Living in Manchester: Culture, Food, Nightlife, and Community

Photo by Surya Prasad on Unsplash

Most liveable city in the UK, according to the Global Liveability Index 2025; leading the UK in productivity growth; hometown of the reunited Oasis… Manchester is having its moment in the spotlight. This isn’t news to anyone who lives here though—we’ve been raving about the city for years.

If you’re new in town, here are our favourite things about Manchester:

Art and Culture

Manchester is a thriving hub of culture, hosting everything from huge music stars to indie theatre shows. Whatever your interests, there’s something for you.

In 2025 alone, Manchester hosted musicians such as Oasis, Olivia Rodrigo, James Blunt, and the Sugababes, as well as stage shows including Wicked, Chicago, Kinky Boots, Six… and many more. If you’d rather discover new or smaller talent, we love Night & Day, Rebellion, and Band on the Wall. There’s always something on in the city.

Some of our personal favourite venues include:

• The Lowry

• HOME

• Hope Mill

If a quiet day out is more your vibe, check out exhibitions at the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, People’s History Museum, or Manchester Museum—or wander around the John Rylands Library and feel inspired.

Sport

Mention Manchester anywhere in the world and you’ll likely get the question: “City or United?” The city’s football legacy has that much of a global reach—we even host the National Football Museum. But football isn’t the only sport we thrive in. Enjoy a game of cricket at the Trafford Cricket Centre, catch cycling events at the National Cycling Centre (including the 2025 British Cycling Track Championships), or head to the AO Arena, which hosts international netball matches and even bare-knuckle boxing.

For those who prefer to play sports, there’s a huge range of facilities across the city:

• The National Squash Centre

• Manchester Football and Tennis Centre

• Club de Padel

• Ryders Farm Equestrian Centre

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

Food

With new restaurants popping up every day and a thriving foodie culture, Manchester is an underrated contender in the food scene.

We’re most famous for our Curry Mile: just two miles south of the city, this road is world-renowned for its sheer volume of brightly lit Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian restaurants, ranging from fast food to award-winning establishments.

If you lean towards high-end dining, there are two Michelin-starred restaurants in town—Skof and Mana—plus a range of other local favourites celebrated in the guide.

Our personal favourite is Embankment Kitchen (of course), but with so many options throughout the city, it’s hard to pick a second. Current front-runners include:

• El Gato Negro, for classic Spanish tapas and wine

• Wolf at the Door, a Northern Quarter classic serving Asian fusion food and cocktails

• Olive & Thyme, a Mediterranean hub in Chorlton

Social & Nightlife

Manchester city centre boasts of endless spots to enjoy yourself of an evening, whether you’re looking for a quiet couple of drinks or a big night out. With new venues opening every week, you’ll never be short of somewhere to go.

Deansgate is one of the most popular spots with thriving bars throughout the area. Our favourites are:

• Embankment Kitchen – a Mancunian classic that offers happy hour from 4-7pm every day

• Albert’s Schloss – a German beer hall with a non-stop lineup of entertainment

• Simmon’s Bar – a London ‘retro megabar’ that’s recently joined us in Manchester

• The Blue’s Kitchen – a staple venue offering live music, bottomless brunch, and more

For more of an indie vibe, head over to Northern Quarter, a hotspot for Manchester’s independent cafes and bars, or Gay Village for a loud and proud night out.

Don’t limit yourself to just these areas though—there are plenty of party spots across the city. Some honourable mentions include:

• Warehouse Project

• Depot Mayfield

• Deaf Institute

• Gorilla

If you’d rather enjoy an activity, plenty of interactive bars are popping up, including:

• NQ64, a retro gaming bar

• Sixes Cricket, a sports bar with a cricket simulator

• Roxy’s Ballroom, which offers crazy pool, crazy golf, bowling, beer pong… and more.

Community

The North of England has a reputation for being friendly, and Manchester is no exception. With so many new faces in the city, there’s been a big push for social and community events to help people make new friends—a real testament to the city’s warm and welcoming nature. Whatever you’re into, there’s a group for you.

Here are some of our favourites:

• Space Studio: pottery painting and creative arts space

• Yoga Social Club: exactly what it says on the tin

• House of Books and Friends: regular book clubs

• Redacted Run Club: regular meetups

• Northern Aces: an inclusive tennis club for all abilities

• Girlhood UK: a range of activities for women to connect

Have a look online and you’ll find the perfect group for you in no time.

Connecting the UK

Fancy a change of scenery? Sitting in the North West of England, Manchester offers easy access to amazing places across the UK. Some of our favourite city breaks include:

• Leeds – the “unofficial capital of Yorkshire,” Leeds is a thriving cultural hub with an industrial past

• York – a beautiful city with strong Roman, Viking, and medieval history

• Liverpool – a post-industrial hub of music, film, and sport

• Sheffield – boasting the title of the greenest city in the UK, Sheffield is a great stop for nature lovers

If you want to get away from the bustle of cities altogether, there are plenty of rural hotspots to explore:

• Haworth – home of the Brontë sisters and their famous Wuthering Heights

• Dunham Massey – a gorgeous historic manor with extensive grounds

• Hebden Bridge – a picturesque town with a thriving independent art scene

• Worsley – home to Tudor-style buildings and the Bridgewater Canal, Worsley is a picturesque spot

• Peak District National Park – as rural and beautiful as it gets; the perfect escape for anyone wanting to get away from it all

CitySuites – Your Place in the City

Manchester is the heart and soul of CitySuites. We try to incorporate its industrial history and vibrant future into everything we do—from our hearty Northern cuisine to our sleek apartment designs.

CitySuites is your place in the city—whether you’re looking for a short stay or a full tenancy. Check out our website or get in touch with our team at sales@citysuites.com for more information.