The Quays

Walk along the Quays and you'll get that rare Manchester feeling of actually being somewhere designed—all gleaming water, contemporary architecture, and enough chain restaurants to keep everyone happy. It's where the BBC and ITV lot eat lunch, which tells you something about the footfall. You've got everything from gastropubs to casual chains, plus the buzz of people actually using the space rather than just passing through. On a decent day, the waterfront seating is genuinely lovely, especially if you catch the golden hour light bouncing off the buildings.