This month’s roundup of new restaurants, bars, hotels and cafes includes a couple of long awaited big players, as well as a few that might not have landed on your radar yet. As always, the city centre continues to welcome new stuff but there’s plenty to jump on a tram or a bus for too with new openings in everywhere from Altrincham to Urmston.
Read on for our round up of new openings in Manchester in May.
Bohemian Arts Club
Opening end of May
We first spoke about this two-storey spot back in January when we were talking about the year’s most anticipated new openings. Five months later, here’s a (*Cilla Black voice*) quick recap: Opening in Stockport, this bar with an entrance hidden on the cobbled street of Coopers Brow has been inspired by speakeasies from across the globe that owners Tom and Katie Ogden have visited whilst touring the world. Romance, eh? That’s Tom Ogden of Blossoms fame btw. There will also be a hair salon inside, the second site for Katie’s Hazel Grove hair brand Bohemian. So it’ll be snips and sips in the new Berlin.
18-20 Lower Hillgate, Stockport
Dosa Kingss
Open now
This South Indian snuck open in Sale just a few weeks ago. Dosa Kingss (presumably the names Dosa King and Dosa Kings were already taken) has a lengthy menu of curries as well as more than 15 different types of dosa from the classic masala dosa to the hot and spicy Hyderabadi version. There are idli and uttappam and absolutely loads more Tamil Nadu style dishes too that locals are raving about. We’re looking forward to trying this one.
15 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 2DH
EL&N
Open now
If your favourite bird is a flamingo, you jumped right on the Barbie TikTok trend and you were a big fan of puce-palace Boujee, EL & N will have you tickled pink. Decked out with artificial roses, pink pampas grass, and motivational quotes in a ‘handwriting’ font, EL&N knows its demographic and is leaning right into it. Opened right at the end of April, the menu features pasta, burgers and breakfast options – all with edible flowers sprinkled on top. There’s also a whole page full of cakes and several pages of drinks that look like blended children’s TV characters. Expect your FYP to be flooded with rainbow layered cocktails and tankards overflowing with squirty cream and hundreds and thousands if you so much as glance at this new Trafford Centre hotspot’s website.
Ground Floor, The Trafford Palazzo Centre, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 8AS
Firin
Open now
Firin is a modern Turkish restaurant inside the brand-new Holiday Inn at Manchester Airport with a menu that has an “elevated take on classic tastes of the Mediterranean”. Firin translates as oven, and that means fresh pide (eye shaped flatbreads) topped with things like diced beef, tomato and pepper or mushroom and goat’s cheese. Ottoman dishes and sharing plates make up the rest of the menu. Dishes include chicken shish, lamb tandir, and chargrilled Mediterranean prawns and calamari. There are Turkish wines, coffee and sticky baklava for dessert too. You’ll feel like you never left Ankara. There’s also a rooftop bar called Glow (with a view of the runway and city skyline) opening on the top floor of the hotel later in the year.
1 Palma Ave, Manchester M90 4ZY
Knoops
Open now
With over 20 different types of chocolate and myriad milk options plus add ins like freshly grated ginger, fresh rosemary or chilli, unless you’ve been to one of Knoops’ cafes down South, it’s safe to say you’ve likely never had hot chocolate like this before. Owner Jens Knoop is a real life Willy Wonka, travelling the world to source the best chocolate and getting nerdy over the whole process from cocoa pod to cup. The brand new Knoops on Cross Street is his first foray up North with a brand he’d like to see glide onto every high street in the UK – if not the world – eventually. Read our interview with Jens Knoop.
68 Cross St, Manchester M2 4JQ
Lucky Cat
Opening 1 June (but you can book now)
Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat is chalked up to open in the former Jamie’s Italian building in June but bookings are open now and this is set to be popular so you might want to get on it. The former bank is a stunning dining space and there’s plenty of money in ole Rammo’s coffers so we expect they will be going for the miaow factor with this one. Named after the popular, kitsch Japanese waving cat ornament, the menu does of course feature sushi put also dips its paintbrush in the wider Asian continent for influence. So there are bao, fried rice, lamb larb, Korean spiced black cod, and short rib phat phet on the menu amongst other things. If you like The Ivy and Peter Street Kitcen, this one will be firmly on your hit list.
100 King St, Manchester M2 4WU
Madre
Opening end of May
Another one we feel like we’ve been waiting forever for is the permanent anchor drop of LIverpool’s favourite Mexican joint, Madre, at Kampus. If you don’t get to L’pool much, you might still recognise Madre from its long stint of taco-whacking at Freight Island. Those tacos will be out in full force but it’s not just tacos, pal. There will be melty cheese, ribs, crispy spuds, wood grilled seafood (yes, pls), steaks and fresh oysters and ceviches straight from their huge ice counter. We’re going all shivery like John Travolta just thinking about it. Madre was created by Belzan’s Sam Grainger, Owain Williams and Chris Edwards in collaboration with London lads Nud Dudhia and Chris Whitney of Breddos Tacos. So it’s a cut above the more grab and go Mexican gaffs in the city. The drinks will be an agave fest of tequila, mezcal and more. We really hope there’s a cocktail called Guy Agave.
The Churchill, 41 Chorlton St., Manchester M1 3HN
Noir Cuts & Coffee
Opens 22 May
The people behind barbershops Proper Dapper, Jersey Street Social Club, and Butcher’s Chop Shop are opening a fourth venue – meaning they will finally have a barbershop quartet (I’m here all week). This new venture is called Noir and will be a purveyor of cuts and cups – of coffee, as well as cocktails. Owners say Noir is a “black box concept” that will move into a unit on Deansgate Mews in the soon to be revamped Great Northern Warehouse. Flat white with your flat top sir?
Great Northern Warehouse, Unit R Lower, Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Oppio Lounge
Open now
If the words Bevano, Benito, Expo or Navarro mean anything to you, you might have a good idea of what to expect from Oppio Lounge which has just opened in Altrincham. This Bristol-born chain of lounges are roomy, colourfully decorated and have massive, crowd pleasing menus. There are over 20 breakfast options as well as butties, flatbreads, burgers, salads, tapas and a whole other section for ‘mains’ which include things like Malaysian nasi goreng, Mexican ‘Superbowls’ and spaghetti carbonara. There are loads of vegan and gluten free options and needless to say, these places are ideal for big group get togethers, especially with kids.
63 George St, Altrincham WA14 1RJ
Örme
Opening some time in May
You might not know that the town of Urmston is named after a chap called Orme Fitz Seward, it was Orme’s ‘tun’ (place of residence), get it? This intriguing new restaurant Örme has taken the chap’s name and added an umlaut. Urmston’s been building up a good handful of decent places to eat and drink over the years, but this is its first restaurant specialising in tasting menus. Don’t scream ‘cost of living crisis’ at us yet, because these menus are designed to sit at the more affordable end of things. Six courses will set you back £45 plus ‘optional extras’ and drinks. The ambitious chefs behind the menu take influence from the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Tom Kerridge and Tommy Banks. Dishes include things like BBQ pork in a sticky cider glaze with carrot and pickled onion, North Sea coley fillet with broccoli and Davyhulme Road wild garlic, and milk chocolate with miso caramel and coffee ice cream. Drinks will come from Mancunian brewers and distillers and there will be adventurous wine flights including a special British drinks flight. The restaurant is aiming to be minimal waste – snacks are made using offcuts from main dishes for example. Moving into the Church Lane spot formerly occupied by Waive the Grain, Theru Kadai and The Barmy Olive, this is definitely one to watch.
218 Church Road, Urmston
Papa Dutch – ‘The Little Dutch Cafe’
Open now
Readers of a certain age will probably have never got over the closure of the Dutch Pancake House just off St Peter’s Square. There’s something about that place that makes people all misty eyed and full of nostalgic longing. Well, long no more because you can now hop on a tram to Goose Green in Altrincham to get your hands all manner of Dutch pancakes, as well as ice creams and coffees. The pop-up turned permanent pancake place that opened in mid-April is run by brother and sister duo Joshua and Naomi who cook their pancakes and stroopwafels freshly to order. Amster-damn, they’re good.
3 Goose Green, Altrincham WA14 1DW
Red Light
Opens 3 May
This long awaited LGBTQ+ cocktail bar is the latest addition to the brilliant Kampus. Owner Deana Ferguson was a recent finalist at the Manchester Bar Awards and has created an innovative list of cocktails for this edgy little bar. Expect queer art, lots of red and a disco soundtrack. But you can’t just swan in, it’s reservations only, giving a sense of occasion to its low lit luxury. Originally from Belfast, Ferguson has done her time on Manchester’s cocktail scene, working at both Hawksmoor and Ducie St Warehouse. Cocktails teased already include Red Light Calling, Deana’s take on a London Calling which blends home-made lychee soda and coconut fat-washed gin. There’s also the “Artists Special #2” with Jameson’s whiskey and olorosso sherry. If you don’t like cocktails, there will be beer from Bury’s Brightside Brewery too.
Little David St, Manchester M1 3GA
Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly
Opening some time in May
Fancy trying Manchester on for size before deciding whether to live here permanently (which of course, you will)? Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester Piccadilly is opening this month on the edge of Ancoats, right next to the big ALDI. The hotel claims to be “the first aparthotel of its kind in Northern England”. The new hotel will have 155 modern studios and 1-bedroom apartments over 12 floors that can be booked for short and much longer stays – and you can bring your pet along too. Rooms come with Smart-TVs and fitted kitchens featuring microwaves, ovens, hobs, fridges, dishwashers and cookware. The hotel will also have a bespoke grocery delivery service. The team says it is supporting local Indies too by working with local brewers, coffee roasters and even soap makers.
40 Laystall St, Manchester M1 2JZ
Sali’s Souvlaki
Opening soon
Manchester bloody loves a bit of Greek food, and there’s another potential new gyro hero on the cards for Chorlton. Moving into the Barlow Moor Road spot sadly vacated by Scottish-Indian fusion restaurant Roti, comes Sali’s Souvlaki. Owned by Sali, who is Albanian, and Besmira who is Greek, the pair are calling this ‘the real Greek food and coffee’. Well that’s got us skewered already.
559A Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 8AN
Sweet!
Open now
Everyone loves a post-work bask on Stevenson’s Square when the sun’s out, and now you can do it with added ice cream. Sweet! is a new ice cream store selling scoops of Mrs Dowson’s Lancashire farm ice cream in flavours like cookie dough, pear drop, raspberry ripple and slated caramel. Sweet also does smoothies and milkshakes. This one will be popular for sure.
9 Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DB
Tags:
New opening
