Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge St, M3 3BZ

Since opening to much fanfare in 2013, Manchester House has gone from strength to strength. Chef Patron Aiden Byrne’s magical marriage of elegant traditionalism and informal dining continues to wow Manchester’s most exacting palates. To elevate just one dish seems mean to Byrne’s menu, but, if we must, his scrumptious squab pigeon is the stuff of epicurean dreams. We want to live (and die) at this House.

Booking Details Here: Manchester House

Moose Coffee, 20 York Street, M2 3BB

Once Manchester’s best-kept breakfast/brunch secret, the chic Moose Coffee’s cat is now well and truly out of the bag (that’s not a literal cat – that’s not on the menu). Not to worry. Keep cool. Make like Ryan Gosling and wait for a table to become available. It’s worth the wait. The New York Moose (a classic Eggs Benedict) is an all-day delight, while the meat fest Lone Star Moose is the stuff of hungover dreams.

Booking Details Here:Mooose Coffee

The French At Midland, Peter Street, M60 2DS

Simon Rogan’s The French continues to vie with Manchester House for title of Northern powerhouse. We’re just thankful both exist. The art deco-inspired dining room at The French is certainly a place to see and be seen. The food (modern British, since you ask), with Rogan’s admirable reliance on local and garden-led produce, pays testament to a chef at the top of his game. Why neither The French nor Manchester House have secured that coveted tubby white-tired star is frankly beyond us.

Booking Details Here:The French

Volta, 167 Burton Rd, M20 2LN

Manchester clubbing’s loss is a gain for the city’s diners. Owned by Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford, the irrepressible pair (aka The Unabombers) behind much-missed Manc clubbing institution, The Electric Chair, Volta is a gem in south of the city, West Didsbury. The atmosphere is suitably cool, but never off-puttingly so, and the food is majestic, in particular the small plates inspired by the duo’s global DJing jaunts and Tuesday’s (ok, Sunday’s) Rare Breed Roasts. If you needed any more proof about Volta’s credentials, chef Alex Shaw recently pipped the aforementioned Byrne to chef of the year at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival awards.

Booking Details Here:Volta Foodand Drink

Yuzu, 39 Faulkner Street, M1 4EE

Small, but perfectly formed, Yuzu is a slice of Japanese sanity among the cacophony of Manchester’s marvellous Chinatown (“Forget it, Jake…”). If the grilled sea bream is on the specials board order immediately. Jay Rayner raved about the place a couple of years ago and booking is now advised. But you can do organised, yeah?

Booking Details Here:Yuzu Manchester

Almost Famous, 100-102 High St, M4 1HP

Forget the self-deprecating name, Almost Famous is famous. The Mancunian burger boom was spearheaded by AF (it has two restaurants in the city) and it remains at the cutting edge of meat heaven. Its new menu features four additions (we like the sound of Good Morning America – a fry up in a bun), but we’ll always have a soft spot (and a bulging belly) for the Triple Nom, a double cheeseburger with pulled pork, coleslaw and redneck sauce.

Booking Details Here:Almost Famous Burgers

Mr Thomas’s Chop House, 52 Cross Street, M2 7AR

Shiny new modern things are good, but sometimes you want the reassuring embrace of a seasoned veteran. And restaurants don’t get more reassuring – or seasoned – than Mr Thomas’s Chop House. An iconic, in every sense of the word, restaurant, it opened in 1870 and hasn’t looked back since. The building oozes Victorian character (it’s Grade II listed) and the food packs an equally comforting ‘Best of British’ punch. Its corned beef hash (made to a secret recipe) is rightly feted.

Booking Details Here:Toms Chop House

La Bandera, 2 Ridgefield, M2 6EQ

Manchester has never been short of flashy Spaniards, and there’s plenty of flair at La Bandera, the best of a host of high-end Spanish eateries to have popped up all over Manchester recently. Granted, it’s pricier than some, but this is innovative Iberian cuisine. Indulgent, seasonal food, an impressive tasting menu and a delightfully extensive gin selection make this an essential destination.

Booking Details Here:La Andera

Australasia, 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3AP

Manchester’s food industry is rightly proud of the fact that you can eat your way around the world without leaving the M postcode. Pan-Asian’s side of the bargain is upheld by the stunning Australasia in Spinningfields. It’s definitely showy – just check out that prism-shaped entrance that literally takes you down under – but the food holds its own. The menu is a hit – in particular the irresistible scallops with caramel pork and apple. From the robata grill (a traditional Japanese method of cooking over charcoal) we seriously recommend the Szechuan salt and pepper beef skewers. Seriously recommend. Ok?

Booking Details Here:Australasia UK

Rosso, 43 Spring Gardens, M2 2BG

Get your gladrags on, we’re going celeb spotting. Ok, Rosso is co-owned by former United great Rio Ferdinand and, as such, the Manc A-list quotient is high. But if catching a glimpse of a Corrie actress is your sole motivation for a night out then, well, try therapy. Rosso is worth a visit for the lip-smacking modern Italian food alone. And the stylish interior. But mostly for the food – the Veal Milanese in particular.

Booking Details Here:Rosso Restaurants

Greens, 41-43 Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury, M20 2NT

One of Manchester’s most notorious sons warbled about meat being murder, so it would be remiss of us to exclude a rabbit food (JOKE!) establishment. To be fair, as we must, Greens would make our shortlist anyway. Vegetarian food or not, this West Didsbury institution (nearly three decades of feedin’) is always worth checking out. Owned by TV chef and bloody nice bloke Simon Rimmer, Greens makes a virtue of its magpie cuisine, unapologetically borrowing from flavoursome cooking all over the world. Certainly one for those men wishing to display a sensitive side.

Booking Details Here:Greens Didsbury

Mughli, 30 Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, M14 5TQ

Fancy twists on ye olde curry house are all well and good – and when they’re as good as Cheadle’s The Tiffin Room they’re double, double good (thanks, Shaun William Ryder), but you still can’t beat a stroll down Rusholme’s Curry Mile. Mughli is the best of the bunch, combining innovative flavours, and a move towards street food, with old-fashioned Indian comfort. Its slow cooked spice stews are an understandable favourite.

Booking Details Here:Mughli