Pizza
Cibus
LevenshulmeOnce a stall at Levy Market, then a pop-up pizzeria above Fred’s Ale House, Cibus took baby steps to get...
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,...
Piccolino Didsbury
DidsburyWith its large alfresco terrace, complete with a fully retractable roof, Piccolino Didsbury is perfectly located for an Aperol Spritz...
Piccolino Bramhall
BramhallWith its large alfresco terrace with a fully retractable roof, Piccolino Bramhall is perfectly located in the heart of the...
Frederiks
Georgian QuarterOne of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual...
Piccolino Grande Wilmslow
WilmslowPiccolino Grande Wilmslow is an elegant and glamorous restaurant with an airy open-plan design, a Tuscan terrace and luxurious furnishings....
Piccolino Caffe Grande Manchester
Manchester City CentreWith its terrace overlooking Albert Square and Manchester Town Hall, and a beautiful interior featuring a 40-seater private dining room,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
Casa Italia
Cavern QuarterStill in the spot where Mario Campolucci-Bordi opened its doors in 1976, the Casa Italia pizzeria and pastificcio is something...
Piccolino Liverpool
Cavern QuarterPiccolino Liverpool is located in a particularly grand building on Cook Street with a small but perfectly-formed terrace at the...
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...
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...
Hotel Football
Old TraffordHotel Football is about as near to Old Trafford as you can get without camping on the penalty spot. Located...
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...
Riva Blu Liverpool
Cavern QuarterWith its large alfresco terrace, island bar, and handsome architecture, Riva Blu Liverpool has a chic, continental feel inside and...
Gravity MAX Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreHome to two floors of immersive activities, Gravity MAX is Liverpool’s biggest multi-entertainment venue.
The ‘Burbs
Heaton MoorThe 'Burbs is exactly the sort of informal neighbourhood spot you want round the corner from your house.
San Carlo Fiorentina
Hale BarnsSan Carlo Fiorentina (what the Italians call Florence) specialises in the meat dishes of Tuscany, grilled over charcoal, particularly steak,...
Lupo
PrestwichPatiscerria and small-batch Italian hand-roasted coffee - that's the name of the game at the award-winning Lupo Caffe Italiano.
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...
Al Dente
Lark LaneAl Dente is a Mediterranean restaurant with an extensive, far-reaching menu that just about makes sense when you consider the...
Embankment Kitchen
SalfordHead to the ground floor of the Citysuites aparthotel and non-residents are welcome at EK, to its friends, where plates...
The Beagle
ChorltonThe Beagle is a bustling, eclectic, neighbourhood boozer which has recently replaced its Tex-Mex trash food menu with NYC-style pizza...
Tariff & Dale
Northern QuarterTariff & Dale is a Northern Quarter institution – one of the first to colonize the Rochdale Canal frontier, bringing...
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...
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...
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...
A Tavola
Greater ManchesterA Tavola has an offbeat charm. Don’t be put off by the exterior. Sicilian delights await within. Inside, it is...
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...
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...
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 Altrincham
AltrinchamTranslating as ‘three chubby friends’ (a self-effacing reference to owner Francesco Scafuri and a pair of his portly pals from...
Brickhouse Social
Oxford RoadBrickhouse Social is a casual place that’s all about pizza, beer and good times. Situated just off Oxford Road, in...
Onda
Oxford RoadOnda, or Onda Pasta Bar, to give it its full name, is a new Italian restaurant at Circle Square. It...
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...
PINS Social Club
RopewalksAs the name suggests, PINS Social Club is more than just a bar – and it's more than just a...
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...
Planet Ice
AltrinchamPlanet Ice is not just for Christmas. Enjoy year-round indoor skating sessions for a reasonable price.
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...
Cuckoo
PrestwichLike the interloping bird that gives it its name, Cuckoo was an odd-one-out when it first opened in Prestwich back...
Common
Northern QuarterOne of the Northern Quarter's original hipster hangouts, Common – bar, eatery, coffee spot – has been at its Edge...
Leopard Pie
WorsleyLeopard Pie is a lockdown baby. The pizza, with its slow-fermented 3-day dough, was perfected when everyone else was messing...
Ramona
AncoatsPredominantly a pizzeria, Ramona incorporates a bakery, margarita bar, coffee counter, stage and Firehouse restaurant, and is found in the...
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...
Bacaro
Liverpool City CentreLike the backstreet Venetian tapas places which inspired this central Liverpool bar and restaurant, there is something about Salt House...
Diecast
PiccadillyDiecast is a party venue and 'creative neighbourhood' five-minutes' walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.
The Merchant
RopewalksThe Merchant is a lively hangout with great pizza. At the front, spilling onto the street, the outdoor tables under...
Franco Manca Trafford Centre
Trafford ParkFranco Manca is one of the London big boys of the sourdough pizza revolution. Franco Manca Trafford Centre continues its...
The Lawn Club
SpinningfieldsThe Lawn Club is a summery Spinningfields paradise with lots of outdoor space and fantastic cocktails. It’s also a winter...
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...
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...
Society
Manchester City CentreLocated in between St Peter’s Square and The Bridgewater Hall, Society brings new life to the quiet yet elegant stretch...
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...
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...
Lost and Found
KnutsfordLost and Found, an elegant restaurant and bar in the old town hall in Knutsford has mastered the art 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...
Buyers Club
Liverpool City CentreSquished on the cusp of the Knowledge Quarter and the Georgian Quarter and resident in the old Flying Picket since...
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...
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...
Curzon Knutsford
KnutsfordIf big, brash multiplexes aren’t your thing, and you don’t want to trek into the city just to see the...
Franco Manca Didsbury
DidsburyPioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors, Franco Manca started out as a small concern in Brixton...
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...
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...
PLY
Northern QuarterDescribing itself as a "hangout" and "creative space", PLY is in the beating heart of hipster Northern Quarter, benefitting from...
Purezza
Northern QuarterSitting in the old Dough Kitchen spot in the Northern Quarter, Purezza is yet another pizza restaurant for Manchester -...
Tre Ciccio Ramsbottom
RamsbottomTre Ciccio’s Ramsbottom restaurant does much the same thing as Tre Ciccio in Altrincham - and that’s no bad thing.
Noi Quattro
Northern QuarterIf it’s a taste of Italy you’re after, think NQ for proper pizza – Noi Quattro, to be precise. Meaning...
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...
Rudy’s Pizza Chorlton
ChorltonRudy’s Pizza Chorlton is a relaxed outpost of the popular homegrown Manchester mini-chain of independent Napoli pizza masters.
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...
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...
Mackie Mayor
Northern QuarterMackie Mayor is a cosmopolitan food hall located in an 1858 Grade II listed market building on the edge of...
Gusto Italian Liverpool
Albert DockWith views of the water and a menu that should have something for pretty much everyone, Gusto Liverpool is a...
Cibo Wilmslow
WilmslowCibo Wilmslow is a stylish Italian restaurant where you can enjoy good food and a spot of people-watching. (Wilmslow is...
Proove Pizza
DidsburyProove Pizza has proven itself to be a success which is fortunate because there’s no shortage of eateries slinging out...
Fumo
Oxford RoadWith its terrace overlooking Oxford Road and its much-photographed spiral staircase, Fumo is a favourite spot in Manchester for dinner...
Vero Moderno
SalfordAnother fab addition to the clutch of good, independent Italian restaurants in the city is Vero Moderno. Situated on the...
Coast to Coast
Trafford ParkCoast to Coast is a casual American restaurant at the Trafford Centre. If you’re looking for something that feels more...
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...
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...
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...
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....
Homeboys Pizza
EcclesNo shortcuts are tolerated at indie pizzeria Homeboys, where everything is made from scratch using only the freshest, best ingredients...
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...
Piccolino Knutsford
KnutsfordPiccolino Knutsford fits in perfectly with the Italianate villas and chic shops of this quirky Cheshire town. Situated on the...
Puccini
SwintonPuccini has been serving up authentic Italian food to the people of Swinton since 1982, with signor Pucci at the...
Trattoria 51 Southport
SouthportMuch like the seaside town itself, Trattoria 51 Southport looks its best when the sun is shining. The terrace at...
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...
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...
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....
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...
Six Trees Kitchen & Bar
StretfordPop in on your way back from the Trafford Centre – there's plenty to watch go by, and plenty of...
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...
Chez Moi
SouthportFamily-run Chez Moi started life as a bistro specialising in "the finest French cuisine", but appears to have gone off...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Caravan Manchester
St John'sCaravan Manchester is a 2024 opening from a small London chain started by three New Zealanders who settled in the...
American Pies
AncoatsAmerican Pies in Ancoats serves deep-dish pizzas when everyone else seems to be all about the slow-proved Neapolitan style. Sometimes...
Electrik
ChorltonElektrik is an award-winning independent bar with great coffee and a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. They offer...
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...
Track Brewing Co
PiccadillyTrack Brewing Co may be a bit off the beaten track but it’s worth the trek for craft beer aficionados....
Nell’s Kampus
Manchester City CentreThis Brooklyn-style pizza joint was born out of a love of using the best ingredients with care and attention. Nell's...
Aviva Studios, Factory International
St John'sAviva Studios is the new home of Factory International, the producers of Manchester International Festival. The impressive building was conceived...
Mother Marys
Oxford RoadMother Marys is an Irish bar with a big focus on live music. There are two stages plus an impressive...
Sandbar Withington
WithingtonLongstanding Manchester favourite Sandbar opened its second location in Withington in May 2025 - nearly 30 years since the original...
Dulcimer
Chorlton"Music is in our blood" proclaim the team behind Dulcimer, the long-standing Chorlton bar named after a funkily shaped hammer-struck...
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...
Amalia
RopewalksThis award-winning city centre Italian combines value with authenticity – founders Miguel and Antonio have been working together since 2007...
Salvi’s Deansgate Square
CastlefieldBright and airy, with white and pale sage tiles, dusky pink and gold rose barstools and booths, and even a...
Whistle Punks
Manchester City CentreHearing the thud of axes can be a little unnerving as you leave the cinema in the Great Northern –...
YES
Oxford RoadYES is a gargantuan place with four floors of fun. Despite that, it still has a low-key cool and something...
The Picturedrome
MacclesfieldThe Picturedrome is the Macclesfield spin-off of the popular food hall group behind Altrincham Market Hall, Market House Alty and...
Franco Manca
Manchester City CentreFranco Manca started out as pioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors in Brixton Market in 1986....
Night & Day Cafe
Northern QuarterWithout Night & Day Cafe, the Northern Quarter as we know it probably wouldn't exist. It was places like this,...
Double Zero
ChorltonAn authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Double Zero in Chorlton has been lauded as one of the best in the UK.
CULTO
LeedsFamous for both its top-drawer takeaways and unique black base Pizza Nera made using vegetable charcoal, CULTO is a cosy...
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...
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...
Cicchetti
DeansgateAs the first San Carlo Cicchetti, the Manchester restaurant had a lot to prove on opening in 2011. Over a...
Rosa
BoltonCicchetti, bar, grill. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Rosa's food is inspired by Italy, and the menus are updated regularly to reflect...
Electric Shuffle
DeansgateElectric Shuffle is a fresh take on shuffleboard. Usually associated with the pubbier end of the bar spectrum or the...
Blakemere Village
NorthwichBlakemere Village is the Cheshire one-stop for shopping, outdoor activities and family-friendly events.
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,...
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.
Slyce
OldhamLike its sister restaurant Muse next door, Slyce brings a taste of the city to the bucolic surroundings of Uppermill.
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...
Borrello
SaleBorrello is a slightly old-school Italian restaurant in Sale. You won’t unearth obscure regional delicacies or discover new ingredients but...
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...
Croma Chorlton
Greater ManchesterCroma is a Chorlton institution. It’s not a hipster pizza joint but it is solid, dependable and popular for a...
Il Capitano’s
WaterlooItalian restaurant and takeaway Il Capitano always deserves a visit if you’re in the Waterloo area. Its offering is simple:...
Justino’s
AigburthTaking the corner spot once occupied by Et Alia is Justino’s - a family-run Italian restaurant and bar headed up...
Croma Prestwich
PrestwichAs Manchester’s own, independent (and we would say, superior) version of Pizza Express, Croma was always going to feature strongly...
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...
La Casa
WiganA new addition to Astley’s dining options is classy Italian restaurant and bar La Casa.
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...
The Italian Club
RopewalksTracing their roots back to the mountain village of Picinisco, high in the Apennines below Rome, and Puglia in the...
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...
Villa Romana
RopewalksRecently given a spruce-up in keeping with its Wood Street location, this authentic, family-run Italian has been in the Ropewalks...
