10 restaurants in Manchester, editor-picked for monday dinner. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Manchester.
The Edinburgh Castle ★ 4.6
ancoats · 23 Blossom Street, Manchester M4 6AN
Hours: Mon-Wed 17:00-23:00, Thu 12:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-24:00, Sun 12:00-21:00
The upstairs kitchen earned a Top 50 Gastropubs spot in the UK; Gabe Lea took over as head chef in late 2024. Located in Ancoats. Priced at £££.
Tip: Downstairs handles walk-in pints; the restaurant upstairs needs a booking.
Rudy's Pizza Napoletana ★ 4.6
ancoats · 9 Cotton Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BF
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:45-22:00, Sun 11:45-21:00
Started as a 2014 Cotton Street pop-up in Manchester; now an AVPN-listed pizzeria. Dough ferments 24 hours, sixty seconds in the wood-fired oven.
Tip: Walk-in only at Ancoats; arrive by 17:30 on weekends or expect a queue running across Cutting Room Square.
This and That ★ 4.6
northern-quarter · 3 Soap Street, Manchester M4 1EW
Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30-20:00, Sat 11:30-21:00
Family-run Indian cafe since 1984, on Soap Street behind the Arndale. Rice-and-three counter, canteen-style, still under ten pounds a plate.
Tip: Open 12:00-19:00 weekdays; takeaway queue moves fast at lunch.
Hispi ★ 4.5
didsbury · 1C School Lane, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6RD
Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-14:30, 17:30-21:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-17:00
Gary Usher's Didsbury bistro is the southern outpost of his Sticky Walnut group in Manchester. Two-course set lunch at sixteen pounds, ambitious for price.
Tip: Sundays book out; mid-week is calmer and the kitchen serves the same menu.
El Gato Negro ★ 4.5
deansgate · 52 King Street, Manchester M2 4LY
Hours: Mon 17:00-22:00, Tue-Thu 12:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-21:30
Simon Shaw's tapas room landed on King Street in 2016 and held its Bib Gourmand through the 2026 guide. Three floors: bar, counter kitchen, roof terrace.
Tip: The counter on the first floor faces the kitchen; reserve there.
Mughli Charcoal Pit ★ 4.5
rusholme · 30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 5TQ
Hours: Mon-Thu 17:30-24:00, Fri 17:30-00:30, Sat 16:30-00:30, Sun 14:30-22:30
Mohammad Arshad opened Mughli on Manchester's Curry Mile in 1991. Family-run, focal charcoal pit, Mughlai cooking, lamb chops by the platter.
Tip: Kitchen runs to 00:30 Friday and Saturday; Sunday is family-lunch crowd from 14:00.
Bundobust ★ 4.5
northern-quarter · 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AQ
Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-22:30, Fri-Sat 12:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:00
Indian street-food and craft-beer hall in a basement off Piccadilly. Twelve keg lines pour Bundobust's own brewery beers alongside the snack plates.
Tip: All vegetarian; gluten-free options marked. Bookings rare on weekends; arrive at 17:30.
BAB ★ 4.5
northern-quarter · 14 Little Lever Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M1 1HR
Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00
60-cover Northern Quarter room just off Stevenson Square from The Pen and Pencil team. Theatre-style open chargrill kitchen, flatbreads from scratch.
Tip: Book ahead Thursday to Saturday; basement Honey Trap Club for after-dinner cocktails.
Mei Dim ★ 4.4
chinatown · 45-47 Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4EE
Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-22:00, Sun 11:30-21:00
Basement dim sum in Manchester's Chinatown. No-frills round tables, har gow and siu mai by the bamboo basket, roast duck and char siu in the window.
Tip: Saturday and Sunday lunch packs out; weekday lunch is calmer and the kitchen is just as sharp.
20 Stories ★ 4.3
spinningfields · No 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB
Hours: Mon-Thu 12:00-24:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-01:00, Sun 12:00-23:00
Nineteenth-floor restaurant and rooftop terrace above Hardman Square. Modern British menu against panoramic Manchester views; the bar opens later.
Tip: Book a window table; ten minutes before sunset is the slot worth holding.