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These 11 Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Manchester Will Make Your Dining Dreams Come True
Got a special night out planned in Manchester? Forget that sandwich or hastily grabbed takeaway; it’s time to dive into the world of Michelin-starred dining, Manchester style.
We’ve roamed the city, eaten more than our fair share (someone had to do it), and put together a list that’s hotter than a jalapeño on a summer’s day. From historic gems with a side of charm to sleek, modern spots that ooze sophistication, we’ve got something to tickle every fancy.
Check out these Michelin-starred restaurants to make your culinary dreams come true!
Allium at Askham Hall
Address: Askham Hall, Askham, Penrith CA10 2PF
Contact details: +44 1931 712350
Operating Hours: Mon – Sun 6:30PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
Nestled in the Cumbrian countryside, this spot relies on produce from its own kitchen gardens and farms, featuring rare and local native breeds raised for their flavour. It’s farm-to-fork dining at its finest, and the proof is on the plate.
Head chef Richard Swale crafts exquisite tasting menus that have rightfully earned Allium its Michelin star. Even the vegetarians among us will find joy in their dedicated vegetarian tasting menu.
One day, you might savour Lowther red deer with local cep, kale, and elderberry sauce; another, it could be an Askham Hall garden salad with sheep’s curd and truffle. To truly appreciate the Allium experience, consider staying overnight.
| Pro tip: Don’t miss the wine pairings – the sommelier’s choices perfectly complement the nuanced flavours of each dish. |
The Barn at Moor Hall
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Address: Prescot Rd, Aughton, Ormskirk L39 6RT
Contact details: +44 1695 572511
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
You know Moor Hall, right? Well, The Barn is its equally stellar sister, just a bit more low-key. Despite a recent head chef change, it’s kept its Michelin star and for good reason.
You might kick things off with Carlingford oysters topped with Daurenki caviar or go bold with Saddleback pig’s head and smoked Devon eel. When it comes to mains, expect gamey delights like squab pigeon or Aynhoe Estate venison.
Finish off with desserts like panna cotta with stem ginger or an extra creamy chocolate “Namelaka” with brown butter and malted barley ice cream.
And if you’re a coffee lover, you’ll be thrilled with their selection of the highest-graded coffees sourced from prestigious estates worldwide.
| Pro tip: Book a tour of the Moor Hall gardens before your meal to fully appreciate the farm-to-table journey. |
The Forest Side
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Address: Keswick Rd, Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9RN
Contact details: +44 1539 432040
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6:30PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
The Forest Side is more than just a Michelin-starred restaurant; it’s an experience deeply rooted in the Cumbrian landscape. Helmed by chef Kevin Tickle, a former L’Enclume forager, the menu is inspired by local ingredients and traditions but with intriguing Scandi and Californian twists.
Ever tried a ‘Little Critter Fritter’? It’s a quirky combo of quail, rabbit, and grey squirrel. Or maybe Herdwick hogget with a mix of garden-fresh leaves and petals is more your style.
Puddings here are equally playful – think gooseberries, loganberries, or an apple wrap with buttermilk custard and lovage ice cream. Eating at The Forest Side feels like a walk through a Cumbrian meadow, with its airy dining hall full of natural light.
| Pro tip: While you’re in the area, nip to Yellowhammer bakery and wine bar around the corner, the side project of WTLGI owner Sam Buckley. |
The Angel at Hetton
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Address: Hetton, Skipton BD23 6LT
Contact details: +44 1756 730263
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
The Angel at Hetton is one of the stars of TV’s The Trip with Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan, and it earned its Michelin star in 2021. This original gastro pub with rooms has been a foodie destination for over 30 years, housed in a building dating back to the 1400s.
Specials here change regularly, but you might find a “treasure” of seafood baked in pastry with lobster sauce or rare-breed suckling pig paired with juicy black pudding wontons. Desserts are just as tempting – think orange and thyme crème brûlée.
And the cheeseboard? Expect delights like unpasteurised gouda-style Berwick Edge or golden Harrogate Blue. The wine list is top-notch, with 60 percent being French and more than 20 options available by the glass.
For real ale enthusiasts, they offer brews from the nearby Dark Horse Brewery.
| Pro tip: The gourmet children’s menu is a refreshing change from the usual chicken and chips, making this a great spot for family dining. |
Heft
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Address: Newton-in-Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands LA11 6JH
Contact details: +44 1539 555555
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
Heft, awarded a Michelin star in 2023, is the passion project of chef Kevin Tickle and his wife Nicola. Situated in a 17th-century inn, Heft offers a homely yet exceptional dining experience.
Set lunch and dinner menus might include delights like low and slow beef shin with allium and ramson, or venison tartare dressed in its own tallow with fennel and ramson dressing.
If you’re there on a Sunday, the good-value Sunday Service menu is a treat, offering an alternative to the typical roast – perfect for special occasions. The inn also features five guest rooms and a bar stocked with quality beers and carefully picked wines.
| Pro tip: Book in advance to avoid disappointment, as this gem fills up quickly. |
Lake Road Kitchen
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Address: 13 Lake Road, Ambleside LA22 0AD
Contact details: +44 1539 432321
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
Lake Road Kitchen – this spot is a proper gem in Ambleside, now proudly holding a Michelin star. James Cross, who once wowed folks at The Samling, leads the kitchen and has taken foraging in the Lakes to new heights.
First up, imagine tucking into an aged retired Dairy Holstein steak – that’s right, we’re talking about cows that had a whole other career before landing on your plate. Or perhaps you’d prefer a whole cauliflower, steeped in pine and goat butter. Yes, it’s as intriguing as it sounds.
Expect your taste buds to go on a journey with dishes like homemade goat yoghurt and a trio of heritage carrots – pickled, roasted, and raw. When winter rolls around, brace yourself for hearty delights like Holker Estate venison, Norwegian salmon, and black winter truffles.
And the desserts? Oh, they’re something else; think baked sweet woodruff custard and sour cherry crumble. If you’re a cheese lover, you’re in for a treat with options like aged Comte and the gloriously oozy Berthaut’s Epoisse, all paired with homemade sourdough and ‘virgin’ butter.
| Pro tip: Pair your meal with wines from the Northern European region, including white Furmint, Slovenian varietals, and British sparklers, for a truly memorable dining experience. |
L’Enclume
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Address: Cavendish St, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands LA11 6PZ
Contact details: +44 1539 536362
Operating Hours: Mon – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
Set in a former 13th-century blacksmith’s workshop, this restaurant embodies the farm-to-table philosophy with ingredients sourced from Simon’s 12-acre farm, Our Farm, in the Cartmel Valley.
Head chef Paul Burgalières ensures the menu focuses on local produce, giving prominence to each ingredient. The dishes here are a celebration of the seasons, with vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers meticulously grown and harvested.
To fully immerse yourself in the L’Enclume experience, consider staying in one of their 16 rooms scattered around the historic village.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, L’Enclume is one of only eight restaurants in the UK to hold three Michelin stars, a testament to its exceptional culinary offerings.
| Pro tip: Plan a visit to Our Farm to see where the magic begins before indulging in a tasting menu that highlights the best of British produce. |
Mana
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Address: 42 Blossom St
Contact details: +44 161 392 7294
Operating Hours: Tue – Sat 6PM-11PM
Pricing: £££
Mana, the brainchild of chef patron Simon Martin, who trained at Noma in Copenhagen, is Manchester’s Michelin-starred gem. Simon’s approach at Mana is all about meticulous research and organisation, from the kitchen layout to the precision-tested menu.
You can expect a tasting menu of around 12-17 plates, each showcasing the best seasonal British produce. The dishes are designed to celebrate nature’s elemental forces, with many ingredients foraged by the chefs themselves.
| Pro tip: Be prepared for a dining adventure where you’ll likely encounter ingredients you’ve never tasted or even heard of before. |
Rogan & Co.
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Address: The Square, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands LA11 6QB
Contact details: +44 1539 535896
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
Rogan & Co., situated beside the picturesque River Eea in Cartmel, is Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred neighbourhood restaurant.
The menu here is regularly re-imagined, featuring comforting yet sophisticated dishes made with carefully sourced ingredients from trusted local growers and Simon’s own Our Farm.
You can enjoy a three-course meal, complemented by snacks to start, a pre-dessert, and petit fours to finish. The rustic charm of the 14th-century building, with its exposed beams, cosy fireplaces, and windows dating back to 1642, adds to the warm and inviting atmosphere.
| Pro tip: Take a leisurely stroll by the River Eea before dining to fully appreciate the serene setting and rustic charm of this beloved Cartmel establishment. |
Northcote
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Address: Northcote Road, Langho, Blackburn BB6 8BE
Contact details: +44 1254 240555
Operating Hours: Mon – Sun 12PM-2PM, 7PM-10PM
Pricing: £££
Northcote is where chef-patron Nigel Haworth first made his mark on contemporary British fine dining. Today, Michelin star chef and BBC2’s Great British Menu winner Lisa Goodwin-Allen leads the kitchen.
The result? A regional smorgasbord that blends classic techniques with contemporary flavours, all served up in a sumptuous setting featuring lambswool, leather, and soft lighting.
The tasting menu might include delights like aged venison with blood orange and roasted yeast or a slow-cooked pulled egg with aged sour cream. For mains, you could be treated to charred monkfish with garden parsley or wagyu oyster blade and smoked mustard.
Desserts, meanwhile, are equally show-stopping – think Eccles cake soufflé with tea ice cream or Lisa’s magical take on apple pie with caramelised milk.
There’s even a private dining room sponsored by Louis Roederer, and the cellar boasts exceptional New World wines hand-selected by Northcote co-founder and sommelier Craig Bancroft.
| Pro tip: Book the private dining room for an intimate celebration – the perfect setting for a special occasion. |
Old Stamp House
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Address: Church Street, Ambleside LA22 0BU
Contact details: +44 1539 431222
Operating Hours: Wed – Sun 12PM-2PM, 6PM-9PM
Pricing: £££
In Ambleside, you’ll find the Old Stamp House, a regional gem located in a heritage space once used by poet William Wordsworth. Helmed by local lad and former Coniston Mountain Rescuer Ryan Blackburn, this restaurant delivers impeccable regional cooking.
Expect flawless dishes where presentation feels natural, starting with chalk stream trout or pheasant-filled tortellini served with a decadent truffle jus.
Local meats like Herdwick hogget from Yew Tree Farm and pheasant from Cartmel Valley feature prominently, paired with contemporary flavours. Think cod loin with roast chicken sauce or hogget with an anchovy and mint emulsion.
The wine list explores unusual corners of Europe, perfectly complementing the rustic yet refined dishes. The simple, whitewashed space is both cost and contemporary, offering a relaxed dining atmosphere.
| Pro tip: Be sure to ask about the wine pairings – the unique selections elevate the meal to another level. |
