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...
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...
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...
Gusto Manchester
Manchester City CentreGusto Manchester may be the jewel in ever-expanding chain’s crown, even if the menu is the same everywhere from Heswall...
Piccolino Liverpool
Cavern QuarterPiccolino Liverpool is located in a particularly grand building on Cook Street with a small but perfectly-formed terrace at the...
Cicchetti
DeansgateAs the first San Carlo Cicchetti, the Manchester restaurant had a lot to prove on opening in 2011. Over a...
Fumo
Manchester City CentreWith its terrace overlooking Oxford Road and its much-photographed spiral staircase, Fumo is a favourite spot in Manchester for dinner...
Purezza
Northern QuarterSitting in the old Dough Kitchen spot in the Northern Quarter, Purezza is yet another pizza restaurant for Manchester -...
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...
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...
San Carlo Fiorentina
HaleSan Carlo Fiorentina (what the Italians call Florence) specialises in the meat dishes of Tuscany, grilled over charcoal, particularly steak,...
Piccolino Knutsford
KnutsfordPiccolino Knutsford fits in perfectly with the Italianate villas and chic shops of this quirky Cheshire town. Situated on the...
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...
Cibus
LevenshulmeAh, those awkward encounters when you bump into someone at a party and can't recall their name or where you...
Love Lane Brewery
Baltic TriangleLove Lane Brewery creates beers for a new generation of beer enthusiasts. The name Love Lane comes from the craft...
Frederiks
Georgian QuarterOne of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual...
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...
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...
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 Liverpool
Cavern QuarterWith its large alfresco terrace, island bar, and handsome architecture, Riva Blu Liverpool has a chic, continental feel inside and...
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...
Zizzi | Corn Exchange
Manchester City CentreIn one of the prime locations on the storefront of Manchester’s Corn Exchange, Zizzi is pulling pizza bases and preening...
Cuckoo
PrestwichLike the interloping bird that gives it its name, Cuckoo was an odd-one-out when it first opened in Prestwich back...
Puccini
SwintonPuccini has been serving up authentic Italian food to the people of Swinton since 1982, with signor Pucci at the...
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...
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...
Chez Moi
SouthportFamily-run Chez Moi started life as a bistro specialising in "the finest French cuisine", but appears to have gone off...
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...
CULTO
LeedsFamous for both its top-drawer takeaways and unique black base Pizza Nera made using vegetable charcoal, CULTO is a cosy...
Franco Manca Didsbury
DidsburyPioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors, Franco Manca started out as a small concern in Brixton...
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....
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...
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...
Mackie Mayor
Northern QuarterMackie Mayor is a cosmopolitan food hall located in an 1858 Grade II listed market building on the edge of...
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...
Society
Manchester City CentreLocated in between St Peter’s Square and The Bridgewater Hall, Society brings new life to the quiet yet elegant stretch...
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...
Embankment Kitchen
SalfordHead to the ground floor of the Citysuites aparthotel and non-residents are welcome at EK, to its friends, where plates...
Gravity MAX Liverpool
Liverpool City CentreHome to two floors of immersive activities, Gravity MAX is Liverpool’s biggest multi-entertainment venue.
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...
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...
Dokes Pizzeria
PrestwichNone of your Neapolitan nonsense for Michael Clay – the Elnecot chef-patron so loves crispy New York- and Philadelphia-style pizza...
Trattoria 51 Southport
SouthportMuch like the seaside town itself, Trattoria 51 Southport looks its best when the sun is shining. The terrace at...
The Crafty Pig
Northern QuarterWhatever it is you want to eat, you can be sure you'll find it, or some approximation of it, in...
Diecast
PiccadillyDiecast is a party venue and 'creative neighbourhood' five-minutes' walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.
Homeboys Pizza
EcclesNo shortcuts are tolerated at indie pizzeria Homeboys, where everything is made from scratch using only the freshest, best ingredients...
Buyers Club
Liverpool City CentreSquished on the cusp of the Knowledge Quarter and the Georgian Quarter and resident in the old Flying Picket since...
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,...
Wild by Ply | New Century
Manchester City CentreLocated in Manchester food hall, New Century, Wild by Ply serves up a range of hand-stretched wildflour pizzas with a...
Gusto Liverpool
Albert DockWith views of the water and a menu that should have something for pretty much everyone, Gusto Liverpool is a...
Amalia
RopewalksThis award-winning city centre Italian combines value with authenticity – founders Miguel and Antonio have been working together since 2007...
PLY
Manchester City CentreDescribing itself as a "hangout" and "creative space", PLY is in the beating heart of hipster Northern Quarter, benefitting from...
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...
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...
Bacaro
Liverpool City CentreLike the backstreet Venetian tapas places which inspired this central Liverpool bar and restaurant, there is something about Salt House...
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...
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 Manchester Ancoats
Manchester City CentreListed amongst the world’s best pizzerias in international pizza guide, Where To Eat Pizza, Rudy’s Pizza has grown from 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....
Six Trees Kitchen & Bar
StretfordPop in on your way back from the Trafford Centre – there's plenty to watch go by, and plenty of...
The Merchant
RopewalksThe Merchant is a lively hangout with great pizza. At the front, spilling onto the street, the outdoor tables under...
Common
Manchester City CentreOne of the Northern Quarter's original hipster hangouts, Common – bar, eatery, coffee spot – has been at its Edge...
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...
Proove Pizza
DidsburyProove Pizza has proven itself to be a success which is fortunate because there’s no shortage of eateries slinging out...
Gusto Heswall
HeswallWith its sunspot terrace and twinkly olive grove interior, Gusto’s Heswall branch lives up to the chain’s reputation for making...
Casa Italia
Cavern QuarterStill in the spot where Mario Campolucci-Bordi opened its doors in 1976, the Casa Italia pizzeria and pastificcio is something...
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...
Whistle Punks
Manchester City CentreHearing the thud of axes can be a little unnerving as you leave the cinema in the Great Northern –...
Al Dente
Lark LaneAl Dente is a Mediterranean restaurant with an extensive, far-reaching menu that just about makes sense when you consider the...
New Century
Manchester City CentreOpened in the summer of 2022 after a hefty refurb which transformed the tired-looking New Century Hall of the mid-twentieth...
PINS Social Club
RopewalksAs the name suggests, PINS Social Club is more than just a bar – and it's more than just a...
Ramona
AncoatsPredominantly a pizzeria, Ramona incorporates a bakery, margarita bar, coffee counter, stage and Firehouse restaurant, and is found in the...
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...
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...
Salvi’s Manchester Northern Quarter
Manchester City CentreSalvi’s NQ is the baby of what claims to be Manchester's first independent Neapolitan restaurant, and if traditional, authentic southern...
The Italian Club
RopewalksTracing their roots back to the mountain village of Picinisco, high in the Apennines below Rome, and Puglia in the...
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...
Noi Quattro
Manchester City CentreIf it’s a taste of Italy you’re after, think NQ for proper pizza – Noi Quattro, to be precise. Meaning...
Rosa
BoltonCicchetti, bar, grill. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Rosa's food is inspired by Italy, and the menus are updated regularly to reflect...
Don Marco
Castlefield"A little Italian gem in the heart of Manchester", Don Marco says it "recreates the atmosphere of neighbourhood brasseries found...
Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza Manchester
Manchester City Centre"On a mission to make really great sourdough pizza" since a pop-up in rainy Ramsbottom back in 2013, Honest Crust's...
Il Capitano’s
WaterlooItalian restaurant and takeaway Il Capitano always deserves a visit if you’re in the Waterloo area. Its offering is simple:...
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...
Broadley’s
West YorkshireIt might be part of a mini shopping complex, but family-run Broadley's bistro has a sunny outdoor terrace for eating...
Borrello
SaleBorrello is a slightly old-school Italian restaurant in Sale. You won’t unearth obscure regional delicacies or discover new ingredients but...
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.
Mano A Bocca
Sale"Roma è arrivata a Sale!" – Rome has arrived in Sale – proclaims the website, which is a slight exaggeration,...
Tre Ciccio Ramsbottom
RamsbottomTre Ciccio’s Ramsbottom restaurant does much the same thing as Tre Ciccio in Altrincham - and that’s no bad thing.
Lupo
PrestwichPatiscerria and small-batch Italian hand-roasted coffee that's the name of the game at the award-winning Lupo Caffe Italiano.
Double Zero
ChorltonAn authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Double Zero in Chorlton has been lauded as one of the best in the UK.
Tariff & Dale
Manchester City CentreTariff & Dale is a Northern Quarter institution – one of the first to colonize the Rochdale Canal frontier, bringing...
Electrik
ChorltonElektrik is an award-winning independent bar with great coffee and a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. They offer...
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 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 Fat Italian Crosby
CrosbyThe OG of three Fat Italians (the others are in Burscough and Ormskirk), this family-run restaurant has been around since...
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...
La Casa
WiganA new addition to Astley’s dining options is classy Italian restaurant and bar La Casa.
Justino’s
AigburthTaking the corner spot once occupied by Et Alia is Justino’s - a family-run Italian restaurant and bar headed up...
Crazy Pedro’s Manchester NQ
Manchester City CentreThis self-styled party bar is hot on super-chilled drinks, from frozen margaritas to ice cold beers. It's also hot on...
Villa Romana
RopewalksRecently given a spruce-up in keeping with its Wood Street location, this authentic, family-run Italian has been in the Ropewalks...
Slyce
OldhamLike its sister restaurant Muse next door, Slyce brings a taste of the city to the bucolic surroundings of Uppermill.
A Tavola
Greater ManchesterA Tavola has an offbeat charm. Don’t be put off by the exterior. Sicilian delights await within. Inside, it is...
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...
The Beagle
ChorltonThe Beagle is a bustling, eclectic, neighbourhood boozer which has recently replaced its Tex-Mex trash food menu with NYC-style pizza...
Vero Moderno
SalfordAnother fab addition to the clutch of good, independent Italian restaurants in the city is Vero Moderno. Situated on the...
Dulcimer
Greater Manchester"Music is in our blood" proclaim the team behind Dulcimer, the Chorlton bar named after a funkily shaped hammer-struck string...
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...
Salvi’s Deansgate Square
CastlefieldBright and airy, with white and pale sage tiles, dusky pink and gold rose barstools and booths, and even a...
Tre Ciccio Altrincham
AltrinchamTranslating as ‘three chubby friends’ (a self-effacing reference to owner Francesco Scafuri and a pair of his portly pals from...
Gusto Didsbury
DidsburyGusto Didsbury may be a mid-market chain but it certainly is very appealing. The interior is light and airy, but...
Franco Manca
Manchester City CentrePioneers of sourdough Neapolitan pizza and natural Italian wine purveyors, Franco Manca started out as a small concern in Brixton...
