CODE Does.... A Guide To The Northern Quarter!
If you didn’t already know Manchester is where it’s at for everything from community spirit to music and the arts. The whole city has so much to offer but I have to say, the Northern Quarter is one of my favourite areas.
It's really difficult to write a guide to the Northern Quarter purely for the fact that there is SO MUCH to see and do. As someone who has being exploring the NQ for several years I still feel like I have only seen the tip of the iceberg! However, I still intend to tell you about this truly awesome area as I believe it's somewhere that everyone should get to see, especially if your local to Manchester. Plus I have a list of wonderful places that I love to go on about to anyone that will listen!
Whether your looking to spend a crazy Saturday night or a chilled Sunday afternoon there, there's something for everyone in Manchester's NQ. Here's my guide of places to go.
For a first date? Twenty Twenty Two
When going on first dates in Manchester my go to place is always Twenty Twenty Two. This fun and vibrant bar is situated right in the heart of the Northern Quarter and it has a cool kid, happening vibe, guaranteed to impress your date. Start off with a game of ping pong to break the ice while you enjoy the best of RnB music.
For a mid week girls night out? The Blue Pig
I first went to The Blue Pig's Oink Punk Bingo for a friends birthday last year and was completely sold. This is bingo with a difference, expect great tunes, crazy competitions (I have seen a couple of dance off's) and prizes that you will really want to win. This takes place every Wednesday 8-10 so a good time if you need to get to sleep for work on Thursday.
To catch a great DJ? Soup Kitchen
The distressed graffiti inspired decor of Soup Kitchen gives for an edgy underground vibe, perfect for Instagram worthy group pictures of your crew. The venue is smallish, which makes for an intimate and exclusive vibe and the crowd is a friendly bunch of hipsters who really know their music. The line up boasts an impressive selection of DJ's from a variety of genre's, from funk and soul to techno.
For a chilled out, but delicious meal? El Capo
I always order from El Capo on Deliveroo which I would totally recommend, but it is worth making the trip to the actual restaurant if you can! The restaurant bar has an authentic South American feel to it and serves amazing south American tapas and traditional Mexican street food. The portions are pretty big too which is always a plus!
For a quirky shopping spree? Affleck’s Palace
If your looking for a vintage fashion, quirky gifts or original souvenirs, Affleck’s palace is the place to go. Affleck’s is a four floor emporium with stores selling a variety of individual clothing, jewellery, accessories and so much more! It's also a great place to get a piercing or tattoo if that's your thing – the staff are highly experienced, friendly and professional.
For a book store with a difference? Magma
If you thought a bookstore couldn’t be seriously cool then Magma will prove you wrong. Specialising in design focused books, Magma is the perfect place for artsy types to find some awesome reading material. They also sell some amazing artwork so I recommended checking it out if you’re looking to jazz up your home.
For a music lover? Piccadilly Records
Everyone knows that Manchester is heaven for music lovers, it’s one of the things that makes the city so special. If you’re sick of iTunes and want to acquire your favourite tracks the old school way then this award winning record store is the place to go. Piccadilly Records stocks a wide variety of genres from indie to disco.
While I strongly recommend that you check out every venue on this list, there really so much more to NQ than I could fit in one blog post! Check out the Northern Quarter website for a full list of places to go. http://northernquartermanchester.com/
Lily x