How to spend 24 hours in Manchester

Start the day off in true Mancunian style with a proper morning brew and a traditional full English breakfast served in a dandyish den teeming with Northern soul! Trof’s fully loaded breakfasts are something special, featuring bacon grilled to perfection, sausages (with a recipe created exclusively for Trof by local butchers), free range Cheshire eggs, freshly baked tin loaf from their own bakery, Bury black pudding, beans, field mushrooms and crispy hash browns! There are also delicious vegetarian and vegan versions of the full English, made with delicious vegan black pudding, scrambled tofu and smashed avo alternatives.

The Smithfield Social is an impeccably cool and contemporary spot in the Northern Quarter serving brunch from 9AM-4PM. Featuring a packed menu with an eclectic range of dishes such as shakshuka, eggs benedicts, truffle and pecorino hash browns, cacio e pepe beans on toast, and a rather intriguing ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ dish! For those with a sweet tooth, there’s also refreshing smoothie bowls, matcha green tea and blueberry pancakes and an irresistible toasted vegan banana bread. Enjoy freshly squeezed juices, specialty coffee and tea – or really let your hair down with a brunch cocktail or two!

Dog Bowl is the perfect venue to head to over lunch for a spot of eating, drinking, bowling and gaming! This hip New York inspired bowling alley boasts five full length bowling lanes, NQ64 arcade games, a food menu packed with American classics, craft beers and an extensive cocktail list. Tuck into delicious comfort food mains including classic cheeseburgers served with loaded fries, fried chicken poutine, chargrilled rump steak and crispy fried corn dogs! Dog Bowl also offers a great ‘Beer Burger Bowl’ deal for just £16.50 which includes a game of bowling, selected beers and wine, plus your choice of burger and fries. And if you’re bringing the little ones along, they do a fab kid’s menu with burgers, nuggets and fries (with the choice of vegan options) for just £6 a pop!

Situated within the heart of Manchester, La Bandera is a great dinner spot to hunker down in after a day of sightseeing. This high end, multi-award winning restaurant offers authentic Spanish and Canarian fine dining – with a bit of pizzazz! Situated in a gorgeous building just off Deansgate, La Bandera boasts bright, vibrant interiors and a contemporary dining experience. The menu is purely indulgent, offering a wide range of seasonal appetisers, tapas, grilled meat and fish plates, sharing platters and paellas. Menu highlights include Galician Octopus with smoky paprika-spiced potatoes, slow cooked Iberian pig cheeks, grilled flat iron steak in Mojo Rojo sauce and crispy Patatas Bravas served with a delicious Aioli sauce. And if you’ve still got room for pudding, you’ve got to try the Churros with melted chocolate – they are Spain’s favourite dessert after all! 

Why just go for drinks when you can go for drinks, live music, late night entertainment and club vibes all in one? BLVD takes inspiration from American hotspots in New York, LA and Miami, featuring a luxe bar area with Instagrammable neon signs and talented mixologists shaking up signature tipples, cocktail trees and timeless classics. Tuck into trendy, Mediterranean-inspired food plates such as filet mignon, gyros and flatbread pizzas as well as decadent meat, seafood and vegetarian platters. And if you feel like dancing the night away, there’ll be live music from some of Manchester’s hottest DJs after hours!