Manchester, Liverpool, and the Peak District Restaurants

Dining options in Manchester and Liverpool vary from smart cafés offering Modern British, Continental, or global fare to world-class international restaurants for all budgets. Manchester has one of Britain's biggest Chinatowns, and locals also favor the 40-odd Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian restaurants along Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, a mile south of the city center, known as Curry Mile.

One local dish that has survived is Bakewell pudding (never called "tart" in these areas, as its imitations are elsewhere in England). Served with custard or cream, the pudding—a pastry covered with jam and a thin layer of almond-flavor filling—is a real joy of visiting Bakewell.

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  • 1. 20 Stories

    $$$ | British

    The latest venture by Aiden Byrne, formerly of the acclaimed Manchester House, this restaurant is perched high above the city and offers panoramic...

    The latest venture by Aiden Byrne, formerly of the acclaimed Manchester House, this restaurant is perched high above the city and offers panoramic views from floor-to-ceiling windows (beware the selfie-takers). The views are accompanied by a tempting menu that draws on ingredients sourced within 50 miles of Manchester, whether it be in innovative Modern British dishes or classics such as cod cheeks and chips. Both the restaurant and the cocktail bar spill out onto a roof terrace with heaters and blankets in cold weather.

    1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Sq., Manchester, M3 3EB, England
    0161-204–3333

    Known For

    • The best views in Manchester
    • Relaxed take on fine dining
    • Great cocktail and craft beer menu
  • 2. Bakchich

    $ | City Centre | Lebanese

    Those who like good food at great prices head to Bakchich, a Lebanese street-food joint featuring a large communal table with smaller tables...

    Those who like good food at great prices head to Bakchich, a Lebanese street-food joint featuring a large communal table with smaller tables dotted around it. On offer are delicious hot and cold meze, meshawi charcoal grills (chicken, lamb, and seafood), wraps, salads, and a small but tasty kids' menu. The nonalcoholic drink list includes fresh lemonade and smoothies.

    54 Bold St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 4ER, England
    0151-707–1255

    Known For

    • Middle Eastern breakfasts
    • Fresh juices and mocktails
    • Huge portions
  • 3. Fischer's Baslow Hall

    $$$$ | Modern British

    This stately Edwardian manor on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate houses an intimate, fairly formal restaurant along with 11 elegant bedrooms...

    This stately Edwardian manor on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate houses an intimate, fairly formal restaurant along with 11 elegant bedrooms (from £230). All evening meals and most lunches are fixed price; dishes rely heavily on high-quality British ingredients—wild venison, John Dory, and Cornish Dover sole—used with imagination and aplomb. Book a seat at the Kitchen Tasting Bench (two to four people) and enjoy the Taste of Britain menu of dishes prepared in front of your eyes. Bedrooms each have their own character, but all feature top-class linens, towels, and robes, plus handmade organic toiletries. Some have private walled courtyard gardens, and one has an original art nouveau fireplace. There's also a cottage that sleeps two a five-minute walk away.

    Baslow Hall, Calver Rd., Baslow, Derbyshire, DE45 1RR, England
    01246-583259

    Known For

    • Cozy atmosphere
    • Lovely grounds with a kitchen garden
    • Chef's table experience
  • 4. Hispi Bistro

    $$ | Modern European

    Part of a small group of famously crowd-funded (yup, people liked the owner-chef so much they raised money so he could open a place in their...

    Part of a small group of famously crowd-funded (yup, people liked the owner-chef so much they raised money so he could open a place in their 'hood) restaurants found across northwest England, this neighborhood bistro offers ambitious dining at remarkably fair prices. In pared-back surroundings, expect the likes of torched mackerel, cured cod loin, and crottin cheese baked in truffle honey, plus wonderful accompaniments including hard-to-find vegetables. Gary Usher has now also opened another crowd-funded venue, KALA Bistro in the city center.

    1C School La., Didsbury, Manchester, Manchester, M20 6RD, England
    0161-445–3996

    Known For

    • Great-value early dinners
    • Exceptional kids’ menu
    • Sunday lunch
  • 5. Lunya

    $ | City Centre | Spanish

    An 18th-century warehouse on the edge of the Liverpool One shopping district houses this impressive Catalan fusion restaurant and deli, where...

    An 18th-century warehouse on the edge of the Liverpool One shopping district houses this impressive Catalan fusion restaurant and deli, where you can feast on classic and creative tapas dishes. An extensive breakfast menu makes this a great place to start your day, while the children's menu tempts those with junior foodies.

    55 Hanover St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 3DN, England
    0151-706–9770

    Known For

    • Tastings and skills master classes
    • Catalan breakfasts
    • Deli platters to share
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  • 6. Mowgli

    $ | City Centre | Indian

    Indian street food is the draw at this fun and colorful spot that has lights upcycled from old birdcages and a bar created from former railway...

    Indian street food is the draw at this fun and colorful spot that has lights upcycled from old birdcages and a bar created from former railway sleepers. Many of the vibrant dishes, such as the hugely popular yogurt chat bombs (crispy, filled bread puffs), are served in tiffin boxes (traditional Indian lunch containers) to charming effect. There are also great vegan, gluten-free, and kids’ menus. There's now a second Liverpool branch at Water Street and two branches in Manchester.

    69 Bold St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 4EZ, England
    0151-708–9356

    Known For

    • Innovative cocktails
    • Enthusiastic, informative staff
    • Handmade ice-cream cones
  • 7. Penny Pot Cafe

    $ | Café

    Nestled away in the trees beside Edale Station, this charming little spot has outdoor seating and cozy interiors warmed by a log-burner in the...

    Nestled away in the trees beside Edale Station, this charming little spot has outdoor seating and cozy interiors warmed by a log-burner in the chillier months. Walker-, cyclist- and dog-friendly, it serves everything from delicious panini and fresh soups to homemade cakes and scones amid images of local spots accompanied by poems. Occasional musical performances bring a lively touch to proceedings.

    Station Approach, Edale, Derbyshire, S33 7ZA, England
    01433-670688

    Known For

    • Warm, personal welcome
    • Live music
    • Nice starting/finishing point for wonderful walks
  • 8. Salt House Bacaro

    $ | City Centre | Italian

    This stylish place—a lively take on the workingmen's canteens of backstreet Venice, known as bacaros —offers highly creative small plates and...

    This stylish place—a lively take on the workingmen's canteens of backstreet Venice, known as bacaros—offers highly creative small plates and charcuterie. Options include croquettes, fried mixed fish, and pizzette (mini-pizzas).

    47 Castle St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L2 9UB, England
    0151-665–0047

    Known For

    • Cicchetti (sharing plates)
    • Casual eating at the bar—great for solo diners
    • Campari, Aperol, and Bellini cocktails
    • Fabulous cocktails, some with Italian bitters
  • 9. Stones

    $$$ | Modern British

    This charming restaurant with its riverside terrace serves top-notch Modern British food. The tasting menus (with or without a paired wine flight...

    This charming restaurant with its riverside terrace serves top-notch Modern British food. The tasting menus (with or without a paired wine flight) take regional flavors and infuse them with contemporary flair.

    1C Dale Rd., Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3LT, England
    01629-56061

    Known For

    • Dedicated vegetarian menu
    • Alfresco dining
    • Great catch-of-the-day dishes
    • Dedicated vegetarian menus
    • Emphasis on seasonality

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Tues. Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 10. TAST

    $$$ | City Centre | Spanish

    Financed by one-time Barcelona soccer legend and Manchester City FC manager Pep Guardiola, this Catalonian restaurant pulls no punches when...

    Financed by one-time Barcelona soccer legend and Manchester City FC manager Pep Guardiola, this Catalonian restaurant pulls no punches when it comes to contemporary cooking, with dishes courtesy of two Michelin-star chef Paco Pérez. The unifying overall concept is "tastets": small tastes of food with greater complexity than tapas. Spread over three levels, one floor offers Instagrammable small bites such as “Duck’in Donut,” one has a more formal dining room, and one comes with private dining rooms offering a tasting menu. Highly theatrical, it's an ideal choice for very special occasions.

    20-22 King St., Manchester, Manchester, M2 6AG, England
    0161-806–0547

    Known For

    • Groundbreaking cuisine
    • Quirky, theatrical presentation
    • Special occasion dining

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 11. The Refuge by Volta

    $ | City Centre | International

    This glamorous spot serves eclectic global food amidst the original features of a stunning Victorian Gothic building that's been given new life...

    This glamorous spot serves eclectic global food amidst the original features of a stunning Victorian Gothic building that's been given new life as the Principal Hotel. Expect dishes from Spanish salt cod croquettes and South American ceviches to Middle Eastern mutabal (an eggplant dish similar to baba ganoush) or lamb shawarma. The bar is a beauty too (the restaurateurs are former DJs, so think hip).

    The Principal Hotel, Oxford St., Manchester, M60 7HA, England
    0161-233–5151

    Known For

    • Sunday lunches
    • Local ingredients
    • Buzzy atmosphere
  • 12. Where the Light Gets In

    $$$$ | Modern British

    Much-loved by food critics, this groundbreaking "New Northern" restaurant in a former coffee warehouse offers a no-choice tasting menu (£90...

    Much-loved by food critics, this groundbreaking "New Northern" restaurant in a former coffee warehouse offers a no-choice tasting menu (£90) that depends on “the day’s catch, harvest, and slaughter.” Regular ingredients include Macclesfield trout, cured Middle White pork, and salt-baked beets in delicious combinations; much of the produce comes from the restaurant's own farm.

    7 Rostron Brow, Manchester, Manchester, SK1 1JY, England
    0161-477–5744

    Known For

    • Immense creativity
    • Excellent wine flights
    • A hip atmosphere
    • Hip atmosphere

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch Wed.–Fri.
  • 13. Wreckfish

    $$ | City Centre | Modern British

    Part of the same crowd-funded group as Manchester’s Hispi Bistro and KALA Bistro, this hip spot serves up seriously good modern global cuisine...

    Part of the same crowd-funded group as Manchester’s Hispi Bistro and KALA Bistro, this hip spot serves up seriously good modern global cuisine from an open kitchen in a once derelict building in the Ropewalks district. As with its sister restaurants, think excellent local ingredients—duck's heart or featherblade of beef—taken to the next level through the use of ingredients such as orange blossom vinegar, 'nduja butter, and truffles. Breakfast is great, while Sunday lunch can be as traditional or as inventive as you like.

    Slater St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 4BS, England
    0151-707–1960

    Known For

    • Great-value early dinners
    • Fantastic service
    • Choice of communal and private tables
    • Great value lunch and early dinner menu
  • 14. Bundobost

    $ | City Centre | Indian

    Tasty Gujurat-inspired vegetarian street food lures the budget-conscious to this colorful and vivacious canteen-style restaurant tucked away...

    Tasty Gujurat-inspired vegetarian street food lures the budget-conscious to this colorful and vivacious canteen-style restaurant tucked away in a basement on Piccadilly Gardens. Order from the bar, and watch chefs get busy in a semi-open kitchen on Indian dishes both classic and modern. There's now a second Manchester branch on Oxford Street, plus a branch in Liverpool.

    61 Piccadilly, Manchester, Manchester, M1 2AG, England
    0161-359–6757

    Known For

    • Sociable Indian sharing dishes
    • Local and global craft beers
    • Inventive cocktails
  • 15. Columbine

    $$$ | Modern British

    In a town blessed with good cafés but few noteworthy restaurants, this option run by a husband-and-wife team has a somewhat old-fashioned feel...

    In a town blessed with good cafés but few noteworthy restaurants, this option run by a husband-and-wife team has a somewhat old-fashioned feel but stands out for its fine use of local ingredients, including High Peak lamb and beef, in the inventive cuisine. The cozy venue, with upstairs and downstairs cellar seating, is especially good for pre- and post-theater meals.

    7 Hall Bank, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6EW, England
    01298-78752

    Known For

    • Produce from small local producers
    • Pre- and posttheater menus (advance booking needed outside festival and Christmas seasons)
    • Proximity to Opera House
    • Advance booking needed outside festival and Christmas seasons

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch Sun. and late Dec.–mid-Jan.
  • 16. Mackie Mayor

    $ | Northern Quarter | International

    Located in a 19th-century market building, this food court brings together several casual dining experiences under one stunningly restored roof...

    Located in a 19th-century market building, this food court brings together several casual dining experiences under one stunningly restored roof. Choose from sourdough pizza, rotisserie chicken, fish-and-chips, rare cuts of beef, and Chinese bao, all ordered from the counters and delivered to long shared tables. There’s a similar venue, Alty Market and Market House, in the market town of Altrincham 8 miles southwest of Manchester city center.

    1 Eagle St., Manchester, M4 5BU, England

    Known For

    • Convivial atmosphere
    • Local artisanal produce
    • Fabulous breakfasts and brunches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
  • 17. Maray

    $ | City Centre | International

    Tapping into Liverpool’s love affair with the sharing experience, this tiny bistro serves eclectic and inventive dishes with global inspirations...

    Tapping into Liverpool’s love affair with the sharing experience, this tiny bistro serves eclectic and inventive dishes with global inspirations, ranging from the Middle East and the southern United States to Scandinavia. The place—all bare bricks, upcycled furniture, and edgy artwork—takes its name from the Marais district of Paris, though it’s actually inspired more by the falafel joints of the French capital's less scenic Bastille district.

    91 Bold St., Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 4HF, England
    0151-709–5820

    Known For

    • Falafel (homemade daily)
    • Meat-free Mondays
    • Luscious after-dinner cocktails
  • 18. Masons Manchester Hall

    $$$ | Modern British

    The first restaurant (more are planned) to open in Manchester’s 1920s Freemason’s Hall references the building’s history with its original features...

    The first restaurant (more are planned) to open in Manchester’s 1920s Freemason’s Hall references the building’s history with its original features (the reception desk is an old organ) and art deco touches. But the dining is the focal point, as all the ingredients—from Connemara salmon to Gressingham duck breast—are from the British Isles, but are often given a global spin once they're on the plate. Much of the wine comes from the United Kingdom too, and a martini trolley does the rounds of tables to glamorous effect.

    36 Bridge St., Manchester, M3 3BT, England
    0161-359–6952

    Known For

    • Gorgeous presentation
    • Fantastic service
    • Historic setting

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 19. Oktopus

    $ | City Centre | Modern European

    This noisy, social space has an open kitchen that serves exciting Modern European sharing plates amidst a hip but cozy thrift-store decor in...

    This noisy, social space has an open kitchen that serves exciting Modern European sharing plates amidst a hip but cozy thrift-store decor in a brick-lined courtyard. The sourdough bread brought in from the bakery next door is not to be missed, nor are the artisanal British cheeses. The set-menu lunches are a fantastic bargain, and there are occasional fun themed menus.

    24 Hardman St., Hardman Yard, Liverpool, Liverpool, L1 9AX, England
    0151-709–8799

    Known For

    • Very fair prices
    • Local beers
    • Superb snacks

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun. No lunch Mon.–Thurs.
  • 20. Old Nag's Head

    $ | British

    This pub at the top of the village has marked the official start of the Pennine Way since 1965, but the building itself dates back as far as...

    This pub at the top of the village has marked the official start of the Pennine Way since 1965, but the building itself dates back as far as 1577. Call in at the Hiker's Bar, sit by the fire, and tuck into hearty traditional meals. Be sure to order a hot toddy, too. There are also two cottages for rent on the premises.

    Grinsbrook Booth, Edale, Derbyshire, S33 7ZD, England
    01433-670291

    Known For

    • Classic pub dining
    • Homey atmosphere
    • A real wood fireplace

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