Eating out
What's the flavour of Manchester? It's a leisurely brunch with friends and the newspapers in gayest Canal Street. It's dressing up for a chic evening at a glittering modern restaurant, or chowing down with a healthy bowl of Japanese Noodles in the famous China Town. When the world came to Manchester, it brought it food with it. The result? You're simply spoilt for choice.
Yang Sing
Reckoned by some critics to be the best Chinese restaurant in Europe, Yang Sing is conveniently close to the gay village and offers a memorable, and not necessarily budget-breaking, Cantonese banquet. 34 Princess Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 236 2200.
Simply Heathcote's
Manchester outpost of renowned chef Paul Heathcote, serving excellent modern British cuisine. The 'Simply' is only relative: it may be simpler than Heathcote's Michelin-starred flagship restaurant but this is still a fine restaurant. Pre-theatre and lunch deals cut the cost of eating here. Jackson Row, Deansgate. Tel: +44 (0)161 835 3536.
Le Mont
Classy modern French restaurant atop the eye-catching Urbis museum offering wonderful views and excellent - if expensive - cooking. This is a place for that special, last night of the vacation treat. Levels 5&6, Urbis, Cathedral Gardens. Tel: +44 (0)161 605 8283.
Harvey Nichols
One of the places to see and be seen in Manchester, part of the luxury department store but also open in the evenings. The bar area offers the more moderately priced and simpler dishes while the restaurant serves sophisticated modern European fare and terrific views over the city. 2nd Floor Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie, 21 New Cathedral Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 828 8898.
Le Petit Blanc
Excellent brasserie guided by the genius of Raymond Blanc, renowned chef/proprietor of Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, one of Britain's finest restaurants. Here, the emphasis is on modern French cuisine in stylish surroundings. Not cheap, but compared with the legendary Manoir, it's a steal. 55 King Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 832 1000.
Stock
Classy, classic Italian restaurant in the upscale, historic surroundings of Manchester's former stock exchange. Sophisticated and fairly expensive, it's cheaper at lunchtime when there are good fixed-price menus. There are also frequent jazz evenings. 4 Norfolk Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 839 6644.
Establishment
Upscale newcomer that's striving for excellence. The food is classic and modern French and British, the surroundings a mix of groovily modern and grandly traditional - it's another former banking hall converted. One to watch. 43-45 Spring Gardens. Tel: +44 (0)161 839 6300.
Koh Samui
Gay-owned and very gay-popular Thai restaurant close to the village, with a huge and interesting menu including lots of seafood dishes. Booking is recommended, particularly at weekends when it is very busy here. 16 Princess Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 237 9511.
Samsi
Situated on the periphery of the Gay Village, Samsi provides a funky atmospheric Japanese restaurant with sunken tables and a vast menu of excellent Japanese cuisine, perfect for a night out with friends. 36 Whitworth Street, Tel: +44 (0)161 279 0022.
Dimitris
Another popular choice with the community, this is a Greek restaurant in the glazed arcade of a former market hall. A good place to eat a variety of meze dishes. 1 Campfield Arcade, Deansgate. Tel: +44 (0)161 832 4330.
Taurus
With everything from dim sum to share to fillet steak Rossini or Cajun salmon, the gay village's most community-minded pub is also an excellent option for a meal. Prices are very reasonable, too. On Sundays there's a traditional English roast dinner. 1 Canal Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 236 5707.
Obsidian
New kid on the block Obsidian is a welcome addition to Manchester's bustling cuisine scene. Situated in the basement of Sir Cliff Richard owned Arora Hotel, Obsidian boasts slick surrounds which are complemented by an innovative and reasonably priced menu and a cocktail bar that mixes up Cosmos and Mojitos to die for. All this and not a Cliff Richard record in sight. A real gem. The Basement at The Arora Hotel, Princess Street.
Velvet
Another Canal Street hot spot, Velvet dishes up European/Asian fusion cuisine to its discerning, trendy customers. And what's more, there’s a fish tank embedded in the stairs and TVs playing the shopping channel in the toilets! 2 Canal Street. Tel: +44 (0)161 236 9003.