Lupo

It’s not every day you find a slice of Rome tucked away on the corner of a Prestwich industrial estate. But then again, Lupo isn’t your everyday kind of place. A pasticceria, caffè and osteria rolled into one, it brings the true essence of Italian eating to a spot where you might least expect it – and does it with the kind of flair that makes even the most seasoned Italophile sit up and pay attention.

The brainchild of Nico Pasquali, Lupo is a celebration of simplicity done perfectly. Open from Wednesday through Sunday, it starts your day with handmade pastries that rival the best in the city. Think featherlight cronuts, flaky brioches, and crisp cannoli, all crafted in-house and served alongside espresso made from small-batch Arabica beans roasted in Italy and pulled with precision on a traditional manual machine. It’s coffee as it should be – short, sharp, and taken seriously.

But Lupo doesn’t stop at sweet treats. The kitchen delivers robust Roman staples like carbonara and amatriciana that are as satisfying as they are unpretentious, alongside delicate ravioli, lasagne and ever-changing specials that stay faithful to tradition without leaning on tired clichés. The pizza is equally spot-on, with properly blistered crusts and rich, full-bodied sauces that make every slice sing.

There’s a strong commitment here to the things that matter – craft, care and quality ingredients. Wines are all-natural and independently sourced, straight from small Italian producers, and the soundtrack skips the usual mandolins in favour of something a little more Lupo: always good, never obvious.

Though it’s built on the backbone of supplying Manchester’s hospitality scene with top-tier pastries and coffee, Lupo’s heart is in its cafe, where locals and food lovers from further afield come to eat, sip and stay a while. With its unfussy charm, impeccable flavours and a firm sense of identity, it might just be the most authentically Italian experience in Greater Manchester – even if it’s housed in a place you’d usually go to fix your car.