An Insider’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in Didsbury

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.

Baity, meaning ‘home’ in Arabic, brings the deep pleasures of Palestinian food to Didsbury.

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. 

A stalwart of the Didsbury scene, Greens Vegetarian was way ahead of the game when they opened back in 1990. It was especially brave considering neither Simon Rimmer nor his partner Simon Connolly had worked in a kitchen before.

Another Heart To Feed in Didsbury is an ecologically-minded coffee shop inspired by coffee culture capital of the world, Melbourne.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Folk is a bit of an institution in Didsbury, having been on the scene for over a decade now. Even though its full title is Folk Cafe Bar, it’s definitely a boozer that also does food. There’s a bit of everything on the menu; they do burgers, pasta AND curry, but despite being so varied, the food on offer is pretty classy. Think lobster mac n cheese or wild boar ragu.

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.

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.