Welcome to Manchester, a city famous for its vibrant food scene!
Manchester is an international city, boasting dishes from all around the world.
From the rich and savoury to the sweet and delicate, there’s a taste for every palate.
Home to the world-famous Curry Mile, Manchester hosts the largest concentration of Asian restaurants in the world outside of Asia.
It’s a food lover’s paradise, with tantalising aromas and flavours at every corner.
But it’s not just about international cuisine. Manchester has loads of local spots that are just as exciting.
From traditional pubs serving homey meals, to modern bistros pushing culinary boundaries, you’ll find it all.
Craving pizza? Manchester’s got amazing spots for that, too. Including one made famous by none other than Lewis Capaldi!
And let’s not forget the local dishes. The Eccles cake and Manchester egg, traditional delicacies, are a must-try for any foodie.
You might also want to quench your thirst with Vimto, a soft drink that was born in this city!
Join us as we embark on a culinary journey to discover the best food tours in Manchester.
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Manchester Bites Food Tour
- Duration: 3 hours
- Vegetarian option: Yes
- Book here
Manchester Bites is a local company offering an amazing food tour in Northern Quarter and Ancoats.
The tour starts at 11:30 AM (it runs every day in summer and most days in winter) at the beautiful New Islington Marina, in front of Cask Café.
The meeting point is an excellent location since it’s in a beautiful neighbourhood, known by locals, but often missed by visitors.
You will meet your guide here who will explain how the tour will work and give you your first treat of the day, an Uncle Joe’s Mint Ball.
You will then walk along the canal a bit before heading to Ancoats.
Manchester Bites food tour is all about stories and food. The guide will tell you loads of stories about the neighbourhoods but also local buildings such as the Beehive Mill or cute streets like Anita St or Tib Street.
The tour includes 5 savoury food stops (local bread, Manchester-style pizza, cheese, Manchester egg…) and ends with delicious ice cream.
Another thing that the guide is particularly good at pointing out is hidden gems. All these little things that are hidden in the city and that you don’t notice (even if you live here!). It’s a very cool part!
The locations chosen for the food are always local businesses and even include some spots that were made a bit famous by celebrities.
That’s the case of Nell’s pizzeria for example. It was made quite famous by Lewis Capaldi in 2022 who celebrated his single, Forget Me, hitting 20 million streams on Spotify by eating a 22” Rony Honey pizza at Nell’s.
Please note that each tour is different and that the stops change all the time (it depends on the day, weather, availability and many other parameters).
LOCAL’S OPINION: This is by far one of the best food tours in Manchester. The guide is very friendly, it’s excellent value for money (you’ll be so full by the end of the tour) and you get to learn a lot of interesting facts.
What is included?
- 6 Food Stops
- 2 Drinks
- Guided tours with loads of fun facts and tips
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST PRICES
Scranchester Food Tour
- Duration: 3.5 to 4 hours
- Vegetarian option: Yes
- Book here
Scranchester is another company offering food tours in Manchester. Unlike Manchester Bites which focuses on Ancoats and Northern Quarter, Scranchester Food Tour takes place in the city centre.
But firstly let’s talk about the name of the company. It comes from a North West slang word, Scran which means food.
This is a half day tour, it lasts between 3.5 and 4 hours, during which you will stop at many local food and drink spots.
Make sure not to eat before the tour because you will be getting a lot of food!
The best thing about this tour is that most of the spots are in independent places. A lot of the owners also make food using local produce.
It’s a great way to support the local economy.
You will also go to ChinaTown and eat in a traditional Cantonese place. As you might have noticed, Manchester is a very international city and the food really reflects that.
The guides are extremely knowledgeable and will tell you everything you need to know about the history of the city as well as sharing some interesting fun facts.
Since it is a small group (10 participants maximum), the guide really have time to talk to every single person which makes the experience even more personalised.
Please note that if you have any dietary requirements, this is no issue but you need to let them know in advance.
What is included?
- Food
- Guided tour
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST PRICES
The Manchester Cheese Crawl
- Duration: 2 hours
- Vegetarian option: Yes but not vegan
- Book here
While the other two food tours are general food tours that offer all sorts of dishes, this one was specially designed for cheese lovers.
Here you will explore the city while stopping at several cheese places. You will be trying some local cheese (including the famous Lancashire cheese) but also some more unusual ones.
The best thing about this tour is that it’s very good fun. The guide will also make you play some games which makes the experience more enjoyable and unique. Expect loads of quizzes and cheesy jokes!
You will also get a glass of fizz during the tour which is a nice touch!
You will be going mainly around the Northern Quarter including Tib Street but also the Printworks and the Arndale.
The guide will of course also share some interesting facts about Manchester and the cheese you try.
It’s also worth noting that this tour is not as long as the others (2h) and is cheaper so it’s a great option for people short on time or on a budget.
What is included?
- Cheese
- Guided tour
- Games
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST PRICES
Private Food Tour with Local Guide
- Duration: 3 hours
- Vegetarian option: Contact the guide beforehand
- Book here
This food tour is run by a company called City Unscripted. They specialise in tours with local guides. Basically, they ask you a few questions and match you with the guide they think will be the best match.
All their guides live in Manchester and know the city like the back of their hand. They will make sure to customise the tour so you get the best out of the experience.
As a general thing, the tour includes a mix of different foods including a pub meal, street food but also some cool spots in the Northern Quarter.
All the food places were hand picked and you can be sure you will be super full by the end of the tour.
Obviously, the guide will also explain the history of Manchester and since this is a private tour, you can ask them everything you want.
It’s also important to note that you will get 2 drinks (beers or cocktails) during the tour.
Describe the food tour, where it starts, what they will be doing, what type of food they will be getting, the places they will visit and why it’s a great food tour. Any relevant facts about the dishes
What is included?
- Private food tour
- 4 to 6 tastings and 2 drinks
- Hotel pickup
- Local guide
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST PRICES
Now that you know everything about the best food tours in Manchester, it’s time to go out and explore! Have fun!
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