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Here’s What You NEED to Know about Canal Street in Manchester and Its 10 Best Restaurants
We feel that it’s not just us who immediately think of LGBTQ+ and Pride parties when Canal Street or the Gay Village is mentioned. We’d have to admit that most of the time, our thoughts seem quite daft and don’t wander over the colourful flags.
However, it’s been refreshing to realise that aside from the advocacy for gender equality, Canal Street and its surrounding Manchester restaurants are also proof of our city’s likewise colourful history and mix of different cultures and stories.
Let’s have a look at the foodie side of Canal Street with fresh eyes!
Village Brasserie by Velvet
Media from Velvet Hotel, Bar & Restaurant
Address: Velvet Hotel, Bar & Brasserie, 2 Canal Street
Contact details: 0161 236 9003
Operating hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday – 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Monday and Tuesday – CLOSED
Pricing: ££
The Velvet Hotel’s Village Brasserie offers quick bites for its guests and visitors to the famous Gay Village. It’s best known for the stylish ambience with food that’s quite tasty, too.
Besides the ritual Sunday brunch, this restaurant keeps itself accessible for anyone’s tastes with its mains: trusty fish & chips, as well as chicken tikka skewers. There’s also the chorizo and prawns, a crowd favourite starter with small bites great for sharing.
Since it’s a brasserie, the tender steaks are also mainstays. Also have a go at getting a glass of the house’s choice of wines; they’re even partnered with a famous popstar’s wine brand.
| Pro tip: The atmosphere at the Village Brasserie can be quite slow on weekdays, so visit on the weekends and during Pride events to see the whole Velvet experience. |
VIA
Media from Via Canal Street
Address: 28-30 Canal Street
Contact details: 01612 366523, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Pricing: £
Patrons of the hit cabaret nightclub, Via, would be very familiar with the neon sign over its wall with the message, “I just wanna F****** dance…”, which is always true for this place. But if your goal is just to eat a snack and drink, then this place is still for you!
Amidst the free drag acts, revel in some delicious burgers (the chicken one is banging). Then spend the rest of the night ordering a string of shots and spirits—though mind your quid on these, since they’re not that cheap!
We hope you have a good time like we did.
| Pro tip: Via is very much alive, especially during June Pride, so time your visits accordingly. Also, don’t forget to check its socials to keep yourself updated on the scheduled performances! |
Habesha Restaurant & Bar
Media from @moon.rabbit1989
Address: 29-31 Sackville Street
Contact details: 01612287396
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday – 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing: £
Less than a metre from the intersection of Richmond and Sackville, across the neighbourhood bins and beside a kebab shop, is the unassuming entrance to Habesha Restaurant & Bar.
Habesha’s the OG of all Ethiopian spots in all of Manchester and has been run by the lovely Nebyou since 2006. Although the interiors feel like ‘06 itself, it’s surprisingly still very apt, thanks to the authentic Ethiopian styling.
Habesha’s menu is short and sweet, with all food being served with the Ethiopian staple bread, injera. The vegetarian chickpea shiro is mildly spicy and popular, but for us, the kitfo (a spicy stew of minced beef) is THE dish to get.
| Pro tip: Habesha is one proper authentic Ethiopian spot serving dishes that are unapologetically hot for the British palate, so drink your antacids before and after going here to be on the safe side. |
MAYA Manchester
Media from MAYA
Address: 40 Chorlton Street
Contact details: 0161 517 0000, [email protected], [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Thursday – 12:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 AM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Monday – CLOSED
Pricing: £
MAYA is definitely one stylish restaurant at the Village that specialises in a modern take to European cuisine. With an ethos that emphasises savouring good times and being in the moment, it’s a great place for celebrations.
This basement restaurant’s menu varies per season, but if you catch it, definitely get the duck breast dish. Otherwise, the 35-day-aged ribeye steak is always a good choice.
That said, it would be a disservice if we didn’t mention MAYA’s bar. It serves as the centrepiece of the restaurant—an elegant homage to the Art Deco era–where a handful of house special cocktails come alive.
| Pro tip: Book in advance for the Tuesday service to be eligible for MAYA’s 50% off on food promo. That’s more savings than one could ask for in exchange for a bit of bother in making a reservation! |
拿破仑 (Napoleons) Restaurant and KTV
Media from napoleons manchester
Address: 35 Bloom Street
Contact details: 01612361360
Operating hours: Daily – 8:30 AM to 3:00 AM
Pricing: £
If you want to be a part of the Gay Village’s colourful history, then Napoleons should be on top of your list of places to visit in this part of town. Established way back in 1941, it’s a gay trailblazer in a time when society was still living under different rules.
Napoleons is a Chinese restaurant, gay bar, beer garden, dance club, and karaoke bar in one. You’ll see an older crowd here; a bit subtler in style, but still as LGBTQ+ friendly as ever!
As for the food, the kitchen really has its ducks in a row. The dishes are delicious and authentic in flavour, with standouts like pork and cabbage dumplings and beef noodles.
| Pro tip: Drop by Napoleons in the evenings to see it come to life. Most of its patrons (and even the KTV) get active with drinking and dancing late at night. |
The Molly House
Media from The Molly House
Address: 26 Richmond Street
Contact details: 01612379329
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 1:00 PM to 1:30 AM
Pricing: £
A block away from iconic Canal Street lies the Molly House. It opened in 2010 and is a lovely tribute to the ‘molly’ bars of the 1800s, where queer men would secretly meet and socialise with each other, being free from the strict gender rules of society at the time.
Nowadays, this Molly House has the same spirit—its furnishings are pristine and have that classic but inviting look, great for meeting other people.
The food to satiate is buzzing, too! The Molly House mainly serves Spanish-style tapas (small plates), which are just fitting for drinking and mingling.
| Pro tip: Include the feta parcels in your tapas order. Creamy, salty cheese with honey in deep-fried filo (phyllo)—we’re in! |
Madre Manchester
Media from MADRE
Address: KAMPUS, 47 Chorlton Street
Contact details: 0161 843 8383, [email protected]
Operating hours: Daily – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing: ££
A short walk from Canal Street, over the canal itself and to the KAMPUS flats will lead you to Madre. It’s getting well known around the area for its scrumptious Mexican scran and scoops that will take you on a tipsy trip through Mexico.
The restaurant itself has a sleek look to it—with furnishings on the ‘Japandi’ side, really, but its orange walls add a ‘yellow Mexican filter’ vibe and set the festive tone.
Taco Tuesdays are the best days to go here, since Madre prices tacos, churros, and margaritas at seven quid each serving—an actual bang-for-buck experience for the otherwise pricier standard here on regular days.
| Pro tip: Madre offers a lunch combo menu, with a main, side, and drink for under £20. Grab it on regular days, Monday to Friday, from opening until 5:00 PM |
Roadie’s
Media from Roadie’s
Address: 41 Bloom Street
Contact details: 0161 236 8786
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 AM
- Friday – 4:00 PM to 4:00 AM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 4:00 AM
Pricing: £
The Canal Street area isn’t just all about bars and nightlife. Thankfully, there are also simple restaurants in this zone, like Roadie’s.
This takeaway joint serves burgers, wraps, hot dogs and sides in a style that’s a mix between American and British cuisine. Grab the Roadie’s Smash Burger or, for a change, a Roadie’s Hotdog—deliciously complete with mustard, ketchup, and caramelised onions.
We just hope that you don’t mind eating your Roadie’s meal elsewhere, since there are zero seats in this joint.
| Pro tip: If you don’t mind having fast food for lunch, get a Roadie’s lunch meal with fries and drinks included, all under 10 quid. |
Yum Cha
Media from Yum Cha
Address: KAMPUS, 24 Minshull Street
Contact details: 07990 381263
Operating hours: Daily – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: £
Yum Cha is consistently growing to be one of the best Chinese restaurant chains in the UK. With five branches, we couldn’t help but include it in our top picks around Canal Street.
Although it’s modern in looks and service, the food here is still flavourful. We’re sure you’ll also come to love it once you taste the dumplings, spring rolls, and noodles (let the siu mai and Jiaozi pot stickers take your buds on an adventure)!
The portions are also fair for the pricing, so you’ll walk out with a satisfied tummy.
| Pro tip: If you want to get the full ‘Chinese takeaway’ experience, then by all means order your Yum Cha meals using any of its partner delivery apps. |
Nell’s Kampus
Media from Nell’s Pizza
Address: KAMPUS, 20 Minshull Street
Contact details: 0161 806 0516
Operating hours: Daily – 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Pricing: £
KAMPUS, the apartment complex near Canal Street, doesn’t seem to run out of interesting foodie gems. This time, there’s Nell’s, a pizza place that’s a hit for its tasty slices, which can get as big as one’s face!
Nell’s specialises in crisp, quality New York-style pizza and swears off boring names for its creations. Its take on the pepperoni called “Do You ‘Roni, Honey?”, is quite the showstopper thanks to the fantastic mix of sweetness and spice.
And oh, the controversial Hawaiian is on the menu, too, so quirky ones can enjoy it.
| Pro tip: All Nell’s branches only accept cashless modes of payment. Double-check your wallets to make sure you’ve got your cards before leaving the house and going here. |
