Quirky restaurants in Manchester

The service is a little different at Sakura Japanese Restaurant. Here you order via tablet and your food is delivered by a robot waiter, offering service levels customised to your preferences. At this bright and modern establishment, you can sample limitless sushi and small plates along with colourful cocktails. The setting is vibrant with botanical details.

Inspired by the comic cafés found in Asia, Waku Waku is a distinctive monochrome venue where all of the details have been drawn by hand to create a mind-bending optical illusion. In this distinctive Chinatown eatery, diners can try out Japanese favourites like donburi, noodles, and sushi. You can also get a takeaway here.

Have a meal at Dog Bowl and have some fun too. This large venue feels cavernous and is full of colour. As well as a bar and restaurant serving sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and cocktails, there are five bowling lanes that you can book in advance. There's also an arcade full of retro consoles where you can play all your favourite old-school games.

If you can give as good as you get and enjoy unconventional dining experiences, Karen's Diner is one not to miss. The staff here are famously foul-mouthed and diners are encouraged to be just as rude back. In a 1950s-style setting, you can try burgers, wings, cocktails, and shakes; just don't expect any pleasantries whilst you do.

Lucky Mama's is bold, buzzy, and full of energy. The dining space is bright and colourful and the Italian dishes served here really stand out. Opt for a Roman-style pizza or freshly-made pasta, or get the best of both worlds – a portion of pasta served in a pizza dough bowl. This venue also does takeaways.

Ranked as Manchester's best restaurant in 2023, 20 Stories is located in Spinningfields and offers attractive city views from its 19th floor location. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure no one misses out on the vista at this modern venue. A variety of menus are on offer here, centred around British dishes. Guests can also sample wines from around the world.

It's all about fun and letting the party unfold at Crazy Pedro's. This place dishes up pizza with some unusual toppings - beef Monster Munch anyone? Added to that, there are exciting cocktails, including frozen margs by the litre. The venue is vibrant and eclectic with interesting decor all over the walls and ceiling. Outdoor seating is also available.

You're promised a fun and lively experience at colourful House of Fu. This place is known for ramen, cocktails, and karaoke, with bookable rooms where you can belt out your favourite tunes. Japanese dishes are served in the vibrant restaurant and downstairs there's a basement cocktail bar with music until late and inspiring original cocktails with Asian flavours.

Visit Alpine party palace Albert's Schloss for a fun and unusual meal. This vibrant venue has live oompah music, roaring fireplaces, fun events, and an energetic atmosphere. Added to all that, guests can try out German beers, hearty treats like fondue, schnitzel, wurst, and burgers, as well as a satisfying family-style Sunday roast accompanied by live entertainment.

It doesn't matter what the weather does, you can still enjoy al fresco food and drinks at The Lawn Club. This covered terrace has a lively atmosphere and is enhanced with lights and botanicals. Bottomless brunch and Sunday lunch are served here, plus tempting all-day options like pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. This on-trend spot also does cocktails.

Based in Spinningfields, BLVD is an Italian-inspired restaurant and late-night venue. It aims to create a multi-sensory experience through food and drinks, colourful decor, and plenty of lively entertainment. Food options include pizza, pasta, and steak, plus there's an extensive choice of drinks. This creative venue also does bottomless brunches, parties, and club nights.

The detailed and eclectic decor at Bunny Jackson's gives the venue a lot of character and make this one of Manchester's most quirky spots for drinks or food. This American dive bar is known as a vibrant party venue and also dishes up some seriously affordable food, including outrageously spicy wings and other satisfying snacks.

What sets Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread apart from the rest is that it's a restaurant dedicated to serving garlic bread. Located in the city centre, this modern walk-in only eatery has a menu that revolves around garlic bread with mouthwatering extra toppings like pesto and burrata or nduja and honey.

Six by Nico offers fine dining that doesn't intimidate. These restaurants deliver an immersive dining experience, serving themed tasting menus that change every six weeks, with matching decor to really bring the idea to life. You'll want to visit again and again with themes as diverse as Hanoi, Neverland, and the funfair.

The eye-popping pink colour scheme at Archie's really makes this place stand out from the crowd. These unique modern restaurants are made for Instagram and have quirky touches like subway carriage seating, ball pits, and sculptural decor. The menu is halal, including burgers, chicken, and fries, alongside sweet waffles and shakes.

Hachi opened in 2024 and serves pan-Asian cuisine. The setting is quirky with vibrant and colourful decor, plus robots that'll make bubble tea or candy floss for you. On the menu you'll find dumplings with assorted fillings, noodle soup, and mains like katsu curry and roast duck. This lively restaurant in Ancoats also offers a set lunch.

Although there are many restaurants in the Curry Mile, the creative and unusual dishes at Mughli Charcoal Pit make it stand out. The restaurant is spacious and bustling, decorated with neutral colours and Indian posters. Here you can try out creative dishes like Punjabi poutine, a Bombay sandwich, and Indian favourites like daal or saag aloo.

Taking inspiration from the hit TV show, Peaky Blinders Manchester is an immersive 1920s-themed dining experience. You'll see staff in costume, period decor, and fun extras like edible betting slips, with live music adding to the atmosphere even more. A variety of dining experiences are available including bottomless brunch and Sunday roasts.

What makes Three Little Words different is its commitment to gin, with spirits distilled next door. That means the place offers a diverse array of gin-based cocktails, with the options constantly changing. Food is important too, serving global small plates designed to pair well with the spirits. It's a sophisticated spot with high ceilings, exposed brickwork, and on-trend style.

You'll get a fun and immersive meal at Impossible. This venue has its own theatre for lively entertainment like cabaret shows and themed bottomless brunches. Club nights, life drawing, and live performances take place as well. The venue is eclectic, combining contemporary and rustic decor to create unique and exciting surroundings whilst serving diverse global dishes.

Peter Street Kitchen is a refined destination for a meal, serving a quirky combo of Mexican and Japanese cuisines. The restaurant is set in a grand and impressive space within Free Trade Hall. Breakfast is served here but for dinner there are set and à la carte menus that blend these two distinct culinary traditions.