El Gato Negro

Since opening in February 2016, Manchester’s hearts have been all aflutter with the arrival of El Gato Negro, the famed tapas joint formerly housed on Ripponden turf. With Spanish wines and sherries, beautifully prepared small plates and a sumptuous interior set across three floors, it’s fast become the leading light of King Street’s promising rejuvenation process.

Either pull up a stool in the ground floor bar for a glass of fino and a snackable spread of Padron peppers, roasted Valencia almonds and olives, or head upstairs to the main restaurant space for the full menu of authentic Spanish dishes – some of the many standouts include the baby pork ribs glazed with Pedro Ximenez and chargrilled octopus with capers, shallots and aioli, along with tapas staples like Iberico ham croquetas and chargrilled sardines. Be sure to order a basket of sourdough bread with olive oil and Pedro Ximenez balsamic, too, and if you’re feeling flash, order a couple of the Gillardeau oysters alongside, which come doused in a heavenly sharp combination of yuzu juice, wasabi tobiko and pickled cucumber.

Then on the top floor sits El Gato Negro’s jewel in the crown: The Black Cat. The plush yet approachable cocktail bar has one of the strongest drinks menus of the city, including sherry-laden punches, bloody marys and negronis – all to be sipped from underneath the sun or stars thanks to a showstopping retractable roof.

What results is the perfect package, making El Gato Negro one of the most respected and reliable names in Manchester's food and drink scene.

[Jess Hardiman]