When choosing where to eat, knowing the types of restaurants available in your area helps you make a quicker and easier decision that matches your mood, budget and preferences. Eating at a casual or fine dining restaurant can often give you a similar experience, if you don’t know exactly where to go, so, in the end, it’s all about what makes each type of restaurant unique. Don’t worry because, in this guide, we’ll dive into ten distinct types of places with their own vibe and food. This way, you’ll know exactly where to head when you’re craving a specific type of food or dining experience. We’ll be exploring:
List of Top Types of Restaurants in Manchester
- Italian Restaurant
- Vegan Restaurant
- Fine Dining Restaurant
- Casual Dining Restaurant
- Fast food restaurant
- Seafood restaurant
- Indian restaurant
- Chinese restaurant
- Korean BBQ restaurant
- Sushi restaurant
1. Italian Restaurant: Piccolino (Castlefield, Manchester)
Located right by the Castlefield canal basin, Piccolino is a shining example of how the types of restaurants focused on Italian cuisine can transport you straight to Tuscany.
What Makes It Unique
- Wood‑fired oven pizzas with crispy crusts, just like the way you find them on the streets of Italy!
- Signature dishes like Pollo Alla Griglia and Fegato Alla Veneziana are the perfect example of an Italian experience in the heart of Manchester.
- Three‑course set menu, such as bruschetta, calamari fritti, and chocolate fondant, gives you the full Italian cuisine dine-in experience.
- Warm rustic décor with wooden beams, artisan ceramics, linen‑aproned staff that keeps the vibes real.
An Italian restaurant can be the best place for you if you want a cosy date night or a family feast. Piccolino has proved that authentic Italian food and energy can be found in Manchester too.
2. Vegan Restaurant: V‑Rev Vegan Diner (Northern Quarter, Manchester)
V‑Rev shows how plant‑based dining can be as indulgent and fun as any conventional diner, making it a standout among types of restaurants for vegan food. With the growing focus on ethical choices, going vegan has become a popular trend. To keep up with this movement, more vegan restaurants like V-Rev are needed.
What Makes It Unique
- Creative burgers: Tommy Pickles, Barbecue Without the E are all tasty and unique burgers that you’ll find nowhere else and that too vegan!
- Loaded fries & desserts: chili “meat” fries, Oreo milkshake are the perfect example of telling people that vegan doesn’t have to be boring.
- Retro diner vibe: neon signs, vintage booths, pop hits on the jukebox help keep the vibe so people can enjoy the food in a good atmosphere.
At V‑Rev, the fully plant‑based menu shows that vegan spots can rival any meat‑centric joint in taste and atmosphere.
3. Fine Dining: Adam Reid at The French (Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester)
For a special occasion, this Michelin‑starred venue takes you on a multi‑course journey, an apex among types of restaurants in the fine dining category. Who doesn’t want to go for a fancy date with friends or family? Everyone does! So, once in a whil,e checking out restaurants like Adam Reid at The French can be something unique and new.m
What Makes It Unique
- Seasonal tasting menus (from £130) with optional £65 beverage pairing. This is the most fancy experience one can get!
- Artful plating: Isle of Man scallops with seaweed butter, venison loin with baby vegetables. Such plating is as luxurious in taste as it sounds!
- Art Deco dining room: velvet banquettes, gilded accents, and white‑glove service help complete the whole mood with the fancy food.
This is where gastronomy meets theatre; every bite is made for maximum flavour and elegance.
4. Casual Dining: Gourmet Burger Kitchen (Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester)
GBK bridges the gap between fast food and fine dining, offering custom burgers in a relaxed, friendly setting, another key style among types of restaurants. Casual dining is the best kind of dining experience, and surely it is the most loved! Just good food and relaxing vibes is what you need sometimes!
What Makes It Unique
- Build‑your‑own burgers: British Beef blend, southern‑fried chicken, vegan patty are few of the many options available to have a meal of your choice.
- Value deals: 3 sides for £9 student offer (before 5 pm). Such deals make casual dining more fun because you get your comfort food on a budget!
- Laid‑back industrial décor: exposed brick, high communal tables, which are perfect for the overall casual ambience.
Ideal for families, students, and quick catch‑ups, GBK proves casual doesn’t mean compromise.
5. Fast Food: Five Guys (Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester)
At Five Guys, fast food is elevated with fresh ingredients and total customisation, highlighting how types of restaurants in this category can still prioritise quality. Five Guys makes sure that you get that excellent fast food meal with a juicy burger stacked with your choice of toppings, fries served hot, and a creamy milkshake to wash it all down.
What Makes It Unique
- Fresh‑made burgers & fries: hand‑cut, cooked in peanut oil
- 15 free toppings on burgers and hot dogs
- Customisable shakes: 11 mix‑in options (Oreo, peanut butter, etc.)
Speedy service meets made‑to‑order excellence, perfect for a quick bite.
6. Seafood Restaurant: The Oystermen (Piccadilly, Manchester)
For a taste of the coast in the city, The Oystermen specialises in fresh oysters and seafood platters, one of the more niche types of restaurants as not everyone prefers eating seafood but those who love seafood know how much the quality and price matter. The Oystermen don’t compromise on both things!
What Makes It Unique
- Oysters by the half‑shell: XO (£9.50), G&T (£12.00) which is quite reasonable.m
- Daily catch specials: mussels, prawns, crab, prepared simply but fresh.
- Nautical décor: communal wooden tables, rope lighting that adds to the atmosphere.
The Oystermen brings seaside flavours and communal vibes to an urban setting.
7. Indian Restaurant: Spice & Spirits (Oxford Road, Manchester)
As our dedicated Indian entry, Spice & Spirits exemplifies street‑style Indian cooking, distinct among types of restaurants for its blend of theatre and flavour. Indian food can be the most filling and most flavourful cuisine to exist. The best day to eat Indian food is when you want that burst of spice and flavour in your mouth.
What Makes It Unique
- Small starters from £0.95 (poppadoms) to £9.95 (Mushroom Kurkure), which is very cheap as compared to other cuisines.
- Regional mains: Hyderabadi biryani (£12.50), Punjabi butter chicken (£11.95) and much more! All the famous Indian dishes are found at Spice and Spirits so you don’t have to worry about missing out!
- Weekend Deals: They have a Sunday Special deal in which you get 3 courses for £15.95 only!
- Halal certification and Vegan/Vegetarian food: Everyone can enjoy their cuisine with so many options available.
Every visit feels like a colourful journey through India’s street kitchens.
8. Chinese Restaurant: Little Yang Sing (Chinatown, Manchester)
Since 1979, Little Yang Sing has brought authentic Cantonese dim sum and banquet dishes to Manchester, proving traditional types of restaurants still thrive. This is the ideal place to fulfil your Chinese cravings as they have it all!
What Makes It Unique
- Dim sum trolleys: Duck & Pork Spring Rolls (£7.00)
- Banquet classics: Aromatic Duck, Sweet & Sour Pork, live seafood
- Lively Chinatown ambience: polished wood, red lanterns which helps give you a unique chinese experience.
Here, family‑style sharing and trolley service keep the experience fun and communal.
9. Korean BBQ: YORI (Covent Garden, London)
YORI’s tabletop grills and modern décor showcase how interactive types of restaurants can be something different for groups and celebrations. People on the hunt to try something new should definitely visit them and experience this interactive dining.
What Makes It Unique
- Table‑top grills: Half & Half BBQ for 2 (£37.00), Chicken Platter (£23.00)
- Korean small plates: Pajeon (£13.20), Bibimbap (£13.80) for personal servings!
- Sleek K‑pop–inspired interior
Cooking at your table adds to social dining and ensures every bite is grilled fresh.
10. Sushi & Teppanyaki: Sapporo Teppanyaki & Sushi (Deansgate Locks, Manchester)
Sapporo merges chef‑led teppanyaki shows with a full sushi bar, one of the most theatrical types of restaurants on our list. Thisa place can be heaven for sushi lovers because their whole goal is to give their customers the ultimate sushi experience.
What Makes It Unique
- Nigiri from £3.25 to £4.95: Inari, Tanuki, Soft Shell Crab
- Set menus: Emperor (£62), Samurai (£52), Geisha (£46)
- Teppanyaki performances: egg tornadoes, shrimp flips, communal griddle tables, which is just something fun to add to your sushi experience.
Whether you love sushi or crave a hibachi show, Sapporo delivers both in equal measure.
Conclusion
By understanding the types of restaurants, you can match your dining choice to the occasion, even if it’s the immersive spectacle of teppanyaki, the cosy familiarity of an Italian trattoria, full indian vibes at Spice and Spirits, or the plant‑based fun of a vegan diner. Each of these ten venues shows what makes its category unique and how it can make your dine-out different and fun! Next time you plan a meal out, think about which types of restaurants best suit your mood, and don’t forget Spice & Spirits for top‑tier Indian street eats in Manchester!
