Fancy trying something new this March? Manchester’s got ya. From eateries serving Asian flavours to some of the coolest spots to enjoy a cocktail or tuck into some great comforting food, here are some of the best new restaurants, cafés and bars to try in Manchester this month.
1. 97
Set to join the trendy Manchester suburbs of Chorlton is new, independent, neighbourhood cocktail bar, 97, the latest concept from the team behind Manchester’s Tariff & Dale and The Lead Station. Aptly named after its location on 97 Beech Road, the bar is expected to open at the end of January and will be an intimate, elegant and informal place to enjoy creative, quality cocktails. The drinks at 97 will combine innovation and progressive mixology with legendary classics in an atmosphere of true modern hospitality, with cocktails served alongside a curated collection of fine wines, craft beers and premium spirits. 97, 97 Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EQ.
2. Stock Market Grill
After Tom Kerridge announced stepped away from The Bull & Bear at the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester, a new restaurant is set to to take over the space from March 1 onwards. The restaurant housed within the hotel co-owned by Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and hotelier Winston Zahra is best described as “a British brasserie with touches of elegance from continental Europe, all served with homely and comforting flavours from the UK”. Diners can expect “traditional well-loved British dishes executed with technique using local, high-quality produce”. Stock Market Grill, Stock Exchange Hotel, 4 Norfolk St, M2 1DW.
3. A Little Piece of Bahia
Bringing Afro-Brazilian culture to the Arndale this March is A Little Piece of Bahia. Named after one of the largest states in Brazil that’s home to samba music and capoeira, the new opening will be serving dishes like moqueca coconut stew made with mushrooms or seafood, Feijoada, the classic Brazilian pork and bean casserole, and caruru, a thick soup made with okra, onions, garlic, cashews and smoked prawns. Diners can also expect snacks such as acarajé fritters made with black-eyed peas filled with a bread, coconut and peanut paste and optional prawns, and abará, also made from black-eyed peas but mashed and steamed in a banana leaf. A Little Piece of Bahia, Manchester Arndale Market, 49 High St, M4 3AH.
4. Suki Suki
A new addition to the Manchester restaurants, bars and entertainment venues within Great Northern Warehouse, Suki Suki is a pan-Asian eatery and bar serving up the likes of bao buns, ramen and dumplings. Already available on Deliveroo, Suki Suki looks like the spot for those feeling peckish after a trip to the cinema or spot of axe throwing at the warehouse with street nibbles like gyoza, salt and pepper wings, soft shell crab tempura, sui mai and bang bang prawns on the menu. If you’re after something more substantial Suki Suki will be serving up build your own ramen bowls, stir fry dishes and curries (including katsu). Suki Suki, Great Northern Warehouse, 227 Deansgate, M3 4EN.
5. DNA VR
Here to provide an escapism from reality right now is DNA VR, a virtual reality bar in the city centre of Manchester which offers several alternative realities to immerse yourself in. DNA VR offers various options including an arcade where you can take your pick from their multiplayer games such as “laser tag on steroids” or the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse. The bar on Brown Street also boasts an escape room as well as free-roaming options where players can walk around freely in the worlds of pirates or dragons. Already a hit in London, the virtual reality bar is already booked up for March in Manchester so be sure to get in quick for next month for an out of this world experience. DNA VR, 30 Brown Street, M2 1DH.
6. Eat Like A Greek
Adding to the great Greek restaurants is a new opening in the Manchester area of Monton, with its façade painted Santorini blue bringing plenty of brightness to the street. Having previously served up tasty gyros at the likes of Stretford Food Hall, Leeds’ Trinity Kitchen and festivals such as Laughterama, Eat Like A Greek are now opening a permanent spot on Monton Road. Eat Like A Greek is an all about gyros, with fillings such as pork marinated in garlic, lemon and paprika, chicken breast with Aegean spices, halloumi with a balsamic glaze and falafel and hummus all stuffed into a pitta bread with salad and sauces. Eat Like A Greek, 217 Monton Rd, Monton, Eccles, M30 9PN.
7. That Burger Place
Describing themselves as “California Burger Smashers”, the notorious That Burger Place is branching out. With a number of accolades under their belt, such as being named one of the best burger restaurants in Manchester in 2020 by the Burger Reviews and receiving a nomination for the National Burger Awards in 2022, the food spot from the back streets of Swinton sure knows how to do make juicy burgers and will be bringing something new this month. After being a Salford sensation, city folk will be happy to know that That Burger Place will be opening a dark kitchen in the city centre this March so they can deliver banging burgers featuring their iconic smash patties right to your door. That Burger Place, Aldow Industrial Park, M12 6EJ.
8. The Kitchen at Bask
After sadly closing its city centre spot earlier this year, Ate Days a Week will be taking over the kitchen at Stockport venue Bask. Famous for their pies, the restaurant has been serving dishes up at fellow Stockport bar Notion but this time Ate Days A Week will be turning their hand to sandwiches. The menu will showcase a selection of artisanal sandwiches with fresh toasted sourdough plus locally sourced meats, vegan options and award winning pies. Cakes and bakes will come via Mrs Boon’s Cakes, a business which hosts popular “tea parties” at Bask. Food will be served Monday to Saturday, 8am-3pm. Bask, 20 Railway Rd, Stockport, SK1 3SW.
9. V Nam
Claiming to be the first ever Vietnamese restaurant in Manchester (and there are a fair few in the city), Vnam has had a spot on Oldham Road for over a decade but this month it’ll be moving to the Northern Quarter. Replacing a restaurant starting with V for another, V Nam will be taking over the former V Rev site bringing with it steaming bowls of fragrant pho and light and fresh summer rolls (gỏi cuốn). The beef stew at Vnam is so loved, it’s usually a sell-out and the portion sizes are spot-on every time, so we can definitely expect the same at their new location.
Vnam, 20-26 Edge Street, M4 1HN.
10. Waltzing Matilda
Popular floating cafe famed for its pizzas served from a barge, Waltzing Matilda, is set to set to return on March 11 and 12 after being closed a few months to carry out refurbishments. Dropping anchor at Tramway Wharf in Marple from March 11, the boat will be serving up hot coffee, wood-fired pizza, big fat cookies topped with the likes of Kinder Bueno hippos, as well as brilliantly big brownies from various local makers. Bookings open from March 1 so go, go, go! Waltzing Matilda, Tramway Wharf, Marple, Stockport.
11. Rawkies
A quirky dessert café and bar has opened in Bury which is serving up the likes of scooped edible raw cookie dough in a tub or waffle cone, as well other sweet treats (including vegan and non-gluten containing options). Rawkies, who feature at a number of Maker’s Markets, also sells dog friendly ice cream (called Pawkies) available for take-out only, plus customisable burgers, flatbread pizzas, salads and cheeseboards for you to tuck into. The dessert shop at The Rock also boasts a dessert cocktail menu with flavours such as cookie, tiramisu and cookie crisp all with a boozy hit. Rawkies, 8 The Rock, Bury, BL9 0NT.
12. Send Noods
Adding to the new bars, restaurants and cafes opening in Manchester this month is a mysterious new ramen shop, which is set to open in Macclesfield, has launched a tongue in cheek account on OnlyFans, the infamous subscription social media platform. The yet to be unveiled ramen shop has published ramen based food porn and is inviting fans to follow them on OnlyFans for the location reveal – thought to be somewhere around the city. Also, the first 50 people to follow Send Noods on Instagram will win a Send Noods t-shirt and be the first to know the location of this top-secret noodle hang-out. The spot will be serving up ramen, noodles and other cheeky Japanese small plates. Send Noods, The Picturedrome, Chestergate, Macclesfield, SK11 6DU.