Restaurants in City Centre - Deansgate (Manchester)

Rafa's

Rafa's is a well-regarded Spanish tapas bar and restaurant, with a basement location that hints at exclusivity - it is rare to get a table without prior booking. The stone-tiled floor and rough cast walls give it a spacious, rustic feel. Meat and seafood prevail, with plenty of lamb, fillet steak, crab and prawn options. Non-tapas lovers may order salads, Spanish broth or a more substantial main course such as paella or lobster. House Catalan Chardonnay and draught beers include Staropramen and Cruz Campo.

Atlas Bar

Popular with media types, this was one of the first designer café bars in Manchester and boasts a fine delicatessen next door. It is spacious with a modern chic feel accentuated by simple metal tables and minimalist turquoise seating. There is a pleasant heated garden area at the back, while the large front windows afford a splendid view down Deansgate. The Italian-flavoured contemporary menu is pricey, but of superior quality. Homemade soup, filled ciabattas and various salads are popular at lunchtimes.

Dukes 92

Converted from canal-side horse stables, this popular pub-cafe is located along the Rochdale canal in the center of Castlefield. A large court by the water provides the perfect space to drink and chat away the long summer evenings. Inside, there is a solid, wrought-iron decor. The marble bar and spiral staircase creates an earthy elegance. Draft beers include Stella Artois and Boddingtons along with a good selection of lagers and bottled beers, while the reasonably-priced food includes their famous help-yourself cheese and pâté lunches. High chairs and changing facilities are available for children.

La Tasca

The first and most well-known tapas bar in Manchester is now rapidly replicating itself in many other towns across the North West. The tiled décor in vibrant greens and bright oranges at La Tasca is both authentic and welcoming, while the food is both varied and of high quality. The menu has changed very little over the years: both the gambas gabardina and the cheaper patatas bravas are highly recommended. Call for additional information.

Mulligans

A poster bearing a selection of celebrities from the Emerald Isle alerts you that this is an Irish-run pub, which, like several others in the Manchester area, boasts the best pint of Guinness in town. The decor of bare-brick walls and lots of leaded-glass snugs and booths also help give the place an authentic, cosy feel. A well-known Irish band livens up proceedings every Tuesday and Sunday night, with plenty of drinking and dancing. If you can't find the place, then go down the side street between Kendals and Daisy & Tom and turn left, you'll hear the laughter.

The Old Wellington Bar & Restaurant

Built in 1552, this building was firstly the family home of John Byrom, and then it housed a variety of businesses through the centuries before finally becoming a pub. More recently, it has been physically moved twice - once to make room for the Arndale Centre and then to its current site following the 1996 IRA bomb. The bar and dining areas retain a Tudor charm with wooden benches and stone floors that make you feel like you are stepping back through time. Draught Bass and Boddingtons are available, along with a selection of lagers and bottled beers.

Sinclair's Oyster Bar

More of a pub than a restaurant, this is a wonderful drinking hole with a fine menu into the bargain. Sinclairs was first licensed in the 1860s - when a local fishmonger, Joseph Sinclair, began to sell beer and wine in his dining rooms next to the fishmarket. The original late-Tudor building was first moved in the early 70s and then relocated to its present site. Twelve traditional oysters served with a touch of lemon and tabasco will set you back GBP8.50 or else there are hot dishes such as beef and oyster pie for around GBP6. For a lighter snack, various gourmet sandwiches are available from GBP4.

Walkabout

Located almost directly opposite the Opera House on Quay Street, this is a relatively recent addition to Manchester's cosmopolitan eating and drinking arena. Walkabout purports to offer an authentic Australasian experience by offering a bar with sports, music, good beer, decent tucker, including crocodile tail, kangaroo and springbok fillet steak and exceptional service, all in a typically laid back atmosphere. They have even recruited an all-Aussie staff to ensure this.

Cafe Istanbul

Sophisticated and decidedly continental, Cafe Istanbul is a Turkish oasis in the heart of the city centre. Hugely popular with the local business community, it is also recommended by the Good Food Guide for the quality of its authentic cuisine. The color used both inside and out, is a subtle pastel mid-blue with lemon accents, which helps to create a relaxed atmosphere. All the classic starters, mains, kebabs and char grills are available, such as stuffed vine leaves and coriander and garlic chicken, and there is also a large selection of seafood and vegetarian options. The wine list is broad and eclectic.

Jowata

Jowata offers authentic African cuisine right in the heart of Manchester's City Centre. This covers everything from light snacks to full meals, traditional wines to exotic fruit juices and cocktails. There is also a good range of vegetarian dishes and a children's menu. Inside, the rich orange decor is relaxing and there is a spacious feel, but it is very popular - particularly at weekends - so booking is essential. This is definitely the place to come to experience the vibrancy of the African continent.

Simply Heathcotes

Paul Heathcote's renowned restaurant, Simply Heathcotes offers an interesting mix of the traditional and the innovative. The decor, ambiance and clientele all blend and balance with an unpretentious air. This is best illustrated by the dessert menu, where items such as bread-and-butter pudding sit defiantly next to ginger cream with lime leaf sorbet and biscotti. The main courses, such as baked cod fillet with watercress pesto and hollandaise sauce are equally eclectic, and the standard of cooking is typically high.

Pizzeria Italia

This large, lively pizzeria has long been an established part of Manchester's restaurant scene and is well known for its arched windows, red and white checked tablecloths and attentive Italian waiting staff.The food is influenced by the cuisine of Milan and there is a choice of around 10 different pizzas and the same number of pastas, with a very generous mixed salad. There is a small bar, which includes a selection of classic Italian house wines along with grappa and amaretto. Quality filter coffee costs around a pound per cup.