the most quirky places to eat in Manchester city centre has to be The Lawn Club. This restaurant bar will keep you fed and watered with handcrafted cocktails and refreshing spritzes or scrumptious light bites and pizzas, with bookable areas including comfy chairs, cosy greenhouses and private pods. When the sun is shining though, there's nowhere better to be than their spacious lawn and terrace areas, complete with an outdoor bar for alfresco sips.
If you need themed restaurants in Manchester, how about the jungle gym-inspired interiors at Mowgli. Expect hanging ropes, swing seats and rustic wood throughout the space, where you'll be sat munching on Indian street food.
From sushi and bao across bento boxes to Japanese-inspired afternoon tea, Sunset by Australasia has a load of quirky meals for you to try. Better yet? The interiors and terrace here make it a pink paradise too.
Inspired by uber-luxe bars in New York, LA and Miami, this late-night party palace also serves up an international à la carte menu and bottomless meals. As for afters? You can nab yourself some hand-crafted cocktails or watch the live entertainment.
Grand Pacific is on our list of the best restaurants in Manchester city centre for quirkiness, thanks to 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.
Quirky nice restaurants in Manchester don't get much better than On The Hush. This NQ den is home to cocktails served in glass slippers, a life-sized phone box for photo opportunities and a range of mouthwatering meals to boot.
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 unique restaurant through and through. When you're not munching through the menu, check out the live bands and karaoke nights.
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.
As the first English opening from Scottish chef Nico Simeone, Six by Nico is the unusual concept restaurant bringing affordable tasting menus to Manchester. From American diner through to fairy tale food, the space's theme changes often, meaning that multiple visits are a must.
Starting life as a street food stall, Platzki is a slick Polish eatery 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.
One of most fun restaurants with entertainment in Manchester, Albert's Schloss doesn't slow down for anyone or anything. Not only can you hunker down for huge meat dishes and even bigger Bavarian beer, but also table dancing, entertainment, in-house bands, cabaret and jaw-dropping antics every night.
Colourful, bright and bringing you the best that the Middle East has to offer, Comptoir Libanais shines as one of the most fun family restaurants in Manchester. Head on down for luscious Lebanese dining across a bright space.
Menagerie is a former office block that's now fronting flower walls, suspended art and neon signs, making it one of the most unique, romantic restaurants in Manchester. Stopping by for a meal? Make sure your phone is charged as this place is seriously Instagrammable.
Located on the corner of Cutting Room Square, Elnecot is serving up some incredible small plates. From a Manchester egg with piccalilli to sexy greens 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?
One of the most cool places to eat in Manchester's Northern Quarter, Trof is a staple for its easy-going vibes, delicious grub, unique interiors and purse-friendly prices. Swing by to mix with a buzzing crowd while grazing on daily specials served fresh from the kitchen.
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.
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 NQ. A haven for Mancunian foodies, this place serves drool-worthy tacos, bao buns and loaded fries starting at £1.
