Midnight eats: The best restaurants open late in Manchester (2024)

We’ve all been there. Wobbling out of a pub after a few pints or finishing work late and hankering for something to eat. Of course, Maccy D’s and its ilk are an option. They always are. We’ll have three cheeseburgers or a McPlant depending on who’s asking, please and thanks. But most of the time, if you’re anything like us, you’ll want something that can’t be ordered on a massive iPad.

There are places out there. They’re in the list below. There’s variety too. Pizza, curry, ramen, Chinese, steaks. All serving later than your average restaurant with the added bonus of a potential drink to wash it down with if that’s what you’re after.

Here are, in our view, some of the best late-night eating spots in Manchester.

Al-Madina

Wholesome, tasty Indian and Pakistani food in a small buzzy Curry Mile café. Whether you’re opting for lamb biryani or a mixed kebab, portions are there to fill you up. As good at lunchtime as it is before closing at 1am, Al-Madina remains one of the mile’s original and best eating out spots.

76 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5AL

Archies

It’s easy to forget now that it’s a national chain but Archie’s was born in Manchester. Inspired by, of all things, the film License To Drive (1998), the British take on the American diner is now in cities across the country, with multiple locations across Manchester. Both Oxford Road (2am Monday - Thursday, 3am Friday and Saturday) and Piccadilly sites (Monday - Thursday 1am, Friday - Saturday 2am) have late opening hours. A great sit-in option for cheap fries or a burger or wrap to fill the space.

72 Oxford St, Manchester M1 5NH

China City

One of the later openings in Chinatown, you can have a great sit-down meal in China City with all the bells and whistles until at least 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Closed on Mondays, for the rest of the week it’s open until 12.30. There’s a generous menu on offer taking in long lists of dishes according to meats as well as chow meins and noodles dishes, starters and soups and veggie options too.

56 Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4FH

co*cktail Beer Ramen + Bun

Manchester’s original late-night ramen joint serves noods until 12am Monday and Wednesday, then 1am Thursday to Sunday. It also serves buns and “plates” if you’re in the market for late-night Japanese small plate action. Think leek and mushroom gyoza with sticky soy or panko oyster mushroom buns but late at night after a hard day of doing you. Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) is the house speciality as are beer and co*cktails. Expect a rotating selection on all fronts.

101-103 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LW

Crazy Pedro’s

God bless Crazy Ped’s. What do other cities do without it? What do people do in Leeds when they want to let loose and eat pizza until 4am? Whether you’re getting the full circle or just taking it slice by slice, there’s always fun to be had at Ped’s with plenty of Hooch and beer to wash it all down with. At the time of writing the monthly pizza special is peri chicken, peri chips, halloumi, peas and mayo, but let’s face it, it could be anything.

55-57 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ

Happy Seasons Restaurant

Everyone loves Happy Seasons in Chinatown. It’s a Manc institution. Hanging roasted meats in the window, that iconic fishtank, warm hospitality inside and some of the best Chinese food the city has to offer. Closing at 11am on Fridays and Saturdays means it’s snuck onto our list too. Choose from all the roast meats but also won ton noodle soup and sweet and sour pork.

59 Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4FF

Jimmy’s Killer Prawns

If there’s one place that will forever remain a mystery to us, it’s Jimmy’s Killer Prawns. And do you know what? That’s okay. If you want to eat prawns late into the night, you should do that. As Bill Murray once said, “Life is so damn short. For f*ck’s sake, just do what makes you happy.” Serving prawn platters, sides and a vast menu selection until 10.45pm or 11pm most nights, get your little plastic gloves on and start cracking them open.

13-25 Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4NW

The Little Yang Sing

A true city favourite, The Little Yang Sing always ends up coming out first or second when you hear squabbles about the best Chinese restaurant in Manchester. A La Carte and banquet options are available as well as a full drinks list covering wine and beer. The extensive meat options are mirrored with vegetarian counterparts too. Seafood treasure with whole garlic, a casserole of king prawns, fresh scallop and monkfish, always gets us salivating at the thought. 11.30pm close on Friday and Saturday, 11pm Monday to Thursday. Great for post-gig scrans.

17 George St, Manchester M1 4HE

Three Little Words

They didn’t win The Top 50 co*cktail Bar Awards Team of the Year in 2021 for nothing. Hospitality counts at Three Little Words and you can really sense that the moment you walk in. They also love a party and you can sit there until 1am happily making the most of a diverse seasonal co*cktail menu. The kitchen also closes a little later than similar places, 11pm, so you can make the most of Luganica sausage roll and apple ketchup or tempura seasonal veg with a chilli dip until late.

12-13 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP

Moxy

If you’re a guest at Moxy you can eat a pizza any time of the day. Literally 24/7. If you want a pizza, it’s yours. If you’re not a guest there’s still potential for pizza. You’ve got until 2am on weekdays and 3am on weekends to order your pizza and consume it and toppings include four cheese, pepperoni, chicken & bacon or BBQ jackfruit.

8 Atkinson St, Manchester M3 3HH

Mughli Charcoal Pit

Late-night scrans to be had at Mughli. Charcoal pit kissed goods right up to 12am on weekdays and 12.30am on a weekend with their very own “twisted co*cktails” on the side for good measure(s). But what to choose for a post-11pm nibble? Could we tempt you with bang bang chicken bites perhaps? Or maybe bun kebabs with flame-grilled, chilli-glazed minced chicken from the charcoal pit? May as well have a lassi whilst you’re there.

30 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TQ

MyLahore

20 years strong this year. Happy 20th year, MyLahore. Born in Bradford, now with locations also in Leeds, Birmingham, Blackburn, the Manchester restaurant closes at the handy time of 1am so it’s good for dropping into on late night Wilmslow Road commutes. Once you’re there you can expect samosas and chaat, flame-grilled burgers and steaks and home favourites like butter chicken.

14-18 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TQ

Oodles n’Oodles

Last orders on the food front at Oodles n’Oodles is 10.45pm so make sure you’re in with a bit of time to spare for the eating part. Asian fusion cuisine awaits, as do some pretty out there interiors, bringing to mind the likes of Tattu and Bouji. Chicken shashlik, oriental fish and chips and dim sum are just a few options to look out for on the menu. It’s never too late to snap for the ‘gram.

7 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5FT

Pepperoni Playboy at YES

They’re almost too kind over at Pepperoni Playboy, the in-house pizza plyers at YES. Not only do they serve pizza until 11pm on weeknights and 2am on weekends, but they’ll even do you half price slice daily until 6pm. That means a slice of pizza starting at £1.40. Vegan and veggie options available too. At the time of writing, the monthly special is: Old Town Road. Spicy fried chick'n, pickles, jalapeños, onions, Kansas BBQ & blue cheese ranch dressing. Yes, yes, yes.

38 Charles St, Manchester M1 7DB

Southside Tequila Joint

If you’re knocking around Withington and you feel the need to fill up on £1 tacos until late, then Southside will do you them until midnight daily. There’s also a vast range of tequila and mezcal as well as plenty of happy hour drinks offers that tend to stretch well beyond a mere 60 minutes. Think of it as taco Bunny J’s in the burbs with a later food curfew.

447-449 Wilmslow Rd, Withington, Manchester M20 4AN

Toro’s Steakhouse

If you’re in the market for a big slab of meat at silly o’clock then Toro’s on Wilmslow Road amongst the curry mile favourites is a good stop off. First and foremost a halal steakhouse, Toro’s also serves burgers and other American-influenced BBQ favourites including ribs, sliders and sizzlers. There’s also a grilled halloumi sizzler and a spiced butternut and quinoa burger if you don’t fancy the meat. You’ve got until

13-15 Wilmslow Rd, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5TB

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Header image: Mughli Charcoal pit

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