Top 5 places for a graduation dinner in Manchester

You did it. Three years, hundreds of jägerbombs and thousands in fees later, and you finally made it through university.

What better way to celebrate entering the world of nine-to-five and 40 years of loan repayments than a slap-up meal funded by your parents? When it comes to Manchester, the options have moved on a helluva lot since this writer was graduating. Fear not, Jamie’s Italian isn’t your only hope – we’ve rounded up Manchester’s top five places to go cray with the canapés. Milk it now, while you still can.

---

Manchester House

Part of Manchester’s recent – and very welcome – move towards fine dining, Manchester House is up there with the best of ’em. Its slick interior (think quilted leather and mirrored walls), attentive staff and full, panoramic views of Manchester’s skyline make it a top choice if you’re looking to go all-out. If you’re heading here with family, the impressive 14-course tasting menu is a must. If you’re after something special but a little more low-key, opt for the modern afternoon tea out on one of the terraces ­– it’s a pretty great way to bid farewell to the city, we’d say.

18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BZ

Hawksmoor

Victorian courthouse-cum-steakhouse Hawksmoor is a great one for pleasing all parties; it’s dad-friendly, but still feels very smart indeed. Start things off with a cocktail in the panel-clad bar. The staff here really know their stuff, and can advise, tweak and invent a drink to meet your mood. Move through to the brasserie-style dining room for what’s guaranteed to be one of the best steaks of your life. You order by the weight here, so you can take it as low or high as you want. We’d recommend the ninety quid Porterhouse. NBD. 

184-186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Gusto

Gusto is another spot that makes the most of Manchester’s grand architecture – all tall ceilings, deco fittings and a stunning island bar. It has the decadence of Prohibition-era New York, but still feels relaxed and accessible. The menu, unsurprisingly given the name, skews Italian, so make a beeline for the pasta and seafood dishes, topped off with a peach Bellini or five. Push the boat out and book the private dining room. Perfect for the inevitable moment when your mother drinks too much and cries.

4 Lloyd Street, Manchester M2 5AB

1847

Manchester’s vegan and vegetarian options are better than average, but they often sit at the more casual end of the dining spectrum. 1847 is a different story, and gives you elegance and fanciness with the added bonus of meat-free dining. Well-dressed small plates and a Scandinavian-inspired setting make it one of the most Instagram-worthy options on the list, and ideal for smug graduation shots.

58 Mosley Street (entrance on Booth Street), Manchester M2 3HZ

Evelyn’s

Located in Superstore’s former spot in the Northern Quarter, Evelyn’s is great for anyone after a more relaxed dining experience. Hanging boxes of succulents, pendant lighting and a jazz-house soundtrack are a design lover’s dream, but the food menu takes this place up a level. Small plates are your best bet here – order two of everything (always the lamb patties) and finish with the yuzu posset. 

G18 Smithfield Building, Tib Street, Manchester M4 1NB