Ciaooo Neapolitan Pizzeria
Northern QuarterCult pizzeria Ciaooo may not be as well-known as some of its beautifully blistered-based brethren, but that’s all to the...
Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread
Northern QuarterTeam GB has a different meaning to the guys who run Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread, the takeaway version of the...
Bottega
Manchester City CentreWith its floor-to-ceiling views over Exchange Square and chic Selfridges setting, Bottega is a stylish spot for cocktails, lunch or...
San Carlo Fiorentina
Hale BarnsSan Carlo Fiorentina (what the Italians call Florence) specialises in the meat dishes of Tuscany, grilled over charcoal, particularly steak,...
The ‘Burbs
Heaton MoorThe 'Burbs is exactly the sort of informal neighbourhood spot you want round the corner from your house.
Cibus
LevenshulmeOnce a stall at Levy Market, then a pop-up pizzeria above Fred’s Ale House, Cibus took baby steps to get...
San Carlo Liverpool
Cavern QuarterHead to any of the ristorantes in the award-winning, family-run San Carlo Group and you know you’re in for exceptional...
Fumo
Oxford RoadWith its terrace overlooking Oxford Road and its much-photographed spiral staircase, Fumo is a favourite spot in Manchester for dinner...
San Carlo Alderley Edge
Alderley EdgeThe latest addition to the San Carlo family is the impressive £3 million Alderley Edge restaurant, boasting a sunlit dining...
Cicchetti
DeansgateAs the first San Carlo Cicchetti, the Manchester restaurant had a lot to prove on opening in 2011. Over a...
Frederiks
Georgian QuarterOne of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual...
Alfredo’s Social
Stockport Town CentreAlfredo’s Social is a buzzy bar and restaurant in the parade of independents on Little Underbank in Stockport town centre....
San Carlo Manchester
DeansgateSan Carlo is Manchester's most famous and, some say, best Italian restaurant. Run by the Distefano family, it's said to...
Piccolino Liverpool
Cavern QuarterPiccolino Liverpool is located in a particularly grand building on Cook Street with a small but perfectly-formed terrace at the...
Piccolino Hale
HaleThere’s no shortage of reliably good restaurants in the Hale-Altrincham-Bowden triangle, and Piccolino Hale is up there with the best...
Riva Blu Manchester | Corn Exchange
Manchester City CentreFrom the same team behind Piccolino, Riva Blu Manchester aims to bring a little bit of La Dolce Vita to...
Piccolo by Piccolino
Manchester City CentreA stone's throw from Selfridges and the designer stores around Exchange Square, Piccolo by Piccolino is a Southern Italian restaurant...
Riva Blu Liverpool
Cavern QuarterWith its large alfresco terrace, island bar, and handsome architecture, Riva Blu Liverpool has a chic, continental feel inside and...
Piccolino Knutsford
KnutsfordPiccolino Knutsford fits in perfectly with the Italianate villas and chic shops of this quirky Cheshire town. Situated on the...
Society
Manchester City CentreLocated in between St Peter’s Square and The Bridgewater Hall, Society brings new life to the quiet yet elegant stretch...
Buyers Club
Liverpool City CentreSquished on the cusp of the Knowledge Quarter and the Georgian Quarter and resident in the old Flying Picket since...
Puccini
SwintonPuccini has been serving up authentic Italian food to the people of Swinton since 1982, with signor Pucci at the...
Proove Pizza
DidsburyProove Pizza has proven itself to be a success which is fortunate because there’s no shortage of eateries slinging out...
Rudy’s Pizza Manchester Peter Street
Manchester City CentreRudy's mission is simple: to put proper Neapolitan pizza on your plate. Following the traditions and artistry of pizza-making from...
Double Zero
ChorltonAn authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Double Zero in Chorlton has been lauded as one of the best in the UK.
Pappa Pepinos
Liverpool City CentrePappa Pepinos is part of the Selina Hotel. It’s a casual place serving Italian plates both small and large, and...
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...
Amalia
RopewalksThis award-winning city centre Italian combines value with authenticity – founders Miguel and Antonio have been working together since 2007...
Gusto Italian Didsbury
DidsburyGusto Didsbury may be a mid-market chain but it certainly is very appealing. The interior is light and airy, but...
Chez Moi
SouthportFamily-run Chez Moi started life as a bistro specialising in "the finest French cuisine", but appears to have gone off...
The Bierkeller Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreThe Bierkeller Liverpool is one of the best bars in Liverpool if you’re looking for a lively party atmosphere or...
A Tavola
Greater ManchesterA Tavola has an offbeat charm. Don’t be put off by the exterior. Sicilian delights await within. Inside, it is...
Ramona
AncoatsPredominantly a pizzeria, Ramona incorporates a bakery, margarita bar, coffee counter, stage and Firehouse restaurant, and is found in the...
Embankment Kitchen
SalfordHead to the ground floor of the Citysuites aparthotel and non-residents are welcome at EK, to its friends, where plates...
Blakemere Village
NorthwichBlakemere Village is the Cheshire one-stop for shopping, outdoor activities and family-friendly events.
Love Lane Brewery
Baltic TriangleThe name Love Lane Brewery comes from the craft beer, first brewed in a converted railway arch at Liverpool’s Love...
Brickhouse Social
Oxford RoadBrickhouse Social is a casual place that’s all about pizza, beer and good times. Situated just off Oxford Road, in...
Tariff & Dale
Northern QuarterTariff & Dale is a Northern Quarter institution – one of the first to colonize the Rochdale Canal frontier, bringing...
Piccolino Grande Wilmslow
WilmslowPiccolino Grande Wilmslow is an elegant and glamorous restaurant with an airy open-plan design, a Tuscan terrace and luxurious furnishings....
Franco Manca King Street
Manchester City CentrePioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors, Franco Manca started out as a small concern in Brixton...
Gravity MAX Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreHome to two floors of immersive activities, Gravity MAX is Liverpool’s biggest multi-entertainment venue.
Franco Manca Didsbury
DidsburyPioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors, Franco Manca started out as a small concern in Brixton...
Cuckoo
PrestwichLike the interloping bird that gives it its name, Cuckoo was an odd-one-out when it first opened in Prestwich back...
Rudy’s Pizza Liverpool
Albert DockRudy's mission is simple: to put proper Neapolitan pizza on your plate. Following the traditions and artistry of pizza-making from...
King Pins Trafford Palazzo
Trafford ParkKing Pins Trafford Palazzo markets itself as ‘the crown jewels of bowling’, but to be honest, they’re selling themselves short....
Voodoo Ray’s | Escape to Freight Island
Manchester City CentreNYC-style pizza via LDN. Voodoo Ray’s at Escape to Freight Island is the first opening outside the capital for these...
CULTO
LeedsFamous for both its top-drawer takeaways and unique black base Pizza Nera made using vegetable charcoal, CULTO is a cosy...
New Century
Green QuarterOpened in the summer of 2022 after a hefty refurb which transformed the tired-looking New Century Hall of the mid-twentieth...
Pizza Express | Corn Exchange
Manchester City CentreThe first Pizza Express opened in London in 1965, and it has continued to bring consistent, family-friendly, quality pizza to...
Crazy Pedro’s Liverpool
RopewalksDescribing itself as a full-time party bar and part-time pizza parlour, Crazy Pedro’s is hot on super-chilled drinks, from frozen...
Salvi’s | Corn Exchange
Manchester City CentreSalvi’s – or Salvi's Mozzarella Bar & Restaurant, to give it its full name – claims to be Manchester's first...
The Merchant
RopewalksThe Merchant is a lively hangout with great pizza. At the front, spilling onto the street, the outdoor tables under...
Trattoria 51 Liverpool
Business District (Liverpool)Offering good-value Italian classics, Trattoria 51 is an easy option if you want a family-friendly independent close to Liverpool ONE....
YES
Oxford RoadYES is a gargantuan place with four floors of fun. Despite that, it still has a low-key cool and something...
Dokes Pizzeria
PrestwichNone of your Neapolitan nonsense for Michael Clay – the Elnecot chef-patron so loves crispy New York- and Philadelphia-style pizza...
Lock and Key Hotel – Duke Street
RopewalksLock and Key Hotel - Duke Street has scooped up various awards and accolades since it opened in 2017 thanks...
Whistle Punks
Manchester City CentreHearing the thud of axes can be a little unnerving as you leave the cinema in the Great Northern –...
Noi Quattro
Northern QuarterIf it’s a taste of Italy you’re after, think NQ for proper pizza – Noi Quattro, to be precise. Meaning...
Ortica Italian Plant Based
UrmstonOrtica brings the south of Italy to the south of Manchester, minus the meat and dairy. Their 100% vegan menu is...
PLY
Northern QuarterDescribing itself as a "hangout" and "creative space", PLY is in the beating heart of hipster Northern Quarter, benefitting from...
Night & Day Cafe
Northern QuarterWithout Night & Day Cafe, the Northern Quarter as we know it probably wouldn't exist. It was places like this,...
Blackstock Market
VauxhallBlackstock Market is a huge all-in-one food, bar and entertainment destination. It’s absolutely massive and incorporates Liverpool’s largest food hall...
King Pins Manchester Arndale
Manchester City CentreKing Pins Manchester Arndale is ten-pin bowling royalty, and not just for the good customer service, clean, fresh decor and...
Vapiano | Corn Exchange
Manchester City CentreEverything at Vapiano is ordered via a QR code once you’re at your table, which may be rather au fait...
Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza Altrincham
Altrincham"On a mission to make really great sourdough pizza" since 2013, when they had a pop-up in rainy Ramsbottom, Altrincham...
The Lawn Club
SpinningfieldsThe Lawn Club is a summery Spinningfields paradise with lots of outdoor space and fantastic cocktails. It’s also a winter...
Casa Italia
Cavern QuarterStill in the spot where Mario Campolucci-Bordi opened its doors in 1976, the Casa Italia pizzeria and pastificcio is something...
Aviva Studios, Factory International
Manchester City CentreAviva Studios is the new home of Factory International, the producers of Manchester International Festival. The impressive building was conceived...
Mano A Bocca
Sale"Roma è arrivata a Sale!" – Rome has arrived in Sale – proclaims the website, which is a slight exaggeration,...
The Beagle
ChorltonThe Beagle is a bustling, eclectic, neighbourhood boozer which has recently replaced its Tex-Mex trash food menu with NYC-style pizza...
Cibo Wilmslow
WilmslowCibo Wilmslow is a stylish Italian restaurant where you can enjoy good food and a spot of people-watching. (Wilmslow is...
Cibo Hale
HaleCibo takes a leaf out of San Carlo’s book with its version of upscale Italian dining. It may be out-of-town...
The Merchant’s Yard
TideswellThe Merchant’s Yard is a restaurant with rooms in the picturesque Peak District village of Tideswell. It’s smart but unstuffy,...
PINS Social Club
RopewalksAs the name suggests, PINS Social Club is more than just a bar – and it's more than just a...
Crazy Pedro’s Manchester NQ
Northern QuarterThis self-styled party bar is hot on super-chilled drinks, from frozen margaritas to ice cold beers. It's also hot on...
Purezza
Northern QuarterSitting in the old Dough Kitchen spot in the Northern Quarter, Purezza is yet another pizza restaurant for Manchester -...
Diecast
PiccadillyDiecast is a party venue and 'creative neighbourhood' five-minutes' walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.
Wild by Ply | New Century
Green QuarterLocated in Manchester food hall, New Century, Wild by Ply serves up a range of hand-stretched wildflour pizzas with a...
Track Brewing Co
PiccadillyTrack Brewing Co may be a bit off the beaten track but it’s worth the trek for craft beer aficionados....
Electrik
ChorltonElektrik is an award-winning independent bar with great coffee and a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. They offer...
Rudy’s Pizza Manchester Ancoats
AncoatsListed amongst the world’s best pizzerias in international pizza guide, Where To Eat Pizza, Rudy’s Pizza has grown from a...
La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant
Cavern QuarterThe name says it all: La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant is a family-run outfit serving fresh, traditional Italian cuisine rethought,...
The Post Box Cafe and Shawarma
ChorltonDon’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior – the interior is even more unassuming. However, the food is unbelievable. Enormous...
Rosa
BoltonCicchetti, bar, grill. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Rosa's food is inspired by Italy, and the menus are updated regularly to reflect...
Lucky Mama’s
ChorltonLucky Mama's is a vibrant Italian restaurant on Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton, Manchester serving fresh Roman-style pizza, Veneto-style pasta...
Rudy’s Pizza Sale
SaleRudy's mission is simple: to put proper Neapolitan pizza on your plate. Following the traditions and artistry of pizza-making from...
Homeboys Pizza
EcclesNo shortcuts are tolerated at indie pizzeria Homeboys, where everything is made from scratch using only the freshest, best ingredients...
Boxpark Liverpool
Baltic TriangleIt’s a transplant from that-there London but at least Boxpark Liverpool is full of local food names. This food hall...
Rudy’s Pizza Chorlton
ChorltonRudy’s Pizza Chorlton is a relaxed outpost of the popular homegrown Manchester mini-chain of independent Napoli pizza masters.
Six Trees Kitchen & Bar
StretfordPop in on your way back from the Trafford Centre – there's plenty to watch go by, and plenty of...
Altrincham Market House Indoor Food Hall
Greater ManchesterSetting a precedent for the likes of Mackie Mayor and Stockport Produce Hall, many have hailed the revamping of the...
Gusto Italian Manchester
Manchester City CentreGusto Italian Manchester may be the jewel in ever-expanding chain’s crown, even if the menu is the same everywhere from...
The Crafty Pig
Northern QuarterThe Crafty Pig is a sociable bar on the edge of Manchester's Northern Quarter with a busy beer garden and...
HOME Restaurant
Manchester City CentreOne of Manchester’s flagship buildings, HOME is many things including cinema, theatre, art gallery and, of most interest to Confidential...
Franco Manca
Manchester City CentreFranco Manca started out as pioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors in Brixton Market in 1986....
Little Furnace Smithdown Road
Sefton ParkBack in early 2013, two pals Peter and Ryan had their first taste of Neapolitan pizza, while on holiday in...
Rudy’s Pizza Bold Street
RopewalksRudy's mission is simple: to put proper Neapolitan pizza on your plate. Following the traditions and artistry of pizza-making from...
The Pumpkin Patch at Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream
AltrinchamThe area around Dunham Massey is littered with pumpkin-picking places. The Pumpkin Patch at Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream has...
Baltic Market
Baltic TriangleLiverpool’s Baltic Market is the city’s first food hall, built on the redeveloped Cains Brewery site. It’s the sort of...
Onda
Oxford RoadOnda, or Onda Pasta Bar, to give it its full name, is a new Italian restaurant at Circle Square. It...
Gusto Italian Heswall
HeswallWith its sunspot terrace and twinkly olive grove interior, Gusto’s Heswall branch lives up to the chain’s reputation for making...
Gusto Italian Liverpool
Albert DockWith views of the water and a menu that should have something for pretty much everyone, Gusto Liverpool is a...
Common
Northern QuarterOne of the Northern Quarter's original hipster hangouts, Common – bar, eatery, coffee spot – has been at its Edge...
Tre Ciccio Altrincham
AltrinchamTranslating as ‘three chubby friends’ (a self-effacing reference to owner Francesco Scafuri and a pair of his portly pals from...
The Picturedrome
MacclesfieldThe Picturedrome is the Macclesfield spin-off of the popular food hall group behind Altrincham Market Hall, Market House Alty and...
Bacaro
Liverpool City CentreLike the backstreet Venetian tapas places which inspired this central Liverpool bar and restaurant, there is something about Salt House...
Dulcimer
Chorlton"Music is in our blood" proclaim the team behind Dulcimer, the long-standing Chorlton bar named after a funkily shaped hammer-struck...
Trattoria 51 Southport
SouthportMuch like the seaside town itself, Trattoria 51 Southport looks its best when the sun is shining. The terrace at...
Band on the Wall
Northern QuarterSo called because the performers used to play on a stage situated halfway up the wall, Band on the Wall...
Al Dente
Lark LaneAl Dente is a Mediterranean restaurant with an extensive, far-reaching menu that just about makes sense when you consider the...
Mackie Mayor
Northern QuarterMackie Mayor is a cosmopolitan food hall located in an 1858 Grade II listed market building on the edge of...
Little Furnace Baltic Market
Liverpool City CentreBack in early 2013, two pals Peter and Ryan had their first taste of Neapolitan pizza, while on holiday in...
Dog Bowl
Manchester City CentreDog Bowl is a bar, restaurant and bowling alley with five full-length ten-pin bowling lanes. It's tucked under the arches...
Vero Moderno
SalfordAnother fab addition to the clutch of good, independent Italian restaurants in the city is Vero Moderno. Situated on the...
Pizza Punks Liverpool
Liverpool City CentrePizza Punks Liverpool brings sourdough anarchy to Bold Street. There’s a joyful glee to the operation but it’s no three-chord...
Via Manchester
Gay VillageFormerly Via Fossa, generally know as just ‘Via’, this is probably the most long-standing go-to bar on the main strip...
Salvi’s Deansgate Square
CastlefieldBright and airy, with white and pale sage tiles, dusky pink and gold rose barstools and booths, and even a...
Villa Romana
RopewalksRecently given a spruce-up in keeping with its Wood Street location, this authentic, family-run Italian has been in the Ropewalks...
Lupo
PrestwichPatiscerria and small-batch Italian hand-roasted coffee that's the name of the game at the award-winning Lupo Caffe Italiano.
Black Spot Pizza
StockportThere is no shortage of floppy, fold-it-up Neapolitan pizza in Manchester these days. Like the bee symbol, it has descended...
Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza Manchester
Northern Quarter"On a mission to make really great sourdough pizza" since a pop-up in rainy Ramsbottom back in 2013, Honest Crust's...
Il Forno
RopewalksIl Forno’s name refers to their oven; a huge, fire-breathing head which swallows up pizza before cooking it to perfection and...
Slyce
OldhamLike its sister restaurant Muse next door, Slyce brings a taste of the city to the bucolic surroundings of Uppermill.
Salvi’s Manchester Northern Quarter
Northern QuarterSalvi’s NQ is the baby of what claims to be Manchester's first independent Neapolitan restaurant, and if traditional, authentic southern...
Justino’s
AigburthTaking the corner spot once occupied by Et Alia is Justino’s - a family-run Italian restaurant and bar headed up...
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Manchester City CentreSet in a Grade II-listed Charles Heathcote-designed Edwardian Baroque building, all that marble provides the perfect backdrop to a family-owned...
Tre Ciccio Ramsbottom
RamsbottomTre Ciccio’s Ramsbottom restaurant does much the same thing as Tre Ciccio in Altrincham - and that’s no bad thing.
Crazy Pedro’s Manchester Bridge St
Manchester City CentreDescribing itself as a full-time party bar and part-time pizza parlour, Crazy Pedro’s is hot on super-chilled drinks, from frozen...
Tre Amici
BuryTre Amici is Bury’s own Neapolitan-style pizzeria, complete with 48-hour rested dough for that fold-it-up and shove-it-in experience.
Croma Chorlton
Greater ManchesterCroma is a Chorlton institution. It’s not a hipster pizza joint but it is solid, dependable and popular for a...
Don Marco
Castlefield"A little Italian gem in the heart of Manchester", Don Marco says it "recreates the atmosphere of neighbourhood brasseries found...
La Casa
WiganA new addition to Astley’s dining options is classy Italian restaurant and bar La Casa.
Borrello
SaleBorrello is a slightly old-school Italian restaurant in Sale. You won’t unearth obscure regional delicacies or discover new ingredients but...
The Italian Club
RopewalksTracing their roots back to the mountain village of Picinisco, high in the Apennines below Rome, and Puglia in the...
Il Capitano’s
WaterlooItalian restaurant and takeaway Il Capitano always deserves a visit if you’re in the Waterloo area. Its offering is simple:...
The Klondyke Club
LevenshulmeNo round-up of Levenshulme’s social spaces could exclude The Klondyke Club AKA The Levenshulme Bowling and Social Club. This century-old...
The Fat Italian Crosby
CrosbyThe OG of three Fat Italians (the others are in Burscough and Ormskirk), this family-run restaurant has been around since...
Croma Prestwich
PrestwichAs Manchester’s own, independent (and we would say, superior) version of Pizza Express, Croma was always going to feature strongly...
