The SL Team's Ultimate Guide To A Manchester Road Trip
Created in partnership with MERCEDES-BENZ
First Of All, Getting There...
Easily reached via train or a four-hour drive, Manchester is a no brainer for a staycation. For the ultimate road trip, the new Mercedes-Benz E 300 e AMG Line Saloon is a design-led, highly functional car that will get you there in style. The hybrid car can travel up to 71 miles on electric power alone, before cleverly switching to its efficient 2.0-litre petrol engine. There’s a generous passenger area, a luggage capacity of up to 540 litres, and plenty of impressive new features, including an intelligent ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant, a central media display for front-seat passengers, and a surround sound system with ambient lighting controls.
It was the only way to travel when the SL team headed to Manchester this month for a special takeover. From dinners and podcast recordings to BTS filming and fun activations around the city, the team used the E 300 e AMG Line Saloon to make their way around the city. You can watch the dedicated Manchester Show here.
Where To Eat & Drink
FOR BRUNCH & SWEET TREATS:
Gooey
You might have spotted Gooey’s treats on social media – picture huge cookies stuffed with chocolate chips and its signature French toast cube. Its café in central Manchester often has a queue around the corner (it’s walk-in only) of locals and tourists wanting next-level pastries, breakfast sandwiches and towering plates of hash browns. Savoury highlights include wild mushrooms on toast, pastrami sandwiches and Italian parmigiana subs, while the sweet counter houses cookies, donuts and cheesecake slices. The team also has a pop-up kiosk at Ducie Street Warehouse where you can order cookies and more.
103 High Street, M4 1HQ
Visit TheGooey.co
Also worth the visit:
FOR EXCELLENT COFFEE:
Michaels Coffee House
This is the spot Manchester locals have been gatekeeping. Michaels Coffee House in the Royal Exchange Arcade is an independent café owned by entrepreneur Thanasis Michael. As well as classic coffees, the menu includes fun flavoured lattes like pistachio, cookie dough, Lotus biscuit and crème brûlée. Breakfast could be a bacon and halloumi bap with a warm cinnamon roll, while lunch is all about toasties, like a classic ham or cheese, or chicken and pesto on sourdough.
Unit 20, Royal Exchange Arcade, M2 7EA
Visit MichaelsCoffeeHouse.co
Also worth the visit:
FOR SOMETHING NEW:
Medlock Canteen
Jay Rayner’s review of the newly opened Medlock Canteen confirmed it’s a restaurant not to be missed. Open for breakfast through to dinner, it takes inspiration from American diners and Parisian bistros, with a menu centred on dishes ‘you know and love to eat’. Breakfast includes the classics alongside dishes like confit duck and eggs on hash browns, steak and eggs, and crab and gruyère omelettes. The lunch menu is all about rotisserie chicken served in baguettes with lettuce, pickles, chicken mayo and jus. The restaurant also has a ‘staff dinner’, so you can try a hearty but simple dish the team eat during a shift, as well as delicious crispy apple pies served in a pool of warm custard – inspired by the McDonald’s classic.
New Jackson, 5 Owen Street, Deansgate, M15 4YB
Visit MedlockCanteen.com
FOR A SLICE:
Nell’s Pizza
For a thin-crust slice that you can fold in half and has crusts you can mop up sauce with, Nell’s Pizza is the place to know. At three sites across the city – and a fourth in the works – the team serve 14 and 22-inch slices topped with its house marinara sauce, mozzarella and toppings like pepperoni, sausage, peppers, mushrooms and more. The dough is made in-house using flour from Shipton Mill, with a recipe created while the team spent time in NYC. You can’t go wrong with a slice topped with vodka sauce, ricotta and pesto, washed down with a margarita (just £6.50 during the weekday happy hour).
Various sites
Visit NellsPizza.co.uk
FOR DINNER WITH THE GIRLS:
Fenix
Manchester does party restaurants so well. If you like the idea of a fun ambience without the 2am finish, Fenix is the Greek-Middle Eastern restaurant from the group behind London’s Tattu – the likes of Molly Mae and Lennon Gallagher have already spotted been spotted here. With chic interiors inspired by the beachside restaurants of Mykonos, it is set over two floors with central bars and dim lighting. There are numerous menus based on occasions – sharing, à la carte and party – all featuring Mediterranean dishes like mezze spreads, grilled seafood, and large sharing salads, best washed down with a zingy gin or tequila cocktail. Don’t miss the langoustine orzo – one of the SL team’s favourite dishes from their trip.
The Goods Yard Building, Goods Yard Street, M3 3BG
Visit FenixRestaurants.com
Also worth the visit:
FOR STYLISH DRINKS:
Stray
Stray opened its doors in the Northern Quarter at the end of the last year and it’s already popular with locals. The walk-in-only bar has a simple premise: uncomplicated, well-executed cocktails in a relaxed setting. The signature drink list includes classics with a twist like a ‘Tomato Margarita’ with mezcal, tomato, agave and lime oil; and a ‘Rhubarb & Pine Gimlet’ with gin, rhubarb and pine cordial, Pineau des Charentes and lime. If you can’t make it to the bar, DM the team on Instagram to order one of its pre-made cocktails.
Eagle Street, M4 5BU
Follow @Stray.Bar
Also worth the visit:
FOR A QUICK LUNCH:
Ramona’s
Another pizza spot, Ramona’s serves Detroit-style slices and has a cool outdoor beer garden. Open Wednesdays to Sundays, the restaurant has a crowd-pleasing menu of pizzas made with double-fermented focaccia dough and served in trays. Flavours include ‘Cali Peps’ with pepperoni, burrata and hot honey; ‘Buffalo Chicken’ with chicken tenders, pickled chillies, onion, hot sauce and coriander; and a classic veggie supreme. Sides include mac ’n’ cheese, hot wings and aubergine parmigiana, while the margarita bar serves all kind of tequila and agave drinks. Come the evening, fairy lights go on and tunes are pumped out.
40 Swan Street, M4 5JG
Visit TakeMeToRamona.com
Also worth the visit:
FOR A GREAT ROAST:
The Firehouse
Open Wednesdays to Sundays, The Firehouse serves one of the best roasts in the city – and the UK, if you chat to Manchester locals. The sister restaurant to Ramona’s offers a Middle Eastern sharing menu with dishes like grilled halloumi with hot honey; fluffy pittas stuffed with dips, roasted veg and herbs; and chargrilled veg with yogurt and pomegranate. Sundays are for whole roasted chicken, pork belly, beef, lamb shoulder or mushroom wellingtons served with all the trimmings and big boats of gravy. Saturdays are for ‘Runway’ nights with fashion shows and cabaret performances.
40 Swan Street, M4 5JG
Visit FirehouseMCR.com
FOR ASIAN DISHES:
Kitten
Over on Owen Street, Kitten is a good option for date night or dinner with the girls. The Japanese izakaya and cocktail bar serves sushi, nigiri and pan-Asian dishes. With chic décor, an abundance of plants and a spacious marble bar, the restaurant is a buzzy spot, particularly at weekends. Diners can choose dishes cooked over a robata grill – like crispy hispi cabbage, miso cod and whole seabass – as well as plates from the à la carte menu like grilled octopus, tuna tartare and tempura. Pair dishes with agave cocktails, and finish with something sweet from the dessert trolley.
Deansgate Square, 9 Owen Street, M15 4TW
Visit KittenRestaurant.com
The new Mercedes-Benz E 300 e AMG Line Saloon starts from £76,000 including VAT. For more information, or to request a test drive, visit Shop.Mercedes-Benz.co.uk
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.