https://www.facebook.com/108374035380085/

Alternative Meridian Manchester, Manchester (2026)

14/09/2026

Manchester girls’ night plans? This one needs to be on the list. ✨

We were invited to check out the launch of MNKY HSE Lounge, and the whole concept sits perfectly between dinner and nightlife - sharing plates, fresh-fruit cocktails, DJs and a space designed to keep the night going.

The interiors are moody in the best way - low lighting, long hanging lights, plush seating and a proper late-night feel. Then there’s the food: small plates designed for sharing, including sushi, tacos and robata-style dishes, so it still feels like somewhere you can settle in for the evening rather than just stop by for drinks.

Cocktails first, obviously. The Coconut Margarita and Kiwi were our favourites, and the fresh-fruit cocktails really fit the whole vibe.

And then the DJ brings all the energy. The music, lighting and atmosphere build as the night goes on, so it feels less like dinner followed by drinks somewhere else and more like one place that takes you through the whole evening.

So if your ideal girls’ night is good food, great cocktails, music and somewhere you can stay all evening without needing to move on, this is definitely one to save.

📍 MNKY HSE Lounge, 18 Lloyd Street, Manchester

Save this for your next girls’ night and send it straight to the group chat.

[ Invited experience / PR invite ]

31/08/2026

The weather’s cooling down, and that cold sandwich just isn’t hitting the spot anymore.
If you’re looking for something a little warmer and more comforting at lunchtime, Zaap Thai’s £15 Lunch Set Menu is definitely one to know about.

For £15, you can choose a starter, a main and a soft drink, with options including gyoza, spring rolls, Pad Thai, Thai green curry, fried rice and more.

And it’s not just about the food. With its colourful street-food style interiors, tuk-tuks and bustling atmosphere, stepping into Zaap feels like taking a little lunchtime trip to Thailand without leaving the city.

The food is warm, comforting and full of flavour - exactly the kind of lunch that starts sounding much more appealing as we head into autumn.
Available Monday to Friday, from 12pm–5pm.

Save this one for the next time a cold supermarket sandwich just isn’t going to cut it.

[ PR/INVITE ]

-----‐------------

•Manchester Restaurants •Lunch In Manchester •Manchester Lunch •Lunch Deal •Thai Food Manchester •Manchester Food Guide •Cheap Eats Manchester

19/08/2026

Feeling grateful because my camera roll looks like this… 🌊☀️🤍

Slow mornings, crystal-clear water, little Greek streets, endless blue and the kind of summer days you wish you could bottle up forever.

Samos, you were beautiful. 🇬🇷✨

- - - -
•Samos •Greece •GreekSummer •VisitGreece •SamosvGreece •Summer In Greece •Greek Islands ▪︎Travel Reels •Europe Travel •Summer Memories •Euro Holiday • Euro Summer

13/08/2026

When an overdue catch-up happens over sushi, even better. 🍣

For ours, we headed to Sticks’n’Sushi, the Copenhagen-born Japanese-Danish restaurant that recently arrived in Manchester’s Spinningfields. The space is beautiful — sleek Scandinavian interiors, Japanese influences and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it very easy to settle in for a long lunch.

The menu is extensive, with everything from sushi and sashimi to grilled sticks and small plates. But if, like us, too much choice gives you decision paralysis, the set menus are such a good way to experience it.

We shared the Green Keeper and Salmon & Friends, which gave us a little bit of everything. Green Keeper is completely plant-based, with dishes including spicy miso edamame, seaweed salad, truffle cauliflower, vegetable nigiri, maki and grilled mushroom and sweet potato sticks. Salmon & Friends brought the seafood — soy-cured salmon rice paper rolls, salmon nigiri, tempura prawn, spicy tuna and Pink Alaska rolls.

Between the two menus, there was plenty to work our way through and dishes you may have not chosen but it made lunch feel much more fun than trying to narrow down that very long menu ourselves and loving unexpected dishes.

Good sushi, beautiful surroundings and a great place to catch up with friends. We totally understand the hype.

----
Manchester food • Manchester restaurants • Sushi Manchester • Japanese food Manchester • Sticks’n’Sushi Manchester • Spinningfields restaurants • Manchester sushi • Japanese restaurant • Sushi lovers • Manchester food guide • Where to eat Manchester • Manchester lunch spots •

24/07/2026

When most people think of Manchester's Curry Mile, they think of incredible curries, late-night kebabs and South Asian food. But tucked among them is Jafra, a restaurant that's long been a favourite with locals and one of our favourite places in Manchester for Middle Eastern cuisine.

We've been back several times over the years, and every visit reminds us why we keep returning. No matter how busy it is, the food is always incredibly fresh, the service is genuinely warm, and you're always made to feel welcome from the moment you walk through the door.

This visit was just a quick lunch, so we started with a freshly squeezed orange juice before sharing the moutabel with warm bread. Smoky, creamy and the perfect way to begin.

For our main, we ordered the mixed grill, which is what we'd recommend if it's your first visit. You get to try a little bit of everything, and every piece of meat was beautifully cooked - succulent, smoky and full of flavour.

We couldn't leave without finishing with baklava, which was the perfect sweet ending.
Although we didn't order it this time, we'd also highly recommend trying the traditional Arabic coffee. And if you're visiting for the first time, don't miss the vine leaves, the kibbeh, and the hummus, which is as smooth and silky as we've had anywhere.

There are plenty of great places to eat on the Curry Mile, but Jafra is somewhere we find ourselves coming back to time and time again. For us, it's one of Rusholme's most authentic Middle Eastern restaurants - not just because of the food, but because of the consistently warm hospitality that keeps us returning.

‐ - - - - - - - -

Manchester food • Rusholme restaurants • Curry Mile • Middle Eastern cuisine • Lebanese restaurant Manchester • Halal restaurants Manchester • Best Manchester restaurants • Manchester food guide • Where to eat in Manchester

07/07/2026

It's always hard creating a post about an art exhibition - especially one that has such a powerful impact when you experience it in person. We don't want to give too much away by showing you everything. Of course, we'd seen a few reels and adverts beforehand, but nothing prepared us for seeing it in real life this weekend. It was unbelievable.

Buttons by Ai Weiwei is a thought-provoking exhibition that explores identity, history, politics, freedom, and the power of everyday objects to tell extraordinary stories. Through monumental installations and deeply personal works, it invites you to slow down, question what you're seeing, and reflect on the world around you.

For us, this is Manchester's exhibition of the year. It's one of those exhibitions that stays with you long after you've left, and it's absolutely worth making time to visit.

💡 Pro tip: Every hour, a member of the gallery team gives a guided walkthrough of the key works, sharing the stories and symbolism behind them. It adds so much context and makes the experience even more meaningful.

If you're in Manchester, don't miss this one.

---

(Ai Weiwei, Buttons exhibition, Factory International Manchester, Manchester art exhibition, things to do in Manchester, contemporary art in Manchester, Manchester weekend guide, cultural experiences in Manchester, immersive art exhibition, must-visit exhibitions in the UK)

02/07/2026

Sometimes you want a restaurant that feels like an occasion, and Kitten does exactly that.

Tucked beneath the Deansgate Square towers, this modern Japanese izakaya blends beautifully designed interiors with a menu that's made for sharing. Whether you're stopping by for cocktails and sushi or settling in for a full evening of small plates, the atmosphere feels effortlessly sophisticated without ever being intimidating.

We ordered a variety of dishes, but two really stood out. The Golden Roasted Duck Uramaki Rolls were packed with flavour, rich yet balanced, while the Tuna Flat Taco was fresh, light and the perfect way to start the meal.

The cocktail list is just as thoughtfully put together as the food, making it an easy place to lose track of time over a few drinks and plenty of plates.

With its stylish setting, lively atmosphere and beautifully presented dishes, it's easy to see why Kitten has become one of Manchester's go-to spots for Japanese dining. Whether it's date night, celebrations or cocktails with friends, this is one we'll happily return to.

29/06/2026

There are some restaurants you visit once, and then there are the ones you keep coming back to. AAhaa in Chorlton is definitely the latter for us.

We've dined in a couple of times and ordered takeaway a couple of times too, and the quality has been consistently excellent every single visit. If you're looking for authentic South Indian food in Manchester, this is one we'd happily recommend.

While AAhaa celebrates flavours from across India, it's their South Indian dishes that really shine. Our must-orders are the Punugulu - crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy in the middle - and the Majestic Chicken, with thinly sliced chicken tossed in a beautifully spiced South Indian sauce. It's packed with flavour and one of those dishes we order every time.

If you're after a vegetarian option, we'd also highly recommend the Guthi Vankai Masala - tender baby aubergines simmered in a rich peanut and sesame gravy. It's comforting, deeply flavourful and one of the best vegetarian curries on the menu.

And don't skip the mango lassi. It's one of the most authentic we've had in MCR- thick, creamy and perfectly balanced.

Whether you're missing a taste of home, discovering South Indian cuisine for the first time, or simply looking for genuinely good Indian food, AAhaa delivers. Authentic flavours, generous portions and consistency are what keep bringing us back.

Some places become favourites after one meal. Others earn it by getting it right every single time. AAhaa is firmly in the second category.

Alternative Meridian Manchester

14/09/2026

31/08/2026

19/08/2026

13/08/2026

24/07/2026

07/07/2026

02/07/2026

29/06/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request