Fine Dining In Manchester

Looking for somewhere to enjoy the most sophisticated of meals? Indulge in elegant and luxurious spots right here. Whether it's the breathtaking settings that draw you in or the Michelin-rated food, there are a number of venues that fit the bill for your special occasion. Check out our recommendations for the best fine dining Manchester has to offer. 

Last edited by Scarlett Welch

Last updated on 4th June 2024




James Martin Restaurant

NEW YEAR’S EVE

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.

Don Giovanni

Pre-Theatre Menu | 2 course £23.95 | 3 course £27.95 and 2 other offers

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.

Australasia

This Pacific-inspired fine dining restaurant, bar, and lounge incorporates style and modernity with its all-white furniture that will have you imagining you're on the beach. Australisia can be found downstairs under a striking, triangular glass exterior, offering laid-back luxury since 2011. Drink signature cocktails such as a Smoked Plum Negroni or a sake-based Saka Kolda before dining on some of its elegant fare. Opt for a sharing menu for £75 per person and devour the likes of Peking duck dragon roll futomaki, seared beef nigiri and satay chicken skewers.

Peter Street Kitchen

5 Course Christmas Luncheon: £155 and 7 other offers

Featuring both Mexican 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. Then, inhale the likes of black cod with green chilli shiso salsa, gyoza tacos with truffle chilli dressing and habanero matchstick chicken.

Gaucho Manchester

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.

20 Stories

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. 

Erst

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. 

63 Degrees

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.

The River Restaurant

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. 

Fumo

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.

Pier Eight

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. 

Mana

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.

Asha's

When only a fine dining take on Indian will do, cue Asha's. This award-winning destination is all about transforming the finest flavours from the country across crowd-pleasing, contemporary plates, alongside cocktails, wine, traditional desserts and more. It dazzles with dangling beads of light, vintage-looking mirrors fixed to bare brick walls and dark wooden furnishings. Wolf down North-West inspired cuisine such as Amritsari fish, lamb dum biryani and Kodi curry, followed by a speciality cocktail, like The Maharaja's Mistress, made with rose jam, curry leaf-infused arrack and Bacardi rum. 

Tattu

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. 

Tast Catala

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. 

Kala

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.

Adam Reid at The French

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.