Whether you're doing it for a date night or just the 'Gram, sometimes you need a little extra aesthetic with your dinner. Luckily for us, this city shows an obsession for looking good, with a bit of sparkle promised at some of its best dining spots, from Asian to pasta. We've put together the pick of the lot, so you never have to go without gorgeous surroundings. Say hello to Manchester's most beautiful restaurants.
Much more than a restaurant, Side Street is a hub for creativity, cocktails and culture in Manchester's iconic ABC Building. Its super cool kitchen, Tartuffe, brings you beautiful bistro-style dining.
Menus are seasonal and dishes are packed with local produce, from the rotisserie chicken to the bavette streak and signature mac and cheese. The bar serves up just as much fun. Expect margaritas, martinis, Manhattans and many more takes on the classics.
A sky-high siren watching over Spinningfields, 20 Stories is the rooftop restaurant of your dreams. There's floor-to-ceiling windows offering expansive views over the city, a foliage-decked dining room, and a huge outdoor terrace designed for sunshine sipping.
Pictures can't do justice to the sublime Peter Street Kitchen. Located inside the Free Trade Hall, the decor nods to Japanese minimalism (in homage to its menu), with clean white booths, high ceilings and eye-catching lighting fixtures.
Step into MAYA Manchester for a night of decadent food, beautiful surroundings, and an unforgettable atmosphere. The bar offers delicious small bites like Littlewood's charcuterie with cold-pressed rapeseed oil and Native oysters with rhubarb hot sauce, perfect for sharing over drinks.
In the main dining room, indulge in an ex-dairy burger with Lyonnaise onions or the rich Cumbrian lamb rump with lovage and overnight tomatoes. For dessert, try the Strawberry Lychee Margarita while you soak up the atmosphere of this stunning venue.
Taking you to the tropics, Grand Pacific is all about the sunshine vibes and verdant interiors. Housed within a gorgeous 19th century space, its colonial-inspired decor sees palm motifs and elegant lighting as a fine complement to its menu of pan-Asian fare.
Cenetta in Rochdale offers something for every appetite and age, blending classic Italian comfort food with a lively, sociable atmosphere. Parents can sit back with a glass of prosecco while the kids roll dough and top their own pizzas - a hands-on experience that keeps little ones entertained while you tuck into dishes like grilled salmon tagliatelle or rich pork and beef meatball spaghetti.
Their popular bottomless brunches bring cocktails and conversation to the table, and monthly live music nights turn casual dinners into vibrant evenings. Whether you're after a margherita with fresh basil or a bold diavolo pizza with 'nduja and rocket, the menu is designed to satisfy everyone.
A slice of botanical beauty in St Peter's Square, The Anthologist cultivates a relaxed but lively environment. It's perfect for sipping on some of their sublime cocktails after work, or getting through one of their delicious gastro menu items come dinnertime.
On the back of the success of his Michelin Guide-recommended Mayfair spot, Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay has opened on King Street. Inspired by 1930s Tokyo, it covers three floors of its beautifully art deco home.
The menu is both amazing and affordable, with £35 set menus up for grabs. Dishes are pan-Asian - think sushi, dumplings, bao and robata-grilled meat and fish.
Bold, bougie, flamboyant and unapologetically fun, Circolo Popolare is all bright bottles, lavish interiors and a soundtrack designed to keep the mood sky high. From the famously maximalist Big Mamma Group, it serves up sensational Italian cooking in the heart of the city.
Think handmade pastas, towering bowls of truffle‑laden classics, slow‑cooked meats and outrageously generous sharing dishes like the grand rib-eye and Mafaldine al Tartufo. Expect a full camera roll when you leave this place, whether you're snapping the dramatic plates or glorious greenery, statement lighting and artsy finishes.
A top pick of the most beautiful and fancy restaurants in Manchester with halal options, Tattu is instantly recognisable by its Instagrammable blossom tree. Aside from the foliage, there's plenty to ogle while munching your Chinese meal, including carved wall art, lanterns and marble-style flooring.
After beautiful Manchester restaurants? Albert's Didsbury has the plush interiors you're searching for; that's golden hanging lights, statement booths and the outdoor space for when the sun is shining.
Adam Reid at the French is all about the finer things in life. Set in the Grade II listed dining room of the Midland, the space is a stunning combination of old world and new, with corniced ceilings and arched windows contrasting against huge hanging light installations.
Gaucho have transformed a former church space into a black and white feast for the eyes. Spread over a ground floor and mezzanine, the restaurant comes decked out with sky-high ceilings, sparkling chandeliers and black leather booths.
With mid-century Manhattan interiors, moody lighting and art deco accents, Louis brings an air of elegance to any meal. Nightly performances from jazz quartets and soul singers only add to the drama.
Its dishes are just as attention-grabbing, with everything from Mediterranean classics to Italian-American staples gracing the menu. Think rigatoni alla vodka, veal chop with crispy potatoes, green lip mussels and prime cuts of steak.
Sitting on a beautiful spot on Chorlton Street, Madre is a magnificent Mexican from the minds behind Belzan in Liverpool and London's Breddos. Inspired by travels to Mexico City, Guadalajara and Oaxaca, it serves up deliciously authentic dishes.
Think twice-cooked chicken wings tossed in sweet and spicy arbol sauce, crispy Baja fish, Tijuana-style carne asada tacos and rare breed pork chops with white mole. There's plenty to wash it down with too, from bespoke cocktails made using agave spirits to crisp wines and Mexican beers.
Created by the team behind Tattu, Fenix serves up a bold, modern menu that's as eye-catching as its interiors. Executive Head Chef Ippokratis Anagnostelis puts his expert touch on the Greek classics.
Expect magnificent mezze, steak tartare, snow crab truffle salad, sea bass ceviche, slow-roasted lamb shank, and prime cuts of meat and seafood perfectly cooked over open fire. Whether you're here for an light lunch or a long and indulgent dinner, its backlit bars, sculpted banquettes and feathered bronze chandeliers are sure to leave you feeling fancy.
The most beautiful of Michelin star restaurants in Manchester is Mana (well, it is the only one). Expect stripped-back interiors with a Scandi leaning, alongside the finest British dishes from Simon Martin, who is former chef at world-class Danish restaurant NOMA.
Beautiful from its cocktails to its curtains, The Ivy is a place to see and be seen. Choose between the brasserie, Asian-inspired restaurant or rooftop garden space, indulging in delish dishes and drinks.
