The best restaurants in Salford and Media City

The Black Friar is a story of rags to riches, having lain empty for decades before it was lovingly restored into one of the loveliest pubs around. A pub for all seasons, you can get a gigantic sharing pie or a fancy three-course dinner in front of the open fire in the winter, or sit outside in the absolutely glorious beer garden and soak up some rays with a bottle of Riesling on the table in an ice bucket in the summer. They even turn the garden into a winter wonderland for Christmas. Oh, and it’s the toast of national critics too.

Located, like all good things are, across the road from Strangeways Prison (looking at you Hidden, The White Hotel, Private White V.C et al). But take a walk up Great Ducie Street in pursuit of culinary delights rather than hedonistic or sartorial ones, and you’ll find Happy Valley. The inside is delightfully kitsch – the walls are covered in cheerfully cartoonish murals, and the food is just as bold and homely. Some dishes are purely Cantonese, while others are decidedly ‘fusion’, like cheese and kimchi noodle soup, beef in satay sauce with macaroni, and baked cheese chips, from the new school Hong Kong cafe style. With a cluster of pavement tables and price points that mean you can try lots of different dishes, you can happily spend an afternoon at Happy Valley and go exploring without leaving your seat.

Nell’s Pizza, known for its 22-inch New York-style pizzas, now has a water-side presence at Media City. The casual, orange-hued spot features private karaoke booths, shuffleboard tables, and a large outdoor terrace. Head here to enjoy their vast, crisp pizzas with a distinct party vibe in the form of ice cream sandwiches and frozen margaritas.

In the industrial chic surroundings of Corland at Collier’s Yard, just over the river in Salford, Kallos do a refined line in Greek classics, given a pleasingly modern twist and served in ‘meze’ style. Think glorious stifado with pickles and a whole menu section of flatbreads, including a take on the classic spanakopita. There’s even an extensive list of exquisite tinned fish like squid and scallops, served with all the relevant breads and dips. Perfect for spending your Friday nights and Saturday afternoons sipping, chatting and snacking, Aegean-style, or if you fancy brunch they’ve got you covered there too.

Salford Quays has not always been a foodie spot – more corporate chains than street food and indies. KargoMKT have changed that though, meaning you can punctuate your trip to The Lowry or Imperial War Museum North with a stop at Ad Maiora for an Italian sub, Baity for authentic Palestinian cuisine, Jerk Junction’s Caribbean boxes, House of Habesha and loads more, making a day trip to the Quays an exponentially more delicious affair.

All mid-century decor, teak panelling and indoor street lamps, Salford’s Sakura is definitely the most stylish cha chaan teng – or Hong Kong style greasy spoon – we’ve come across. Though true cha chaan teng goers will tell you that the swankiness of a Hong Kong cafe has no bearing whatsoever on the quality of its offering. That said, Sakura absolutely measures up on both the aesthetic and culinary fronts. There’s the ubiquitous French toast complete with perfect tiny squares of melting butter and the mapo tofu comes highly recommended too. They also serve bowls of spicy instant noodles, but not like you’ve ever experienced before. It’s no surprise that locals and food critics alike flock to this place.

Starting life in Chester, with a gorgeous little spot tucked right by the historic Roman walls, Porta now have three equally pretty spots this side of the M56. Salford’s, in historic Bexley Square, is arguably the prettiest. Subtly lit, clad in dark wood, they’ve created the ideal ambience for steadily making your way through their thoughtful tapas menu. People will tell you to try the tenderstem broccoli with romesco, which you definitely should, but don’t skip the zamorano cheese with quince either or whatever the croquettes of the day are – they’re always excellent. With great, regularly changing specials, Porta is reliably excellent, and the service is exceptional.

This Salford-based Italian restaurant has made quite the name for itself in the time since it arrived on Chapel Street. Owned by much-loved restaurateur Beppe, Vero Moderno offers a different approach to Italian cuisine that never strays too far from its roots. The restaurant has been described as ‘one of the top Italian restaurants in the UK’ by the Sunday Times, and it’s not hard to see why, especially if you’ve ever had the pleasure of tucking into taglierini del pescatore – fresh egg pasta with mussel meatballs, cod and baby squid. It’s also a hit with Manchester’s footie squads, too, with a whole host of them popping in to show their love for Beppe and the team.

This Chapel Street Persian cafe is far more than just a casual lunch spot, it’s a bit of a movement. In their words it’s a ‘a vibrant gathering spot where neighbours come together to connect, share stories, and forge lasting friendships’. In our words, it’s a picturesque meeting place serving traditional Persian breakfasts, lunches and desserts. It’s also a place where you can go to experience dance, poetry and other cultural events. Expect to leave emanating a warm fuzzy glow.