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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 Northern Quarter's dreamiest vintage shop

The front window of Marbu vintage shop in the Northern Quarter.

Your next night-out destination is a pub in a science park in Hulme

The steps and front door of The Abbey pub in Hulme.

Where to book next for an ultra stylish Sunday lunch

The grand dining room at Tender in Manchester.

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

A child standing on a rock in a river.

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester

A crowd watching an England football match on a big screen at AO Arena.

Best places for outdoor swimming near Manchester or Liverpool

Hathersage Swimming Pool is one of Confidential Guides' best places for outdoor swimming near Manchester or Liverpool

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup in Manchester

Looking down on the busy bar area of Brotherhood in Manchester

The best restaurants in the Northern Quarter

A bowl of ramen with kinoko, edamame and gyoza at Ramenshop in Manchester.
Exterior of The Alan, Manchester

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel
The restaurant at The Reach at Piccadilly.

Lock 84

Piccadilly Restaurant - Modern British
Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian
Maritozzo at Sicilian NQ

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian
Beer garden at Rain Bar, Manchester

Rain Bar

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

On the Hush

Northern Quarter Cafes

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer
Treatment room at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly Spa

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas
The exterior of The Reach at Piccadilly

The Reach at Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
Curved Modernist exterior of Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

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

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British
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

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones
Easter Lamb Rump with pea & mint cream at San Carlo.

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian
Communal eating, various dishes and drinks at Wagamama, Manchester

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian
San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian
Christmas parties at Manchester Central

Manchester Central

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

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

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester
The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites
Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The 10 best restaurants in Salford
Momos from Namaste Nepal in West Didsbury

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent
Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

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
Boilerhouse beer at Founder's Hall, Manchester

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

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

Piccadilly Hotel

Boutique 56

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

Bar Hütte Great Northern

Deansgate Bars
Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Haunt

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

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums
Fried chicken burger at Patterson, Freight Island Manchester

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
Lobster ravioli at the Horse & Jockey, Chorlton.

Horse & Jockey

Chorlton Pubs

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
Banh mi sandwich at Le Viet Social

Le Viet Social

Baltic Triangle Restaurant - Vietnamese
Boudin Blanc, peas and three cornered leek at Erst in Manchester.

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British
Hakkapo is a Japanese restaurant in Manchester's First Street district.

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant
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

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian
Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens
Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Bib Gourmand restaurants in Manchester and the North West
Roast dinner and a pint at 11 Central in Mediacity Manchester.

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars
Boddingtons and Orange Polenta Cake with homemade rosemary syrup and vanilla crème fraiche at The Black Friar in Salford.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

Almost all the winners of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2026
One of the holes at Golf Fang Liverpool, a crazy golf bar in the city centre.

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Motel One Royal Exchange

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel
Quest Apartments are a dog-friendly place to stay in Liverpool.

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

5 January dining deals in Manchester worth making plans around
A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant
Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

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

Leo and Roobs

Blackfriars Cafes
A dessert served at Riva restaurant and bar in Hale, Greater Manchester

Riva

Hale Restaurant - Modern British
One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel
Wild boar pate at La Famiglia in Liverpool.

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Shorts on, shoes off: 7 places to go for a paddle this summer
Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars, Liverpool

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

Atlas Bar

Deansgate Bars

Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
The lounge area at Brysk.

Brysk

Deansgate Therapeutic Services
A chef preparing a dish at The Art School in Liverpool.

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant
A pumpkin patch at Speke Hall, a National Trust property near Liverpool.

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow 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
The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries
Neon showtime sign at Hope Mill Theatre in Ancoats, Manchester

Hope Mill Theatre

Ancoats Theatres
The strip loin sandwich at Frederiks in Liverpool.

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Restaurant - Global
A cocktail at City Wine Bar in Liverpool

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant
One of the dishes served at Kambuja in Marple - one of the few Cambodian restaurants in the North.

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

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

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester 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

The 10 best restaurants in Salford
The whimsical Flamingo Room - one of the party suites at The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan
Fish and Chips at Wright's

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day
Exterior at the Delta Hotel, Marriott in Liverpool

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
Beer pong at Pong & Puck Great Northern, Manchester

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities
Cocktails served in King Street Tavern, the restaurant and bar at King Street Townhouse hotel

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British
Eggs with cod roe at Belzan in Liverpool.

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European
The front of Liverpool Cathedral, the biggest cathedral in the country.

Liverpool Cathedral

Georgian Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites
Trophies and famous football shirts on display at the Liverpool FC stadium tour.

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Anfield Tours

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Bruncho

Deansgate Cafes

Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel
Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
Thai street food dish at Spice Thai, Liverpool

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai
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

Zen Sushiya

Withington Restaurant - Japanese

4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel
A selection of dishes available at Piccolino Italian restaurant, Bramhall

Piccolino Bramhall

Bramhall Restaurant - Italian

Twenty Twenty Two

Northern Quarter Bars
The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Ancoats Hotel
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