With summer fast approaching, many of us may be looking forward to our impending holidays or city breaks planned to make the most of the guaranteed sunshine in other destinations. But, if the sometimes dull spring weather is making you feel a little grey, then there are some ways you can create the feel of being on holiday without having to spend too much money.

The Meditteranean is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and is home to some of the best food and beaches in Europe, but Liverpool has some wonderful Meditteranean restaurants where all you need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy some wonderful food – just imagine you are sat dining on a Mediterranean beach!

Neon Jamon

Neon Jamon is the place to visit if you are searching for tasty tapas, great atmosphere and fine Spanish wine. Just a short walk away from Penny Lane, this is the perfect Friday night restaurant and is ideal if you’re looking for somewhere to dine with friends or family. With melt-in-the-mouth Spanish meats, including their signature acorn-fed Iberico ham, fresh sardines, traditional patatas bravas and delicious créma Catalana, you’re sure to enjoy each and every one of the dishes on offer.

Othello’s

Othello’s is one of only a few traditional Greek restaurants which sticks to what it knows best – food. Here, you’ll find no loud music, no plate smashing and no Greek dancing, but instead, you’ll be treated to a warm and friendly atmosphere. Gerry, who is the owner, has been crowned as the Best Greek Chef in Your Move magazine, so it is safe to say he knows his stuff. The Mousakka is a popular dish here, with many customers saying it is the best they have ever had.

Salt House Bacaro

This Spanish and Italian inspired restaurant is well known by locals for its sharing platters and amazing Campari drinks. With an Italian-influenced drinks menu and a Spanish style a la carte food menu, the infusion of different food, drinks and cultures works well here. From a pea puree risotto with a pancetta crumb to a raspberry and limoncello semifreddo, there’s no shortage of tasty dishes. If you want to experience a true mixture of Mediterranean foods, then Salt House Bacaro is the spot for you!

Fattoush

If the infamous Liverpool rain ever takes you by surprise, then you should add in a stop at Fattoush until it passes. Sat just behind the World Museum and Central Library, Fattoush specialises in Mediterranean and Lebanese dishes. This dining establishment is well-known for its friendly staff and great service, so it’s a great place to relax after a busy day sightseeing or shopping. There is plenty on offer here, including tasty kebabs and chicken skewers, homemade hummus and some of the best baklava the city has to offer. Their Lebanese coffee is worth a try, as is their mint tea, but they also offer a good beer and wine menu.

Bacchus Taverna

If a faraway Greek beach is only but a dream this year, then you can still experience some of the greatness that Greece has to offer with a visit to Bacchus Taverna. One of Liverpool’s best-kept secrets which is hidden in plain sight, only locals and those in the know are aware of its locations. The owner once served in the Greek army and was a sailor, but he can now be found at Bacchus Taverna every night. It’s known that he often goes to the local markets at 4 in the morning to ensure he gets the freshest ingredients. The food comes from recipes passed on through generations, with moussaka, salads, taramasalata and juicy meat dishes all taking centre stage on the menu.

Author Bio: Natalie Wilson is a freelance travel writer and can provide advice on anything, from vacation destinations to hidden travel gems. When not writing, Natalie can be found reading a good book or planning her next travel destination. At the moment, she is looking at the Algarve and its appeal for holiday-makers, particularly hotel recommendations and luxury Algarve villas.  You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.

The fine dining experience doesn’t solely rely on the quality of food in Manchester, there are restaurants known for the way they are decorated, and when you’re going for a meal, the atmosphere plays an essential part of your evening.

Here’s a look at six of Manchesters best known restaurants for tasty dishes and a perfect ambience.

Article written by Natalie Wilson

Tattu

Offering modern Chinese cuisine and original cocktails, Tattu is one of the most famous restaurants in Manchester. Its Asian themed decorations are the first thing you will notice when entering this restaurant, and its iconic indoor trees with beautifully coloured leaves are something you could stare at for hours. The restaurant offers a collection of dishes that are small and well presented, and it’s advised that you order a few starters to share so you and truly taste the variety of the menu.

Australasia

Located in Spinningfields, this restaurant isn’t the easiest to spot as it is underground with a small glass entrance in the shape of a pyramid. When you make your way downstairs, you will see the clean-cut finish that the restaurant has created to make every customer feel they are dining in luxury. Beige and white decorations accompanied by light wood furniture used throughout the location will keep you enjoying yourself while waiting for your food to arrive. The cuisine is Australian which includes influences from Indonesia and Japan and is known to have some of the best dishes in Manchester.

Refuge

This elegant dining experience is in a grand hall which includes ceramic pillars, an atrium ceiling and an indoor garden atmosphere. Refuge doesn’t just cater to diners, it also includes a roomy bar for those wanting more than just an evening of fine dining. There is a complete variety of cuisine to choose from on the Voltini which is similar to the tapas style menus. This is a reasonability priced choice of venue when compared to the previous two restaurants mentioned.

Allotment

From the outside, you might be expecting to enter an old fashion pub and greeted with a haze of noise. However, Allotment is known as one of the prettiest bars/ restaurants in the Northern Quarter. Filled with plants, greenery and fairy lights, the fresh surrounding is also accompanied by a tasty menu with a great choice of signature dishes. The Horticulture- theme of this venue also includes chunky wooden tables and chairs and is renowned for its grand gin menu.

Tast Catala

A true taste of Catalonia, this bar is owned by Manchester City F.C. manager Pep Guardiola. The intimate tables and light ambience gives this restaurant a refreshing appeal that is perfectly matched by an adventurous menu. The head chef of this establishment wants every customer to experience Catalonia for its finish meals, their goal is to treat you to cuisine that is unexpectedly good, and there tends to be 4 to 6 courses to experience.

Randall & Aubin

Arguably the best place for seafood in Manchester, the front of this restaurant is highlighted with branded awning and fresh seafood displayed like a marketplace shop front. As you enter, a bar area is available while you wait to be seated, and the rest of the venue offers a low light ambience which is brightened up with authentic lights and clashing neon signs. The dining area is warmly carpeted, and dark woods are matched with gold finish piping to offer more of an authentic finish.

It always best to review the prices of each venue before you commit to any bookings, however, if you want a luxurious experience for a special occasion, all 6 of these choices have slightly different prices brackets and a different take on their potions, but they all promise to offer a memorable evening.

Author Bio: Natalie Wilson is a freelance writer in the travel niche, and can provide advice on anything from travel accessories to hidden gems. When not writing, Natalie can be found reading a good book with a cup of tea or planning her next travel destination. You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.

Dining out is one of life’s little luxuries. Whether you prefer a fine establishment dining experience or love exploring the local food market on a weekend morning, there is nothing quite like enjoying great food.

The North of England is often overshadowed when it comes to what the UK food scene has to offer. With the bright lights of London boasting an impressive 71 Michelin-starred restaurants and the independent eateries of Camden, to the coastlines of Cornwall offering some of the best seafood restaurants in the world, the South certainly isn’t short of superb restaurants.

However, the North is growing substantially in terms of the dining establishments it has to offer. From the rolling moors of the Yorkshire Dales to the rugged terrain of the Lake District, the North is now home to some of the best restaurants in the UK. If you are a true foodie fanatic or simply enjoy good food and company, then be sure to add these restaurants to your list.

Northcote Hotel, Blackburn

Set in a beautiful stretch of countryside running across the edge of the Ribble Valley, Northcote may seem like a rural retreat at first glance, but the Michelin-starred food has put the restaurant on the map.

Built within a 19th-century manor, the house now boasts an impressive 26 rooms for guests to truly enjoy the surroundings and offerings of the Northcote. But, regardless of the attraction of the room, Northcote is famous for one thing: the food. The hotel has managed to keep hold of its Michelin star for more than 20 years and is one of only two Michelin-starred restaurants in Lancashire.

Almost all of the ingredients are locally sourced, with many even coming from the hotel’s own gardens. Whether you prefer to sample the 6-course tasting menu or want to enjoy the freshly-baked scones and delicate sandwiches that make up the popular Afternoon Tea menu, there is something for everyone’s tastes and budget.

Northcote Road,
Langho
Blackburn,
Lancashire,
England
BB6 8BE

20 Stories, Manchester

Towering above the bustling city of Manchester, 20 Stories is one of the city’s newest restaurants. With a fine dining menu consisting of heritage beef, cod cheek and a pumpkin, truffle and goat’s cheese flan, there is plenty of seasonal dishes to choose from. If the fine dining experience isn’t for you, you can also enjoy the selection of bar snacks on the outside terrace.

Acclaimed chef Aiden Byrne, who previously helped Manchester House achieve other dizzying levels of success, has taken on the D&D restaurant and aims to use local produce in all of the dishes featured on the menu, with the majority being sourced within 50 miles of the city. 20 Stories is one of the best places to eat in Manchester, thanks to the 360-degree views across the city, glamorous interiors and signature cocktail and wine menus.

L’Enclume, The Lake District

One of the Lake District’s, and perhaps the UK’s, most iconic restaurants, L’Enclume is a restaurant where passion and creativity come together to showcase some of the finest ingredients on offer. Opened in 2002, the Michelin-starred restaurant favours seasonal, stripped-back dining and one of their specialities comes in the form of foraging and growing their own produce and ingredients.

You don’t get to find out the menu here until you are ready to order, due to the exceptionally fresh nature of the ingredients. Placing your order is a hugely sensory experience thanks to the server’s delivery who entices you to listen and learn about what is on offer. Once your order is taken, a wax stamp sealed grey envelope is left in the centre of the table. Inside is the full menu of what you will be enjoying and it is left up to you to decide whether you open it or not.

Not only do you get to enjoy fresh, seasonal dining at L’Enclume, but the beautiful surroundings, perfectly paired wines and exceptional waiting staff all make it clear as to why L’Enclume is quickly becoming the destination of choice for diners.

Cavendish St, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands LA11 6QA

WreckFish, Liverpool

WreckFish first became known when they successfully managed to crowdfund a record-breaking £200,000 for the restaurant. Since then, the restaurant, which calls Slater Street in Liverpool home, has become extremely popular in the Northern city thanks to a vastly inclusive menu that is perfect for all. Last year, it won 19th place in The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards out of the top 100 restaurants in the UK.

If you’re looking for a dining destination to enjoy a laid-back brunch with friends, or want to plan a family meal, there is sure to be a menu to suit your needs. As well as individual tables, a communal table runs through the middle of the restaurant to encourage lone-diners to sit and chat with one another or you can hire the private dining room for free for larger gatherings.

Where The Light Gets In, Stockport

Perhaps one of the most intimate dining experiences across the North, Where The Light Gets In is the perfect dining set-up if you are looking for something that is impressive, yet completely unusual.

Stockport is just 20 minutes away from the centre of Manchester and, the Marketplace in particular, has recently undergone a huge transformation which features quirky bars, independent eateries and a regular food and craft market. When it comes to fine dining, Stockport hasn’t, historically, be known as a place to go. Yet, Where The Light Gets In has shown such an increase in its growth that other restaurants are following suit.

Close to the historic market hall, the restaurant is accessible via an inconspicuous staircase and doorway which leads straight  into an airy and light loft space, where you will spend the next few hours completely engrossed in the menu and dining experience.

With just 6 wooden tables, which seat 2 each, there is usually a waiting list spanning months in advance. The chefs and kitchen are permanently in full view for diners to see, which has led to the restaurant being known as having “the most open kitchen in Europe”. The menu features locally grown and foraged ingredients, with some dishes including mushrooms gathered the same day from Delamere Forest, which is just a stone’s throw away.

Much like other locally sourced restaurants, Where The Light Gets In doesn’t have a menu, either for wine or food. You are served what is fresh and produced on the night, whether that’s ox heart or month-aged sirloin steak. The restaurant controversially doesn’t cater for vegetarians or vegans, but will stretch to a pescatarian menu when notified in advance.