Manchester's legendary nightlife is a big draw for locals, visitors from across the world and of course for the many famous faces that the city is now home. And there are some bars and restaurants that tend to have become more of a draw for the celebrity crowd than others.
The city scene boasts plenty of late-night bars now, as well as swanky restaurants with plenty of spots for the perfect Insta-moment for celebs, influencers and revellers.
So here we take a look back at some of the hottest spots for celebrity spotting in the past year, and some of the big names who have partied there.
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And we can look forward to plenty more celebrity parties ahead in the New Year. Not least because one of the biggest names in the VIP-bar world will be opening it's doors in the spring - in the shape of Soho House.
Needless to say, the MEN's celebrity and what's on teams will be keeping you updated with all the big openings and parties in 2023.
MNKY HSE, Lloyd Street
A bold and brash newcomer to the city scene, MNKY HSE set out its celebrity stall from the very night it opened - with a raft of footballers, Real Housewives and models in attendance.
Since then it has welcomed a host of famous faces, including former Corrie favourites Michelle Keegan and Helen Flanagan on glamorous nights out with pals. It has been in hot demand for events too, including fashion parties and launches.
The venue is the second in the UK from the brand that is known for pulling in an A-list crowd at its London, Doha and Riyadh outposts.
Here at the Manchester MNKY HSE there is a restaurant and bar open from 5pm, as well as a separate nightclub that opens later in the night. Both spaces inside the Lloyd Street subterranean venue feature dark and moody lighting, with mysterious portraits adorning the walls.
It's pronounced "monkey house" in case you were wondering, and as for what's on the menu - expect "Latin American cuisine with a Japanese influence". So yep, sushi and steak it is.
Dishoom, Bridge Street
The posh Indian restaurant that has diners queuing out the door went to a whole other level of celebrity when megastar Ed Sheeran decided to head there for some late night scran in the summer. He chose Dishoom on Bridge Street to celebrate the end of his epic run of stadium shows here in Manchester.
He performed four sell out gigs at the Etihad Stadium on his big Mathematics Tour so he will have definitely worked up an appetite for his Dishoom feast.
The Indian restaurant is known for its "lovingly created Bombay comfort food" and has won huge acclaim since arriving here in Manchester back in 2018. It is based inside the grade-II listed Manchester Hall, the former freemasons hall on Bridge Street, and is known for it's super-stylish interiors.
Menagerie, New Bailey
One of the most glamorous bars on the city scene, it's no surprise that Menagerie continues to draw in a celebrity style crowd at its New Bailey location.
The restaurant and bar, which is co-owned by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Seema Malhotra, has played host to all manner of starry fashion events and parties over the course of the year.
It was also the location for Little Mix to hold their after-party after their huge Manchester Arena gigs in the summer sparking much excitement for fans out on the town. They made a real night of it too, partying into the early hours at the all-pink bar.
In the past, the bar, which boasts an entertainment "runway" at the heart of the restaurant, has played host to everyone from American superstars Justin Timberlake and Kevin Hart to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
Nell's, Kampus
When Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi wanted to celebrate chart-topping success on his visit to Manchester, he knew exactly how to do it in style.
With a giant Nell's pizza that was twice the size of his actual head, that's how.
Lewis, 25, posted a series of hilarious photos tackling the giant pizza at Nell's, whilst also keeping a firm grip on his pint of ale.
He informed fans that: "Forget Me hit 20 million streams in less than two weeks on Spotify" before joking about another personal milestone adding: "tonight we celebrate".
Of course, Nell's is not your common or garden pizza parlour. It's a cool hipster version famed for its giant saucer pizzas found at the burgeoning Kampus district next to Canal Street.
The mammoth 22" pizza that Lewis went for was Nell's special "Do You 'Roni Honey?" pepperoni-packed creation and is priced at a definitely rather meaty £29.50.
The Alchemist, MediaCity
If you want to know Coronation Street stars' hottest of hotspots in 2022, then look no further than The Alchemist at MediaCity.
Just a stone's throw across the canal to Corrie's Trafford Wharf studios, this stunning waterside bar became THE place for the soap's birthday bashes, leaving dos and impromtpu summer nights out. But it's about as far removed from t'Rovers as you can get.
It's a simply stunning setting with an outdoor terrace, and on sunny days you get to feel like you're in Monte Carlo rather than on the Manchester Ship Canal looking out across the water.
Being so close to the BBC studios as well means you're likely to spot plenty of stars from the corporation too - with many a BBC Breakfast presenter sighting over the year.
The restaurant itself, as its title suggests, is known for its intoxicating mix of cocktails. While on the food menu its "classic dishes with an Alchemist twist" - think posher takes on the likes of chicken in a basket and fish and chips.
The Ivy, Spinningfields
It's the biggest branch of The Ivy Collection (famed for its original London celeb haunt) in the UK, and it remains one of the most popular spots to head to for the region's famous folk.
Manchester City celebrated winning the Premier League there, while Coronation Street stars held their Summer party on the swanky Roof Terrace.
Spread across three floors, diners can choose from that top floor Roof Terrace (in Winter the outer terraces have been covered to become picturesque private dining spaces), or on the second floor you'll find the plush Ivy Asia with its emerald green floor.
On the ground floor is the Ivy Brasserie that is always a-buzz with guests, while outside there's another large terrace that's popular in the warmer months.
The restaurant is also famous for its very posh ladies loos. It's kind of the law that you have to take a selfie in there, just so you know.
Peter Street Kitchen, Peter Street
The super-luxe restaurant space inside the five-star Edwardian by Radisson Hotel on Peter Street has become a big celeb hotspot this year.
It's been the scene for many an event, including a huge fashion party held by Manchester's own Couture Club in the summer attended by reality stars and plenty of Man City stars like Jack Grealish (above) and Riyad Mahrez.
And the restaurant was the chosen location for superstar party planner Julie Perry's annual festive lunch attended by the entire WAG world in December.
The restaurant itself boasts a fusion menu of Japanese and Mexican, while the restaurant space is all clean whites. It was famously the scene of a tantrum-filled dinner party on the Real Housewives of Cheshire too.
Yours, Deansgate
With the team behind late-night celebhaunt Club Liv behind it, Yours restaurant has inevitably had a similarly starry clientele as it made waves at its prime spot on Deansgate.
It has welcomed the likes of One Direction superstar Liam Payne alongside his new buddy, Dragon's Den star Steven Bartlett.
And even rock n roll star Noel Gallagher couldn't resist a quick pose up in the restaurant's famous "selfie corridor" which is just perfect for your Instagram moment.
SakkuSamba, Spinningfields
Another newcomer to the city scene in 2022, this all-you-can-eat Brazilian-sushi fusion restaurant has occupied the huge space that was once Artisan on Spinningfields.
Yes, there are swanky interiors in the main restaurant space, but getting many heads turning is the giant, light-clad "selfie box". Situated right next to the loos, it's almost obligatory to jump in and have a photo if you're visiting here, as model and influencer Zara Lena Jackson proved so perfectly on her visit earlier this year (above).
BLVD, Spinningfields
Just across the road from SakkuSamba on The Avenue North section of Spinningfields is BLVD bar.
BLVD has taken over where Neighbourhood left off (it's in the same building) as an ever-popular restaurant and late-night bar pulling in the celeb and VIP crowds.
It has been a regular stomping ground for Love Island winner David Saclimenti and a host of his fellow reality star contestants over the years.
The bar itself takes inspiration from New York's Meatpacking district, and serves up a menu of the finest of cuisine from across the world, including Mexican, Japanese and Chinese. It's all famous for its weekend brunch clubs and spectacular cocktail trees that you will see regularly fizzing across the restaurant floor.
MUSU, Bridge Street
Another newcomer to the city scene, MUSU has been fast welcoming in the famous faces. I mean, hello, they had Jason Derulo in there just days after first opening to the public in November.
That was swiftly followed by the appearance of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola heading along to check things out. He may have been sizing up the competition of course, seeing as he's co-owner of Manchester's Tast restaurant on King Street.
Pep posed up with chef Mike Shaw after tucking into Musu's signature Japanese taster menus. This seriously high end venue (it cost £3m to open the place) boasts taster menus as well as dedicated bar space with simply stunning video walls showing changing landscapes of Japan.
Zouk, Chester Street
Famously known as music megastar Drake's favourite stop-off whenever he's in town, the award-winning Indian restaurant continued to draw in the famous faces this past year.
Indeed, it was packed out with practically the entire Manchester United squad back in April - as the squad headed to celebrate team-mate Eric Bailly's 28th birthday there.
San Carlo and Rosso, King Street
Finally, a shout out to the OG Italian super-celebhaunts - flanking either end of the city's King Street and consistently welcoming visiting superstars and home-grown famous faces alike.
San Carlo and Rosso continued to draw in the celebrity and footballer crowds with their luxurious take on traditional Italian this year.
And we salute them both for bringing just about the best Christmas decorations we've ever seen to the city at both venues this December too.
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