Manchester has some of the best food halls in the UK. Whether you want a long weekend brunch under a Victorian iron roof, a lively Friday night with friends, or a quick lunch on a shopping trip, there's a food hall for it.
This guide compares Manchester's three best food halls: Mackie Mayor, Altrincham Market and Arndale Market. You'll find opening times, what to order and which one to pick. Each one links to its page on Food Marketplace with the full trader list and directions.
Manchester food halls at a glance
| Food hall | Area | Open | Closed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackie Mayor | Northern Quarter | Tue to Sun from 9am, late Fri and Sat | Monday | Weekend brunch, groups, a night out |
| Altrincham Market House | Altrincham | Tue to Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 6pm | Monday | The original, plus produce and makers |
| Arndale Market | City centre | Mon to Sat 9am to 6:30pm, Sun 11:30am to 5:30pm | Open daily | A quick, good-value lunch |
Times were correct when we published. Always check before you travel, as hours can change.
Mackie Mayor, Northern Quarter
Tuesday to Thursday 9am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to 11pm, Sunday 9am to 8pm. Closed Mondays.
Mackie Mayor is Manchester's best-known food hall, and the building is half the reason to go. It's inside Smithfield Market Hall, a Grade II-listed Victorian market built in 1857 to 1858, which stood empty for decades before the team behind Altrincham Market restored and reopened it in 2017.
Long communal tables run down the middle under the iron-trussed roof, which makes it a great choice for groups who all want something different.
What to order:
- Taiko Ramen by New Wave Ramen: tucked under the stairs, serving spicy karashibi-style miso ramen, curry and buns. Walk-in only.
- Honest Crust: wood-fired sourdough pizza.
- Tender Cow: steaks and British beef.
- Pico's Tacos: Mexican street food.
- Reserve Wines and Jack in the Box by Blackjack Brew Co: wine and local craft beer.
Pick Mackie Mayor if you want the full food hall experience in a beautiful building, for brunch or a night out.
Altrincham Market & Market House
Market House: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 10pm, Sunday 9am to 6pm. Closed Mondays.
Altrincham Market is where Greater Manchester's food hall revival began. The town has held a market charter since 1290, and today the site combines a covered market for local produce and makers with Market House, a busy indoor food hall with long shared tables.
What to order inside Market House:
- Honest Crust, Tender Cow and Pico's Tacos: the same favourites as Mackie Mayor.
- Great North Pie Co: proper northern pies.
- Rubens Mezze: Middle Eastern mezze.
- Market House Coffee: coffee to start the day.
Around New Market Square there's Woody's Café and the Lovingly Artisan bakery, while the market stalls include cheese from Chorlton Cheesemongers and fruit and veg on some days.
Pick Altrincham if you want a relaxed day out with a market wander, or you're bringing the dog, as Market House is dog-friendly.
Arndale Market, city centre
Monday to Saturday 9am to 6:30pm, Sunday 11:30am to 5:30pm.
Arndale Market is Manchester City Council's indoor market, inside the Manchester Arndale shopping centre on the High Street side, next to the Wintergarden. It's one of the best places in the city centre for a quick, good-value lunch, and it's open every day.
Around a dozen independent kitchens surround a shared seating area. What to order:
- Pancho's Burritos: a long-running Mexican stall run by Mexico City-born Enrique Martinez using family recipes. There's a small Mexican grocery on the stall too.
- Onje: African and Caribbean plates.
- Viet Shack: Vietnamese street food.
- Bhollywood Dhaba and Eat 2 Treat: Indian and Pakistani curries and snacks.
- Smokeshed: smoked meats.
- Zorbas: Greek gyros.
- Micro Bar: real ale and craft beer.
You can do some food shopping while you're there too, with two fishmongers, a greengrocer and a nut and sweet stall. For more, read our food lover's guide to Arndale Market.
Pick Arndale if you're shopping in town and want a fast, affordable lunch, any day of the week.
Which Manchester food hall should you choose?
- For a night out: Mackie Mayor, open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
- For weekend brunch: Mackie Mayor or Altrincham, both open from 9am.
- For a quick lunch in town: Arndale Market.
- On a Monday: Arndale Market, as Mackie Mayor and Altrincham are both closed.
- For a day trip with a market wander: Altrincham.
More Manchester markets to explore
Manchester's makers' markets and street food markets are worth a look too, including the Northern Quarter Makers Market, Chorlton Makers Market, West Didsbury Makers Market and The Piccadilly Street Food Market. Further out, there's Bolton Market Food Hall and Stockport Indoor Market. Check each page for dates before you go.
Heading over to Liverpool? Try BOXPARK Liverpool.
Manchester at Christmas
From November, the city fills with Christmas markets. See our Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 guide for every site, and our UK Christmas Events Calendar 2026 for the rest of the country.
