Best BYOB Restaurants in Manchester

Bring Your Own Booze restaurants have been around for a while (most of us remember them from being a student). But the cost of living crisis is causing a surge in popularity and we’re seeing more and more popping-up across Manchester.

By Clare Dentith | Updated Mar 25 2024

A bottle of champagne sits on a wooden table surrounded by wild mushrooms in paper bags. Two wine glasses are placed next to the bottle. Two people with their hands visible are preparing food in the background. — Maël BALLAND

There’s a real variety to choose from. Of course, some have struggled to get a liquor license from the Council, usually because they’re located in residential settings, but there’s also some large well-known establishments who like to give their discerning customers the choice to drink what they damn well please without paying the hefty price tag to match. So, for the cost conscious, health conscious and the label conscious out there, here’s culturecalling.com’s pick of the best BYOB eateries across Manchester.

The Hawksmoor

A plate of roast dinner with slices of medium-rare beef, crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, braised carrots, greens, and a halved roasted garlic, served with a side of gravy and a glass of red wine on a wooden table. Salt and pepper shakers are in the background.

184 – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Yep, you’re reading that right. This high-end chain, well known for its to-die-for Chateaubriand, allows you to take your own bottle on a Monday, as part of its Monday Wine Club, for the small price of £5. The offer runs at all their restaurants, and you can really max the value if you dust off your Nebuchadnezzar of Champagne and/or a Balthazar of Burgundy. If Monday isn’t that tempting, you can take in your own bottle on any other day, but the corkage is higher at £25. You’ll have the real pleasure of pairing your bottle with the Hawksmoor’s truly mourish menu which includes: roasted scallops, oysters, and, of course, the very best steak cuts and sides selection you’ll find in town. Manchester’s Hawksmoor is located centrally in a late Victorian courthouse on Deansgate, next door to Spinningfields.

You can book a table here

Mughli Charcoal Pit

An assortment of Indian dishes including naan, biryani, curries, tandoori chicken, and various side dishes are arranged on a table. The image comprises colorful and diverse food items, with the word मुगली written in Hindi at the center. — Mughli Charcoal Pit

30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 5TQ

A student looking to save money on your curry? Rusholme is, of course, the infamous Curry Mile in Manchester. Its rows of curry houses and bars are alive 24/7 and deciding which one to go to is a challenge (as can be parking your car on a Saturday eve. Just to forewarn you!) But our tried and trusted favourite is the Mughlil, a family run business since the early 1990’s. The menu, as you’d expect, is extensive with over 20 curries to choose from. Their Street Eat smaller plates including Fish Thakos and Bhangin Potatos are truly tasty. They run a BYO night for students which is available Sunday to Thursday and please make sure you take along your student card as proof.

The Mughli is seriously popular so we’d definitely recommend booking ahead.

You can book a table here

Yara

A variety of Middle Eastern dishes on a table, including bowls of hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammara, labneh, and mutabal. Flanked by side dishes such as pastries, sesame bread, sliced cucumbers, and small bowls of red sauce. Everything is arranged on a white tablecloth. — Yara

At various locations across South Manchester

This extremely popular small chain of restaurants is located across South Manchester and Cheshire. The simply decorated restaurants serve up a modern take on traditional Lebanese and Syrian cuisine. Take our word for it, you’ll be booking in another visit before you’ve finished your Babaganoush. They deliver a truly authentic Middle Eastern taste with bold flavours and succulent food. Sample the delights of Palmyra lamb stew, Maklueh – aubergine topped with tender lamb - and mouth-wateringly tender kebabs marinated and then chargrilled over charcoal. Best of all, it’s BYOB with a small corkage of £2.

You can book at table here or experience Yara at home by ordering from their online order system.

The Walled Gardens

A beautifully plated dish featuring a delicate, lacy edible decoration resembling a red flower, with small white flowers around it. The arrangement sits atop a seared morsel in a shallow white bowl, accompanied by green sauce. Chef-created, visually striking presentation. — The Walled Gardens

This isn’t your average restaurant. It’s a revolutionary approach to cooking by chef Eddie Shepherd. Essentially Eddie cooks in the basement of his Manchester home, serving up a Michelin star quality plant based tasting menu. It was recently listed as one of Observer Food Monthly’s ’20 of the UK’s best restaurants’ and has landed in the Top 100 restaurants in the world. We’re excited! Eddie cooks for just 8 diners a night, whipping up a 12-course menu from his open kitchen, and personally introduces each course. The tasting menu is available Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday three weekends a month and tickets, aka reservations, are released at 9am on the 1st of each month. Be warned, they sell out very quickly but are definitely worth fighting for in our opinion.

Best of all, it’s a BYOB experience so you won’t have the awful shock of paying for a few hundred pounds worth of wine that’s been paired with each course.

You can book a table here

Codi’s Kitchen

A wooden table set with five black plates: a colorful salad, a dish of seasoned raw fish, a plate of Korean-style fried chicken wings, two steamed buns with meat filling, a bowl of guacamole with four pieces of crispy bread, and two bowls of assorted sashimi. — Codis Kitchen

257 Heywood Rd, Prestwich Manchester M25 2QP

Run by one of Australasia’s ex-chef’s, Codi Sheldon, this Prestwich based local restaurant is definitely worth a visit. The pan-Asian menu covers a mouth-wateringly tempting selection of reasonably priced sushi, rolls, bao buns and poke bowls. Prices start at £6.50. The fish is melt-in-your-mouth and the poke bowls are seriously tasty and healthy. The mains, aptly named, The Main Event, are served with rice or noodles and you can choose from Teriyaki, Katsu curry, Korean, Miso or chicken, beef or tofu Broths.

Best of all, it’s BYOB for just £2 per person so you can enjoy one of the best Asian restaurants in town without the big price tag.

You can book at table here

Tampopo

A warmly lit restaurant features red and orange lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Diners sit at wooden tables, enjoying meals. Shelves with various items and a bar area are visible on the side. The ambiance is cozy and inviting. — Tampoo Manchester

16 Albert, Manchester M2 5PF

There are now four Tampopo restaurants across Manchester, including one in the Trafford Centre, serving up a selection of small and large plates for adults from morning till night. You can have an Asian inspired breakfast from 10.30am – 3pm daily, and can expect to find rolled toasted roti with bacon, mushrooms, fried egg, a beef rendang version and crispy avo. stack with kimchi and sweetcorn fritters to set you up for the day. The mains include sharing plates and individual dishes. Our tasty favourites include: Szechaun crispy squid, Balinese pork belly which is slow cooked in star anise and cinnamon and to die for, Bang Bang prawns and chargrilled Tenderstem broccoli with toasted cashews, crispy garlic and shallots. Best of all, it’s BYOB for a small corkage fee.

You can book a table here

Chez Nous Bistro

A grilled chicken breast is plated with roasted potatoes, tender stem broccoli, and a creamy green pea sauce. The dish is garnished with fresh herbs, creating a visually appealing presentation on a white plate. — chez Nous Bistro

179 Marsland Rd, Sale M33 3ND

This little French restaurant has been serving the south Manchester town of Sale for decades. It’s a solid local restaurant with a modern British menu using local and seasonal produce. You can also Bring Your Own Bottle on Wednesdays and Thursdays for a small corkage fee of £2.50 per bottle and fizz is charged at £7.50 per bottle. They run a good value food deal of 2 courses for £24 and 3 courses for £27 – (available Wednesday from 5pm, Thursday all day from 12 noon and Friday and Saturday from 12 noon until 6.30 pm).

You can book a table here

Double Zero

A freshly baked pizza in an open cardboard box, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and slices of pepperoni. There is a single basil leaf in the center of the pizza, which has a slightly charred crust. — Double Zero

368 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, M21 8AZ

Double Zero is a legendary pizza heaven in the cool South Manchester district of Didsbury (there’s also a branch in the city centre). It claims to be the home of ‘authentic, handmade Neopolitan pizza’ and all our tastebuds agree; we think it’s one of the best. Imagine hand-stretched, wood-fired puffy edged crusts with good quality Italian toppings – Salami, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, truffle mushrooms. The Vulcano breaks the mould a little with its spicy nduja, roasted jalapenos and hot honey. You can add any topping you like for an additional £2 each. It’s BYOB and the corkage fee is a modest £1.50. With pizza prices around £14 each you can definitely eat and drink for less than £30 for two people.

You can book a table here

Phetpailin

46 George Street, City Centre, Manchester M1 4HF

Like Thai food? Phetpailin is a great restaurant that’s been cooking authentic Thai dishes since 2006. Right in the heart of China Town in Manchester, Phetapailin serves up a broad and extensive Thai offer and we recommend you turn up hungry. Special dishes include delicately flavoured curries with a choice of prawns, duck, chicken, pork and steak - either red or green with coconut milk. There’re also popular noodle dishes of Pad Thai and Pad Si-ew, together with a great selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes at a snip of £10. Seafood’s also big on the menu with our personal favourite of stir fried squid with garlic, chilli and basil leaves. If it’s a bit overwhelming, then opt for the Set Menu’s which start at £26 for 2 people. You can Bring Your Own Alcohol for a cheap £1 corkage fee.

Zena Restaurant

A cozy restaurant interior with wooden tables and chairs on a wooden floor. The walls are a mix of exposed brick and yellow paint, adorned with framed art. There is a tiled counter at the back, with dim overhead lighting creating a warm ambiance. — Zena Restaurant

136 Burton Road West Didsbury Manchester M20 1JQ

Zena is a BYO restaurant on the hip Burton Road in West Didsbury (15 minutes from the city centre). They create authentic and super fresh Leventine dishes - that’s Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian and Jordanian – using the freshest ingredients. Try not to gorge on the homemade falafel, Kibbeh – deep friend minced lamb shaped and spinach and cheese starters before you move onto the mains (which you’ll be able to smell as you walk into the restaurant). Our faves include the Maklubieh – rice topped with tender lamb and layers of aubergines, beautifully crafted vegetarian Mosaka, and Chicken tikka kebab grilled over charcoal. If that’s not enough, there’s zero cost for bringing in a bottle of your favourite wine.

You can book a table here