Believe it or not, searches on our site for places open for Christmas in Manchester started picking up in early September. Give us a chance, guys, even the restaurants themselves weren't that organised.

If you're like me and prefer heading out for a meal on the big day over total kitchen destruction at home, you're going to love this list of over 20 places in town and beyond that are open on Christmas Day.

Indian feasts, instrumentally soundtracked suppers and Christmas mezes are all on the cards in Manchester this year. So make a cuppa, have a scroll and by the end of the day you'll be able to tick that massive job off your to-do list.

Christmas Day bookings will be busy this year as usual, so remember to call restaurants to check if spaces are still available. Don’t forget to check restaurants’ websites for timings and menus that are subject to change at any time.

Header image: San Carlo

20 Stories

Christmas in the sky this year is five courses soundtracked by the wonderful String Infusion music group playing live from 1pm-4pm. The menu hasn’t dropped yet, but the views will be spectacular and there will be a whole vegan menu too.

NO. 1, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB

8Manchester

The much-loved Chinese restaurant in Whitefield is open from 1pm-5pm serving a veritable banquet of Cantonese celebration favourites from £50 per person. Steamed seabass, char siu and shui mai dumplings are all highlights.

260 Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 8AB

The Bird at Birtle

The Bird at Birtle always books up fast for Crimbo so best make the phonecall now if you fancy it. The menu is looking amazing as usual, but crispy king prawn beignets followed by beef wellington with dauphinoise potatoes and an “assiette of Christmas desserts” is all the information we need to make a sensible and informed decision about Christmas Day plans.

239 Bury and Rochdale Old Rd, Birtle, Heywood OL10 4BQ

Bombay to Mumbai

This colourful spot in Bramhall is now taking Christmas lunch reservations. The menu includes Bombay surf and turf with lamb steak and prawns. So if you’re in need of a break from the tirade of turkey in December, get yourself booked in.

10 Fir road, Bramhall, Stockport , SK7 2NP

The Bull & Bear

Tom Kerridge's restaurant at the Stock Exchange Hotel will, of course, be open on Christmas Day for hotel residents and on-the-day punters. Starters is potted lobster, then choose Norfolk Brown turkey or rotisserie dry-aged Dovecote Sirloin of beef for your main. £165 per person, plus a 10% service charge. Contact the Stock Exchange Hotel for all the details.

4 Norfolk Street, Manchester M2 1DW

A La Turka

The Stockton Heath restaurant will open on Christmas Day for two sittings from £74.95 per person. Think a trademark A La Turka Christmas Meze, oven-baked cod and king prawn shish kebab finished off with handmade baklava for a real Turkish feast. Kids menus are also available.

Unit 4 Victoria Buildings, Stockton Heath WA4 2AG

Ducie Street Warehouse

There is a whole host of stuff going on at Ducie Street over the festive period. From wreath making to gospel choirs. The Christmas Day menu is now available to book at £120 per person. There’ll be pinchos on arrival, with salted caramel piccolo parsnip soup and free-range turkey for the big meal. Or just pop in to the bar for a drink in the afternoon.

Ducie St, Manchester M1 2TP

Roast Potatoes At The Eagle And Child — **If these spuds don't get you in the mood, nothing will** Image: Eagle & Child

Eagle & Child

The Ramsbottom favourite is only open for one sitting on Christmas Day, so get booked in as soon as you can. With all the classics available and the main event accompanied by a fig and chestnut sausage roll, there’s no place we’d rather be on the big day. £115 per person.

3 Whalley Rd, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 0DL

Elnecot

You can’t beat Michael Clay’s cooking for Christmas Day in the city. Mulligatawny soup is paired with confit quail, Scottish hake gets the lobster sauce treatment and don’t forget champagne on arrival for £95 per person.

Cutting Room Square, 41 Blossom St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AJ

Etçi Mehmet

If all you want from life is a big hunk of meat to celebrate Jesus, then Ecti Mehmet’s Turkish steakhouse might be just what you’re looking for. It promises a “carefully-crafted 3-course festive menu” and they often carve meat Salt Bae-style right at your table. So that’ll be nice.

Unit 4, The Quadrangle, Chester St, Manchester M1 5QS

Feel Good Club

Anybody who knows Feel Good Club knows that they welcome anybody with open arms, and Christmas Day is no exception. The team don’t offer food but will swing the doors to their caff open from 9am-12pm for coffee and catch-ups with the local crowd. They usually have a little mini Baileys for anyone who pops down as well. Smiley face.

26-28 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EH

Joseph Holt Pubs

There are 125 Joseph Holt pubs dotted around the North West, and most of them are open on Christmas Day for a festive 3-course family-friendly lunch. The Ape and Apple on John Dalton Street is serving a Trailblazer stout featherblade of beef with melting onions as well as a more traditional roast turkey. But check with your local publicans for specifics.

Various locations

Mamucium @ Hotel Indigo

As far as hotel restaurants go, Manucium prides itself on being sustainable, organic, local and ethical. The Christmas menu is traditional, yes, but has lots of lovely festive details. Curried parsnip soup and chicken terrine with cranberry chutney are available to start. Followed by turkey with pigs in blankets, pot roast beef featherblade or a sweet potato wellington if you’re of the vegan persuasion.

6 Todd Street, Manchester, M3 1WU

Mount Street

The Midland Hotel's side-kick restaurant is serving a "very special Christmas Day set menu". No official menu is knocking about as yet, but we do know it'll cost £115 per person. The restaurant itself is probably one of the prettiest venues in Manchester so would make an amazing setting for a memorable festive meal.

16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS

Mulino

Mulino’s Italian stylings translate in to a hearty Christmas Day menu for £59.95 a person. For starters enjoy prosciutto di san Danielle (Italian cured ham with mozzarella and heritage tomato salad, lemon and basil oil) or capesante (scallops with pea risotto). And for the main event think tacchino arrosto (turkey ballotine with marsala gravy) or salmon principessa (salmon with asparagus and brandy sauce).

1 Primrose Ave, Urmston, Manchester M41 0TY

OSMA

Prestwich’s own Michelin Guide restaurant, OSMA opens for Christmas Day with an unusually traditional-sounding menu. Think Cremant, canapes and corn-fed goose. But don’t be fooled, we’re sure there’ll be a signature dark and witchy twist. £125 per person.

132 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 0AA

The River Restaurant

Step into the land of Narnia with The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel this Christmas and let the team at Manchester’s only 5-star hotel do all the work. For £140 per person have the likes of souffle, beef sirloin and sherry trifle for your big meal and sit back to enjoy your luxurious surroundings.

The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5LH

Rosso

The menu for Rosso’s Christmas celebrations has dropped, but bookings are not yet open. So if you fancy lobster, Baron Brigod cheese, white truffle and a herb-rolled rack of lamb on your Christmas table this year, it’s best to download the enquiry form and register your interest now.

43 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BG

San Carlo Manchester

San Carlo has announced its most luxurious menu to date - including black winter truffle and burrata. Festive Lunch is £89.95 per person and you can enjoy the likes of halibut or lobster tagliolini if you don’t fancy turkey. That’s not to say San Carlo’s Tacchino con ripieno di Castagne (turkey with chestnut stuffing, chipolatas wrapped in pancetta, and Italian jus) won’t be absolutely stunning. This menu is also available at San Carlo Fiorentina in Hale Barns.

40-42 King St W, Manchester M3 2WY / San Carlo Fiorentina, Hale Barns, Hale, Altrincham

Scene Indian Kitchen

The Indian jewel of Spinningfields is of course open for Christmas dining this year, with the choice of a few different Christmas feasts. Including - but not limited to - a whole lamb leg marinated in a blend of Scene spices before being wrapped in banana leaves and steamed to flavoursome perfection. Contact the restaurant directly for more deets.

4a Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER

Sicilian NQ

Carmen from Sicilian NQ was super excited to let us know that the popular Northern Quarter restaurant is open for business over Christmas and New Year. No menu yet, but if you’re looking for a real dose of Italian hospitality, you should definitely consider a taste of traditional Sicily for Crimbo.

14 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ

Zouk

Zouk's Christmas Day banquet is a total bargain at £45 per person for 6-courses. Start the day with poppadums and pickles, peak with a roast lamb raan, and end with a dessert platter full of baklava, barfi and brownies.

5, The Quadrangle, Chester St, Manchester M1 5QS

Read again: Yet more new restaurants, bars and cafes opening in Manchester

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