Love is in the air, so if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s or Palentine’s, there’s plenty going on to get involved in – whether it’s a fancy set menu for two, bottomless cocktails, or a pop-up oyster bar in an antiques emporium (why not?), here’s where to head in Manchester on the most romantic of day in the calendar.
The Refuge does bottomless Galentine’s
Refuge is hosting its first ever bottomless Galentine’s night, bringing DJs, a 90-minute bottomless offering and a three-wave sharing menu together for a stylish evening built around the theme of ‘love in all its forms’. Expect flatbreads and hummus, beef cheek nuggets or Korean chicken with chips, plus a solid veggie option, all served in the ever-romantic Winter Garden setting.
Valentine’s at San Carlo
San Carlo is marking Valentine’s week with decadent desserts, elegant cocktails, exclusive champagne pairings and live music across its restaurants, including San Carlo Manchester, Fumo Manchester and Cicchetti Manchester, as well as the Selfridges spots at Exchange Square and Trafford. Expect red velvet and raspberry creations, gold dusted strawberry mousse hearts, signature Valentine’s cocktails and a soundtrack that moves from relaxed dinners into late night energy, all wrapped in classic Italian hospitality.
The Perfect Catch at Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish is marking Valentine’s week with The Perfect Catch, a romantic concept built around chance encounters. Guests can opt for a £30 two-course set lunch with a glass of Champagne, or go all in with the £69 Perfect Catch menu, a four-wave, seven-dish omakase experience featuring salmon ceviche, sushi and sashimi to share, spicy beef tenderloin and grilled seabass. Those choosing the Perfect Catch menu can also add a bottle of Henriot Champagne for £50.
Seasonal menu at Tender
The Stock Exchange Hotel is going all in on Valentine’s this year with a three-course seasonal menu from chef Niall Keating inside tender’s beautifully restored dining room, plus an optional overnight escape complete with Champagne, flowers and breakfast. Expect scallops, chateaubriand, decadent desserts and the chance to turn dinner into a full five-star weekend, right in the heart of the city.
Valentine’s Dinner at The Angel
Under the stewardship of head chef Daniel England, the food at The Angel has quickly become some of the most talked-about in the city. They’ve pulled together a special Valentine’s Day menu with two courses for £35 and thee for £40, featuring homely-yet-romantic cooking to be enjoyed by the fire with a loved one. Cod with clams, bavette steak, beetroot carpaccio and panna cotta with rhubarb all feature. Pick something nice from the wine list, and you’ve played a blinder.
Valentine’s cocktail tasting at Side Street
Side Street is running a two-night Valentine’s cocktail tasting that pairs five modern classics with thoughtful small plates, from a Manhattan with a savoury Gilda pintxo snack to a Pornstar Martini accompanied with chocolate truffle. It’s a relaxed alternative to your traditional set menu designed for couples or friends who want good drinks, moody lighting, and something a bit more fun and low-key.
Kissing booth at Chotto Matte
Chotto Matte is going all in on Valentine’s with limited edition cocktails, indulgent Nikkei dishes built for sharing and a playful kissing booth set up for maximum photo potential. Expect Tomahawk steak, Wagyu udon carbonara, a peach melba brioche finale and two exclusive drinks designed to be sipped slowly across the table.
Wine and small plates at Harvey Nichols
This Valentine’s Day wine and small plates evening at Harvey Nichols is built for couples who’d rather sip and snack than shout over a crowded bar. Led by a resident wine expert, the tasting explores five curated wines with matching plates, plus a welcome drink to get things started, all designed to make wine feel accessible, enjoyable, and worth talking about. Bites include crab and chilli toast and porcini mushroom arancini.
Valentine’s drag brunch
Anna Phylactic and Liquorice Black are teaming up for a high energy Valentine’s Drag Brunch filled with live performances, cheeky bingo rounds and bottomless Lovebirds cocktails at Treehouse Hotel Manchester’s Pip restaurant. Expect big laughs, great music and a feel good atmosphere perfect for dates, Galentines or anyone who wants a more fabulous kind of February weekend.
The Fitz’s Cupid Cabaret
A Cupid Cabaret brings musicians, dancers, comedians, poets and magicians together for a full variety takeover at The Fitzgerald, with dinner, drinks and a post-show party all packed into one night. With tickets starting from £8, it’s an easy pick for anyone after a Valentine’s – or pal-entine’s or gal-entine’s – event that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Valentine’s at Canto
Canto is marking Valentine’s Day with a stylish edit of specials built around sharing and bold flavours, from oysters with Bloody Mary dressing or Leche de Tigre, to tuna tataki and a 300g charred sirloin finished with manchego sauce. There’s a dreamy coffee cream and cherry meringue to end on, and the whole thing runs across 13 and 14 February.
Valentine’s at El Gato Negro
El Gato Negro is marking Valentine’s Day with a special run of sharing dishes that lean into bold Spanish flavours and indulgence fitting for the occasion, from a mixed croquettes plate with paella on the side to herb and pistachio-crusted rack of lamb and scallops with ginger and pea puree. It’s a relaxed, flavour-first take on the most romantic day of the year.
A pop-up oyster bar with Boli Knife
The pop-up oyster bar run by artisan knife maker Kip Kaboli will be popping up on Valentine’s Day, of course, at his workshop at the back of the Levenshulme Antiques Village. Being the food of love, and all that. Accompaniments on the day will be provided by Holly Pickles. You could even buy your beau an oyster shucker made on the premises as a token of your undying affection.
Habitat x Soho House presents House of Love with Children of Zeus
Habitat links up with Soho House for The House of Love, a Valentine’s special headlined by the one and only Children of Zeus alongside Tone Rarri, AK Gramm, Marcel Stevens and Faro, all set inside a playful Vegas-style wedding chapel complete with fake Elvis and free tattoos. A limited guest list is available for non-Soho House members via Habitat’s DMs. Get in there.
A-Kin Valentine’s supper club
A-Kin kicks off the year with a Valentine’s supper club built around generous shared dishes, good music, and zero pressure to be coupled up. Nice angle. With tickets available for pairs or groups of four and a DJ set from Children of Zeus mainstay Konny Kon soundtracking the night, it’s an easygoing way to celebrate with whoever you fancy sitting down to dinner with.
Romantic dinner at home with Lina Stores
Lina Stores – the chic Italian diner – is taking the pressure off Valentine’s Day with a Valentine’s experience at home for two, featuring Prosecco, Italian deli snacks, focaccia, fresh pasta and a choice of pistachio or orange and polenta cake. Available in classic or vegetarian varieties, it’s a laid-back way to do an Italian feast at home, if a table for two isn’t your thing. Order at Lina Stores Deli by Tuesday 10 February for pick-up on 13 and 14 February.
Galentine’s Pilates and brunch at San Carlo
This Galentine’s morning at San Carlo in Alderley Edge blends a strengthening mat Pilates class led by Studio 34 with a laid-back brunch, spritzes and a charm necklace pop-up. It’s a low-pressure way to celebrate friendship or solo self-care. Combining movement, making and an Italian-inspired bite to eat, it’s worth clearing your diary for.
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