New Bar Spy - Riva Blu - Manchester

Waves lapping against the beach, stunning vineyards and a sprinkling of 1960s glamour... You could be forgiven for thinking you've somehow woken up on the Amalfi Coast. But nope, that's just the tranquil atmosphere and beautiful nautical-inspired interiors of Riva Blu, Manchester's latest Italian restaurant.

Nestled in the Corn Exchange, this plush eatery is bringing a taste of La Dolce Vita (the sweet life) to the city, without even having to hop on a plane. Think celebrating all that's good and great about Italy in the form of 60 dishes that balance authentic recipes with modern flare. From lobster linguine and buratta pizza, to a sharing platter packed with Parma ham, salame Napoli, buffalo mozzarella, olives, sun-dried tomatoes and more, there's a cornucopia of indulgent plates and delicacies in store.

Dessert certainly won't disappoint either, with bomboloni, Italian doughnuts filled with Amalfi lemon, Baileys panna cotta and a classic coffee-laced tiramisu making the menu. Drool. Our highlight, though, is their signature cocktail, the 'Margariva'; a twist on the usual tequila-based tipple using Cavaillon melon, coconut, honey and lime, which is bound to wash everything down nicely.