Manchester’s best pre-theatre dining offers

With stunning views of the skyline from high above Manchester. 20 Stories is all about going (literally) above and beyond. At £37.50 per head for three courses, it’s a little bit on the more extravagant end of our pre-theatre round up, but the menu full of seared salmon, flat iron steaks and pea and wild mushroom fricassee wholly lives up to the price tag. If you’re on a mission to impress, Spinningfields’ 20 Stories is surely considered some of the best seats in the house. Make sure to book in between 5.30 and 6.30pm Monday to Thursday to take advantage.

Giovanni’s has quietly, consistently, been one of the best Italian restaurants in Manchester for years. Located at the St Peter’s Square end of Oxford Road, it’s also really handy for Manchester’s two main theatres, the Palace Theatre and the Opera House. Their pre-theatre offer runs every day from 12-2pm and 3-6pm, with two courses for £25 and three coming in at £28. Starters include calamari and bruschetta, and the mains features similarly well-executed classics ragu, chicken parmigiana and steak & fries. Fancy a panna cotta, tiramisu or scoop of gelato to finish off your meal? It’d be rude not to.

Another staple of the city centre food scene, La Bandera serves classic tapas in elegant surroundings, which also happen to be within strolling distance of all the major theatres. The pre-theatre deal runs from Thursday to Sunday, from 4-7pm and for £42 two of you can enjoy six tapas to share and a glass of wine each, and for £45 you can swap the tapas for paella for two. We couldn’t think of a better way to begin an evening of high culture (or low culture even, we love a panto), than with a gorgeous glass of red and some decadent-yet-comforting Spanish cooking.  

Gordon Ramsay’s high-glam Asian restaurant is located just minutes walk from The Opera House, which is why they’ve launched their pre-theatre menu, in conjunction with 13 Going on 30 The Musical. You can enjoy two courses for £35 or three for £45 every Tuesday to Thursday, between 5pm and 7pm. There’s even a signature rum-based cocktail – the Thirty Flirty and Thriving – available for a limited time, to set the tone for the evening ahead.

Hawksmoor’s theatre menu hits all the criteria you could possibly be looking for for your pre-show sustenance. Every Monday to Saturday from 4.30-5.45pm you can enjoy one course for £19, two courses for £23 or three for £26, and the options are suitably traditional and refined. To start there’s dishes like smoked mackerel salad and or a classic Caesar, and mains include a burger, hake and rump steak. Desserts are old-school, and indulgent as anything. Considering Hawksmoor is one of the most opulent dining spots in the city, this is a seriously good dining option, whether you’re going to the theatre or not.

Gaucho have been doing glamorous city centre dining longer than most, so it’s no surprise they offer an excellent pre-theatre and post-theatre menu. Two courses are £22.50, and three are £26. Starters include an empanada and beef tartare taco, while the main course is mainly steaks, with a couple of Mediterranean-influenced pasta and fish dishes too. With a pristine dining room complete with majestic chandeliers and crisp white linen, it’s a fitting spot to kick off or conclude a theatrical evening.

Undoubtedly one of the glitziest spots in town, the baroque surroundings of The Refuge on Oxford Road set the scene perfectly for some pre-theatre eats. From Monday to Saturday between 1pm-4pm and 5-6.30pm, you can enjoy an array of tempting small plates to share between two like mojo rojo pork belly and charred tenderstem broccoli, with the option to add a glass of fizz for £5 each. It’s just £30 a head, and there’s a vegan option too, featuring heritage carrots and potato scallops. For a relaxed dining experience that has more than a hint of glamour and just a touch of hedonism, The Refuge is your pre-show spot. 

With a prime position at the St Peter’s Square end of Oxford Road, San Carlo Fumo is a bit of a no-brainer for Italian pre-theatre dining. Two courses are £22.95 and three are £28.95 on weekdays from 4pm-7pm. The menu is full of refined Italian classics like antipasti, pizzas, pastas, fish and steak dishes and classic desserts, with just the right amount of glamour before you take in your show.

Borrowing the name from one of Istanbul’s heritage museums – a vast cultural gem of porcelain, fabrics, weapons, manuscripts and more dating back hundreds of years, and then some – you would expect Topkapi Palace to be one of the most authentic Turkish restaurants in Manchester, and you’d be correct. Established in 1979 and occupying an enviable spot on Deansgate, this place definitely lives up to its moniker – expect to dive into mezze sharing plates, tender chargrilled kebabs and veggie dishes like moussaka. Their pre-theatre deal includes starter, mains and dessert for £22.95 and is available between 4-8pm.