Subscribe Advertise with us

Welcome to Confidential Guides. Here you’ll find the best food, drink and things to do in the North.

Luxury hotel deals Local restaurant deals News, recommendations and offers direct to your inbox

New on Confidential Guides: Over 30 places to check out this autumn

A steak at Arcadian

The Hot 50: The most popular Manchester restaurants

Chicken kebab at Arcadian

The Hot 20: The most popular Liverpool restaurants

pork belly skewer with wild garlic and caper pistou at Nord

An insider’s guide to Stretford

Stretford Metrolink tram stop

The best Sunday roasts in Liverpool

A chef holding a tray of Yorkshire puddings at Frederiks in Liverpool.

Best day ever: Things to do with kids in Liverpool

Time at the bar: Old pubs in Liverpool

Beautiful interior at Doctor Duncan's, a friendly pub in Liverpool city centre

Mall plates: the best restaurants in the Trafford Centre

Which are the best restaurants in the Trafford Centre? Bill's is one of our top picks - see where else is good to go

Steamed scallops at Wing's, Manchester

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Hand embroidered landscape by Louise Goult - one of the workshop tutors at TexStyle Manchester.

TexStyle

Manchester City Centre Festivals

San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Momos from Namaste Nepal in West Didsbury

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British

The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

The iconic location of Seel & Slater at the junction of Seel St and Slater St in Liverpool

Seel & Slater

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

The best Sunday roasts in Liverpool

Lobster served at San Carlo Liverpool.

San Carlo Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Chicken kebab at Arcadian

Arcadian Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Global

An insider’s guide to Stretford

Open air tipi weddings at Swanley Meadows

Swanley Meadows

Congleton Events Venues

Treatment room at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Exterior of The Alan, Manchester

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian

Manchester’s oldest restaurants

Students in a lecture at UK Management College

UK Management College

Eccles Universities & Colleges

Maritozzo at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Communal eating, various dishes and drinks at Wagamama, Manchester

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Specialising in southern US-style fried chicken, and drinks at Pattersons, Liverpool

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment until Spring 2027

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Dark chocolate tart with berries and double Jersey ice cream

Barnacle

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Family frights: Halloween fun and pumpkin picking near Manchester

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer

Lobster ravioli at the Horse & Jockey, Chorlton.

Horse & Jockey

Outdoor drinking at Rain Bar

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Hakkapo is a Japanese restaurant in Manchester's First Street district.

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester

Tapas dishes at Evuna, a Spanish restaurant in Knutsford, Cheshire

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Quest Apartments are a dog-friendly place to stay in Liverpool.

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

A trio of desserts at The Art School

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones

Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars, Liverpool

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Mother's Day bouquet from Northern Flower - a florist in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester

Two pints of craft beer at Seven Bro7hers Manchester, also known as the Ancoats Beerhouse.

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Gnocchi funghi at La Famiglia

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall, Manchester

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Poached egg and avocado on toast at On The Hush in Manchester.

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

The 10 best restaurants in Salford

Mixed grill fish at Vesuvio in Worsley.

Vesuvio

Worsley Restaurant - Italian

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

One of the holes at Golf Fang Liverpool, a crazy golf bar in the city centre.

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Premier Suites in Liverpool is dog-friendly for those staying for 29 nights or more.

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Curved Modernist exterior of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Concert night at the Manchester Arena, or AO Arena as it is currently known.

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Atlas Bar

Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

One of the brunch dishes at Leo and Roobs - a neighbourhood cafe in Salford.

Leo and Roobs

Blackfriars Cafes

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Banh mi sandwich at Le Viet Social

Le Viet Social

Baltic Triangle Restaurant - Vietnamese

The Ropewalks Hotel is a dog-friendly hotel in Liverpool.

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

New on Confidential Guides: Over 30 places to check out this autumn

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Roast dinner and a pint at 11 Central in Mediacity Manchester.

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

The lounge area at Brysk.

Brysk

Deansgate Therapeutic Services

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Potato Hash and egg at the Loom & Ladle Bistro, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

The best Sunday roasts in Liverpool

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Fried chicken burger at Patterson, Freight Island Manchester

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

An insider’s guide to Stretford

Fish and chips and a pint at The Black Friar

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Manchester’s oldest restaurants

The strip loin sandwich at Frederiks in Liverpool.

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Thai street food dish at Spice Thai, Liverpool

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Hotel Anfield

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Bury Market

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

Family frights: Halloween fun and pumpkin picking near Manchester

Cocktails served in King Street Tavern, the restaurant and bar at King Street Townhouse hotel

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

The whimsical Flamingo Room - one of the party suites at The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

Trophies and famous football shirts on display at the Liverpool FC stadium tour.

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Beer pong at Pong & Puck Great Northern, Manchester

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Halle St Peter's on Cutting Room Square - a rehearsal space and concert venue in Ancoats, Manchester

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

One of the rooms at Aloft Liverpool, a hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Booth seating at Junction, Manchester

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

Exterior at the Delta Hotel, Marriott in Liverpool

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester

A pumpkin patch at Speke Hall, a National Trust property near Liverpool.

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

The 10 best restaurants in Salford

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

A burger at Red Dog Saloon in Liverpool.

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Motel One St Peter's Square and the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst outside

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel