The best new openings of 2024

One of the most exciting new venues in Manchester, Amber’s has a radical premise: you can see some of the best DJs around right in the city centre (Circle Square to be precise), but they aren’t announced until a few days before the gigs, and tickets are just £5. A late entry for one of the most game-changing city centre openings this year.

In a suntrap courtyard, the Ancoats Deli have been serving up great deli boards, superlative sandwiches and a range of excellent groceries to take home since August. Head down for a snack, a cold beer or a great glass of wine, and soak up the sun (as and when, obviously).

From Dan and Joe Schofield, the brothers behind Schofield’s Bar, twice voted the best cocktail spot in the UK, comes Atomeca Wine Bar. It’s a spin-off from their Atomeca bar at the foot of the Deansgate Square towers, but transplanted to Spinningfields, and with some substantial added extras. This stylish spot will focus more on low-intervention wines and small plates – including regularly changing pasta dishes, excellent charcuterie, flatbreads. dips and oysters. But obviously they’ll do a mean cocktail or two.

Almost no introduction needed for these guys. The deli sandwich kings who made a name for themselves slinging outrageous Italian-style sarnies from within Ancoats General Store (and a hole in the wall on Radium Street prior to that) left a gaping, sub-shaped hole in the city. As of September, they returned with their own dedicated gaff on Oldham Street. Sandwich equilibrium is restored.

Having taken over the Stretford Foodhalls unit in the Summer, popular pizzeria Bakehouse32 expanded their premises and their menu. As well as their ever-popular New York-style pizzas, they now do pasta, sides, bagels and brunch too.

Beloved London-born chop and steak house Blacklock are low on frills, but big on personality. Their basement spot on Peter Street serves a speedy lunch menu, platters of red meat, unlimited grandma-style desserts and roast dinners to rave about.

They’ve already got a much-loved spot in Anchorage, but now you can enjoy their Italian-inspired brunches, lunches and spritzes Quay-side too. The focaccia sandwiches full of cured meats, cheeses and pesto are especially tempting. Cheers to that.

Taking over the old Trove site off Cutting Room Square, Bruco is serving everything from breakfast and coffee in the morning to lunch dishes and small plates in the evening. Expect eight-hour short rib lasagne, arancini, octopus with butter beans, and in your glass, a limoncello spritz or a bone-dry Gavi. A little slice of Naples in Manchester’s former ‘Little Italy’, Ancoats.

Country music fans got their Stetsons at the ready and thumbs in their belt loops for one of our favourite Northern Quarter openings this year, as Bunny’s ventured into the world of line dancing and live country music with their brand-new late night spot. Located in the old Lust Luck Liquor and Burn site, Bunny’s Country Club is the perfect place to let off some steam after your 9 to 5 (ahem). Think a soundtrack of Dolly, Kacey Musgraves, Johnny Cash and more, with a bit of ‘country disco’ thrown in for good measure. And just like OG Bunny’s dive bar, there are heaps of 25p chicken wings and drinks to match – they pour some of the best tipples the States has to offer, as well as a range of signature cocktails.

Everything you love about the other Bunny’s iterations, but more karaoke-centric. Bunny’s Karaoke channels all things American dive bar, and is specifically dedicated to the noble art of shouting into a microphone. Inspired by the bar-top-vaulting of cult classic movie Coyote Ugly, the singing happens on the bar. If you’re more of a wallflower, private rooms are available too. And as you’d hope, the famous Bunny’s wings make an appearance too, with boneless and vegan options now on the menu.

Who says you can’t do small plates in Stalybridge? Cafe Continental are all about super chic Mediterranean bites like tiger prawns and oysters, natural wine and cocktails. Opening in September, they have to be one of the year’s best newcomers.

We’re (still) extremely excited to try Cantaloupe, Stockport’s new European small plates restaurant, with cheffing talent from the likes of Where The Light Gets In, Mana, The Creameries and Campagna at the helm – via chefs Mike Thomas and Joshua Reed-Cooper. Expect dishes like Croatian-inspired pork belly skewers and ricotta ice cream with candied orange and lemon peel. A word to the wise: just book now and figure out who you’re going with later. Before you can’t.

After an elongated wait, the famous Antipodean brunch spot arrived in Manchester in August. Since taking the London scene by storm through the medium of eggs, smoked salmon and flat whites, the Manchester scene is all the richer for this cool day-to-night spot.

Deb and Dustin, from Richmond, Virginia, have made Manchester their home, helping themselves no end in assimilating by bringing with them some of the best, under-the-radar fried chicken in this fine city. They envelop this peerless poultry in the very fluffiest southern-style biscuits, which lie somewhere in the rough-puff region between a scone and a dumpling. In March they landed in Northern Monk refectory and have never looked back.

Matt White and the Suggested By You team headed over to Burnage in November for what promised to be some of the best Indo-Chinese food in town – and they weren’t disappointed. Chef Akbar Singh and his crew are turning out some stunning South Asian street food – make sure you try the biryani.

This award-winning fish and chip shop use the freshest ingredients and are famed for their beef-dripping fries. Chips @ No. 8’s cult following in Prestwich meant they simply needed a bigger boat – aka moving to a bigger premises next door – which has a fully licensed restaurant upstairs too.

In April, Italian fave Cibo took on the imposing spot at the top of King Street formerly known as the celeb magnet Rosso. At one time home to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank, this Grade II listed treasure has been entirely transformed. Promising ‘an array of lush Italian cuisine and decadent wines, meticulously selected to delight the most discerning palates’, they haven’t dissapointed.

Starting out life in a small but mighty unit on Ancoats’ Radium Street, Companio bakery specialise in artisan breads, pastries, sandwiches and coffee. At their new place on Spear Street they have bigger premises for their bakery and a full café set up for the first time, so you can sit in and enjoy their offerings. The sandwiches, which come on fresh floury sub rolls, are a lunchtime saviour too.

New Salford pizzeria and foccaceria Conni’s is the real deal, turning out proper Neapolitan pizza and great focaccia, stuffed with great cheese and great Italian cured meats. It’s great, basically. This family-run business (they have another tiny takeaway spot in Salford too), they also turn out a wealth of imported produce too, from dried pasta and top flight mozzarella to potato chips and biscotti. Don’t miss the sticky, soaked babas either.

Despite getting off to something of a faltering start, it feels like Co-op Live have been a part of the fabric of the city for much longer than a year. Designed for huge communal experiences, the arena has played host to the great and the good, from Paul McCartney to Charli xcx.

Regarded by some as the best pizza in town, Chorlton-born Double Zero became a presence in town in April. Literally. Taking on the spot formerly occupied by Scandi bar Lättsam, they shipped in a glorious Neapolitan pizza oven, and started filling this light and airy space with light and airy pizzas.

The restaurant chain which started life as a pop up above a London pub arrived in Manchester in July, taking over a prime spot on the corner of Deansgate and Quay Street. Flat Iron‘s no-nonsense approach is captured in their slogan ‘great steak for everyone’. They have a radically simple set up – pick your steak, pick some sides – and the truffle mac and cheese is a revelation.

Fort Coffee are helping to shift the perception of Deansgate as the realm of big-boy retailers, chains and department stores. Their airy, stylish spot is tucked under Deansgate Mews, a burgeoning community of indie establishments which include Another Hand, Holy Grain, Dormouse Chocolates and The Mews. These guys are very serious about their coffee – they brew up on a Slayer, the rare and shiny sports car of the coffee machine world. And while their selection of espresso blends, single origins and hand brew methods could be overwhelming, the staff are super approachable and really know their beans – making sure you end up with the coffee you wanted, or perhaps even better. A game-changing addition to the Manc coffee scene.

A new addition to Piccadilly Gardens’ Street Food Market, Fuego are bringing the heat to city centre lunchtimes. Following the philosophy of doing one thing really well, these guys are serving up cheesy birria tacos which are richly flavoursome with a fiery kick. Quick, tasty and properly messy too.

Formerly The Footage, this historic old cinema building has been lovingly transformed into a cutting-edge hybrid hospitality and social space. Great for pints, pub grub and generally great times, it’s a great (re)addition to The Oxford Road corridor.

Previously one of the city’s best kept secrets, in August Red Bank bakers par excellence Half Dozen Other opened to all, with a brand new cafe space and counter, so you can stock up on their truly spectacular Viennoiserie daily, and grab a table for a coffee too. You might get to watch the masters at work too. And what a year they’ve had – December also saw a newer new opening from the Half Dozen lot, in Circle Square.

We’re really lucky to have some exceptional Japanese eateries in Manchester, and this year, we welcomed Hakkapo to the fold. The contemporary Izakaya-style dining spot fuses influences from Poland, China and Japan.

Located in what was previously a no man’s land between Altrincham Interchange and Navigation Road tram stop is Hive Stores, a beautifully restored former local shop which is now a deli, cafe and homeware store. The menu is really simple, with breakfast ciabattas, brunch sarnies and charcuterie in the evening, and the coffee and wine is as well-sourced as the decor. A genuine tucked-away gem that’s been a huge hit this year.

Born in Altrincham, the Gran T’s coffee opened a new outpost where the NQ meets Ancoats, right on Great Ancoats Street. It aims to replicate the experience of tea around your nan’s (hence the name), so expect your brews to come in proper mugs and the jam and scones to flow freely. There are also butties, toasties, soup and general cosiness.

This new neighbourhood cafe from the team behind Salford’s The Black Friar serves up classic brunch dishes, vibrant salads and toasties, along with a couple of signature showstoppers. Namely their home-made crumpets, which are instrumental in the ‘Leo’s Stack’ sandwich, which boasts sausage patties with poached egg, American cheese and tomato chutney. With personnel from the excellent Pot Kettle Black, this is an essential spot for sustenance on the other side of the water, open seven days a week.

These fresh pasta connoisseurs made their mark operating out of the side of Altrincham Market, but fans of their hand rolled rigagnocchi or distinctive giant filled pappardelle swirls will be pleased to hear they’ve opened a permanent (and indoor) location, right in the heart of Stockport on Petersgate. It’s walk-ins only, so prepare to form an orderly queue.

The team behind Tattu and Fenix brought us another theatrical late-night dining and drinking spot in the city in September, and this one is all about old-timey glamour. Louis is an American-Italian spot with plush booths, a jazz soundtrack and a classy-as-anything food and drink menu. Don’t forget to suit up.

An ever-popular Ancoats spot with huge appeal. During the day they do doing pan-Asian brunch dishes like Balinese eggs with Indonesian streaky bacon, a signature Korean French toast with fried chicken and a Japanese steak sandwich. Never fear, in the evenings the excellent sushi and ramen returns. Embrace the queues, it’s all part of the experience.

The fabulous Lucky Mama became a sensation during lockdown, working out of their mobile truck turning out great pasta and Roman-style pizza. After opening their first proper spot in Chorlton last year, they’re now back in the mothership, with another restaurant in Monton, on the trendy and buzzing Monton Road. Welcome home.

On the site formerly occupied by the pioneering Mash & Air in the Village, Maya opened in March. The more casual upstairs delivers brasserie classics, while downstairs will be a more upscale situation, with top chef Shaun Moffat delivering a glittering, changing seasonal menu. From fine dining to partying, Maya has established itself as a place to go for some seriously modern hedonism.

After hosting a pop-up spot at Cocoa Cabana on Cutting Room Square, the much-loved got their first place on Great Ancoats Street. This buzzy tapas place is full of authentic dishes as well as classic brunch dishes with a twist of Spanish sunshine.

The folks behind Madre, the superlative taco spot in KAMPUS, and also the likes of Belzan in Liverpool, opened Medlock Canteen at the foot of the Deansgate towers, and people have been raving about it since. Of particular note is the full rotisserie situation, where burnished chickens are dismantled and stuffed into fresh baguettes (you can even grab them whole for takeaway). See also duck egg hash, crab and gruyere omelette, and hearty grills for dinner.

Literally stepping things up a level at AO Arena, The Mezz (short for mezzanine) is an exclusive space where you can enjoy contemporary British dining, DJs and entertainment before watching the show from some of the best seats in the house.

Inspired by the contemporary designs of Morocco, Mouro opened back in the summer. From the same team behind So Marrakech in Alty, we loved the stacked sandwiches and matcha affogato.

From the people behind Levenshulme institution The Talleyrand, The Nico Ditch opened in May and is slinging the finest of ales from the likes of Deya, Marble, Shindigger, North Brew and hyperlocal micro-brewery The Juggernaut. Throw in excellent wines, top drawer cocktails and great music, and we’re suddenly thinking of moving to Ashton.

At long last, Onda, the viral pasta bar set up by chef Sam Astley-Dean, has its forever home on Circle Square, following its wildly popular pop-ups at The New Cross and Exhibition. Fresh pasta and tiramisu by the drawer-full. What’s not to love?

What was once the historic Mother Macs, at the back of Piccadilly Gardens, is now the charmingly-named The Rat & Pigeon. It’s from the same people behind another Manchester institution, the Crown & Kettle on the corner of Great Ancoats Street and Oldham Road. Great beers, great decor, great vibes.

Bringing a typically Aussie attitude to sushi, Rolled brought their hand-held rolls to The Arndale and The Trafford Centre this year, and haven’t looked back since. Why did no-one think of this sooner?

Formerly NQ pizza bar Ply, The Salmon of Knowledge is now serving up superb stouts and ales from celebrated Cork brewery Franciscan Well, as well as a superbly good pint of Guinness on Stevenson Square. So-named after the ancient Irish legend, there’s also Irish sports on the telly, Irish music on the stage and traditional Irish ‘boxty’ pancakes coming out of the kitchen. Manchester’s chief Guinness reviewer has given it his seal of approval, and if it’s good enough for Prime Mutton, it’s good enough for us.

Opening on Deansgate at the tail end of this year, bringing with it their signature happy hour and karaoke parties, Simmons has pretty much cornered the post-work-drink-that-descends-into-chaos market. Add in Holy Slice pizza, who they share the space with, and you have a recipe for a very good night indeed.

Chef Tom Barnes has spent pretty much his entire career working in Michelin starred kitchens, mostly under the expert tutelage of Simon Rogan. Barnes was executive chef at Rogan’s flagship restaurant L’Enclume when it won its third Michelin star in 2023. So in May all eyes were be on Skof, Barnes’ first place of his own, likely the city’s best chance at another star in the near future. Whether that’s of paramount importance or not – many would argue not – Barnes is a prodigious talent in the kitchen, and Skof has proven to be a huge draw for food lovers in Manchester and well beyond.

Levenshulme spot Nordie flipped its food offering this year, with owner Oddie McClintock and pal Harris Mouridis, formerly of Common, Gorilla, etc, spawning Soap Street Pizza, so named after the road on which they met while working together at Trof (aww). While most pizza is speedily assembled, Soap Street will be baked ‘low and slow, allowing the locally sourced ingredients to shine’.

The kitchen and cocktail talent behind Trof launched Stow in December, where ovens are sidelined in favour of good old fashioned open flames. Dishes are simple and tasty, like brined chicken and tarragon and whole monkfish tail. The cocktail list delivers too.

With a name like that, Super Awesome Deluxe have the bar high. Luckily, they’re comfortable with high bars. It’s from the people behind burger renaissance pioneers Almost Famous (their original venue was quite literally a ‘high bar’, being on the first floor of a walk-up on High Street). The new concept is takeaway-only, and just around the corner from where it all started, where queues formed, burgers were flipped and good times had. Super Awesome is considerably more pared down though. A tight menu of three, simple-but-effective smash burgers for the people, with hand-cut fries and homemade sauces, to a soundtrack of 80s vibes in the day, and drum & bass at night. We didn’t think Manchester had anything new to say about burgers, but we’ve been happily proven wrong with this new opening.

Tartuffe found its home in Side Street Studio in the summer. Now serving up ‘sexy chicken’ (their words, not ours) and seriously good steak, we reckon this is worth heading down to. Especially if you like very chic mid-century decor, which we do. Obviously.

This canal-side restaurant and deli opened in Marple in 2024, and we’re into pretty much everything they’re doing. Fronted by Chef Beth Hammond, formerly of Yellowhammer and Little Window, they serve coffee, natural wine and simple-but-interesting plates of food. There’s a deli to shop from and an impossibly picturesque outdoor terrace too.

Chef Niall Keating is one of the rising stars of British cooking, having been executive chef at Whatley Manor he became the youngest British chef to win two Michelin stars, at the age of 30. He also received widespread acclaim for his restaurant Lunar in Stoke-On-Trent, earning a Michelin Green Star in 2021 for sustainability. Now he’s taken on the kitchen at Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel where he turns out brasserie classics as well as a curated series of chef’s menus.

A collaboration between Trof, Manchester Union Brewery, and Monton’s Wandering Palate, The Trading Route offer cold beer, hot rotisserie chicken, and a luxury larder filled with top-quality provisions. We can’t think of a better combo, and will be frequenting their spot in St John’s, arguably Manchester’s tastiest new neighbourhood.

Among the world’s truly great sandwiches, the banh mi is a thing of beauty when done correctly. They’re doing it right at Wow Banh Mi on Oldham Road, with the sometimes overlooked but super authentic pate layer intact. They’re doing barbecued beef meatballs, Vietnamese ham and sausage with pork floss, pork skewers and a classic crispy pork belly version too, as well as fabulous snacks, summer rolls, huge bowls of restorative soup and crispy corn dogs. Among a crowded field of excellent Oldham Road restaurants, this is one worth seeking out.

These guys have an original spot on Oxford Road, popular with shawarma enthusiasts and late-night revellers alike, and now they’ve brought their inflation-busting, Levy Bakery-rivalling fare to the Northern Quarter. Think shawarma or falafel, crammed into a fresh samoon or naan with salad, yoghurt sauce, pickles and chilli for a fiver. At the weekends they’re open late, as in late late too. We can only say: thank you Zaytoni.