Ideal Places in Manchester for a Christmas Reunion

Just around the corner from the central library and Albert Square lies one of the best pizzerias in the city. They specialise in Neapolitan cooking, hence they use fior di latte, Napoli salami and other Neapolitan ingredients. Made out of only their very own fresh dough, their pizzas range from the very reasonably priced £7.25 Margherita to pizzas just under £10 like the parmesan, rocket and prosciutto Romagnola and also the Parmigiania, which comes with roasted aubergine and pecorino. They have a selection of white-based (non-tomato based) pizzas that are certainly worth a try, from the Porchetta to the Meridio. Anyone else getting hungry right now? The menu has a system to explain some nuances about what is in their pizzas, for example what their parmesan pecorino is as it is non-vegetarian cheese. So, Rudy’s is perfect for people who need to be careful about what they eat. Not only do these guys make their very own dough twice a day and have a selection of pizzas from the many corners of Italy, but they are also a prime spot for meet-ups and reunions. This is not only because of its central location, but also because their staff and environment is very friendly and welcoming. Just to let you know, there is another Rudy’s in Ancoats, Manchester too.

YES is the bar to take your visiting friends to that you haven’t seen in a while. From cheap pizza slices to affordable pints and fabulous cocktails, YES has food and drink very well covered. They have four floors; the renowned PINK room that provides a wonderful dance floor (tickets needed) is in-between the two bar floors. The ground floor is the main bar and entrance that also has a DJ often playing. Meanwhile the third floor is the top floor with plenty of seating inside and out. The outside has multiple heaters as well, which is handy! YES also has a basement floor that hosts special music events, from French disco to EDM. So you can either go to eat and drink in the bar areas or go and have a boogie on the dance floor! If you are asked to go, you most definitely should say YES!

If you’re looking for an award-winning eatery to meet up with family and friends, Elnecot will certainly provide that. Located in Ancoats, Elnecot has a different menu for evening, lunch, weekend brunch and Sunday roast, so expect a lot of choice and quality. You can go for whatever meal and time suits you. This British menu has the dishes in size order and is moderately priced. Some evening dishes include the Manchester egg, Welsh ragyu steak frites and Elnecot Staffordshire tacos. Whilst for lunch and brunch expect pastries, full English (vegan and veggie too) and shakshuka. Meanwhile they also provide bottomless drinks for £25 making it an amazing brunch meet-up spot. They also do a superb Sunday roast, which would be perfect for a weekend family Christmas get together. Talking about Christmas, they have a top-quality set Christmas menu if you fancy.

The New-York inspired diner is a wonderful place for a reunion if what you need is lots of beer and pool! Situated underneath Northern Quarter’s famous Affleck’s, Black Dog has a large pool hall, creating a competitive but friendly atmosphere that always gets people talking. Open till 4am most days and till 5am on Saturdays, you can expect a varied cocktail menu to keep you partying well into the morning. Black Dog will often have a DJ playing some bangers to keep you drinking those cocktails, such as the Hawaii, Kentucky or New Orleans. As you can tell, the cocktails are based on places in the USA. Happy hour is between 4pm-8pm Sunday to Friday. Meanwhile food is served from 5pm by the Arndale famous Salt and Pepper. Dishes range from salt and pepper chicken or tofu to delicious bites like salt and pepper calamari or chicken strips. This hidden American bar is a gem of a place to meet up with old friends.