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Top 10 Manchester Spots for Graduation Dinner Cheers
Graduating from school is a truly magical moment. You’re finally heading out of the four walls of the classroom, ready to work in a company or even build your own indie shop from scratch—equal parts scary and exciting!
And what’s a better way to follow up getting your diploma than to have a celebration! Like good upperclassmen, we’ve set aside some time to try and find the best restaurants around Manchester for your graduation dinner.
It was a challenging endeavour for our team, but one that’s absolutely rewarding (just like school, innit?) Join us through this list and let the good times roll!
Fenix Restaurant and Bar
Media from Fenix Restaurant
Address: The Goods Yard Building, Goods Yard Street
Contact details: 0161 646 0321, [email protected]
Operating hours: Daily – 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM
Pricing: £££
Website
Menu
Wrap up your academic journey with the food of the forebears of education—the Greeks! Fenix Restaurant mixes a calming earthen design with a modern spin on Mediterranean flavours for a dining experience that’s quite unforgettable.
As for the scran, the signature beef paccheri—wide, al dente pasta elegantly served with tender short rib that’s cooked ever so slowly with soy, molasses, truffle, and smoked cheese—is THAT dish worthy enough for repeat visits.
However, if you’re still on a student budget, the Graduation special set menu is another brilliant choice. With two courses that come with a free drink, you’ll be properly sorted for the humble but meaningful celebration.
Pro tip:
The Graduation set comes at a limited-time offering, so book pronto to experience it!
Blacklock Manchester
Media from Blacklock
Address: 37 Peter Street
Contact details: 0161 414 0225, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday – 11:45 AM to 7:30 PM
Blacklock is a lovely restaurant that embodies the jolly old chophouse spirit. However, it gives an elevated dining experience through its use of top-notch, sustainable meats, as well as superb service (thanks to fair labour practices since it’s a B Corp)!
Although Blacklock’s roots are in London, its Peter Street branch is a proper gem. It’s tucked nicely into a Victorian-style brick cellar, setting a perfect tone for a classy celebration, such as one for a graduation.
The grub, of course, is a force to reckon with. Its crowd-pleaser beef dripping chips and the savoury goodness of its 55-day aged steaks make dining here definitely a good move.
Pro tip:
Blacklock adds a 12.5% service charge to your bill. However, if you feel that the service you received isn’t worth quite the steep addition, then you can request that the charge be removed prior to payment.
Browns Manchester
Media from Browns Manchester
Address: 1 York Street
Contact details: 0161 819 1055
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Sunday – 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
If you’re finishing a finance-related course, the classic interiors of an Edwardian-era bank could inspire career goals! So, we suggest considering having your celebratory dinner at Browns Manchester for this grand ambience and delicious food.
This brasserie offers a nice perk for our toga-wearing mates—a complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate the milestone. Pair it à la carte with a plate of the slow-cooked pork belly and scallops and a serving of the sticky toffee pudding for a complete fest!
Alternatively, hire the old bank manager’s room for a private dinner for up to 20 of your closest loved ones.
Pro tip:
Looking for the ladies’ loo? It’s a Browns’ well-guarded secret (sort of), since it’s in the old vault.
Zouk Tea Bar & Grill
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Address: Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Chester Street
Contact details: 0161 2331 090
Operating hours: Daily – 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Pricing: ££
Website
Menu
Move up with a meal near the beloved university area, head on to Zouk Tea Bar & Grill. We think this restaurant will also get plus points in your book if you love Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
Although the first thing most people look for is the nihari (beef or lamb stew), you must grab one of Zouk’s set menus for a change. Sample the best of what the place offers with up to three mains with appetisers, starters, and a choice of rice or naan.
There isn’t any graduation promo yet last time we asked, but from experience, there’s usually one every year—a free welcome drink for the graduate.
Pro tip:
Zouk can be the definition of “proper busy” with its numerous events, which is why it doesn’t allow any pets or service animals on the premises.
Italiana Fifty Five – Liverpool Rd
Media from Italiana Fifty Five Group
Address: 3–11 Liverpool Road
Contact details: 0161 834 9741, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Italiana Fifty Five has two spots in Manchester city centre, but we particularly love the one at Liverpool Road for its proximity to the tram stop at Deansgate. Aside from the easy travel, the authentic Italian service, from the food to the servers, is mint!
Kick off the grad season celebration simply with a plate of burrata (mozzarella ball) and tomato as the antipasti (appetiser), and then make it truly special by ordering the bucatini reggiano pasta—cooked right in front of you on a Parm cheese wheel!
Lastly, never, ever forget the timeless tiramisu and all its sweet, coffee goodness for the dessert. Oh, mama mia!
Pro tip:
There’s also an exquisite array of white, red, and rosé wines at Italiana Fifty Five. You don’t need to break the bank to sample, since they’re available by the glass!
Diecast
Media from Diecast
Address: 51 Ducie Street
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Wednesday to Friday – 4:00 PM to late
- Saturday and Sunday – 12:00 PM to late
We’re entering the budget-and-quirky territory for festivities with choosing Diecast for this list. It’s more of a beer hall than a sit-down restaurant, but the food, coupled with a lively ambience, just makes any event much better!
It has both indoor and outdoor dining areas, but we highly suggest booking one of those long tables in the garden for a fresher and more spacious space for you, your family, and/or your mates!
Set your eyes on the “Party Ex Machina” group menu at the warehouse kitchen for greasy good tater tots, tasty pizzas, and some salad. Include some ice daiquiris in the mix, and you’re all good.
Pro tip:
For a truly one-of-a-kind conclusion of this chapter, book Diecast’s karaoke den. Good drinks, good food, and heartfelt songs for the road, before real life.
Bill’s Spinningfields
Media from Bill’s
Address: 3 Hardman Square
Contact details: 020 8054 5400
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
We know our topic is about dinners, but we just can’t help but throw in a wild card—what if our readers want a brekky celebration, right? So, give Bill’s a visit at Spinningfields, especially if you love a cosy yet stylish breakfast nook.
For those who like simplicity, a five-stack of Biscoff, maple, and banana pancakes is a fantastic way to seal the deal.
Just arrive at Bill’s before 11:30 AM, else you’ll need to deal with the ‘normal’ menu—don’t worry, it’s likewise banging.
Our current favourite for all-day special moments is the 8-ounce (200-gram), 21-day aged, char-grilled rump steak.
Pro tip:
Grab the bottomless promo if you REALLY love pancakes. Just don’t blame us for the food coma.
Indique
Media from Indique Restaurant
Address: 110–112, Burton Road, West Didsbury
Contact details: 0161 438 0241, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
The best places for celebratory dinners aren’t just in the city centre. Our beloved Mancunians living in the suburbs are lucky—there’s Indique at West Didsbury, ever ready to host ordinary meals and even life’s important moments.
What caught our attention the most (aside from the low-key classy vibe) is the stunning presentation of the delicious meals at this restaurant. This further uplifts the dining experience.
As for the food, it’s a must-try for those on a vegan diet, as many dishes suit this preference. One crowd pleaser is the seitan lababdar—a signature concoction of vegan meat and dairy-free cream flavoured with bell peppers and fenugreek, served with rice.
Pro tip:
Indique has a modern take on Indian cuisine, so keep your expectations in check. Nonetheless, the food is banging!
The Refuge
Media from The Refuge
Address: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Oxford Street
Contact details: 0161 233 5151, [email protected]
Operating hours (Dining):
- Monday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 9:45 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:45 PM
The Refuge is strategically near the Palace Theatre and the O2 Ritz, making it a great venue for pre- and post-event dining. Although it makes the whole joint incredibly busy, we still consider the Refuge one of the best places for grad celebrations!
If you don’t mind the noise, the dining room is perfectly fine. However, book the private one for a more intimate celebration with 10 of your most treasured people.
Either seating you choose, we highly suggest skipping à la carte ordering the feasting menu—it has the house signatures like the hummus, salsa verde, and sumac onion small plate trio, as well as the savoury-tender slow-cooked beef cheek.
Pro tip:
Since the Refuge has its own bar, the drinks are ever-flowing. One thing, though: you’ll need to ask your server for the latest wine list, since it changes quite frequently.
Dukes 92
Media from Dukes 92
Address: 18–25 Castle Street
Contact details: 0161 839 8642, [email protected]
Operating hours (Kitchen):
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Dukes 92 is stunning. The exquisite feel of its interiors is easily one of the most memorable ones in our book, especially because of its sheer simplicity.
We recommend this restaurant for group celebrations with 15 or more guests, since there’s a specialised menu for this large number of people. All three of its subcategories feature food, drinks, and dessert, in differing configurations.
The first one, called “set party,” is complete with small plates and sweet treats (apt for sit-downs), while the “nibble” is a dessert-free choice for those who just love finger food. Last but not least, “party” heavily features burgers and lacks tapas.
Pro tip:
Dukes 92 offers a grand view of the Castlefield canals with appetising food, given you actually land one of the outdoor terrace seats. These are only available on a first-come-first-served basis, so head in early!
