An insider’s guide to Didsbury’s best restaurants and bars

Namaste Nepal on West Didsbury’s Burton Road is a relaxed Nepalese spot that is the definition of a much-loved neighbourhood restaurant.

Having made a name – and a following – for itself, Burton Road’s chic chocolatiers has expanded into larger premises up the street (as well as gaining a branch in town), incorporating a sit-down-and-sup tearoom alongside the takeaway coffee and cake counter.

Folk is a bit of an institution in Didsbury, having been on the scene for over a decade now. On a sunny day you can sit outside with the palm trees and straw canopy and try to convince yourself you’re somewhere more exotic.

Hispi is, quite simply, a great bistro. Fifth in a growing chain of restaurants conceived by Gary Usher, the concept started with Sticky Walnut in Chester (see also Top 100), a neighbourhood operation which made its name off the back of great, simple food, quaffable wine served in beakers, and excellent quality produce. Expect chunky British dishes – such as chicken liver pate and braised featherblade – made with fresh ingredients and great results.

Indique is formed from the words Unique and Indian. That’s a bit optimistic as many Indian restaurants have swapped their chicken tikka masala and their lamb rogan josh for bhel puri and gobi Manchurian. However, Indique do a good job. Their menu is a tempting one with some unusual dishes and food is tasty and very well presented. How many curry houses have a cloche?

OKitchen Bar & Restaurant is a Korean restaurant, make no mistake about it.  It may describe itself as a Japanese and Korean restaurant but all the heart and soul (or should that be heart and Seoul?) is in the Korean side of the operation.

The Korean dishes, however, are the best of bowl food. Hearty, warming, sometimes healthy, but generally delicious. Gang jung, bulgogi, kimchi – these are not timid flavours. So in both bang for your bite, and bang for your buck, OKitchen more than delivers.

With its large alfresco terrace, complete with a fully retractable roof, Piccolino Didsbury is perfectly located for an Aperol Spritz in the sun or a full three-course meal inspired by the diverse cuisine from all of Italy’s regions.

Proove Pizza has proven itself to be a success which is fortunate because there’s no shortage of eateries slinging out Neapolitan pizzas from their disco ball of a wood-fired oven. It’s up there, flinging around its fior di latte and spreading its San Marzano tomatoes with the best of the authentic slow-proved pizza pack and even if it’s not numero uno, it’s definitely a contender.

The interior is cool and sleek if a little lacking in character but the personality is all in the pizza. The bases are made with 00-grade Caputo flour and proved for 20 hours before being transformed into pure pizza pleasure.

Independent coffee shop and bar The Art of Tea offers more than just good quality loose leaf tea. It’s situated adjacent to a lovingly curated, second-hand bookshop, and it’s easy to lose a few hours there between the pages of a Penguin Classic or hooked up to their wifi.

Founded in 1986 The Great Kathmandu is another Didsbury institution that the locals rave about. Not only the locals though, as it has been showered with awards too, including some from national newspapers, and it’s not unusual to spot Corrie stars tucking in to their authentic Nepalese cuisine.

The restaurant business is a fickle beast, so the fact that The Lime Tree has been going strong now for 30-odd years indicates that they must be doing something right. Their secret seems to be quietly and consistently providing the local community with a reliable, go-to quality dinner spot without paying too much attention to chasing trends (there isn’t a lot to please vegans on the menu, for example).

Long-standing Nepalese and Indian restaurant & takeaway serving up familiar favourites as well as some Nepalese specialities you might not have heard of. Ask the locals where to go for a decent Ruby Murray and Third Eye will invariably come up. You may even spot the odd celebrity in there, members of Take That have been known to frequent its tables. As well as Hollywood actress Eva Mendez… apparently.

A stalwart of the Didsbury cafe scene, Thyme Out has been going strong since 2006. Locals rave about the brunch menu which, despite fierce competition from the wealth of other independent eateries in the area, manages to stand out.

Sister of Chorlton favourite Dulcimer, Saison is a cosy bar offering a wide range of craft beer and spirits. They have 16 taps and 40 odd bottles of beer on offer, including saisons, obviously, along with a well-stocked liquor cabinet boasting over 20 whiskeys as well as a range of artisan spirits.

Volta is owned by Luke ‘Unabomber’ Cowdrey and Justin Crawford – the DJ-restauranteur duo behind Chorlton’s Electrik bar, the Electrik Chair club night, and Refuge by Volta in Manchester city centre’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. 

Conveniently located opposite West Didsbury Metrolink station, Wine & Wallop Didsbury is a cosy retreat where you can sample an interesting selection of wine, micro-brewed ales and cask ciders, accompanied by a light lunch or a few nibbles.