Frederiks
MerseysideOne of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual...
The Black Friar
ManchesterThe Black Friar stood empty and unloved for almost 20 years before reopening in summer 2021 after a substantial renovation...
Escape to Freight Island
Manchester City CentreFood hall meets music festival is how we’d describe Escape to Freight Island to anyone confused about what they’ll find...
Bundobust Brewery
Greater ManchesterA real Northern success story, the second location for Bundobust in Manchester and the fourth in the family of northern-based...
Seven Bro7hers Ancoats
Manchester City CentreThis bar on Cutting Room Square from the Seven Bro7hers Brewery clan is perfectly placed to cater for the craft...
On the Hush
Northern QuarterThe Northern Quarter has never been short of Instagrammable spots with its litany of graffitied walls and shop fronts but...
Another Hand
Manchester City CentreFrom the team that brought you 3 Hands Deli, Another Hand opened in February 2022 in the unit just next...
Lucky Foot at Escape to Freight Island
Manchester City Centre“Free range birds, first class serves” goes the strapline of this too-cool-for-school chicken shop dreamt up by three mates who...
Bistrot Pierre
TraffordBistrot Pierre is one of the better mid-range chain restaurants. It’s good to support the indies but Bistrot Pierre has...
Crowded House
WhitefieldCrowded House in Bury town centre is for those occasions when you want NQ-style food and drinks but you can’t...
Sandinista
Manchester City CentreNamed after the rowdy 1980 album by The Clash, bar with food Sandinista is one part wild Latin spirit and...
The Beeswing
Manchester City CentreThe Beeswing is named after a tartrate sheen which forms on the surface of port and some other wines that...
Luisa’s
RadcliffeRun by brother and sister team Dom and Stef, Luisa’s pizzeria in Radcliffe Market is named after their Nana Luisa,...
The Chippy on Burton Road
Greater ManchesterThe Chippy on Burton Road might be the classiest fish and chip shop in Greater Manchester. Alongside their sustainably sourced...
Aunty Ji’s
ManchesterAunty Ji’s is fast becoming one of Levenshulme’s favourite cafes thanks to its friendly, all-comers vibe and a menu that...
The Ugly Duckling
TraffordWhen Nick Theaker took over The Stamford pub in Altrincham’s “posh bit”, Bowdon, he had a big job on his...
Three Piggies Alehouse & Canteen
MerseysideThe Three Piggies Alehouse & Canteen looks like a transplant from a Cornish surfer town with its flaking driftwood walls,...
San Carlo Cicchetti
Manchester City CentreAs the first San Carlo Cicchetti, the Manchester restaurant had a lot to prove on opening in 2010. Over a...
Veggie Republic
MerseysideIf you’ve ever doubted the versatility of vegan cooking, a trip to Veggie Republic on Cork Street should set you...
Neighbourhood Bistro and Bar
MerseysideTicking all the boxes for brekkie and brunch in South Liverpool is Neighbourhood Bistro and Bar on Woolton Road.
Justino’s
MerseysideTaking the corner spot once occupied by Et Alia is Justino’s - a family-run Italian restaurant and bar headed up...
Tokyo Noodle Bar
MerseysideFamed for its massive portions and diminutive prices, Tokyo Noodle Bar would be a hidden gem if it wasn’t already...
Pasta 51 Express
MerseysideIt’s takeaway pasta but it’s unrecognisable from the refrigerated joyless stuff you get on a supermarket meal deal. Pasta Express...
The Easy Fish Co. Heaton Moor
StockportA quality fish restaurant this far inland has always been a difficult ask but The Easy Fish Co. Heaton Moor...
Owens Restaurant & Bar
RamsbottomOwens Restaurant & Bar is a popular place in Ramsbottom, just opposite the train station and handy for a family...
Slyce
OldhamLike its sister restaurant Muse next door, Slyce brings a taste of the city to the bucolic surroundings of Uppermill.
Motley
Manchester City CentreLocated on the ground floor of YOTEL on Manchester’s bustling Deansgate, Motley’s antipodean-style menu ticks all the modern boxes with...
Trattoria 51 Southport
MerseysideMuch like the seaside town itself, Trattoria 51 Southport looks its best when the sun is shining. The terrace at...
Othello’s
MerseysideOthello’s Greek Restaurant is a local favourite thanks to its reliable Mediterranean food and quick-smart, smiley service.
Trattoria 51 Liverpool
MerseysideOffering good-value Italian classics, Trattoria 51 is an easy option if you want a family-friendly independent close to Liverpool ONE....
Society
Manchester City CentreDoes Manchester need another hipsterish food hall? Probably not. But do we want one? Judging from the peak-time busyness of...
Bar San Juan
ManchesterBeech Road's Bar San Juan is almost always bursting at the seams with customers. This unassuming little tapas bar is...
NYL Restaurant and Bar
MerseysideMuch of the appeal of NYL Restaurant and Bar is admittedly the setting. You'll find it in the Aloft hotel...
Papillon
MerseysideWith its striped pink awning and corner spot on Hope Street, Papillon is one of the prettiest eating places in...
Tampopo Manchester Albert Square
Manchester City CentreTampopo Albert Square is the original venue in this Manchester-born chain from restaurateur David Fox. It was here that they...
Tampopo Trafford Centre
TraffordOne of the better eating options in the sprawling domed food court hell that is The Orient is Tampopo Trafford...
Campagna at The Creameries
ManchesterCampagna's Southern European country kitchen stands in the belly of what was formerly just The Creameries until February 2022. Chef...
The Ink in the Well
MerseysideYou can't miss the bright blue facade of The Ink in the Well on the iconic Lark Lane. This 2021...
Croma Chorlton
Greater ManchesterCroma is a Chorlton institution. It’s not a hipster pizza joint but it is solid, dependable and popular for a...
Cargo Seafood Restaurant
MerseysideWith some great views overlooking the Mersey from its unrivalled waterfront location on Princes Parade, this is the place to...
One Percent Forest
MerseysideSandwiched between an estate agent and a solicitor’s office, cafe-bar One Percent Forest could easily go unnoticed, were it not...
La Parrilla Lark Lane
MerseysideLa Parrilla Lark Lane is the third opening for a local mini-chain that has had the honour of being voted...
Comptoir Libanais
SpinningfieldsComptoir Libanais serves up the bold flavours of Lebanon, its fresh and healthy plates providing much to tempt those following...
53two
Manchester City CentreWith a gentle gradient throughout and a lowered bar, 53two is one of Manchester's most inclusive and accessible venues. Half...
Our Neighbourhood Bar
ManchesterOur NeighBourhood Bar in Didsbury is perfectly placed for forays in to Manchester’s most popular suburb right next to the...
Fosters Fish & Chips Alderley Edge
CheshireFosters Fish & Chips is an award-winning chippy in Alderley Edge that also has a branch in Bramhall. Expect cod...
Canto
Manchester City CentreCanto is a Modern Portuguese restaurant from Simon Shaw, the creative director behind the consistently brilliant El Gato Negro on...
La Cantina
StockportStockport is not Salamanca but that doesn’t stop the wooden barrel tables outside La Cantina on Heaton Moor’s busy Shaw...
The Kitchen
Greater ManchesterA family-run restaurant specialising in Greek street food, The Kitchen is a Westhaughton favourite thanks to the enthusiasm of the...
Yard & Coop Manchester
Northern QuarterWe’d rather see a restaurant that does one thing well than one that does a wide variety of dishes to...
The Font Manchester
Manchester City CentreBest known for the creativity and double-take cheapness of its cocktails, The Font Manchester is perhaps the closest you’ll get...
Ma Boyles
MerseysideMa Boyles, a self-described 'ale house and eatery', has been around in various guises since the mid 19th century. As...
Jimmy’s Liverpool (kitchen closed)
MerseysideThis glam rock and roll boozer on Bold Street is a bar, music venue, and upstairs, a restaurant. And while...
Electrik
ManchesterElektrik is an award-winning independent bar with great coffee and a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. They offer...
HOME
Manchester City CentreOne of Manchester’s flagship buildings, HOME is many things including cinema, theatre, art gallery and, of most interest to Confidential...
Ezra & Gil Hilton Street
Northern QuarterIf you want to experience Northern Quarter cafe culture in its purest form, head to Ezra & Gil Hilton Street,...
63 Degrees
Northern QuarterRan by husband and wife team Eric and Florence Moreau, 63 Degrees is a classic chef-proprieteur French restaurant with roots...
Gusto Liverpool
MerseysideWith views of the water and a menu that should have something for pretty much everyone, Gusto Liverpool is a...
Haunt
Manchester City CentreWhen Peter Street lost its Caffe Nero it gained Haunt, an independent coffee shop and wine bar. Stepping inside, you...
Pier Eight Restaurant
SalfordWith its watery views and sharp decor, Pier Eight – the restaurant and bar at The Lowry performing and visual...
Trof
Northern QuarterTrof was the OG Mission Mars bar in Manchester and it’s still got ‘top Manchester night out’ written all over...
Cuckoo
PrestwichLike the interloping bird that gives it its name, Cuckoo was an odd-one-out when it first opened in Prestwich back...
El Rincon de Rafa
Manchester City CentreThis Manchester institution was a much-respected destination for Spanish food long before tapas became a common sight in the city...
Borrello
TraffordBorrello is a slightly old-school Italian restaurant in Sale. You won’t unearth obscure regional delicacies or discover new ingredients but...
Croma Didsbury
ManchesterThe newest addition to the Croma family, the Didsbury restaurant has all the features that make its south Manchester sister...
Pattersons
MerseysideFried chicken in a bar setting with a big emphasis on music, beer and cocktails - Liverpool independent Pattersons has...
Croma Prestwich
PrestwichAs Manchester’s own, independent (and we would say, superior) version of Pizza Express, Croma was always going to feature strongly...
Berrington’s
MerseysideOne of the good things to come out of lockdown was Berrington’s - a neighbourhood bistro for Penny Lane that...
Hanover Street Social
MerseysideHanover Street Social is a big, buzzy bistro and bar from Paddy Smith’s Red and Blue Group, which also runs Salt...
Mustard & Co
MerseysideCrosby’s Mustard & Co is a neighbourhood bistro which succeeds in being both a heartwarming huddle of community - and...
Pippin’s Corner
MerseysidePippin’s Corner is a charming, family-friendly cafe-bistro that makes the most of its handsome corner spot on Lark Lane. Head...
Holbeck Ghyll
CumbriaSituated in the hills above Windermere, Holbeck Ghyll could easily claim a place in a list of the most romantic...
Wingstop
Manchester City CentreWingstop started life as a small chicken wing restaurant in Garland, Texas before spreading its wings across North America and...
The Banyan Tree
Manchester City CentreSituated on the Castlefield-Hulme border, The Banyan Tree is a neighbourhood eatery that’s much appreciated by the people living in...
The Font Chorlton
ManchesterWhile the city centre Font Bar is often typecast as 'that student place with the really cheap cocktails', The Font...
Etsu
MerseysideWhen David Abe's friend flew in from Tokyo and suggested they eat out, he was astonished to hear there was...
Bombay Blussi
Fine Indian dining is what's promised at glitzy Bombay Blussi – all white booths and banquettes with twinkly lights –...
Nell’s New York Pizza & Bar
Manchester City CentreThis Brooklyn-style pizza joint was born out of a love of using the best ingredients with care and attention. Nell's...
The Wild Goose
TraffordPrepare for a trip down memory lane – The Wild Goose (brought to you by the same team as Tre...
Turncoat Bar
MerseysideTurncoat Bar is a spacious, subterranean hideaway beneath Royal Albert Dock specialising in gin, craft beer and wood-fired pizza.
Mumbai to London Cafe
TamesideMumbai to London Cafe doesn’t look like much from the outside (or the inside) but don’t let that fool you;...
The Rivals Bar & Restaurant
Manchester City CentreWhen The Rivals opened in 2017, it was the first time in a long time that The Royal Exchange Theatre...
La Parrilla Waterloo
MerseysideThe original venue from this Liverpudlian mini-chain, La Parrilla Waterloo Road surprised us all when it opened on South Road...
Kimji Korean Restaurant
RamsbottomHusband and wife team Sam and Mandy Chen opened the first Kimji Korean Restaurant in Preston in 2018 to a...
Wood
Manchester City CentreThe eponymous restaurant of Simon Wood, MasterChef winner and local lad from Oldham, is an accomplished affair. Food is cooked...
Delhi House Cafe
Manchester City CentreThis slick 2020 addition to the Corn Exchange is determined to do something different to other contemporary Indian restaurants. And...
The Mews
Manchester City CentreThe Mews is one of a clutch of new places to set up shop on Deansgate Mews, or ‘deli alley’...
Gustum
MerseysideBack before American barbecue joints became all the rage over here, your best bet for charcoal-seared meat on a stick...
Indigo Greens
MerseysideWhen Indigo Green owners Patti Bullock and Mark Aston announced their plan to open on Queens Drive, the reaction wasn’t...
El Nido
MerseysideThe contemporary tapas at El Nido is a little different and influenced by the traditional dishes served in the Basque...
Sheldrakes
MerseysideSat on the banks of the River Dee in rustic Lower Heswall, Sheldrakes was a sailing club until the river...
Gorilla
Greater ManchesterGorilla is tucked under a railway arch, it has a slightly industrial vibe but it’s comfortable for all that. The...
La Parrilla Bold Street
MerseysideWith its mariachi bands, sombreros, and cantina-style atmosphere La Parrilla Bold Street is Mexico-by-numbers - but done with such cheerful...
Tampopo Manchester Corn Exchange
Manchester City CentreThe second of their city centre venues, Tampopo Manchester Corn Exchange has the same wok-fresh East Asian menu as its...
Salt House Tapas
MerseysideResiding on the corner of Hanover Street sits Salt House Tapas, a modern yet ambient take on the popular Spanish...
Chapati Cafe
ManchesterChapati Cafe is a gem in the tradition of the good-old 'rice and three' that every true Mancunian holds dear.
5 Fifty Bistro
MerseysideFormerly known as Paul’s Place, 5 Fifty Bistro is a small, independent restaurant on Aigburth Road. It’s run by the...
Pacifica Cantonese
SalfordPacifica Cantonese in Eccles is an old-school Chinese restaurant with lurid neon signage. It’s not trying to be slavishly authentic...
Albert’s Schloss
Manchester City CentreAlbert's Schloss is a Bavarian-inspired fun palace of extraordinary dimensions and clever design. Behind the glistening tiles of the former...
Bird At Birtle
RochdaleThe big, first-floor window at the rear of Andrew Nutter's Bird At Birtle frames the moors – and this gastropub,...
Yuet Ben Liverpool
MerseysideTranslating as "welcome honoured guest", the Yuet Ben is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Liverpool, setting up shop in 1968...
The Tavern Co
MerseysideA stalwart of Smithdown Road, The Tavern Co is a casual dining place with a reputation for student and family-friendly...
Cooper Hall
Northern QuarterCooper Hall is a European-style beer hall below Sevendale House in the Northern Quarter. The offering is simple: tank beer...
