The summer season is almost here and what better way to celebrate than with a fresh host of restaurant and bar openings. Spanning the city centre and slightly further afield, there's plenty of activity taking place.
We've cherrypicked some of the most exciting launches for the month ahead, from the health and wellness café at Deansgate Square, to the new dine-in 'lasagneria’ in the Northern Quarter, there's plenty to choose from. So, without further ado, let's get stuck in.
The Green Lab
Sisters Nikita and Kanika Banga will be opening a second branch of their ‘lifestyle concept destination’ The Green Lab at the Deansgate Square development next week. Following the success of their Northern Quarter debut in 2021, the space - which combines a café, juice bar and health studio - will be serving up an exciting new evening offer to complement their selection of salads, juices and plant-based options.
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Loaf MCR
Manchester's 'first loaf cake company' has two exciting store openings planned over the next few months - one on Oxford Road, where Patisserie Valerie once stood, and the other at Affinity Living Review on New Bailey Street, just a stone's throw from The People's History Museum. The latter is having a launch party across the weekend of May 14-15, so you can expect coffee, cake, pastry and of course, lots and lots of loaf, from Lotus Biscoff and Jammie Dodger bakes to Bourbon Biscuit and the new Lemon Meringue special.
Blinker
Dan Berger, the former bars manager for Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, will open Blinker in the Northspring building on Spring Gardens this May. Expect cocktails heavily based around seasonality, with four different key ingredients influencing the menu and changing each month.
Monkey Trio
A triumvirate of food and drink talent is expected to land at Circle Square development - on the site of the former BBC building on Oxford Road - in May. Monkey Trio, the city's first Japanese sake bar - offering up a range of sakes, whiskies and matcha beers - will open alongside Bird of Prey, a mouth-watering fried chicken specialist and Tsujiri - a bubble tea shop and dessert tea house with a Manchester twist.
Lazy Tony's
Ok, so this one snuck in right at the end of the April, but it would be remiss of us to not mention that the city's first dedicated 'lasagneria' - which first popped up in Ancoats over lockdown - has found itself a new home over at Alvarium in the Northern Quarter. The 'dine in' spot has taken the space downstairs, and is serving up its hugely popular 'slabs' of three lasagnes, as well as mac and cheese, meatball and fried chicken subs, and giant mozzarella sticks.
Bask
Over the past year, Stockport's food and drink scene has really come into its own with a raft of new and exciting openings, from The Mekong Cat to Bistro Marc. Now, the town's railway station is getting a new neighbour in the form of Bask, a brand new speakeasy bar. Opening towards the end of May, visitors can expect fantastic local and worldwide beers and creative cocktails, set against a backdrop of live music, DJs and events.
Pollen at Kampus
Popular Ancoats bakery Pollen, famed for its sourdough and viennoiserie, will open its second branch overlooking the Kampus garden this May. The coffee shop and bakery features a kitchen design that allows customers to watch the master pastry makers at work, whether they’re serving up grab-and-go favourites, brunch bits or the freshest seasonal produce.
Paradise Skate World
This one opens just as May turns to June, but we have to give you something to look forward to, and this one is a pretty big opening. The new, futuristic skating venue has been created by the same people behind Junkyard Golf and will feature a central roll-up bar area in the middle of a sprung dancefloor to keep you refreshed , plus snacks like nori popcorn and wasabi prawn tacos, fusing Mexican and Japanese flavours.
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