Categories > Guides and Tips
Top 10 Restaurants in Rochdale YOU Wouldn’t Want to Miss!
Rochdale is a Mancunian borough north of the city centre. With all of its great industrial and commercial history, it’s still surprising how this area kept its traditional charm and strong local community.
We’re chuffed that our team zeroed in on this area while brainstorming on our next food crawl—thanks to one of our writers having grown up there. We didn’t even know how great value for money most of the restaurants in Rochdale had!
So, here’s our list of the standout places to get your grub—let’s forget the NQ or Deansgate for a bit. We promise, it’s worth it.
La Scala
Media from La Scala Italian Restaurant
Address: 370 Oldham Rd
Contact details: 01706638635, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Monday – CLOSED
Pricing: ££
You don’t need to bring a ladder to eat at La Scala (Italian speakers should get this). We think we finally understand the name—it somehow elevates the dining experience in Rochdale for its great food.
This humble Rochdale restaurant has been serving authentic Italian grub for over 10 years now, thanks to its devoted team of Italian-born chefs and ingredients imported from Italy itself.
A good go-to meal here is the fillet. You can get it a la Rossini (with paté and a Madeira wine-based sauce) or our favourite, the grand a la Pavarotti (with a mushroom cream sauce and prawns on top).
| Pro tip: La Scala gets proper busy, especially on the weekends. Definitely book your table instead of pushing your luck walking in. |
The Royal Toby Restaurant
Media from @theroyaltoby
Address: The Royal Toby Hotel, Manchester Road, Castleton
Contact details: 01706 861861
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Pricing: ££
The Royal Toby Hotel’s in-house restaurant lets its patrons relive the roaring ‘20s with the stunning Art Deco motif and jolly old British favourites. We love that the hotel retained the glorious look of this old manor house ballroom that’s still hired for events.
On most days, though, this part of the Royal Toby is both a pub and a sit-down restaurant, offering lunch and dinner service, afternoon tea, and pub snacks.
First-timers and seasoned guests would agree that a plate of steak with prawns, paired with a glass of house wine, represents the Royal Toby quality. The service is top-notch, too—quite pricey, but rightly so.
| Pro tip: If you want the full Royal Toby Hotel experience, book a “Sleep & Dine” promo for a three-course meal at the Restaurant and a restful night at the hotel, all in one package. |
Cenetta Italian Ristorante
Media from Cenetta Italian Restaurant
Address: The Royal Toby Hotel, Manchester Road, Castleton
Contact details: 01706 861861
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday – 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday – 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Pricing: ££
A gastronomic trip to the Royal Toby won’t be complete without a visit to the other restaurant on the premises, called Cenetta. Don’t let this spot intimidate you with its antique, church-like interiors and that altar-like bar.
If you ask us, we think this restaurant is the perfect place in the entire hotel for a romantic dinner! (Also fit for a wedding, if you’re already at that level in the relationship.)
As for the food, we’re glad to report that the food is fantastic! It’s proper Italian, freshly prepared and served in pretty and hearty portions. Most diners order the grilled rump steak, but we also suggest you try the lasagne.
| Pro tip: Try Cenetta’s Bottomless Brunch—90 minutes of unlimited drinks with your mix of antipasti, light bites, and pizza. Just make sure to time your visit properly by going on Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and Sundays 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. |
Tribez Steak & Grill Rochdale
Media from @tribezsteakgrill
Address: Riverside Project, Rochdale
Contact details: 01706 534971
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing: ££
Tribez isn’t your ordinary steak joint. It sets itself apart from the typical British steakhouse with its celebration of African flavours. We’re chuffed it graced not just Rochdale, but also Bolton and Blackburn with branches of their own.
Its most popular offering for diners recently has been the Tribez Platter. It’s a great deal for a celebratory meal with an authentic African kick, thanks to including 10 lamb chops, 20 chicken wings, and two whole chickens!
However, if you’re dining solo, the Madagascar Peri Chicken is a brilliant alternative—a bit simpler compared to the platter, yes, but still as unique in taste as eating elsewhere.
| Pro tip: If you like the food at Tribez so much that you know that you’ll just keep coming back, consider joining its loyalty program. Discounts and perks galore while satisfying your African cravings! |
Bellavista
Media from Bellavista
Address: Wildhouse Lane, Milnrow
Contact details: 01706 342479, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday – 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday – 12:00 PM to late
Pricing: ££
Another Italian restaurant in our list of the best in Rochdale so far is Bellavista. It’s been around for over 40 years and is a well-known wedding venue for its two beautiful function rooms, but the food here deserves to shine on its own, too.
We’re happy to find that a meal here won’t break the bank, albeit it has a prestigious and exclusive feel.
Dropping in on a Wednesday afternoon, we found ourselves lucky to get a below £20, two-course set of Cocktail di Gamberi e Granchio (crab and crayfish in a Marie Rose sauce), a plate of fillet steak, and a glass of red. Simple and banging on all fronts!
| Pro tip: Craving pizza? You’re in good hands at Bellavista, since it has a dedicated pizzeria area, complete with a real, traditional stone oven for that crispy crust and distinct smoky flavour that’ll make you recall a holiday in Italy. |
La Mancha
Media from La Mancha Rochdale
Address: 5 The Butts Avenue
Contact details: 01706 713 400
Operating hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday – 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday – 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday – 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
- Monday and Tuesday – CLOSED
Pricing: ££
Fresh from renovations and a management change, La Mancha near the Bull Row is a stop for Spanish tapas you shouldn’t miss.
You can say it’s a sound weekend ritual for locals who love to share cold drinks, tasty bites, and fantastic stories with friends, since it’s the only specialty tapas joint in town!
Some of our preferred tapas include the chicken fajitas, lamb tagine (which oddly isn’t really Spanish but near enough—Moroccan), and garlic potatoes. Don’t forget to slip in a plate of sticky toffee pudding, and you’re golden.
| Pro tip: If it’s your first time hearing of La Mancha’s upgrades, note that it also updated its menu. One or two of your old faves might be missing now, but the management has fresh alternatives (gluten-free options are better, too)! |
Suburb Cafe & Restaurant
Media from Suburb
Address: 573 Bury Road
Contact details: 01706 551717, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Monday, Wednesday to Saturday – 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
- Sunday – 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Tuesday – CLOSED
Pricing: £
Cafe by day, bistro by night is the best way to describe this inconspicuous marvel along Bury Road named Suburb.
Aptly named for its neighbourhood location, it serves coffee, sandwiches, and all-day breakfast. Some of our top picks here include the house signature Suburb (full English) breakfast and the eggs hollandaise—consistently fresh, hot, and satisfying.
All of that breakfast is fine and dandy, but things get way better every Friday and Saturday evening. Suburb turns into a bistro, whipping up specialities like beef bourguignon and lamb shanks.
Now, is there any wine? Why yes, not during the day but definitely during the bistro nights.
| Pro tip: Contrary to how simple the restaurant looks, Suburb is actually pretty popular. The place gets quite packed, especially on the weekends, so book your table ahead of time! |
Pavilion Indian
Media from Pavilion
Address: 231 Spotland Road
Contact details: 01706 526666
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Friday – 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Saturday – 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday – 3:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Pricing: ££
Pavilion is one notable spot for modern Indian cuisine in Rochdale that’s been around for quite a while.
The first thing you’ll notice about it is the lavish interiors, with neon pink lighting at the forefront of the mostly black aesthetic. Honestly, it still looks generic for our liking, but hey, that’s just us.
Even so, Pavilion’s grub is just banging. Many diners opt for the crispy poppadoms as a starter and the tandoori mix platter of chicken, lamb, and sheek (ground meat) kebab for their mains.
This place really shines for the best of what its grill can offer.
| Pro tip: Be ready with cash or your phone (for doing a bank transfer) when paying for the bill. Pavilion doesn’t accept card payments. |
Pionero Lounge
Media from Pionero Lounge
Address: Unit 21/21A, Rochdale Riverside
Contact details: 01706 436318, [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Pricing: £
Pionero is the Rochdale iteration of the popular Lounge community café chain. Its name is a small nod to one of the first consumer cooperatives in the UK to ever be successful in its cause—the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers.
A common trend in Lounge branches is the quirky and somewhat quaint decor, and Pionero isn’t exempt from this design language.
Besides that, this café also hosts a lot of community events like quiz nights and workshops. You won’t run out of things to do!
For the food, you can’t go wrong having tapas (regardless of whether it’s Tapas Tuesdays or not). Our group faves include the fried cauliflower and the lamb kofte—dead good.
| Pro tip: Pionero Lounge loves to mix things up with promos! Follow its social media pages for the latest updates and offers. |
Railway Grill
Media from Railway Grill
Address: 207-209 Yorkshire Street
Contact details: 01706 344 112, [email protected]
Operating hours: Daily – 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Pricing: ££
We love a good reinvention story, like the rebirth of the old Railway Inn Pub into today’s Railway Grill, because it reminds us of the strong and innovative Mancunian spirit.
Since opening its doors in 2023, Railway Grill’s most popular dish has been the blooming onion. We absolutely understand the hype, since this savoury, battered finger food is uncommon in this side of the Atlantic (it’s an American thing, really).
And since this version of Railway is a grill, the experience wouldn’t be complete without having a rib-eye steak, a smash burger, or a mixed platter of grilled chicken, kofta, peri wings, and lamb chops.
| Pro tip: Railway Grill’s dine-in restaurant menu is a bit different from the takeaway menu. Keep that in mind, so you can keep a keen eye on the availability of your favourite dishes. |
