Manchester’s best pre-theatre dining offers

With stunning views of the skyline from high above Manchester. 20 Stories is all about going (literally) above and beyond. At £37.50 per head for three courses, it’s a little bit on the more extravagant end of our pre-thatre round up, but the menu full of seared salmon, flat iron steaks and pea and wild mushroom fricassee wholly lives up to the price tag. If you’re on a mission to impress, Spinningfields’ 20 Stories is surely considered some of the best seats in the house. Make sure to book in between 5.30pm and 6.30pm Monday to Thursday to take advantage.

Don Giovanni has quietly, consistently, been one of the best Italian restaurants in Manchester for years. Located at the St Peter’s Square end of Oxford Road, it’s also really handy for Manchester’s two main theatres, the Palace Theatre and the Opera House. Their pre-theatre offer runs every day from 12-2pm and 3-6pm, with two courses for £26.95 and three coming in at £29.95. Starters include some Caprese salad, soup of the day and bruschetta, and the mains features similarly well-executed classics like lasagne, penne arrabbiata or grilled salmon and gnocchi. Fancy a crème brûlée, tiramisu or scoop of gelato to finish off your meal? It’d be rude not to.

Another staple of the city centre food scene, La Bandera serves classic tapas in elegant surroundings, which also happen to be within strolling distance of all the major theatres. The pre-theatre deal runs from Thursday to Sunday, from 4pm-7pm and for £42 two of you can enjoy six tapas to share and a glass of wine each, and for £45 you can swap the tapas for paella for two. We couldn’t think of a better way to begin an evening of high culture (or low culture even, we love a panto), than with a gorgeous glass of red and some decadent-yet-comforting Spanish cooking.  

Not strictly a pre-theatre menu, Hawksmoor’s express menu hits all the criteria you could possibly be looking for for your pre-show sustenance. Every Monday to Saturday until 6.30pm you can enjoy two courses for £28 or three for £31, and the options are suitably traditional and refined. To start there’s dishes like smoked mackerel salad and potted beef and bacon, and mains are steak-led (with veggie options too, of course). Desserts are old school and indulgent as anything. Considering Hawksmoor is one of the most opulent dining spots in the city, this is a seriously good dining option, whether you’re going to the theatre or not.

Gaucho have been doing glamorous city centre dining longer than most, so it’s no surprise they offer an excellent pre-theatre and post-theatre menu. Two courses are £27, and three are £30. Starters include sea bream ceviche and seasonal soups, while the main course is mainly steaks, with a couple of Mediterranean-influenced pasta and fish dishes too. With a pristine dining room complete with majestic chandeliers and crisp white linen, it’s a fitting spot to kick off or conclude a theatrical evening.

Undoubtedly one of the glitziest spots in town, the baroque surroundings of The Refuge on Oxford Road set the scene perfectly for some pre-theatre eats. From Monday to Saturday between 1pm-4pm and 5-6.30pm, you can enjoy an array of tempting small plates to share between two like mojo rojo pork belly and charred tenderstem broccoli, with the option to add a glass of fizz for £5 each. There’s a vegan option too, featuring heritage carrots and potato scallops. For a relaxed dining experience that has more than a hint of glamour and just a touch of hedonism, Refuge is your pre-show spot. 

Borrowing the name from one of Istanbul’s heritage museums – a vast cultural gem of porcelain, fabrics, weapons, manuscripts and more dating back hundreds of years, and then some – you would expect Topkapi Palace to be one of the most authentic Turkish restaurants in Manchester, and you’d be correct. Established in 1979 and occupying an enviable spot on Deansgate, this place definitely lives up to its moniker – expect to dive into mezze sharing plates, tender chargrilled kebabs and veggie dishes like mussaka. Their pre-theatre deal includes starter, mains and dessert for £22.95 and is available between 4-8pm. 

Zouk ceases to come up with inventive ways of standing out from the crowd, and their pre-theatre menu is no anomaly. Two courses will cost you just £20 and three courses – which comes with complimentary poppadoms and pickles – is just £25 a head. Starters include a paneer tikka and a sensational chicken 65, while the main course offering includes classic curries like tikka masala, karahi and tarka dahl. For dessert, we recommend the Mumbai Mess consisting of deconstructed cheesecake, raspberries, cream cheese, ginger and biscuit. The perfect choice for your pre-theatre meal if you’re all about flavour and less about fine dining.