First impressions are crucial – and never more so on a date. Everything changes within the context of a date. The rules are out the window – you’re here to impress.
One way to soothe your worries is to find that all-important location and venue. Get that right and a major factor in the success of the date is in the bag! It’s crucial to match the place with the tone – is this a spontaneous, informal rendezvous, or a suited-and-booted night of courtship?
Here at Maclynn (formerly Vida), we understand our clients have vastly different preferences and tastes when it comes to choosing a date spot. Thankfully, we’ve got them covered. Here are five of our favourites from around Manchester.
This bustling pan-Asian restaurant comes with the tagline ‘A laid back slice of life down under’ – which transpires to be unexpectedly literal as you descend the gorgeous stone steps to a dusky labyrinth beneath the vibrancy of Spinningfields. A cavernous space is characterised by low lighting and bleach-blond wood; at one end, the cocktail bar and DJ deck; at the other, the kitchen team, elegantly constructing elaborate dishes to the delight of onlooking diners. The menu is a bonanza of succulent, slow-cooked meats and trendy twists on traditional desserts – whilst there’s no crème brûlée in sight, the kaffir brûlée is a marvel to behold, laced in lime and paired with a tantalising pineapple sorbet. To top it off, the service in Australasia is remarkable: waiters flawlessly recite a broad menu, and everything is served up with nothing short of pizzazz.
Sitting atop the eponymous nineteenth storey of No. 1 Spinningfields, night-time panoramas of the city below are literally breath-taking. Don’t be fooled by the single-sheet menu – it is rich in dishes treading the oh-so-fine line between hearty and dainty. There is an outdoor terrace with living greenery and firepits, complete with a grill restaurant for a date of debauchery when nothing but a fat, juicy burger will suffice. The dishes in the restaurant proper are relentlessly superb; service is prompt and – most importantly – non-intrusive, key to maintaining the delicate magic of the date.
This Japanese eatery nestled within a grade II listed building in the Northern Quarter was originally a tailor’s workshop, its name derived from the city’s nickname during its pinnacle as a hub of international garment trade. A chic space of dark walls makes savvy use of the dappled natural light seeping in through old sash windows. Mustard seating, spotlights and heavy drapes create an ambience somewhat akin to that of a filmset – broken only by salvaged chains from the building’s industrial past hanging from the walls, true to its heritage. Cottonopolis a frontrunner in the changing times of the Northern Quarter, once solely the domain of twenty-something locals but today an increasingly cosmopolitan, multicultural space of culinary diversity. That said, Japanese cuisine remains quite the USP – supported entirely by dishes served with panache and a touching regard for tradition. Book in advance – Cottonopolis’s reputation precedes it.
Manchester was waiting years for a good Spanish restaurant – and then, in 2016, six turned up at once. El Gato Negro, a handsome three-storey building on King Street, is simply ravishing. Reclaimed brick walls, splashes of burnt umber and copper, an open kitchen lined with leather bar stools – the restaurant is worth visiting for the spectacular aesthetics alone, but the menu and wine list are smart, too, both showing evidence of enlightened sourcing. You’ll pass the ground-floor charcuterie bar to reach the restaurant proper on the first floor – just be aware of the staircase ascent after having imbibed a few (truly marvellous) Iberian sherries.
Tattu Restaurant & Bar offers contemporary Chinese cuisine, fusing traditional Asian flavours with exquisite presentation. An ideal date spot, with an intimate atmosphere, inviting guests to relax and enjoy the extensive cocktail menu.
So, there you go! Are you looking for love, seeking that excitement that only first-date nerves can bring? If so, why not get in touch with Maclynn (formerly Vida) today? At Maclynn (formerly Vida), we work with some of the world’s most exceptional singletons, all ready and waiting to settle down with that special someone. Call today – fall in love tomorrow.
