The new bars and restaurants opening in Manchester in December 2024

Moving from there more hidden-away spot on Deansgate Mews, Açaí and The Tribe have a swanky new spot on Deansgate proper. They specialise in all sorts of brightly-coloured breakfast pots and smoothies, heavily featuring the Amazonian health food açaí. Great for a post-workout refuel, or a treat brunch.

One of the most anticipated new venues in Manchester, Amber’s has a radical premise: you can see some of the best DJs around right in the city centre (Circle Square to be precise), but they won’t be announced until a few days before the gigs, and tickets are just £5. Their opening night on Friday 6 December, promises to be a big one. No secrets about whose performing at this one, it’s Panorama Bar legends Prosumer and Tama Sumo.

Inside what was the much-missed Takk, ASAP Coffee are filling a gaping hole in the NQ’s speciality coffee scene. They’ve pouring brews by Blossom Coffee Roasters and their brunches deviate pleasingly from the standard fare; think caramelised crumpets, confit tomatoes and chorizo hash. Extra points for being a top-notch people-watching spot.

They’ve already got a much-loved spot in Anchorage, but now you can enjoy their Italian-inspired brunches, lunches and spritzes Quay-side too. The focaccia sandwiches full of cured meats, cheeses and pesto are especially tempting.

Taking over the old Trove site off Cutting Room Square, Bruco is serving everything from breakfast and coffee in the morning to lunch dishes and small plates in the evening. Expect eight-hour short rib lasagne, arancini, octopus with butter beans, and in your glass, a limoncello spritz or a bone-dry Gavi. A little slice of Naples in Manchester’s former ‘Little Italy’, Ancoats,

Contact Theatre’s own coffee shop, brew., is now open. It’s a handy little counter serving up fresh coffee roasted by ManCoCo, sandwiches and snacks. On Friday evenings there’s free pizza and DJs too.

With spots in Alderley Edge and Bramhall, The Bubble Room have continued their south Manchester expansion with a spot in Sale’s Stanley Square. Head here for brunch, lunch, cocktails and some pretty outrageous looking pies.

The beloved street food spot serving up Indian favourites like vada pav, masala dosa and their iconic Bombay sandwich brings its flavoursome offerings to The Trafford Centre, following in the footsteps of their branches in New Jackson and Rusholme.

Super cool Scandi burger spot Doug’s Hamburgers is led by the team behind some of your favourite local eateries like Madre and Medlock Canteen. Their take on the burger involves smashing the onion directly into the patty has been a huge sensation in their native Oslo. They now await Manchester’s verdict.

This pretty small plates restaurant in Heaton Moor has a loosely Middle Eastern menu, split evenly between fish, meat, veg and cheese. The great suburban spot to catch up over nibbles, wine and cocktails.

You may enter through a fridge door in the back of a Northern Quarter burger joint (Super Awesome Deluxe, to be precise), but Ego Death’s cocktail menu is refreshingly gimmickless – it’s just subtle takes on the classics. There’s loads of champagne too, ranging from the surprisingly affordable to the eye-wateringly fancy.

The culinary minds behind American Pies and Brewski are now set to open what they’re outrageously claiming to be ‘the world’s greatest sandwich shop’. It does sound pretty good though – sandwich fillings like mortadella and pistachio pesto and Korean BBQ are folded into stone-baked pizza bases. Innovative, convenient and, we hope, delicious.

The ubiquitous bakery brand is about to land in Prestwich, the first in Manchester north of the city centre. Known for their bakes, breads, soups and coffee, it’s set to be a hit (once they get over this initial PR gaffe).

A Cantonese-style dessert restaurant in Chinatown serving picture-perfect puds like slow-cooked whole pear, sweet tremella soup and osmanthus tofu pudding. If you like absolutely delicious gloop, you’ve got to try this one.

Describing themselves as the ‘tearaway child of Madre’, Salòn Madre will take the Mexican food that has made their KAMPUS restaurant such a hit, but instead serve it in a relaxed, late-night setting complete with pool tables and plenty of tequila, and right next door too. We like their thinking very much indeed.

Shiruku, from the people behind Ribeye steak restaurant, is a pan-Asian halal spot in New Bailey, just on the Salford side of the Irwell. It’s a seriously glam spot serving up everything from sushi to seafood to dim sum.

Smoke & Pepper is opening its new flagship spot in Manchester. They specialise in juicy burgers and fried chicken of all stripes, from Texan to Korean, and everything is Halal too. The deserts and shakes are something to behold too.

The kitchen and cocktail talent behind Trof have launched Stow, where ovens are sidelined in favour of good old fashioned open flames. Dishes are simple and tasty, like brined chicken and tarragon and whole monkfish tail. The cocktail list delivers too.

Joining the ever-burgeoning Oldham Road food scene is Takoyaki Master, having graduated from their cute little spot in the Arndale Market. There’s a solid lunch deal which heavily features their signature takoyaki – crispy, stuffed octopus balls, as well as all your favourite sides like gyoza and tempura.

A collaboration between Trof, Manchester Union Brewery, and Monton’s Wandering Palate, The Trading Route promise cold beer, hot rotisserie chicken, and a luxury larder filled with top-quality provisions. We can’t think of a better combo, and eagerly anticipate their arrival in St John’s, arguably Manchester’s tastiest new neighbourhood.

TRIBE, the new hotel at Manchester Airport has just opened, and it’s providing a distinctly more interesting than your Travelodges and Novotels. This place is full of comfortable rooms, stylish decor, coffee bars and social spaces.