Restaurant · Manchester
Set inside a grand old Stock Exchange building, this is a calm, elegant dining room that feels more members' club than family restaurant — worth knowing if your children are the sort who'll sit for a proper meal. There are high chairs, a kids' menu, vegan options and enough space to get a pram through, and the staff are warm and attentive without hovering; nobody is hurried out once plates are cleared, which matters when lunch takes a while. Portions are generous and the cooking is precise, with barely a weak dish across a table. Two honest snags: the menu is short, so check something suits everyone before you book, and the afternoon tea divides opinion — the hot savoury bites fare better than the sweet side. One parent describes it as somewhere you want to stay indefinitely.
A little something creative for your next meal out. Filled with colouring, simple drawing prompts for cute animals, origami and conversation starters designed to bring more play, laughter and connection to the table. 3 free printable packs for toddlers, preschoolers and primary-aged children.
Roomy, quiet-street Thai with fast walk-in service, high chairs and a kids' menu; the red duck curry and papaya salad are the picks.
Smartly renovated city-centre pub with roomy seating, kids' menu, high chairs and simple, well-priced food — quietest mid-afternoon.
Atmospheric old Manchester pub with a Lowry statue at the bar, hearty chops, kids' menu and high chairs — quietest at weekday lunch.