Riva Blu Manchester | Corn Exchange

From the same team behind Piccolino, Riva Blu Manchester aims to bring a little bit of La Dolce Vita to The Corn Exchange. With a sleek cocktail bar, open kitchen, and alfresco terrace, it’s styled on the high-society glamour of the 1960s, and “modern Italian” cuisine is the name of the game.

Riva Blu’s menu is a familiar Italian layout where starters, bruschetta and antipasti go hand in hand. Think garlic bread, calamari and bruschetta tomato with garlic and basil. Pasta and risotto is its own course here, with plenty of vegan and veggie options to cater to everybody. Risotto Primavera and rigatoni arrabbiata sit alongside more meaty options like fettuccine with sausage and the classic spaghetti carbonara.

On to mains, lamb cutlets are a popular option, with pancetta, fennel and honey. Or perhaps an authentic veal Milanese. Steak and pizza also make it onto the sprawling menu which is finished with traditional tiramisu or an Italian cheeseboard starring Gorgonzola and buffalo ricotta.

The kids menu is kept simple, giving them the option to choose their own pizza toppings, and slightly discounted lunch menu gives you the option to eat lighter between 12pm and 5pm.

Finish your experience with a digestif cocktail, dessert wine or bitter-sweet herbal Amari.