New restaurants and bars opening in Manchester in April 2025

Bo and Ben Humphreys – co-creators of the much-missed, sci-fi inspired District on Oldham Street, will be bringing a more on-world, homely selection of classic, slightly elevated Thai dishes to the upstairs dining room at the Edinburgh Castle. Low-and-slow influences from their travels in the US will also feature, as well as an in-house smoker bringing some extra flavour profiles amid the sweet-sour-salty-and-spicy.

Having proved a hit making exceptional curries from their kitchen premises in Urmston – that you then heat up at home, ingenious – Banga Curries will be banging them out at their new stall in Altrincham Market, as well as a range of irresistible savouries and sauces to take away. World domination (hopefully) to follow.

A wine and small plates bar with serious class from the people behind Elnecot. Wine-wise, they’re big on sort with funky, fermented flavours here. Taking the phrase ‘British tapas’ incredibly literally they serve things like roast beef, horseradish and caper ‘charcuterie’, Lyme Bay sardines and bread and British cheeses. The decor is properly lovely – all lush terracotta tiles, velvet booths and brass fittings. There’s vinyl DJs at the weekend, too.

All-day dining in a ludicrously grand setting, The Cut & Craft – with branches in Leeds and York – will be opening on Mosley Street in the grade II-listed splendour of one of the city’s old banking rooms, designed by Mancunian architect Edward Walters, who also designed the Free Trade Hall. Grills, great seafood and cocktails. Where do we sign up?

To pizza aficionados in Manchester, Conni’s are producing some of the absolute best from their neighbourhood pizzeria in Salford. They even use scissors to slice – no daft wheels here – for that extra edge of authenticity. Now you can get your Neapolitan fix at their new spot at Colliers Yard too. It’s a win win.

Meaning ‘scissors’ in Italian, guess what will arrive with your pizza so you can carve it into slices? This new pizzeria on Cross Street will boast overnight-fermented Neapolitan dough, airy crusts and toppings which nod to the North, so expect black pudding alongside your n’duja.

We’ve been looking forward to this super-cute community offering in Levenshulme for a while now. Grounded MCR started out as a roaming coffee cart, but now they’ve put down roots in Cringle Park. As well as coffees and brews, there are loads of all-ages activities to get involved in, and bike repairs too.

The purveyors of the beloved ‘Tunacado’ sandwich, as well as breakfast bowls and a pastel-toned rainbow of protein shakes, Joe & The Juice now have a dedicated shop in Manchester. (Though diehard fans might remember they used to have a spot inside Debenhams). If you’re looking for tasty and healthy lunch options around Market Street, you’ve found them.

Open now, Kallos do brunch and wine Mediterranean-style, in the industrial chic surroundings of Corland at Collier’s Yard. Think breakfast bowls full of colourful produce, and flatbreads topped with sweet and savoury combos. There’s also an extensive list of tinned fish like squid and scallops, served with all the relevant breads and dips. Perfect for sipping, chatting and snacking.

Founded back in 1944 by an Italian couple from near Genoa, Lina Stores already have nine of their distinctive pistachio green delis scattered across the capital. Manchester’s first will be on Quay Street, and you can come here to stock up on authentic Italian produce, as well as sandwiches, pasta and salads. A real win for the Spinningfields lunch crowd.

With a popular restaurant in Heaton Moor (moor-ish, geddit?) this delicious Turkish spot will be expanding to another site on Burton Road, bringing traditional dishes and authentic kebabs with some Mediterranean tapas thrown in there too.

Nancy Spain was an emigre, who became the first Irish pub landlady in London in the 1800s. With two Nancy Spain pubs in London – in Monument and Shoreditch – the third is now open off Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter, a tavern serving up a pint of Murphy’s alongside the more traditional black stuff.

Baker Rick Marlow started his Masa project in lockdown, from his mum’s garage, selling his carb-ey wares at maker’s markets all over the place. Now he’s got his first proper cafe in Prestwich, a labour of love and flour, where you’ll be able to grab one of his award-winning focaccias whenever you like.

A splash of Mexico City in the heart of Manchester, Ocasa will be taking on the site formerly occupied by Australasia’s Sunset bar, bringing the vibes of Tulum to Spinningfields. As well as some excellent Mexican fusion dishes on the menu – from chimichurri pincanha to hot jalapeño honey salmon ‘Yaki Tacos’ – there will be mariachi day brunches, sunlit lunches and sunset DJ sessions while you eat.

The Thirsty Korean is back. Owner Eunji closed her Chorlton spot – much to everyone’s distress – last year. But you can’t keep a good woman down. She’s poised to re-open on Wilbraham Road (on the site of the old Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig restaurant), providing hot chicken, tangy dipping sauces and cold beers to all. Welcome back!

This already-established Bury pub is getting a new lease of life from the team behind upmarket Ramsbottom gastropubs The Eagle & Child and The Holcombe Tap. They’ll stick to all the things they’re known and loved for: really good traditional pub grub and a lovely community vibe. Ideal. There’s a sizable beer garden for sunny afternoons too – without a gravestone or a waterfowl to be seen.