Macclesfield, International Restaurant Guide

Named in homage to a rocky outcrop that has long been a settlement for Buddhist monks, Don Buddhika’s black-fronted restaurant is “still going strong with its Sri Lankan speciality dishes” – small plates, curries, grills and more, with dedicated vegan and gluten-free menus. Besides this venture in the swanky Manchester ‘burbs, as of late 2023 they’ve also opened a second outpost a short drive away in the market town of Knutsford.

“Casual dining on long trestle tables in a successful food hall” – the MO at this revived Victorian indoor market, where there are “plenty of food outlets” to take your fancy, ranging from sourdough pizza heroes Honest Crust to new arrivals Soots Pasta. Add in “wines and beers from the surrounding independent stallholders” and this “fun venue” is a “go-to destination” when in town (and “child-friendly – they love it as much as mum and dad”).

2022 Review: “The best thing to hit Macclesfield since the silk industry died” – “a sister to Altrincham Market (and Manchester's Mackie Mayor), conceived and run by Nick Johnson and his wife. This Edwardian building was the first cinema in town, fell to other unglamorous uses some 70 years ago, and has now been sympathetically restored to house excellent individual food stalls serving a range of high quality dishes: the freshest of fish, steaks, pasta, pizzas, mussels and more”.