Home to a lively mix of young professionals and families who favour leafy green spots over the more industrial centre, Chorlton is undeniably cool.
This vibrant Manchester neighbourhood has all the best bits of the city’s creative personality and indie offering – but without the busy crowds. Discover our pick of Chorlton essentials with this insider’s guide, highlighting the best things to eat, drink and do in this brilliant neighbourhood.
Eat
If you’re coming over to Chorlton, make sure to come hungry. There are tons of restaurants serving up delicious grub on this side of Manchester, including the city’s most authentic tapas outside of Spain and a BYOB Neopolitan-style pizzeria. Tuck in!
Sambal
Rich Malaysian flavours, piled high portions, traditional family recipes – for Southeast Asian food in Chorlton, the answer is always Sambal. But it’s not just the mouthwatering meals that make this so great, it’s also run by a lively Malaysian family so welcoming you’ll feel like a new member of their clan!
Fill your tummy with flaky and buttery Roti Canai, lovingly created to help you scoop up every last bit of your creamy Mee Curry. Or wolf down a plate of Char Kway Teow, smoky stir-fried noodles with a kick that pair perfectly with a pot of Ten Tarik tea for dessert.
Find it: Sambal, 286 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M21 8HA.
Double Zero
Credit: Double Zero
With sourdough pizza so droolworthy that Mancunians begged the team to open a second site in the city centre, Double Zero doesn’t just have the title of best pizza in Chorlton, but one of the best restaurants, too. The option to BYOB also means you can wash down your feast with your favourite tipple.
The long and thin interior with an added veranda makes this spot feel small and intimate if you’re visiting as a two, but you’re always guaranteed to find a big group tucking into a Vulcano pizza under the chalkboard specials – with fior de latte, pepperoni, ‘nduja, jalapeños and hot honey, it would be rude not to! Did we also mention they do the best gluten free pizza in Manchester?
Find it: Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza, 368 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 8AZ.
Brewski
Escape the Chorlton chill with a big plate of mouthwatering North American comfort food. We’re talking Canadian poutine with cheese curds and gravy, stuffed crust burritos served with fajita seasoned fries and the best (and messiest!) burgers in the whole neighbourhood.
The menu at Brewski changes every six to eight weeks, but the staples remain constant – including the legendary sharing platters, perfect for splitting with your mates while catching up. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, make sure to sink your teeth into the dessert sharing board, you won’t regret it.
Find it: Brewski, 537-539 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0UE.
San Juan
One step inside San Juan and it’s easy to see how this Spanish tapas restaurant has earned legendary status in Chorlton. Taverna-style tiled walls, big jugs of delicious sangria and the echo of chefs communicating in their native tongue – if you want the best of Spain in Manchester, go here.
With just over half a dozen tables and a small outside seating area, a table reservation at San Juan is like gold dust. But this just makes the food even more worth the wait. Will you feast on fan favourites like papas ali oli and garlic prawns, or go for something more traditional like thinly sliced chorizo cooked in Galician cider or Manchego cheese with Spanish quince jelly?
Find it: Bar San Juan, 56 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EG.
The Lead Station
Set in the former police station, the menu at this trendy bar and restaurant is much like its unique location – definitely not your run of the mill. The mix of global gastro delights and British classics cooked to perfection means there’s something for everyone at The Lead Station, including real ale on tap.
Tuck into Thai chicken curry with pak choi and coconut shavings under the gorgeous exposed brick interior of the front room, or head through to the light and airy conservatory to enjoy a big plate of steak and chips with garlic and herb butter surrounded by your nearest and dearest.
Find it: The Lead Station, 99 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EQ.
Drink
Taphouses are a Chorlton way of life. You only have to wander down Beech Road to see how much this neighbourhood loves a pint. Whatever your tipple, you’ve not done Chorlton right until you grab a drink at these pubs and bars.
Horse and Jockey
One of our favourite spots to grab a drink on Beech Road, The Horse and Jockey is a great British pub in every sense of the word. Sure, it’s part of the Joseph Holt chain but that’s soon forgotten when you’re sipping on a cold crisp pint in the flower-filled front terrace or snuggling up on the squishy sofas under the oak wooden beams.
This place has been a pub for over 200 years and there’s even a Bootleg microbrewery hidden in the basement – ale drinkers, make sure to grab a pint of their own locally brewed beers! As well as your classic pub grub, you can also catch regular farmer’s markets and craft fairs if you visit on a weekend.
Find it: Horse and Jockey, 9 Chorlton Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9HS.
Electrik
Just across from Chorlton tram stop is Electrik, a casual and cosy cafébar away from the drinking hub of Beech Road with its own thing going on. With an impressive collection of tap beers, wines and spirits plus an ever changing cocktail menu, this is the drinking definition of smart casual.
Pull up a chair and sit on one of the high wooden tables or cram your group into a squishy leather booth. The low-lit interior and vibey background music makes Electrik a great evening spot, but you might find yourself having to talk a little louder the busier it gets. In the summer, sit out front on the terrace and watch the Chorlton fare pass through.
Find it: Electrik, 559a Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0AE.
The Laundrette
Credit: The Laundrette
If cocktails are more your vibe, there’s nowhere better than The Laundrette. With drinks guaranteed to do numbers on Instagram and a sun terrace festooned with squishy cushions (don’t worry, there’s heaters for winter!), this is for the girlies who like their drinks to look as good as they taste.
Sip on Laundrette original cocktails like the Raspberry Flossy made with bonomi vodka, raspberry liqueur, limoncello and finished with candy floss, or try one of the three types of Bloody Mary using the bar’s 1 to 10 scale to determine the heat. There’s also a variety of delicious sharer pitchers to split with your ride or dies.
Find it: The Laundrette, 32 Beech Road, Chorlton, Greater Manchester, M21 9EL.
The Beagle
Credit: Marwan Mounti
Boasting a humungous range of craft beers and a fully covered terrace with enough colourful chairs for a friend of a friend to pull up a seat, The Beagle is the perfect afternoon-evening hangout spot. Especially since there’s happy hour deals from 4pm to 7pm Sunday to Thursday!
This quirky, retro-vibe pub is also home to Nell’s Pizza, Manchester’s iconic New York pizza with deliciously creative toppings and even more creative names. If you’re coming over at the weekend, make sure to grab a Do You ‘Roni Honey? with a happy hour frozen margarita – it’s only right.
Find it: The Beagle, 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0BQ.
Coffee and Cake
The best way to explore Chorlton is at a leisurely pace – rush around and you’ll miss the spots that makes it so great! This means there’s plenty of time to stop for coffee and cake at some of the neighbourhood’s great cafe’s and delis.
Tea Hive
Credit: Tea Hive Team
Replenish your energy spent mooching around the neighbourhood with a big slice of homemade cake and a loose leaf brew at Tea Hive. This family-run cafe has been part of the Chorlton furniture for over a decade thanks to its cosy interior and old-warm charm – china teapots are a staple here.
While you can’t go wrong with a Tea Hive brunch, it’s the cakes that really make this place stand out. Get stuck into a rich chocolate orange sponge or a slice of zesty lemon and lime cake, including tons of vegan and gluten free options. Can’t pick? Order the cake taster board and try three of their mouthwatering homemade bakes.
Find it: Tea Hive, 53 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9PW.
Barbakan Deli
Credit: Frankie Dyer
It’s not just Chorlton, people flock from all over Manchester to pick up their favourite treats from Barbakan Deli, whether it’s Italian antipasti, Spanish ham or oozing blocks of French fromage. But it’s Barbakan’s on-site bakery that has us always going back for more.
Get your hands on Danish fruit pastries, flaky almond croissants and Nutella and custard vol-au-vonts, all baked in-store by their master bakers. With over 75 varieties of hand-moulded loaves, cakes and pastries, Barbakan is more than just a coffee and cake stop, it’s a whole cultural European experience.
Find it: Barbakan Deli, 67-71 Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9PW.
Cocoa Tree
Take a break at Cocoa Tree, but swap that kit-kat for a creamy Belgian hot chocolate and a gooey salted caramel brownie. Serving handmade chocolate treats, this cafe and chocolate shop will please any chocoholic – even those without a sweet tooth will enjoy the free bonbon with every hot drink.
With all sorts of chocolatey treats on display and the smell of chocolate and coffee beans wafting through the tables, this spot is a total assault on the senses. There’s also the chance to buy some of their gorgeous hand made artisan chocolates to take home – whether you share is up to you.
Find it: Cocoa Tree, 426 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0AS.
Shop
Chorlton’s close-knit community is best seen and felt by heading into the neighbourhood’s independent shops and boutiques. This is your chance to not only bag something unique, but support some of the many great small businesses in Manchester.
Unicorn Grocery
Credit: David Oates
Browse and buy a huge range of organic and locally sourced products at an affordable price at Chorlton’s own wholefood co-op. Think kid in a sweet shop if the sweet shop had aisles upon aisles of colourful fruit and veg, a refill station for grains and pulses and a droolworthy deli selection.
But it’s not just produce that you can buy here. Unicorn Grocery also stocks vegan toiletries like bath bombs and cruelty free skincare products. There’s even a play area for children to let off some steam and have a taste of Unicorn’s organic apples if you need to go into serious shopping mode.
Find it: Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albany Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 0BN
Epicerie Ludo
Credit: Marine Commont
You could spend hours in Ludo’s having a nosy through the many goodies on sale in this gourmet grocery and wine store. Fancy a taste of France? There’s fresh pain au chocolats, croissants and French sticks baked in-store. Looking to level up your home bar? Take home some Chilean wine or Spanish cava.
Cocktail and spirit connoisseurs are also taken care of at Ludo’s with everything from cognac and whisky, to vermouth and tequila from around the world sold on these Chorlton shelves. If you really don’t need anything else, let Ludo help you make your very own hamper of goods to give to someone special – who wouldn’t want a basket full of chutney and crackers!
Find it: Epicerie Ludo, 46 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EG.
Chorlton Bookshop
Credit: Chorlton Bookshop
Helping neighbourhood bookworms find their next read since 1983, Chorlton Bookshop stocks the latest fiction and non-fiction literary treasures in its half a dozen wooden shelves and tables piled high with colourful covers. There’s also a thriving children’s section for young readers.
It’s hard to miss this store down Wilbraham Road – both the quaint iron gates and old fashioned signage let you know its location, while the friendly and knowledgeable staff in this family-owned store can often be seen helping customers with recommendations to add to their overflowing reading pile.
Find it: Chorlton Bookshop, 506 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9AW.
Do
While eating and drinking make a big part of the neighbourhood’s personality, there’s many other things to do in Chorlton inbetween. These are some of our favourite activities to squeeze into a day out on this side of Manchester.
Live music at Dulcimer
It’s not just the great selection of international and British beers in keg, cask and bottle that make Dulcimer such a must-visit venue, but this long-standing Chorlton pub also has an impressive roster of live music performances held in the upstairs bar – including regular comedy nights.
This spot is famously known for its brilliant folk music performances, but you can also catch everything from hiphop and rock, to live soul and rhythm and blues. If you’re heading to Dulcimer in the week, make sure to take advantage of their happy hour prices for something to sip on while you watch.
Find it: Dulcimer, 567 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0AE.
Charity shopping on Wilbraham Road
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Chorlton is an absolute Mecca for keen charity shoppers. Not only are there tons of stores you can spend hours sifting through, but thanks to the mix of young professionals and families living in the neighbourhood, you’re guaranteed to find some real hidden gems – especially on Wilbraham Road.
With Oxfam, Sue Ryder, RSPCA and British Red Cross all within a few seconds walk of each other, this street is great for doing a charity shop crawl. Find a varied selection of clothing, accessories and homeware in all three stores, and a bonus vintage section in Sue Ryder for keen retro heads.
Find it: Oxfam, 494 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester, M21 9AS. Sue Ryder, 553 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton Cum Hardy, Manchester, M21 0AE. RSPCA, 565 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 0AE. British Red Cross, 611 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Greater Manchester, M21 9AN.
Painting at Pottery Corner
Take something home from your time in Chorlton by painting a ceramic masterpiece at Pottery Corner. Plates, bowls, mugs, vases – you can even decorate ceramic animals with every colour of the rainbow at this small but popular studio.
If you’re heading to Chorlton on an evening, time it with one of Pottery Corner’s late night sessions where you can bring your own booze to drink while you paint. You can collect your creation within 9 days – another great excuse to return to the neighbourhood. Just be careful, ceramics left for months on end get sold at their pottery sale with money going to charity!
Find it: Pottery Corner, 34 Beech Road, Manchester, United Kingdom, M21 9EL.
Chorlton Water Park
Green spaces are rife in Chorlton, but the water park offers more than just somewhere to get reacquainted with nature. With a peaceful lake and surrounding grasslands and woodlands, you can spend hours exploring this beautiful spot, keeping an eye out for otters, kingfishers and ring-necked parakeets!
Make an afternoon of it by completing the famous walking route that takes you through Trafford water park, past a pub to refuel you on the way. If it’s sunny, you can also cobble together a picnic from nearby Tesco Express or M&S Food Hall to scoff on the many wooden benches!
Find it: Chorlton Water Park, Maitland Avenue, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 7WH.
Cover image credit: The Laundrette
