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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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Your best shot: 34 independent Manchester coffee shops

Two takeaway cups of iced Vietnamese coffee on a tray at Vibean in Manchester.

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

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British
Curved Modernist exterior of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Beer garden at Rain Bar, Manchester

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars
Communal eating, various dishes and drinks at Wagamama, Manchester

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian
Treatment room at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

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

On the Hush

Manchester City Centre Cafes
Maritozzo at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian
Exterior of The Alan, Manchester

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer
Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian
The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
Lobster served at San Carlo Liverpool.

San Carlo Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian
Steamed scallops at Wing's, Manchester

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese
Open air tipi weddings at Swanley Meadows

Swanley Meadows

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

TexStyle

Manchester City Centre Festivals

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones
The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British
Students in a lecture at UK Management College

UK Management College

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

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian
San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian
Two pints of craft beer at Seven Bro7hers Manchester, also known as the Ancoats Beerhouse.

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - American
Concert night at the Manchester Arena, or AO Arena as it is currently known.

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues
Mixed grill fish at Vesuvio in Worsley.

Vesuvio

Worsley Restaurant - Italian

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester
Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Boudin blanc, peas and leeks at Erst

Erst

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

The 10 best restaurants in Salford
Roast dinner and a pint at 11 Central in Mediacity Manchester.

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars
Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Boutique 56

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day
One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues
Hakkapo is a Japanese restaurant in Manchester's First Street district.

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Lobster ravioli at the Horse & Jockey, Chorlton.

Horse & Jockey

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

Leo and Roobs

Blackfriars Cafes
The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel
A table full of different dishes at Baba Tikka

Baba Tikka

Bolton Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
Momos from Namaste Nepal in West Didsbury

Namaste Nepal

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

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

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel
Banh mi sandwich at Le Viet Social

Le Viet Social

Baltic Triangle Restaurant - Vietnamese
Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Deansgate Bars

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
Tuna loin, wakame salad and avocado at The Black Friar

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British
Ramen at Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian
Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment until Spring 2027

Albert Dock Art Galleries
Octopus at La Famiglia in Liverpool

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian
The lounge area at Brysk.

Brysk

Deansgate Therapeutic Services
A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian
Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Bib Gourmand restaurants in Manchester and the North West
Fried chicken burger at Patterson, Freight Island Manchester

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - American
Summery strawberry dessert at The Art School

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Almost all the winners of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2026
Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall, Manchester

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs
Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars, Liverpool

The Art School Cellars

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

5 January dining deals in Manchester worth making plans around
Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Tapas dishes at Evuna, a Spanish restaurant in Knutsford, Cheshire

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

Atlas Bar

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites
The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer
One of the holes at Golf Fang Liverpool, a crazy golf bar in the city centre.

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities
Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
The infinity pool at King Street Townhouse - one of the coolest hotels near Manchester Arena

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American
Specialising in southern US-style fried chicken, and drinks at Pattersons, Liverpool

Pattersons

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones
One of the dishes served at Kambuja in Marple - one of the few Cambodian restaurants in the North.

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel
The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

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

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian
The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The 10 best restaurants in Salford
Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Manchester City Centre Historic Buildings & Sites
The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas
Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

Bury Market

Bury Markets

Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day
Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian
Motel One St Peter's Square and the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst outside

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel
A burger at Red Dog Saloon in Liverpool.

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American
A pumpkin patch at Speke Hall, a National Trust property near Liverpool.

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites
Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel
The strip loin sandwich at Frederiks in Liverpool.

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

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

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant
One of the rooms at Aloft Liverpool, a hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel
Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

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

Hotel Anfield

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Anfield Tours

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish
Booth seating at Junction, Manchester

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global
Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish
Exterior at the Delta Hotel, Marriott in Liverpool

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
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