Swan Street has emerged as one of central Manchester’s hotspots when it comes to hospitality and nightlife. A breakwater between the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, head here after dark and you’ll have abundant options for cocktails, casual dining, live music, DJ nights and just about anything else you might want to keep yourself busy with. Ciaooo has quietly become a cornerstone of this thriving neighbourhood, going up against an increasingly busy city centre pizza scene and coming out as one of the most unique-yet-authentic.
Once through the door the informal cafe vibes immediately make any visitor feel at ease, and one glimpse of what’s coming from the kitchen should be enough to settle debates on whether you made the right choice of establishment. Serving classical Neapolitan bases using only the finest sourdough, every pie cooked here comes with a signature — and it must be said, statement — crust that takes some beating. And this is before we’ve turned our attention to what’s happening in the middle, with a forward thinking choice of toppings that puts many competitors to shame.
While options on the Pizza Classiche menu are bound to find favour with plenty — think Polpettina (San Marzano DOP tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, meatballs, Parma ham and truffle oil), and Friarielli (provola, wild Italian broccoli, Parmesan and olive oil) — many flock here for the Pizza Con Burrata, varieties of which boast a generous dollop of the iconic cow’s cheese alongside various ingredients. The starters shouldn’t be ignored, either, for example the deep fried lasagne. Things never stay still for long at Ciaooo, too, with a constant stream of special edition pizzas here for one week, gone the next, and regular posts on Instagram letting customers know what flavourful combinations of toppings are coming up next, ensuring no two trips will be the same.