Welcome to Confidential Guides. Here you’ll find the best food, drink and things to do in the North.
Where to go paddleboarding in Manchester, Liverpool and the North West
Rays for days: the best beer gardens and roof terraces in Manchester
Race day eats: Where to refuel after the Great Manchester Run
Touch grass: The best parks in Manchester for picnics and sunbathing
Liverpool’s best music festivals for summer 2026
Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester
Review: Waitress at The Palace Theatre
Pubs and bars showing the World Cup in Manchester
San Carlo Liverpool
Cavern Quarter
TexStyle
Manchester City Centre
San Carlo Manchester
Deansgate
Lock 84
Piccadilly
Wagamama St Peter’s Square
Manchester City Centre
Wing’s
Manchester City Centre
Loom & Ladle Bistro
Piccadilly
Bottega
Manchester City Centre
Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
The Reach at Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Swanley Meadows
Congleton
Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones
The Alan Hotel
Manchester City Centre
On the Hush
Northern Quarter
Rain Bar
Manchester City Centre
Fumo
Oxford Road
5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester
The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
Manchester City Centre
Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Sicilian NQ
Northern Quarter
Namaste Nepal
West Didsbury
The Beatles Story
Albert Dock
Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central
Manchester City Centre
Le Viet Social
Baltic Triangle
Erst
Ancoats
The 10 best restaurants in Salford
La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant
Cavern Quarter
Horse & Jockey
Chorlton
Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day
Premier Suites Liverpool
Liverpool City Centre
Boutique 56
Liverpool City Centre
The Art School Cellars
Georgian Quarter
AO Arena
Manchester City Centre
Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
Yotel Manchester Deansgate
Manchester City Centre
Seven Bro7hers Ancoats
AncoatsMaldron Hotel Manchester City Centre
Manchester City Centre
Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool
Liverpool City Centre
Riva
Hale
Leo and Roobs
Blackfriars
Sefton Park
Sefton Park
Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront
Albert Dock
New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
Roomzzz Manchester Victoria
Manchester City Centre
Manchester Central
Manchester City Centre
4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
Founder’s Hall
Manchester City Centre
Suki Suki Street Food & Bar
Deansgate
Atlas Bar
Deansgate
Clayton Hotel Manchester
Manchester City Centre
Bib Gourmand restaurants in Manchester and the North West
Motel One Royal Exchange
Manchester City Centre
Hakkapo
Manchester City Centre
Evuna Knutsford
Knutsford
The Cavern Club
Cavern Quarter
Malmaison Manchester Spa
Piccadilly
Pattersons
Ropewalks
Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill
Princes Dock
Northern Flower
Northern Quarter
Almost all the winners of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2026
Tate Liverpool – temporarily closed for refurbishment until Spring 2027
Albert Dock
The Black Friar
Manchester City Centre
5 January dining deals in Manchester worth making plans around
King Street Townhouse
Manchester City Centre
Infinity Apartments
Liverpool City Centre
11 Central
Salford Quays
Bar Hütte Great Northern
Deansgate
12 vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurants in Manchester city centre
Cibus
Levenshulme
Haunt
Manchester City Centre
Ropewalks Hotel
Ropewalks
Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Leven Hotel Manchester
Gay Village
Vetch
Georgian Quarter
Vesuvio
Worsley
Golf Fang Liverpool
Baltic Triangle
Pubs and bars showing the World Cup 2026 in Manchester
The Art School
Georgian Quarter
Roomzzz Manchester City
Chinatown (Manchester)
Where to watch the World Cup in Manchester: the fanzones
Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island
Piccadilly
Brysk
Deansgate
Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels
Northern Quarter
Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant
Manchester City Centre
5 low-pressure places to shop for secondhand furniture in Manchester
Aloft Liverpool
Cavern Quarter
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Spinningfields
Hallé St Peter’s
Ancoats
Delta Hotel by Marriott Liverpool City Centre
Liverpool City Centre
Holiday Inn Manchester Airport
Manchester
Twenty Twenty Two
Northern Quarter
Frederiks
Georgian Quarter
The Jacksonheim Boutique
Ancoats
The 10 best restaurants in Salford
The Walker Art Gallery
Liverpool City Centre
Belzan
Mossley Hill
Liverpool’s top 20 places to celebrate Father’s Day
Piccolino Bramhall
Bramhall
Spice Thai
Ropewalks
Liverpool Cathedral
Georgian Quarter
Motel One Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Celebrate your graduation at one of these Liverpool restaurants
Motel One St Peter’s Square
Manchester City Centre
Hotel Anfield
Anfield
King Street Tavern
Manchester City Centre
The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool
Liverpool City Centre
Piccolino Grande Wilmslow
Wilmslow
Piccolino Didsbury
Didsbury
Happy Days Apartments
Liverpool City Centre
Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central
Ropewalks
New on Confidential Guides: 12 places to check out this summer
Manchester River Cruises
Salford Quays
Bruncho
Deansgate
4 walks with snowdrops in Manchester (and where to go for cake afterwards)
Red Dog Saloon
Ropewalks
Kambuja
Marple
King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa
Manchester City Centre
Wrights Fish & Chip Shop
Greater Manchester
Bib Gourmand restaurants in Manchester and the North West
ibis Budget Manchester Airport
Manchester
Junction
Manchester City Centre
Down The Hatch
Ropewalks
Zen Sushiya
Withington
Hope Mill Theatre
Ancoats