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

Tattoos Manchester Cocktails Liverpool Hotels Lake District

Kids eat free: 7 Manchester restaurants parents will like too

Bill's - one of the restaurants that offer kids eat free deals during school holidays

The Hot 20 Restaurants in Liverpool

The Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester

Front runners: 5 Grand National brunch spots in Liverpool

Summer in the city: Liverpool's best festivals for 2025

Things to do with kids in Manchester this Easter holidays

New on Confidential Guides: Family days out near Manchester and Liverpool

The best places for breakfast in Liverpool

This is Confidential Guides's list of the best places for breakfast in Liverpool. Fancy this from Minna? See who else is on the list?

16 fun things to do in Manchester

Puppy having cuddles at Paws Yoga - one of our 16 fun things to do in Manchester

14 alternative nights out for Valentine’s Day in Manchester

Play The Cube at Urban Playground. Just one of Confidential Guides' alternative nights out for Valentine's Day in Manchester.

Access all eras: the best Liverpool vintage shops

Vintage clothing at 69A, one of our recommended vintage clothes shops in Liverpool.

The 30 best team building nights out in Manchester

Cork and Canvas corporate event. Photo by Jody Hartley

Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

A selection of the small plates at Voyagers, one of Liverpool's most exciting new restaurants for 2024.

Voyagers

Ropewalks Restaurant - Global

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

A bedroom at Dakota Manchester, a hotel in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Loom & Ladle Bistro

Piccadilly Restaurant - British

Cocktail served at Three Little Words in Manchester city centre.

Three Little Words

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Japanese

Wagamama St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

New on Confidential Guides: Family days out near Manchester and Liverpool

Exhibition

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals for 2025

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

Hakkapo

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Founder’s Hall

Manchester City Centre Pubs

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Namaste Nepal

West Didsbury Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Front runners: 5 Grand National brunch spots in Liverpool

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

Beef tataki at Sora Manchester, a rooftop bar and restaurant in Malmaison Deansgate

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

50 things to do for Mother’s Day in Manchester

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

AO Arena

Manchester City Centre Music Venues

Vetch

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Global

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

The best restaurants for Mother’s Day in Liverpool

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Manchester City Centre Spas

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Black pudding with marinated peppers at Erst, one of the best restaurants in Manchester

Erst

Ancoats Restaurant - British

Best pubs and bars for St Patrick’s Day in Manchester

Stunning views from the living room at Hyatt House aparthotel in Manchester

Hyatt House

Oxford Road Hotel

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

5 Liverpool Irish bars for celebrating St Patrick’s Day

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

Seven Bro7hers Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - American

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The Fisherman’s Table

Marple Restaurant - Modern British

10 women-led businesses in Manchester

Grand Pacific - one of the most romantic restaurants in Manchester for Valentine's Day.

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Afternoon tea at The Art School Cellars in Liverpool is always a treat

The Art School Cellars

Georgian Quarter Bars

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

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

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Ground floor lounge and bar area at Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Where to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

Stacks of flavour: the best spots for pancakes in Liverpool

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Haunt

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - European

An insider’s guide to eating and drinking in Altrincham

The Art School

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

A pasta dish at La Famiglia Bar and Restaurant in Liverpool.

La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

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

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

New on Confidential Guides: Family days out near Manchester and Liverpool

Australasia

Spinningfields Restaurant - Pan Asian

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals for 2025

Suki Suki Street Food & Bar

Deansgate Restaurant - Pan Asian

Wing’s

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Chinese

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Parklife to Psych Fest: The best Manchester music festivals for 2025

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

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

Northern Flower

Northern Quarter Florists

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Piccolino Grande Wilmslow

Wilmslow Restaurant - Italian

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Beer pong at Pong & Puck

Pong & Puck | Great Northern

Manchester City Centre Activities

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Front runners: 5 Grand National brunch spots in Liverpool

KAJI

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

The Bells of Peover, a country pub in Cheshire, just south of Knutsford

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

50 things to do for Mother’s Day in Manchester

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Henrock

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Spice Thai

Ropewalks Restaurant - Thai

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The best restaurants for Mother’s Day in Liverpool

Bury Market

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Sunset over Salford from a Manchester River Cruises tour

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

ibis Budget Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Seven Bro7hers Media City

Media City Restaurant - American

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

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

The Shankly Hotel

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Best pubs and bars for St Patrick’s Day in Manchester

Bedroom at Manchester Hall with roll-top bath - a romantic Manchester hotel for Valentine's day.

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

5 Liverpool Irish bars for celebrating St Patrick’s Day

Cocktails at Frederiks in Liverpool

Frederiks

Georgian Quarter Restaurant - American

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Evuna

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

10 women-led businesses in Manchester

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites