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

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Kids eat free: 10 Manchester restaurants parents will like too

Cheese on toast from the kids menu at The Horse & Jockey.

The best beer gardens, terraces and rooftop bars in Liverpool

The rooftop bar at Blackstock Market in Liverpool.

40+ things to do with kids in Manchester for summer 2026

Girl looking at flowers

Beside the seaside: the best beaches in the North West

A sandy cove with rocks at Newborough Beach in Anglesey, looking across the sea at the mountains of Snowdonia.

12 cool city centre hotels to book for Pride weekend

The Bank Manager's Suite at The Rex Hotel.

The Hot 50: The most popular Manchester restaurants

Monkfish, chestnut mushroom and cavolo nero at Higher Ground

The Hot 20: The most popular Liverpool restaurants

Waffles and chocolate at Blackstock Market

Summer holiday days out in and around Liverpool

The Aqua Park at Manley Mere

Easter Lamb Rump with pea & mint cream at San Carlo.

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Treatment room at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

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

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

Exterior of The Alan, Manchester

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Open air tipi weddings at Swanley Meadows

Swanley Meadows

Congleton Events Venues

The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Northern Quarter Hotel

Students in a lecture at UK Management College

UK Management College

Eccles Universities & Colleges

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

San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Beer garden at Rain Bar, Manchester

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester

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

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

Maritozzo at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Curved Modernist exterior of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Steamed scallops at Wing's, Manchester

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones

Communal eating, various dishes and drinks at Wagamama, Manchester

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian

Lobster served at San Carlo Liverpool.

San Carlo Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

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

TexStyle

Manchester City Centre Festivals

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars, Liverpool

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

A table full of different dishes at Baba Tikka

Baba Tikka

Bolton Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

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

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

The 10 best restaurants in Salford

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

Atlas Bar

Banh mi sandwich at Le Viet Social

Le Viet Social

Baltic Triangle Restaurant - Vietnamese

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

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Fried chicken burger at Patterson, Freight Island Manchester

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

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

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

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment until Spring 2027

Albert Dock Art Galleries

The infinity pool at King Street Townhouse - one of the coolest hotels near Manchester Arena

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall, Manchester

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Momos from Namaste Nepal in West Didsbury

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Bib Gourmand restaurants in Manchester and the North West

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Almost all the winners of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2026

Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

The lounge area at Brysk.

Brysk

Deansgate Therapeutic Services

Boudin blanc, peas and leeks at Erst

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

5 January dining deals in Manchester worth making plans around

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

Octopus at La Famiglia in Liverpool

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Tuna loin, wakame salad and avocado at The Black Friar

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Lobster ravioli at the Horse & Jockey, Chorlton.

Horse & Jockey

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

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

Summery strawberry dessert at The Art School

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Mixed grill fish at Vesuvio in Worsley.

Vesuvio

Worsley Restaurant - Italian

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones

The strip loin sandwich at Frederiks in Liverpool.

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Bury Market

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

The front of Liverpool Cathedral, the biggest cathedral in the country.

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

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

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Beer pong at Pong & Puck Great Northern, Manchester

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

The 10 best restaurants in Salford

Thai street food dish at Spice Thai, Liverpool

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Northern Quarter Hotel

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

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Booth seating at Junction, Manchester

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

Hotel Anfield

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)

Exterior at the Delta Hotel, Marriott in Liverpool

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre 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

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour