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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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The best restaurants in Liverpool for autumn-winter 2026

Cape-Malay Duck Breast with duck croquette, almond cream, roasted apricot, apricot and sambal gel and a curried burnt orange jus at Barnacle in Liverpool.

Best places for outdoor swimming near Manchester or Liverpool

A group of people swimming at The Farm Club, Pickmere.

The Hot 50: The most popular Manchester restaurants

Dry-aged Sladesdown duck with a Boltardy beetroot purée with fresh cherry at Skof in Manchester.

The Hot 20: The most popular Liverpool restaurants

Carpaccio of cured Peterhead monkfish at The Art School in Liverpool.

Days out for teenagers near Manchester and Liverpool

The red and black street art on the exterior of Red Brick Market in Liverpool.

Where to go bowling in Manchester

King Pins Manchester Arndale is one of our top five bowling alleys in Manchester city centre. See who else is on the list.

The best beer gardens, terraces and rooftop bars in Liverpool

The rooftop bar at Blackstock Market in Liverpool.

Your best shot: 34 independent Manchester coffee shops

Two takeaway cups of iced Vietnamese coffee on a tray at Vibean in Manchester.
Open air tipi weddings at Swanley Meadows

Swanley Meadows

Congleton Events Venues
Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian
San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian
Maritozzo at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian
The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Northern Quarter Hotel
Curved Modernist exterior of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel
The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British
Lobster served at San Carlo Liverpool.

San Carlo Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer
Hand embroidered landscape by Louise Goult - one of the workshop tutors at TexStyle Manchester.

TexStyle

Manchester City Centre Festivals
Treatment room at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
Beer garden at Rain Bar, Manchester

Rain Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars
Exterior of The Alan, Manchester

The Alan Hotel

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

On the Hush

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

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

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
Steamed scallops at Wing's, Manchester

Wing’s

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

UK Management College

Eccles Universities & Colleges

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European
Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment until Spring 2027

Albert Dock Art Galleries
Carpaccio of cured Peterhead monkfish at The Art School in Liverpool.

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British
Two pints of craft beer at Seven Bro7hers Manchester, also known as the Ancoats Beerhouse.

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester
Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Atlas Bar

Deansgate Bars

The 10 best restaurants in Salford
Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall, Manchester

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs
Fried chicken burger at Patterson, Freight Island Manchester

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel
Banh mi sandwich at Le Viet Social

Le Viet Social

Baltic Triangle Restaurant - Vietnamese

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

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian
One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American
Quest Apartments are a dog-friendly place to stay in Liverpool.

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel
The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites
Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars, Liverpool

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel
The lounge area at Brysk.

Brysk

Deansgate Therapeutic Services

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists
Momos from Namaste Nepal in West Didsbury

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent
Octopus at La Famiglia in Liverpool

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
Charcuterie at Erst in Manchester: a traditional Lomo, Cacciatore with black pepper and caraway, and a pork cuttlefish ink salami with dried lime and tomato.

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British
Lobster ravioli at the Horse & Jockey, Chorlton.

Horse & Jockey

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars
The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel
A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Bib Gourmand restaurants in Manchester and the North West
One of the brunch dishes at Leo and Roobs - a neighbourhood cafe in Salford.

Leo and Roobs

Blackfriars Cafes

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant
Tuna loin, wakame salad and avocado at The Black Friar

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British
Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

5 January dining deals in Manchester worth making plans around
The infinity pool at King Street Townhouse - one of the coolest hotels near Manchester Arena

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Mixed grill fish at Vesuvio in Worsley.

Vesuvio

Worsley Restaurant - Italian
Hakkapo is a Japanese restaurant in Manchester's First Street district.

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant
Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel
The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Bar Hütte Great Northern

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer
Specialising in southern US-style fried chicken, and drinks at Pattersons, Liverpool

Pattersons

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
A table full of different dishes at Baba Tikka

Baba Tikka

Bolton Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel
The front of Liverpool Cathedral, the biggest cathedral in the country.

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones
The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries
The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester 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
Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British
Thai street food dish at Spice Thai, Liverpool

Spice Thai

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester
A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant
Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

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

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites
One of the rooms at Aloft Liverpool, a hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

Bury Market

Bury Markets
The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day
Booth seating at Junction, Manchester

Junction

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global
The whimsical Flamingo Room - one of the party suites at The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel
Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel
The strip loin sandwich at Frederiks in Liverpool.

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel
Exterior at the Delta Hotel, Marriott in Liverpool

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
One of the dishes served at Kambuja in Marple - one of the few Cambodian restaurants in the North.

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian
Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities
A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian
Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
Cocktails served in King Street Tavern, the restaurant and bar at King Street Townhouse hotel

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish
Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars

Hotel Anfield

Anfield Hotel
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