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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 Where to watch the Euros in Manchester

Where to watch the Euros 2024 in Manchester

Grade A bantam action: The best fried chicken in Manchester

Access all eras: the best Liverpool vintage shops

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

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

The 'Burbs in Heaton Moor - a recommended neighbourhood restaurant near Manchester

An Insider’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in Chorlton

Dish at The Jane Eyre Chorlton

7 things to do in Manchester this May

The neighbourhood guide to the Waterfront

The Waterfront Liverpool by Neil Martin on Unsplash

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?

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

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 go paddleboarding in Manchester, Liverpool and the North West

Paddleboarding at Wild Shore Delamere - one of our recommended places to go paddle boarding in Manchester, LIverpool and the North West

Best in show: 18 dog-friendly hotels in Manchester

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

Lamb Laziz at Zouk, Manchester

Zouk

Oxford Road Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Dining at Pendergast's Steakhouse, Warrington

Pendergast’s Steakhouse

Warrington Restaurant - British

A negroni and passion star martini at Cicchetti

Cicchetti

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

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

OXA

Oxton Restaurant - Modern British

Manchester Central is a Confidential Guides recommended Christmas party venue.

Manchester Central

Manchester City Centre Events Venues

Cocktail served at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Manchester

Hyatt Regency Hotel Manchester

Oxford Road Hotel

Rigatoni’s Ancoats

Ancoats Restaurant - Italian

Artwork by British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor at Tate Liverpool

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock Art Galleries

A bedroom at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Yotel Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly Bar & Grill

Piccadilly Restaurant - American

Rays for days: the best beer gardens and roof terraces in Manchester

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

San Carlo Manchester

Deansgate Restaurant - Italian

Puri grazing platter at Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Indian Tiffin Room Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - Indian subcontinent

Almost Famous Brunch

Almost Famous Liverpool

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

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

Evuna Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant

Access all eras: the best Liverpool vintage shops

Evuna Manchester NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Spanish

Opera Grill

Chester Restaurant - Global

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill

Princes Dock Restaurant - American

One of the suites at Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Malmaison Deansgate Bar & Grill

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Piccolino Didsbury

Didsbury Restaurant - Italian

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

Alfredo’s Social

Stockport Town Centre Restaurant

Motel One Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Grade A bantam action: The best fried chicken in Manchester

One of the dishes served at MUSU in Manchester

MUSU

Spinningfields Restaurant - Japanese

Malmaison Liverpool

Princes Dock Hotel

The famous arches and stage of the Cavern Club in Liverpool

The Cavern Club

Cavern Quarter Historic Buildings & Sites

Church Street by Supercity Aparthotels

Northern Quarter Hotel

Pattersons at Escape to Freight Island

Piccadilly Restaurant

Wrights Fish & Chip Shop

Greater Manchester Restaurant - British

Where to go paddleboarding in Manchester, Liverpool and the North West

Federation Gym

Northern Quarter Gyms

The rooms at The Maldron Hotel, Manchester City Centre

Maldron Hotel Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre Hotel

BAB NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Middle Eastern

Staycity Aparthotel Waterfront

Albert Dock Hotel

One of the rooms at Leven Hotel in Manchester city centre

Leven Hotel Manchester

Gay Village Hotel

Atlas Bar

Manchester City Centre Bars

Malmaison Manchester Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Hope Street Hotel

Georgian Quarter Hotel

Where to watch the Euros 2024 in Manchester

Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Boutique 56

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Urban luxury: the best aparthotels for a Manchester city break

Loft apartment at Roomzzz Manchester City

Roomzzz Manchester City

Chinatown (Manchester) Hotel

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

Dakota Manchester

Piccadilly Hotel

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

Runway Pilates Manchester

Northern Quarter Gyms

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

King Street Townhouse

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Suburban stars: 25 top neighbourhood restaurants near Manchester

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

Ropewalks Hotel

Ropewalks Hotel

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

The Bells of Peover

Knutsford Restaurant

Pattersons

Ropewalks Restaurant - American

Inside The Palm House at Sefton Park in Liverpool

Sefton Park

Sefton Park Parks & Gardens

The exterior of The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock Museums

Riva Blu Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The Alan Hotel

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Twin bedroom at Premier Suites Liverpool with city views

Premier Suites Liverpool

Liverpool 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 Bridge, a hotel and restaurant in Prestbury, Cheshire

The Bridge

Prestbury Hotel

Summer in the city: Liverpool’s best festivals

The Vicarage, a hotel and restaurant in Cheshire

The Vicarage

Holmes Chapel Hotel

Infinity Apartments in Liverpool are great for large groups

Infinity Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Malmaison Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Hotel

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

The ‘Burbs

Heaton Moor Restaurant

Freedom of expression: gorgeous places for journalling in Manchester

Malmaison Manchester Spa

Piccadilly Spas

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

Sora Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

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

Manchester River Cruises

Salford Quays Activities

San Carlo Liverpool

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

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria Sovereign Suite Spiral Staircase

Roomzzz Manchester Victoria

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Freight Island in spring / summer

Freight Island

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Global

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

11 Central

Salford Quays Bars

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

View from Quest Apartment Hotels Liverpool

Quest Apartment Hotel Liverpool

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Downstairs lobby at Clayton Hotel Manchester

Clayton Hotel Manchester

Manchester City Centre Hotel

Evuna Manchester Deansgate

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Spanish

The Pen & Pencil

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Global

Rogan & Co.

Cumbria Restaurant - Modern British

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

Sicilian NQ

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

The vinyl countdown: Greater Manchester’s best record shops

The terrace at Seven Brothers Middlewood Locks

Seven Bro7hers Middlewood Locks

Media City Restaurant - American

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

Aloft Liverpool

Cavern Quarter Hotel

The Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool

Liverpool 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

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

Hallé St Peter’s

Ancoats Music Venues

Christmas at Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool Gin Distillery

Liverpool City Centre Bars

Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Italian

Riva Blu Leeds

Leeds Restaurant - Italian

An insider’s guide to eating and drinking in Didsbury

San Carlo Bottega in Selfridges, Manchester

Bottega

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

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

Manchester Hall

Deansgate Hotel

Rays for days: the best beer gardens and roof terraces in Manchester

Piccolo by Piccolino

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Dakota Grill Manchester Lamb Rump

Dakota Grill Manchester

Northern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Piccolino Knutsford

Knutsford Restaurant - Italian

City Wine Bar & Kitchen

Business District (Liverpool) Restaurant

Access all eras: the best Liverpool vintage shops

The sauna at King Street Townhouse Gym and Spa

King Street Townhouse Gym & Spa

Manchester City Centre Spas

The Fountain House

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

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

Speke Hall

Speke Historic Buildings & Sites

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

The Laureate Restaurant

Manchester Restaurant - Global

Hotel Anfield

Scottish Steakhouse at Manchester Piccadilly Hotel

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

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

King Street Tavern

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - British

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport

Manchester Hotel

Cibus

Levenshulme Restaurant - Italian

Coconut, passion fruit & banana from Restaurant 8 in Liverpool

Restaurant 8

Cavern Quarter Restaurant - Modern British

Grade A bantam action: The best fried chicken in Manchester

Room at Motel One

Motel One Piccadilly

Piccadilly Hotel

Piccolino Caffe Grande Manchester

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Italian

Oysters from Climat, Manchester.

Climat

Manchester City Centre Restaurant - Modern British

The terrace at Piccolino Hale

Piccolino Hale

Hale Restaurant - Italian

Where to go paddleboarding in Manchester, Liverpool and the North West

Runyon’s Bar & Restaurant

Manchester City Centre Restaurant

Study alcove in John Rylands Library in Manchester city centre

John Rylands Research Institute and Library

Spinningfields Historic Buildings & Sites

Happy Days Apartments

Liverpool City Centre Hotel

Cocktails served at San Carlo Fumo in Manchester city centre

Fumo

Oxford Road Restaurant - Italian

Low Slow and Dough

Oxton Restaurant - American

Seafood at The Assheton Arms, a country pub with rooms to stay overnight, near Pendle Hill and Clitheroe in Lancashire

Assheton Arms

Clitheroe Restaurant - British