Valentine's Day is just around the corner and Manchester offers plenty of romantic locations to spend the special day. A meal for two will be many people's first port of call when it comes to deciding how to spend February 14 (or on the weekends either side of it this year).
Whether you're looking for somewhere fancy to impress someone special, or somewhere more low-key and laid back, we've rounded up some of the most romantic restaurants in Manchester.
Get booking now as reservations soon get snapped up. Also be aware that some restaurants may have set Valentine's Day menus that differ from their usual offering, so make sure you check when you book.
Read next: The 50 best restaurants in Manchester right now
Table for two, please.
Tattu
With its famous cherry tree in permanent, soft pink bloom in the main dining room, Tattu makes a picture-perfect backdrop for a romantic meal for two.
Its menu is also perfect for sharing, with a selection of dim sum and small plates including waygu dumplings with kimchi and spring onion, chicken truffle shumai, and chilli and sesame roasted scallops.
Its cocktails are spectacular too - try the Samurai's Garden, a smoking carafe of gin, rose and tonic for two to share.
3 Hardman Square, Gartside Street, M3 3EB / 0161 819 2060 / tattu.co.uk
L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele
Giving Tattu a run for its money in the cherry blossom stakes comes L'Antica - Manchester's newest pizza restaurant arrival but one with the oldest heritage. For the venue is the first Manchester outpost of the legendary Naples pizza restaurant where the "world's greatest pizza" is said to have been served since way back in 1870.
The restaurant is based inside the truly stunning former bank building on King Street, with a huge white blossom tree among the key features, and plush pink leather seating with dazzling chandeliers.
Naturally, pizza is the star here, and they are massive enough to share. There's also an extensive menu of pasta dishes and steaks.
Also look out for the flashing neon signs with the slogan: "I want someone to look at me the way I look at pizza" - a Valentine's message for us all, I'm sure you'll agree.
L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, 53 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ | Anticapizzeriadamichele.co.uk
Rosso
The Italian celebrity haunt has become known for its wow Christmas decorations, and has now turned its attention to Valentine's Day decor too. And as you can see, there's been no expense spared here.
You'll find a giant geometric heart to pose up with, thousands upon thousands of red roses adorning the pillars, the tables, oh and the entrance as well. On Valentine's night itself there's a set menu only at £80, but for the rest of the dates in February you can go along and eat off the traditional menu known for its pizza, pasta and carne dishes, and be wowed by that decor.
Rosso, 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BG / rossorestaurants.com
Dishoom
You forgot to book somewhere, didn't you?
Never fear: Dishoom is here to salvage your date. The Irani-Indian restaurant doesn't take reservations (at least not for less than six people in the evenings) so you can just rock up like you planned it (be prepared for a bit of a wait, though).
Based in the old Freemason's Hall on Bridge Street, the building's grade II listed grandeur makes an impressive setting. Ask to sit in the back room, if you can, where original features including a domed ceiling and stained glass windows are shown off to spectacular effect.
Add to that a menu of grazing plates designed for sharing, an accomplished cocktail list and the scent of incense wafting through the air, and the scene is set for romance.
32 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BT | 0161 537 3737 | dishoom.com/manchester
El Gato Negro
King Street tapas bar El Gato Negro is an award-winning all-rounder of a restaurant, offering a different experience on every level. For a more casual date, park yourselves at the downstairs charcuterie bar to nibble on Iberico ham, cured meats and cheeses with a glass of wine.
Upstairs there's more of a sense of occasion, with an open kitchen, intimate booths and views out over King Street, while the top floor offers another level of dining underneath a retractable roof - not that that'll be getting much action in February. They pay a lot of attention to drinks too, including perfect serve G&Ts and cocktails focusing on Spanish spirits and ingredients.
52 King Street, M2 4LY / 0161 694 8585 / elgatonegrotapas.com
Salvi's
Intimate, Italian, independent - Salvi's ticks all our date night boxes. Hidden away in the basement beneath the Corn Exchange, the original mozzarella bar and restaurant has a cosy charm and a menu of Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta dishes, alongside antipasti boards perfect for sharing.
There's also a deli upstairs where you can pick up a gift, if you haven't already - it's a one-stop Valentine's shop.
The family behind it also have a new restaurant in the Northern Quarter as well as a pizzeria on John Dalton Street and a rather glitzier new sister venue over at the new Deansgate Square development.
1 The Corn Exchange, Corporation Street, M4 3TR / 0161 222 8021 / salvismanchester.co.uk
20 Stories
Manchester's loftiest restaurant offers simply stunning views across Greater Manchester and beyond 19 floors up. Which makes it a hot spot for romantic proposals at this time of year.
The restaurant is known for its fine dining cuisine, so you're looking at the pricier end of the restaurant scale. The kitchen is presided over by the Michelin-trained Daniel Scott.
It also boasts the spectacular outdoor terrace, that is currently the winter garden with covered areas until things warm up a tad.
20 Stories, NO. 1, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB / 20stories.co.uk
Grand Pacific
Quite possibly Manchester's most magnificent dining room, Grand Pacific is based in the historic, grade II* listed Reform Club at the top of King Street. Once you make your way up the oak staircase, you'll find an Asian-influenced menu of seafood, salads and steaks and a signature cocktail served inside a golden pineapple.
For those celebrating during daylight hours, there's a range of high teas to choose from, with the option to upgrade them to include champagne, sparkling wine, Chandon rosé or prosecco infused with tea.
50 Spring Gardens, M2 1EN / 0161 839 9365 / grandpacific.uk.com
Six by Nico
Want to treat your date to a tasting menu, but don't have a couple of hundred quid to spare? Six By Nico serves a remarkably good value six-course menu that costs £37 - and if you fancy splashing out, you can add a wine flight for an extra £30 each.
The menu changes every six weeks conjured up from the imagination of chef patron Nico Simeone, with February's theme a romantic escape to Neverland. Previous themes have included a Mad Hatter's Tea Party and a gourmet take on chippy tea.
60 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 2BQ | sixbynico.co.uk/Manchester | 0161 832 1815
Hawksmoor
An intimate bar, a handsome dining room, impeccable service and knockout steaks and seafood - Hawksmoor offers a consistently excellent dining experience, so it's a failsafe for Valentine's Day.
Based inside an old Victorian courthouse, the Deansgate restaurant is an impressive but understated setting for a date with its tiled walls, parquet floors and comfy leather chairs.
The larger cuts of steak like chateaubriand, porterhouse, T-bone or bone-in prime rib are made for sharing with your Valentine.
184-186 Deansgate, M3 3WB | 0161 836 6980 | thehawksmoor.com
10 Tib Lane
Hidden along the narrow alley that is Tib Lane, it's a wonderful hideaway at this Parisian-style restaurant. Whether it's classic cocktails, natural wine that doesn't scare you off or seasonal food created with the best produce going, 10 Tib Lane ticks every box.
With its distressed walls, blush pink banquettes and tiled nooks, it's already a date night favourite. The menu is a range of intriguing small plates - think steak tartare or charred hispi cabbage or a larger plate of duck breast.
10 Tib Lane, Manchester, M2 4JB / 10tiblane.co.uk
Erst
Romance needn't mean roses and candlelight - good food, good wine and good company are the only ingredients you need, and you'll find all of that at Erst.
The stark but stylish space is warmed by the open-fire cooking behind the open kitchen, producing dishes designed for sharing: think salt cod with clementine, bergamot, turnip and chilli; venison carpaccio with salted ricotta and capers; and grilled flatbread with gremolata.
The wine list here is one of the best you'll find in the city, with a focus on natural and low-intervention bottles.
9 Murray Street, Ancoats, M4 6HS | 0161 826 3008 | erst-mcr.co.uk
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