North West England
Date ideas in Manchester
Updated
Manchester packs a lot into a walkable city centre: grand Victorian buildings, free galleries, canals and a different bar on every corner of the Northern Quarter. It has a reputation for rain, so plenty of these picks are indoors, but there's green space too, from Castlefield's towpaths to the deer park at Dunham Massey. These are the places we'd take someone.
Our picks in Manchester
John Rylands Library
Deansgate, city centre
Address: 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Walk through the neo-Gothic library on Deansgate, opened in 1900, and up to its vaulted Historic Reading Room, lined with stained glass and statues.
Why it's a good date: It feels more like a cathedral than a library, and it costs nothing to get in. It isn't open every day, so check before you go, and expect a short queue at busy times.
Photo: Eirian Evans, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Manchester Art Gallery
Mosley Street, city centre
Address: Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Wander the free city gallery, from Pre-Raphaelite paintings such as Waterhouse's "Hylas and the Nymphs" to its changing exhibitions.
Why it's a good date: It's right in the middle of town, so it fits round lunch or before dinner. Each of you picks the painting you'd take home and makes the case for it.
Photo: Pemolo, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
The Whitworth
Oxford Road, by Whitworth Park
Address: Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER- Culture
- Free
- Outdoors
See what's on at the University of Manchester's free gallery, whose glass-walled extension looks straight out into the trees of Whitworth Park.
Why it's a good date: It's calm and rarely crowded, and the park outside gives you somewhere to walk and talk about what you've just seen.
Photo: Charlesdrakew, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Royal Exchange Theatre
St Ann's Square, city centre
Address: St Ann's Square, Manchester M2 7DH- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
See a play in the round, in a glass-and-steel theatre pod that sits inside the great hall of Manchester's old cotton exchange.
Why it's a good date: Every seat is close to the action, and the hall is a sight before the play even starts. Book ahead for the big productions and make a night of it in town.
Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
HOME
Tony Wilson Place, First Street
Address: 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Catch an independent film, a play or an exhibition at Manchester's arts centre, with a bar and restaurant downstairs.
Why it's a good date: Film, theatre and food under one roof, so the whole evening's sorted without moving. Take turns picking something the other wouldn't usually choose.
Photo: Leonv010, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Mackie Mayor
Eagle Street, Northern Quarter
Address: 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
Share plates from a handful of independent kitchens at the long tables of a restored Victorian market hall.
Why it's a good date: You each order what you fancy and swap halfway through. The glass roof and ironwork make it feel like an occasion, and it gets busy at weekends, so go early for a table.
Photo: Duncan.Hull, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Afflecks
Church Street, Northern Quarter
Address: 52 Church Street, Manchester M4 1PW- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Rummage through four floors of independent stalls selling vintage clothes, records, posters and oddities.
Why it's a good date: Set each other a small budget and a challenge, like finding the other the best thing for under a tenner, then compare your finds over a drink nearby.
Photo: Ivor Josephson, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Castlefield canals
Castlefield, at the south end of Deansgate
Address: Castlefield Basin, Potato Wharf, Manchester M3 4NB- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Walk the towpaths around Castlefield Basin, where the Bridgewater Canal winds between old warehouses, railway viaducts and the remains of a Roman fort.
Why it's a good date: A few minutes from the shops and it feels like another city, especially on a summer evening. The canal-side pubs give you somewhere to stop when you've walked enough.
Photo: Gillie Rhodes, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Heaton Park
Middleton Road, north Manchester, by Heaton Park tram stop
Address: Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Manchester M25 2SW- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer
Explore one of Europe's biggest city parks, with woodland, a boating lake and a view of the Manchester skyline from the high ground.
Why it's a good date: It's big enough to feel properly out of town, and the tram drops you at the gate. The rowing boats are seasonal, so check they're out if you fancy a turn on the lake.
Photo: Todor.iliev.doychinov, CC0 (cropped and resized)
Dunham Massey
Near Altrincham, south-west of Manchester
Address: Woodhouse Lane, Altrincham WA14 4SJ- Trip
- Mid-price
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Outdoors
- Out of town
Walk among the fallow deer in the old deer park, then look round the Georgian house and its gardens.
Why it's a good date: A day in the country without a long drive. Keep your distance from the deer, take a picnic, and save the house for if the weather turns.
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Adam Reid at The French
The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, city centre
Address: The Midland Hotel, 16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book the tasting menu at the Midland Hotel's restaurant, where Adam Reid cooks modern British food with a northern accent in a grand old dining room.
Why it's a good date: The one to save for an anniversary or a big occasion: an evening that's all about the food, in one of the city's landmark hotels. It's open a few evenings a week, so book well ahead.
Photo: Peter McDermott, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)
Erst
Murray Street, Ancoats
Address: 9 Murray Street, Manchester M4 6HS- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Cosy
Share seasonal small plates from the open kitchen with a bottle from the natural wine list, in a relaxed, stripped-back room in Ancoats.
Why it's a good date: Laid-back but properly good: you'll order a few things, then a few more. Ask the staff to pick a wine if you're not sure where to start.
Schofield's Bar
Sunlight House, Quay Street, off Deansgate
Address: Sunlight House, 3 Little Quay Street, Manchester M3 3JZ- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Romantic
- Big night
Order a Martini or a Manhattan at the cocktail bar run by brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield, on the corner of Sunlight House, a 1930s art deco landmark.
Why it's a good date: Carefully made classic cocktails, in a room that suits dressing up a bit. Start your evening here, or come back for a nightcap.
The Washhouse
Shudehill, Northern Quarter
Address: 19 Shudehill, Manchester M4 2AF- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
Walk into what looks like an ordinary launderette, pick up the phone on the wall, and get let through into a small hidden cocktail bar.
Why it's a good date: The way in is a great icebreaker, and there are more surprises once you're inside. It's tiny, so book ahead: you won't get in without a booking.
Speak in Code
Jackson's Row, off Deansgate
Address: 7 Jackson's Row, Manchester M2 5ND- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Cosy
- Big night
Settle into a low-lit cocktail bar tucked away on a side street, with inventive drinks made from house-made ingredients.
Why it's a good date: Intimate and unhurried, with friendly bartenders who'll steer you to something new. Good for a quiet second drink after dinner.
Bundobust
Piccadilly, city centre
Address: Bundobust, 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share a spread of Indian street food and a couple of craft beers at the big, buzzy hall on Piccadilly.
Why it's a good date: Everything's vegetarian and made for sharing, so you order a few small plates each and keep going. It's a short walk from Piccadilly station, which makes it an easy first stop on a night out.
This & That
Soap Street, Northern Quarter
Address: This & That, 3 Soap Street, Manchester M4 1EW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Grab a plate of rice and three curries at the no-frills Northern Quarter canteen that's been feeding the city for decades.
Why it's a good date: You queue, point at what looks good and sit down at a plain table a minute later. The curries change through the week, so it's worth coming back, and it sets you up well for a wander round the Northern Quarter after.
Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
Tib Street, Northern Quarter
Address: Northern Soul, Unit G20-21 Smithfield Building, Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LA- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share a couple of loaded grilled cheese sandwiches at the little cheese-toastie shop in the Northern Quarter.
Why it's a good date: Proper comfort food for a cold afternoon, and fun to split two and compare. It's a daytime place that shuts early most evenings, so make it a lunch date before the shops.
Lily's Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne
Address: Lily's, 85 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Take the tram out to Ashton for a vegetarian Indian feast at the family restaurant that grew out of a cash-and-carry café.
Why it's a good date: It's been run by the same family since the 1970s and the cooking is the reason people make the trip. Order more than you think you need, share it all, and pick up something sweet from the counter on the way out.
Nell's Pizza, Kampus
Minshull Street, Kampus
Address: Nell's Kampus, 20 Minshull Street, Manchester M1 3EF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Split a giant New York-style pizza at Nell's in the Kampus garden quarter, a few minutes from Piccadilly.
Why it's a good date: The slices are huge and the room is relaxed, so it's an easy, cheap dinner before a gig or a film. Kampus has some nice spots for a drink afterwards too.
New Wave Ramen
Tib Lane, city centre
Address: New Wave Ramen, 16 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Warm up over big bowls of ramen at the small noodle bar on Tib Lane, just off Cross Street.
Why it's a good date: A good rainy-day pick: steamy windows, rich broth and a quick, friendly turnaround. They keep space for walk-ins, but booking is safer on a Friday or Saturday.
Society
Barbirolli Square, near the Bridgewater Hall
Address: Society, Basement, 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3BD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Pick from a handful of independent kitchens and grab a long table at the basement food hall under Barbirolli Square.
Why it's a good date: You can each order from a different kitchen and meet back at the table, and there's a proper bar in the middle. Handy before a concert at the Bridgewater Hall next door.
Freight Island
Baring Street, Mayfield, behind Piccadilly station
Address: Freight Island, 11 Baring Street, Manchester M1 2PZ- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
Wander the street-food traders at the old railway depot behind Piccadilly station, then find a table among the lights.
Why it's a good date: There's a lot of choice, so it's good when you can't agree on what to eat, and there's often music or sport on. It gets lively at weekends; go earlier in the evening for a calmer table.
Mana
Blossom Street, Ancoats
Address: Mana, 42 Blossom Street, Manchester M4 6BF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Book the long tasting menu at Simon Martin's Michelin-starred restaurant in Ancoats, where every table looks into the kitchen.
Why it's a good date: It's an evening built around British produce, cooked with real care and served in a calm, modern room. Tables go fast, so book well ahead for an anniversary or a birthday.
Skof
Federation Street, NOMA
Address: Skof, 3 Federation Street, Manchester M4 4BF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Settle in for a tasting menu at Tom Barnes's Michelin-starred restaurant in an old textile warehouse in NOMA.
Why it's a good date: Exposed brick and girders, no tablecloths and no dress code, so it feels relaxed for somewhere this serious about food. Tables are released month by month and go quickly, so plan ahead.
Winsome
Princess Street, city centre
Address: Winsome, 74 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6JD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Sit up at the big kitchen counter for hearty, seasonal British cooking at this busy brasserie on Princess Street.
Why it's a good date: It has a proper sense of occasion without any fuss, and the counter seats let you watch the chefs at work. Ask for the counter when you book if you like a bit of theatre.
Where The Light Gets In
Rostron Brow, Stockport Old Town
Address: Where The Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport SK1 1JY- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Romantic
Take the short train to Stockport for a set sharing menu cooked in the open kitchen of a loft above an old coffee warehouse.
Why it's a good date: There's no choosing to do: you sit back and the food arrives, cooked from whatever's in season. The room feels like a dinner party in someone's very good kitchen, and Stockport's Old Town is worth a stroll first.
Hawksmoor Manchester
Deansgate, by Spinningfields
Address: Hawksmoor, 184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Foodie
- Big night
Book a steak dinner in the wood-panelled rooms of a Victorian courthouse on Deansgate.
Why it's a good date: Grand but warm, with service that makes a birthday feel like one. Get there early for a cocktail in the bar, which is usually quieter than the dining room.
20 Stories
Hardman Square, Spinningfields
Address: 20 Stories, No 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB- Restaurant
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Have dinner twenty floors up with the whole city spread out below, then step out onto the terrace for a drink.
Why it's a good date: The view is the star: on a clear evening you can see across Manchester to the hills. Book a table for sunset and ask for one by the window.
Tender at the Stock Exchange Hotel
Norfolk Street, off King Street, city centre
Address: Stock Exchange Hotel, 4 Norfolk Street, Manchester M2 1DW- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Big night
Dress up for dinner under the glass dome of the old Manchester Stock Exchange, in the hotel restaurant run by chef Niall Keating.
Why it's a good date: The room is the reason to go: a grand Edwardian trading floor with the dome overhead. Have a drink in the hotel's old bank vault bar before you sit down.
Dates in Manchester: quick answers
What are good rainy-day dates in Manchester?
The John Rylands Library, Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth are all indoors and free to get into. A film or play at HOME, a show at the Royal Exchange Theatre or a rummage round Afflecks also keep you dry.
Are there free date ideas in Manchester?
Yes. The John Rylands Library, Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth are free, and a walk along Castlefield's canals or round Heaton Park costs nothing.
Where should we go for cocktails on a date in Manchester?
Schofield's Bar in Sunlight House is the classic choice for a Martini. For something playful, book the Washhouse, a hidden bar behind a launderette front on Shudehill, or try Speak in Code on Jackson's Row for a quieter drink.
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