Are you a sucker for the weird and the wonderful? Got hankerings for the unusual? Feeling hungry on top of all that? Then it's these quirky restaurants in Manchester that can sort you right out. From hidden eateries and basement burgers to Stateside-inspired joints, there's no shortage of unique places to eat - and we're here to show you where to find them.
Whipping up an eclectic mix of Japanese and Mediterranean small plates, Peter Street Kitchen is an unusual but quality restaurant. Topping it off? Their bar is mixing a range of signature cocktails to accompany their list of Champagne and sake.
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One of the most quirky places to eat in Manchester city centre has to be The Lawn Club. This restaurant bar will keep you fed and watered with handcrafted cocktails and refreshing spritzes or scrumptious light bites and pizzas, with bookable areas including comfy chairs, cosy greenhouses and private pods. When the sun is shining though, there's nowhere better to be than their spacious lawn and terrace areas, complete with an outdoor bar for alfresco sips.
Inspired by uber-luxe bars in New York, LA and Miami, this late-night party palace also serves up an international à la carte menu and bottomless meals. As for afters? You can nab yourself some hand-crafted cocktails or watch the live entertainment.
If you're on the hunt for the top restaurants offering up something a little different, Flight Club has your back. Date night with a twist? Food and fun with the crew? Boasting pizzas by the paddle, alcoholic slushies and one of the best darts experiences in the country, this tech-savvy gaming bar is sure to be a hit.
Spread across three floors, this is a bar, restaurant and immersive theatre experience in one venue. When you're not being dazzled by Impossible's performers or molecular cocktails, you can feast on delicious grill food in their dining area, before unearthing the hidden gin palace.
CLUK brings the traditional Korean chicken shop to the liveliest stretch of Canal Street. Stop by for crispy wings or boneless buckets slathered in spicy gochujang, honey mustard or sweet and spicy sauce.
For a unique experience, in Manchester at least, order the one-of-a-kind cheese-powder volcano chicken. Keep it K-pop with a bottle of soju before you leave or dive into the long and lively cocktail list. The blueberry matcha iced latte is well worth sticking around for.
Grand Pacific is on our list of the best restaurants in Manchester city centre for quirkiness, thanks to its opulent dishes and handcrafted cocktails. Taking inspiration from the age of exploration, their bold menu showcases global flavours, while interiors feature wooden panelling, dimmed lighting and luxurious touches.
If you need themed restaurants in Manchester, how about the jungle gym-inspired interiors at Mowgli. Expect hanging ropes, swing seats and rustic wood throughout the space, where you'll be sat munching on Indian street food.
One of most fun restaurants with entertainment in Manchester, Albert's Schloss doesn't slow down for anyone or anything. Not only can you hunker down for huge meat dishes and even bigger Bavarian beer, but also table dancing, entertainment, in-house bands, cabaret and jaw-dropping antics every night.
Taking its inspiration from the glamour of the 1970s, Cosy Club is a cool venue decked out in retro decor. Think patterned pink wallpaper, marbled tables and plush booth seating, surrounded by touches of gold and lots of pretty plants.
They serve everything from bottomless brunches to hearty dinners here, open from 9am every day. On the menu? A whole range of international dishes, such as Thai green tofu curry, masala chicken burgers, halloumi with hot honey and more.
With a name like this, you just know Crazy Pedro's Pizza Parlour is doing its best to keep things cool and quirky. The Deansgate joint makes mouthwatering freshly-baked pizzas, which can be paired with incredible slushy cocktails and rounds of beer pong.
As the first English opening from Scottish chef Nico Simeone, Six by Nico is the unusual concept restaurant bringing affordable tasting menus to Manchester. From American diner through to fairy tale food, the space's theme changes often, meaning that multiple visits are a must.
Quirky nice restaurants in Manchester don't get much better than On The Hush. This NQ den is home to cocktails served in glass slippers, a life-sized phone box for photo opportunities and a range of mouthwatering meals to boot.
Starting life as a street food stall, Platzki is a slick Polish eatery that has gone from strength to strength. Expect queues at this Spinningfields spot, which serves up a weekly menu of goodies, including the likes of dumplings, slow-braised ribs and beetroot gnocchi.
Colourful, bright and bringing you the best that the Middle East has to offer, Comptoir Libanais shines as one of the most fun family restaurants in Manchester. Head on down for luscious Lebanese dining across a bright space.
From the upside down canoe suspended from the ceiling through to the experimental Mexican menu, Wolf at the Door is one quirky restaurant in the NQ. A haven for Mancunian foodies, this place serves drool-worthy tacos, bao buns and loaded fries starting at £1.
One of the most cool places to eat in Manchester's Northern Quarter, Trof is a staple for its easy-going vibes, delicious grub, unique interiors and purse-friendly prices. Swing by to mix with a buzzing crowd while grazing on daily specials served fresh from the kitchen.
With stained glass windows and bright yellow booths, Dishoom Manchester is a snazzy spot that combines the city's history with the culture of Bombay's Irani cafes. Set in a Grade-II Listed hall, the restaurant has got a loyal following thanks to its innovative twists on Indian food.
There's a motorbike over the entrance, the food takes an American leaning, and the bar serves up bourbon and whiskey; Bunny Jackson's is a unique restaurant through and through. When you're not munching through the menu, check out the live bands and karaoke nights.
Located on the corner of Cutting Room Square, Elnecot is serving up some incredible small plates. From a Manchester egg with piccalilli to sexy greens that might just change your life, the food should be enough to get you down. But, while you're there, why not dive into the cocktail selection too?
For a quirky dining experience in Manchester, look no further than Fenix in the St John's district. This Greek-Mediterranean restaurant blends striking, immersive interiors with a modern twist on classic Greek flavours.
From the cave-like atmosphere of The Nest bar, with its glowing molten gold back bar and candlelit ambience, to the dramatic spiral staircase winding up to the upper dining level, Fenix offers a unique setting unlike anything else in Manchester. The menu features everything from sea bass ceviche to pearl oyster mushrooms, while the cocktail selection - split into elements like Earth, Water, Fire, and Air - adds a touch of mythological flair to your evening.
