Blockbuster bites: eat your way around Manchester

Manchester is a food lover’s paradise. Arrive hungry, leave very, very happy. From viral French toast to late-night desserts, the city’s kitchens are a joyful mash-up of flavours, cultures and creative flair.

Start with sky-high sips at rooftop favourites like Cloud 23 or 20 Stories, and drink in those skyline views - perfect golden-hour territory. Then drift back down to street level for indie cafés, sleek chef’s counters and buzzing food halls, where the only rule is to "try one more bite".

Want an easy, appetite‑led way to explore? Join a guided tasting tour and eat the city as you go. Local legends run story-rich tours that fold Manchester’s history into every mouthful. Scranchester Food Tours turns lunch into an edible walking adventure, while Manchester Wine Tours and Craft Beer Tour Manchester pair neighbourhood wanders with well-poured tastings led by experts who make every sip feel like a new discovery. And for something delightfully different, the Afternoon Tea Taxi Tour serves homemade bites as you’re chauffeured past Manchester’s greatest hits in a fully electric black cab. Unique and memorable, in the best way.

If you like your markets with a bit of personality, Mackie Mayor brings together artisan traders inside a beautiful Victorian building. Grab a table, build a mini feast, and share it all. It’s casual, welcoming and unmistakably Manchester.

For a bigger night out, book in at one of the city’s Michelin-starred stars. mana is celebrated for its inventive, Nordic-leaning tasting menus, while Skof pairs refined technique with relaxed Northern charm. These dining rooms are destination-worthy in their own right, perfect for travellers chasing flavours they’ll still be talking about long after they’ve flown home.

Virgin Atlantic connects you to Manchester year-round from New York, Atlanta, and Orlando — with seasonal flights from Barbados and Las Vegas adding a little sunshine and sparkle to the schedule.