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Celebrate in Style: 15 Must-Try Manchester Restaurants for Unforgettable Birthdays
Birthdays are universally cherished, though not everyone is keen on the endless planning and fuss that accompany them. With so many little details to sort out, sometimes we’d all rather spend the day at the spa!
Still, a brilliant meal with our loved ones is the ultimate cherry on top (aside from the actual cherry, naturally).
To save you the bother, we’ve set about finding the best restaurants in the city to elevate your birthday celebration.
Whether you fancy something upscale or a more relaxed atmosphere, quiet or lively, we’ve got you covered. You deserve nothing less than the very best.
Upscale and Fine Dining Birthday Venues
20 Stories
Media from 20 Stories Manchester
Address: No 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, M3 3EB
Contact details: 0161 204 3333
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Pricing: £££
20 Stories, perched atop its Spinningfields skyscraper, delivers modern British plates with panoramic city views. The aptly named rooftop spot wows with sleek European dishes, craft cocktails, and a buzzing vibe—far from your average “upstairs caff.”
From brunch to late-night cocktails, it’s a proper all-rounder. Don’t miss the 35-day-aged sirloin, coal-grilled and paired with bold Old or New World wines.
Birthdays? They’ve got you sorted—go bijou with the 60-cover private dining room (fancy cutlery and napkins included), or hire the entire gaff for 600 guests.
Just don’t blame us when your mates demand a yearly repeat.
| Pro tip: Booking for six or more? Cheekily ask if the birthday VIP nabs a complimentary meal—no guarantees, but why not try your luck? |
The Ivy – Spinningfields
Media from The Ivy Collection
Address: The Pavilion, Byrom St, M3 3HG
Contact details: 7852 617295
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 8:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 8:30 AM to 2:00 AM
Pricing: £££
Celebrate special occasions at The Ivy at Spinningfields, where Asian-inspired flair blends with European elegance. Dating to 1917, the venue feels refreshingly modern.
Dine in the buzzy brasserie or opt for private dining in three themed rooms: the opulent Dalton, vibrant Geisha, or airy Skylight—each seating 20 (50 for the Skylight if you’re all standing) for intimate gatherings. The food and wine are sublime and worth visiting any day.
Highlights include the ground-floor brasserie’s reimagined British classics, like the decadent classic shepherd’s pie. Stylish yet relaxed, it’s a spot for memorable moments (or none at all).
Book a table anyway—no special occasion needed.
| Pro tip: The Ivy exudes an elegant ambience, so dressing smartly not only suits the vibe but can also elevate your dining experience. Thank us later. |
Gaucho Manchester
Media from Gaucho Manchester
Address: 2A St Mary’s St, M3 2LB
Contact details: 0161 833 4333
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Friday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday – 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Pricing: £££
Gaucho Manchester serves up all the grandeur (think moody posh interiors, lively music, and brilliant serving staff, obvs) but none of the private dining fuss. No matter—it’s still a top shout for birthdays, thanks to its proper Argentinian steaks and killer cocktails.
Skip the faff and book a table on your day for the Long Lunch menu. Sure, the evening service is cracking, but this midday spread–piled high with their best cuts, paired with fizz or a Malbec–steals the show.
Consider it a very civilised way to celebrate (meat sweats optional, but likely).
| Pro tip: Gaucho’s dog-friendly, so bring your pooch for puppuccinos (okay, water bowls) and a prime people-watching spot. Just don’t let them nick your chimichurri. |
Fun and Lively Restaurants for Group Celebrations
Flight Club – Manchester
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Address: Ship Canal House, 98 King St, M2 4WU
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday – 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
- Wednesday and Thursday – 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 11:30 PM to 2:00 AM
Pricing: ££
Forget the other “club” we’re not meant to discuss (ahem, Mr. Durden) because Manchester’s Flight Club is all about darts, not drama. With 14 oches (posh speak for dart lanes), this buzzy sports bar nails the “laughs over lads’ brawls” vibe.
Ideal for birthdays craving a lively, competitive buzz—though privacy’s limited, your mates’ banter more than compensates.
Fuel up on no-nonsense bar grub: Flight Club’s signature South Korean pork belly bites for sharing or a proper burger if you’re peckish. Just don’t blame us when your aim’s off after a few pints of craft IPA!
Oh, and leave the cash at home, as payment’s strictly card-only.
| Pro tip: Fancy an after-4pm slot? Mondays/Tuesdays need four per group; the rest of the week demands six. Don’t get caught short—nobody wants to beg randoms to make up the numbers. |
BLVD Manchester
Media from BLVD MCR
Address: The Avenue North, Spinningfields, M3 3BZ
Contact details: 0161 425 9180
Operating hours:
- Thursday – 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday – 3:00 PM to 4:00 AM
- Saturday – 1:00 PM to 4:00 AM
- Sunday – 4:00 PM to 4:00 AM
- Monday to Wednesday – CLOSED
Pricing: ££
BLVD is Spinningfields’ current golden child for partying night owls and birthday celebrants—just leave the actual ‘birthday suit’ at home unless you fancy a night in the nick.
Its vibe? New York-style neon-lit chaos, banging DJ sets, and a snug private area with booths for hire (ideal when your crew needs a breather from the dance floor).
The grub’s decent—lasagna is our fave to soak up the Prosecco. Yet let’s be real: you’re here for the Insta-worthy walls and cocktails, not Michelin stars.
Birthdays here mean smoke machines and confetti, not quiet dinners—though we can’t promise you’ll remember all the details come morning.
| Pro tip: Frugal revellers, take note: Saturdays = brunch with bottomless drinks. Just try not to face-plant your plate by sunset. |
Revolución de Cuba
Media from Revolucion de Cuba Manchester
Address: 11 Peter St, Deansgate, M2 5QR
Contact details: 0161 826 8266
Operating hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday- 11:30 AM to 2:00 AM
- Wednesday to Friday – 11:30 AM to 3:00 AM
- Saturday – 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM
Pricing: ££
A night at Revolución de Cuba offers a taste of Havana without the pricey flight—just throw on your glitziest outfit, slip into dancing shoes, and head to Deansgate.
The vibrant atmosphere of this restaurant and bar channels Cuba’s spirited culture, complete with freedom-fuelled energy, flavour-packed tapas, and rum-heavy cocktails (don’t miss the simple yet beloved signature Cuba Libre).
We hope you heed the advice for dancing shoes, because you’ll definitely need them on the dance floor!
Groups should opt for a Fiesta menu—pre-selected tapas let you focus on dancing, cocktails, and what might just be your best night out yet. Until the next one, anyway.
| Pro tip: Revolución de Cuba runs cracking deals year-round like Taco Tuesday bargains and daily Happy Hours. The friendly staff are clued up on all promos, but check its website or socials beforehand to spot seasonal offers (like bottomless brunches or live salsa nights). |
Restaurants with Unique Dining Experiences
Menagerie
Media from @menagerie_restaurant
Address: New Bailey, Ground One, New Bailey St, Salford M3 5JL
Contact details: 0161 832 3818
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM
Pricing: £££
Elevate your birthday bash by booking Manchester’s Menagerie—a restaurant dripping in opulent gold accents, sleek contemporary furnishings, and Instagram-worthy glamour.
This spot’s visual feast complements its menu, though planning is essential: reservations require at least 48 hours’ notice (it’s perennially popular), and celebrations are capped at one to two hours.
While the food quality matches the decadent setting with set plates you’ll need to pre-order, the menu’s limited scope might underwhelm those craving diverse options. However, the drinks are always a saving grace; give the Rosé All Day a try.
Prioritise style and spectacle here, with the buzz of a packed, glittering dining room as your backdrop.
| Pro tip: Menagerie’s true magic lies in its live entertainment—expect anything from fire dancers to saxophonists weaving between tables. For the full experience, book a table during one of the themed nights (check its events calendar) and arrive early to snag prime seats. |
Vermilion
Media from Vermillion
Address: Lord N St, Hulme Hall Ln, M40 8AD
Contact details: Restaurant – 0161 202 0055, Events – 0161 202 8747
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Monday – CLOSED
Pricing: £££
Mark the end of your annual trip around the sun with an extravagant journey through Asian art and cuisine at Vermillion.
This renowned restaurant and events space is unforgettable, with impeccable, timelessly elegant interiors and a menu of Asian fusion dishes that dazzle as much as the decor.
Vermillion’s team meticulously tailors celebrations, whether intimate or grand—just allow ample planning time. Don’t skip the vibrant rainbow dumplings (said to bring luck) or the show-stopping samosas.
While the venue’s wedding pedigree speaks volumes, it’s equally ideal for birthdays craving sophistication with a side of theatrical flair.
| Pro tip: Head downstairs to Vermillion’s Cinnabar—a moody, industrial-chic bar where craft cocktails meet pulsating playlists. It’s perfect for low-key birthdays. |
Tattu – Manchester
Media from Tattu Restaurant
Address: 3 Hardman Square, Gartside St, Spinningfields, M3 3EB
Contact details: 0161 819 2060
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Pricing: £££
Celebrate your birthday beneath Tattu’s dramatic cherry blossom canopy in Spinningfields (do note that each of Tattu’s branches has a tree of its own)—a stroke of luck paired with indulgent Chinese-inspired dishes and cocktails.
Opt for à la carte dining for intimate celebrations, but if you’re splashing out, the Emperor’s Choice sharing menu dazzles.
The showstopper? Emperor’s Duck Breast, where caramelised crispness meets a succulent five-spice glaze.
Don’t overlook Tattu’s legendary cocktails, either: annual zodiac-themed specials sit alongside permanent fixtures like the smoky oolong old fashioned. It’s a feast for the senses, blending theatre with flavour.
| Pro tip: However full you are, save room for pudding. Tattu’s four dessert options may seem limited, but each is a triumph worth savouring. |
Group-Friendly Restaurants for Casual Birthdays
Thaikun – Manchester Spinningfields
Media from Thaikun Thai Restaurant
Address: The Avenue, Spinningfields, M3 3HF
Contact details: 0161 414 0264
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: ££
For a birthday bash with mates that’s all about bold flavours, Thaikun’s Spinningfields branch delivers. This vibrant spot mimics a bustling Bangkok street-food joint (complete with a retro tuk-tuk out front) plonked unapologetically in modern Manchester.
The Pinto Feast is the move for groups: share garlic-pepper stir-fry (beef or chicken), aromatic curries, noodles, and jasmine rice—essentially a Thai culinary road trip on one table. Portions are generous, the vibe is chaotically fun, and the £30 price tag feels like a steal.
Just brace for noise levels that’ll have you shouting “Pad Thai!” like a battle cry.
| Pro tip: Yes, the icy Chang beers are essential, but do not naff off without ordering the sticky mango rice. It’s a masterclass in balance with sweet coconut cream, tart mango, and glutinous rice that’s oddly moreish. If you’re stuffed, ask for it to-go (they’ll oblige)! |
Giovanni’s (formerly Don Giovanni)
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Address: 1 Peter House, Oxford St, M1 5AN
Contact details: 0161 228 2482
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: ££
If you’re Manchester-born with Italian roots, chances are you’ve grabbed a meal at Don Giovanni—an institution for 40-odd years. But its recent glow-up (now called Giovanni’s) demands a revisit.
Gather the famiglia and dive into revamped retro-chic interiors that nod to its heritage without feeling stuck in the 80s, and don’t miss the antipasti platter (meat or veg), even though mains are where Giovanni’s shines.
Might we suggest swerving the mushroom risotto cliché? The orecchiette arrabiata [sic], a dish so cheek-hollowing spicy and smoky with bits of kalamata olive bread, is the sleeper hit.
Add a bottle of the best house wine and it’s all bellissimo for carb-loaded celebrations.
| Pro tip: While most Italian spots push tiramisu as the pudding pinnacle, panna cotta reigns supreme at Giovanni’s. Will a couple of sweet “por favor” pleas to the waiter earn the birthday celebrant an extra plate? Worth a try for anything this good. |
Freight Island
Media from Freight Island
Address: 11 Baring St, M1 2PZ
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Thursday – 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday – 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Pricing: £
Combine your Manchester music tour and birthday celebrations by catching a live gig at Depot Mayfield and feasting at Freight Island. This sprawling hub is a foodie’s playground—buzzing with street food stalls, craft beer bars, and dessert dens all under one (very industrial-chic) roof.
For groups, Pattersons American-style fried snack shack delivers bang for your buck. Feast over colossal portions of crispy, buttermilk-coated chicken with skin so crunchy you’ll hear it over the bass lines.
Just brace for saucy fingers and post-meal food comas; dancing is optional but highly recommended.
| Pro tip: For a semi-private dining spot that doesn’t require booking out the entire venue, nab the Viewing Gallery. It’s a space enough for around 30 of your closest mates—just make sure everyone’s 25 and above for the alcohol. |
Restaurants with Private Dining and Special Packages
Australasia
Media from Australasia
Address: 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, M3 3AP
Contact details: 0161 831 0288
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing: £££
Australasia flips the “land down under” concept with its striking glass pyramid entrance leading to a subterranean dining den.
But the real twist? Its menu isn’t strictly Aussie but more refined Asian fusion, like miso-glazed black cod so buttery it dissolves on the tongue.
The venue’s versatility shines for celebrations: configure bespoke layouts, hire the heated terrace at its sister restaurant Sunset (more on that later), or book the cocktail bar for private fizz-fuelled toasts.
Groups can opt for set menus, though the à la carte’s theatrics (Peking duck California roll, anyone?) are worth the splurge.
A chameleon of chic, it’s equal parts restaurant and event space.
| Pro tip: Bag a table beside the kitchen’s floor-to-ceiling windows—front-row seats to the chefs’ precision knife skills and stove theatrics. |
Peter Street Kitchen
Media from @peterstreetkitchen
Address: Free Trade Hall, Peter St, M2 5GP
Contact details: 0161 835 8941
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 4:00 PM to 10:45 PM
- Sunday and Monday – CLOSED
Pricing: £££
Tucked beneath the iconic Free Trade Hall and towered with Grecian-inspired arches, Peter Street Kitchen blends Japanese precision with Mexican flair. Celebrate amid sleek marble tables, smoky hibachi grills, and a birthday-worthy fusion menu.
Opt for the theatrical hibachi experience (ideal for groups) or splurge on omakase-style tasting menus featuring showstoppers like habanero-glazed matchstick chicken and passion fruit crème brûlée.
Good things can happen within this moody, date-night-worthy den that somehow makes sushi and tacos feel like natural bedfellows. Just don’t wear white, else you’ll somewhat blend with the walls.
| Pro tip: Post-meal, slide into Peter Street Kitchen’s Rikyū Bar – a sultry, low-lit spot for inventive cocktails (the shiso-infused gin sour is a revelation) and bar bites like truffle-edged tuna tostadas. |
Sunset by Australasia
Media from Sunset by Australasia
Address: 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, M3 3AP
Contact details: 0161 831 0288
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Hidden behind The Avenue building in Spinningfields is previous entry Australasia’s answer to diners looking for an idyllic late afternoon dining experience, affectionately named “Sunset”.
Much like its counterpart from down under the building basement, Sunset serves a delightful range of Pan-Asian dishes, but with the bonus of natural sunshine lighting your table!
Enjoy a casual meal on your special day with a hearty “ramen” bowl—a nod to the tradition of long life through noodles (though, for the discerning, note that the dish is actually udon).
Alternatively, gather with friends at the bar for drinks and canapés. Its inviting ambience ensures a memorable meal, whether you opt for a simple gathering or a glamorous one.
| Pro tip: Dress to impress. Sunset’s golden-hour nook is THE spot for influencer-level snaps! |
