Proloco
Modern pizza restaurant Proloco opened at the end of summer 2026 on Great Ancoats Street, which marks the border between two of Manchester’s most happening areas – the Northern Quarter and Ancoats. It’s an area to watch as there’s set to be a flurry of new openings nearby including Bar Dos from the team behind cocktail bar Stray. By Richard Carver (founder of Honest Crust Sourdough Pizza) and Dan Hope (co-founder of Manchester club Rainy Heart) expect much more than your standard margherita or pepperoni pizzas (although both are on the menu if you’d like to stick to a classic). Instead, go half-and-half on a seasonal 18-inch pizza with friends; one half with smoked eel, courgette, sungold tomato, lemon basil and pine nuts, perhaps, and the other squash and brown butter with chard, chilli and Spenwood cheese. And accompany it with some sides for the table such as panelle (chickpea fritters), crab and cucumber. The drinks list is equally thoughtful with an all-too-easy-to-drink red lambrusco or house negroni the best way to start a meal then homemade gelato the perfect end – try its fig leaf flavour where green fig oil is poured over malted milk ice-cream.
Address: 74 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5GU
Website: proloco.uk
Mana
Once Manchester’s Little Italy, hip Ancoats is now a go-to spot for food and drink. The poster child for this area is Michelin-starred Mana, by Simon Martin, which was awarded Manchester’s first star for 42 years in 2019. In the 24-seat minimalist space with tubular lighting, all tables face the open kitchen, so you’ll be able to watch chefs preparing your 13-course Complete tasting menu, reduced Extracts menu or six-course lunch menu, all of which have bold, considered flavours and heavily feature seafood dishes such as scallops from the Shetland Islands with chawanmushi (savoury egg custard) which may be seasoned with elderflower in summer or thyme in winter. In summer 2026, the restaurant stopped catering for dietary requirements or restrictions (although allergies and intolerances may be catered for) to “do fewer things, with greater depth, greater clarity, and greater conviction.”
Address: Mana, 42 Blossom Street, Manchester M4 6BF
Website: manarestaurant.co.uk