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

Suburban stars: 25 neighbourhood restaurants dog-friendly hotels in manchester Hairdressers in Liverpool

The Hot 50: the top Manchester restaurants for last month

Roast dinner at The Refuge, one of the restaurants featured in the Hot 50 restaurants in Manchester for April 2024

Extra time: inspiration for making the most of the long weekend

Gin and tonics served at NYL Restaurant and Bar in Liverpool's Aloft hotel.

The Hot 20: the top Liverpool restaurants for last month

The Art School, one of the restaurants featured in the Hot 20 Liverpool restaurants for April 2024

Where to watch the Euros 2024 in Manchester

Freight Island is one of Confidential Guides' recommended places to watch the Euros in Manchester.

7 things to do in Manchester this May

Urban luxury: the best aparthotels for a Manchester city break

Relax on the balcony at Church Street by Supercity, one of our top aparthotels. Which other apartments in our guide will take your fancy?

Best in show: 18 dog-friendly hotels in Manchester

Leven is one of the best dog-friendly hotels in Manchester.

Headline act: Manchester’s best festivals

We Invented the Weekend - one of Greater Manchester's best festivals.

The vinyl countdown: Greater Manchester's best record shops

Piccadilly Records, one of Confidential Guides' best record shops and somewhere you must visit on Record Store Day

An insider's guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury

Have you tried the places in our insider's guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury? This is Cocoa Cabana.

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

Journalling in a coffee shop.

Roll with it: the best places for breakfast in Manchester

The Alan Breakfast

One of the dishes served at Oxa, a modern British restaurant on the Wirral, Merseyside.

OXA

Oxton Restaurant - Modern British

A negroni and passion star martini at Cicchetti

Cicchetti

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Historic Buildings & Sites

Dining at Pendergast's Steakhouse, Warrington

Pendergast’s Steakhouse

Warrington Restaurant - British

Lamb Laziz at Zouk, Manchester

Zouk

Oxford Road Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

Where to watch the Euros 2024 in Manchester

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Exterior of the restaurant Alfredo's Social with its famous clock

Alfredo’s Social

Stockport Town Centre Restaurant

Urban luxury: the best aparthotels for a Manchester city break

One of the spacious bedrooms at Ropewalks Hotel in Liverpool city centre.

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Freight Island in spring / summer

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

Grilled prawns with chilli, lime & coconut sauce at The Burbs restaurant in Heaton Moor

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

Opera Grill

Chester Restaurant - Global

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Riva Blu Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Rigatoni’s Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - Italian

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

One of the dishes served at Kambuja in Marple - one of the few Cambodian restaurants in the North.

Kambuja

Marple Restaurant - Cambodian

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

Twin bedroom at Premier Suites Liverpool with city views

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Top 40 tasting menus: the finest of fine dining in the North West

Manchester River Cruises Pirates and Mermaids - a recommended half-term day out in Manchester.

Manchester River Cruises

Spinningfields Activities

Steak at San Carlo - one of the Hot 50 Restaurants in Manchester for March.

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Almost Famous Brunch

Almost Famous Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

The vinyl countdown: Greater Manchester’s best record shops

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

Golf Fang Liverpool

Baltic Triangle Activities

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

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

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

One of the dishes served at MUSU in Manchester

MUSU

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

An insider’s guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

View from Quest Apartment Hotels Liverpool

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Headline act: the best Manchester festivals

The Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Prestbury Hotel

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

Man demonstrating a lunge on a reformer pilates machine at Runway Pilates Manchester

Runway Pilates Manchester

Northern Quarter Gyms

Breakfast in bed at Hope Street Hotel - one of the most romantic hotels in Liverpool

Hope Street Hotel

Georgian Quarter Hotel

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Federation Gym

Northern Quarter Gyms

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Best in show: 18 dog-friendly hotels in Manchester

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

San Carlo Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian

The terrace at Seven Brothers Middlewood Locks

Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks

Media City Restaurant - American

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

The hills are calling: 12 things to do in the Lake District

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

The terrace at Piccolino Hale

Piccolino Hale

Hale Restaurant - Italian

One of the best restaurants in the North West, San Carlo Alderley Edge. Cheshire.

San Carlo Alderley Edge

Alderley Edge Restaurant - Italian

Christmas at Pattersons in Liverpool

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

A tableful of dishes at Belzan in Liverpool

Belzan

Mossley Hill Restaurant - European

Dakota Grill Manchester Lamb Rump

Dakota Grill Manchester

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

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

Liverpool Football Club Stadium Tour

Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Central

Ropewalks Hotel

Things to do with kids in Manchester this Easter

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

Grand Pacific

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Pan Asian

The Halyard at Ropewalks, a hotel in Liverpool

The Halyard

Ropewalks Hotel

Where to watch the Euros 2024 in Manchester

L’Enclume

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

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

Motel One St Peter’s Square

Manchester City Centre Hotel

The Laureate restaurant at Hyatt Regency Manchester does a kids eat free deal during the school holidays.

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

The Townhaus serviced apartment from Jackson Boutique in Manchester

The Jacksonheim Boutique

Urban luxury: the best aparthotels for a Manchester city break

Piccolo by Piccolino

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Vegan food at Brewdog Doghouse Hotel

BrewDog Doghouse Manchester Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Piccolino Caffe Grande is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Piccolino Caffe Grande Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

A gelato croissant at Sicilian NQ - a recommended place for ice cream in Manchester

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Red Dog Saloon

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Outside Holmes Mill in Clitheroe

Holmes Mill

Lancashire Hotel

Piccolino Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant - Italian

The kids menu at The Black Friar - a family-friendly restaurant in Manchester.

The Black Friar

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The exterior of the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool

The Walker Art Gallery

Liverpool City Centre Art Galleries

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

Riva Blu Leeds

Leeds Restaurant - Italian

Christmas at Down the Hatch in Liverpool

Down The Hatch

Ropewalks Restaurant - Vegan

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

The Fountain House

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

Awesome HQ Chicken Halloumi Burger Almost Famous Manchester Northern Quarter

Almost Famous NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - American

Christmas and New Year's Eve at Piccolino

Piccolino Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Inside Notjust barbers in the Northern Quarter, Manchester, one of Manchester's best barbers

Notjust

Ancoats Barbers