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Our favorite Manchester NH restaurants have something for everyone! Manchester is one of our favorite places to go out for a nice meal in New Hampshire. The largest city in New Hampshire has a huge selection of eateries, and
Whether you’re looking for upscale pub dining (hello, Crown Tavern!), farm-to-table New England cuisine (save us a spot, Republic Café!), or just some kickass tacos (hola, El Rincón Zacataceno Taqueria!), Manchester has plenty of great restaurants for you. No wonder going on a food crawl is one of our favorite things to do in Manchester, NH.
Here are our picks for the best restaurants in Manchester NH! (And if you’re looking for somewhere for breakfast, don’t miss our guide to the best breakfast spots in Manchester NH!)
This post was most recently updated in May 2023.
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The Crown Tavern
99 Hanover St., Manchester, NH
Deep in the heart of downtown Manchester is a cozy, relaxing hangout with incredible food. At 99 Hanover Street you’ll find the Crown Tavern, where food from the past and present mingle to create a unique menu that’s perfect for just about anyone.
Favorites include maple bourbon-glazed salmon, the Crown cheeseburger, a huge variety of wood-fired pizzas, and specialty salads. Enjoy a tasty meal and a beverage of your choice while having a chill night on the town with your friends.
What to get at the Crown Tavern: The Little Bay oysters make a great appetizer for seafood fans, and the Delmonico steak frites makes a hearty Crown entree! Vegetarians and vegans will enjoy Crown’s delicious quinoa vegetable burger, topped with richly caramelized onions for layers of flavor you won’t soon forget.
Firefly American Bistro
22 Concord St., Manchester, NH
If you’re looking for a quintessential American bistro in Manchester, look no further than the Firefly. Located in the heart of downtown, Firefly American Bistro cultivates a comfortable dining environment that is always inviting and welcoming. Part sports bar and part down-home eatery, it is the perfect place to gather with friends, family, or co-workers, and get a breath of fresh air after a busy day.
At Firefly American Bistro, you can enjoy classic American fare that will take you back in your memories, such as the Firefly BLT, Cobb salad, short ribs, and mac and cheese. Creative preparation and plating makes the food at Firefly delicious and unique.
What to get at Firefly Bistro: Spend your evening enjoying a craft beer and the uber-popular spinach and fried goat cheese salad. The Bourbon Street fettuccine is a tasty Cajun option, generously topped with blackened shrimp, crawfish, and andouille sausages.
The Foundry
50 Commercial St., Manchester, NH
Located in the gorgeous Manchester Mills along the Merrimack River lies one of the best Manchester restaurants, The Foundry. It’s a contemporary French-American restaurant with cozy riverside booths. The atmosphere is inviting, created by a staff that is attentive and personable. It’s the perfect date night restaurant, with a romantic ambiance that is hard to beat.
The menu includes classic cheese charcuterie boards, specialty French soups, and incredible entrees from fish to steaks to veggie dishes.
What to get at the Foundry: Enjoy a comfort meal of steak frites, Foundry macaroni and cheese, plus the insanely popular crispy brussels sprouts. The grilled root vegetable bowl is a popular plant-based option.
El Rincón Zacatecano Taqueria
10 Lake Ave., Manchester, NH
In the mood for some Mexican food? You’ll find abundant and authentic Mexican cuisine in Manchester is at El Rincón Zacatecano Taqueria, located a few blocks from the Merrimack River. The joyful and colorful environment of El Rincón brings plenty of Mexican spirit to New England, and it’s the perfect place to spend a Saturday night out on the town.
Classic Mexican foods are made according to authentic standards, making El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria the best Mexican restaurant in Manchester. The menu includes Mexican staples like empanadas, sopes, tostadas, tamales, and more. Everything makes a great take out option, too.
What to get at El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria: Are you a fish person or carnivore? Go try the fish tacos with rice and beans on the side or the much loved carne asada tacos. The menu is diverse and they can accommodate a variety of tastes, including plant-based diners, with their burritos, fajitas, and tostadas.
Campo Enoteca
969 Elm St., Manchester, NH
If you’re looking for some of the best Italian food in Manchester, New Hampshire, you’ll probably want to take a stroll down Elm Street. There you’ll find Campo Enoteca, a true farm-to-table Italian restaurant in New Hampshire.Not only do they make some of the best Italian food in Manchester, everything here is made from scratch.
At this fine dining establishment you can enjoy house-made pasta, arancini, calamari, and fresh grilled pizzas. There is also an extensive wine list — one of our favorites in Manchester. The quality of the food and the wine list are what separate it from other local Italian favorites like Bertucci’s and Piccola Italia Ristorante.
What to get at Campo Enoteca: It’s hard to say no to a classic homemade pasta with a glass of Italian wine! We’re always down for a carbonara with a glass of Primativo. They also make great polpetti (meatballs) — classic pork and beef meatballs, and vegetarian mushroom meatballs.
Cotton Restaurant
75 Arms St., Manchester, NH
When checking out the Millyard District in Manchester, make sure and stop by Cotton Restaurant. This is one of Manchester’s top hip and upscale restaurants with a casual, friendly, and inviting atmosphere about it. Serving a variety of eclectic American comfort food along with cocktails and wines, Cotton Restaurant has been honored with many awards for its fun menu.
Cotton Restaurant serves basic comfort foods with a delicious, modern twist. From meatloaf and mashed potatoes to buttermilk herb-fried chicken, the menu is a combination of gourmet, unique, and traditional.
What to get at Cotton Restaurant: The restaurant’s signature appetizer is the sweet and spicy popcorn shrimp, served in a movie popcorn box! Order house favorite bistro steak served with bacon bleu cheese butter, and we love the butternut squash ravioli. You can enjoy specialty cocktails like the Cotton Flirtini.
Red Arrow Diner
61 Lowell St., Manchester, NH
After 100 years of business, the Red Arrow Diner is still going strong with service to the Manchester community. This 24-hour diner is in downtown Manchester and is filled with memorabilia and history. A favorite of Manchester locals for its heart and incredible diner food (as well as national politicians, whose names dot the counter), the Red Arrow Diner is always a happening place.
The food at Red Arrow Diner is exactly what you would expect from a long-standing, reputable, 24-hour diner. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day long, with burgers, sandwiches, seafood, and breakfast foods galore. The type of food here isn’t fancy, but it’s delicious.
And if you love funky retro diners, don’t forget to check out the Airport Diner too!
What to get at the Red Arrow Diner: The Big Breakfast is served 24 hours a day, with so much food you’ll get two plates. We also love the sandwiches at the Red Arrow, served with perfectly crispy French fries. And if you like your fries with something extra, they actually have a poutine menu! New Hampshire does border Quebec after all.
Osaka
1077 Elm St., Manchester, NH
If Japanese food is what your heart desires on a night out in Manchester, Osaka is the place to be. Osaka is in a popular spot, located just blocks from Arms Park. With a menu full of traditional Japanese food and sushi, it’s the number one place locals head to when a sushi craving arises.
Osaka is open every day of the week and offers a friendly, fast-paced environment for indoor dining. They also make a great choice for a takeout order enjoyed at home. And if you’re visiting for lunch, their sushi lunch menu is a great bargain.
What to get at Osaka: We love the sushi and sashimi menu, with so many delicious and classic options. The gyoza dumplings are great, too. Want something unusual to find in New Hampshire? Try the takoyaki — traditional octopus dough balls, a specialty of the city of Osaka itself!
Hanover Street Chophouse
149 Hanover St., Manchester, NH
Calling all carnivores — for excellent service and amazing food, you’ll want to check out the Hanover Street Chophouse. They offer a fine dining experience that is a favorite among Manchester locals. The traditional American cuisine uses locally sourced ingredients and the bar includes perfect cocktails that make Hanover Street Chophouse a great spot for a Friday night out.
With live music on weekends and one of the richest steakhouse menus in Northern New England, you’ll be delighted with the Chophouse.
What to get at Hanover Street Chophouse: Come for dinner on the weekends and enjoy the best-selling bacon-wrapped sea scallops and roasted brussels sprouts. Don’t forget dessert! For steaks you can try a bone-in ribeye, filet, or even a Kurobota pork chop. And if you have room for dessert, may we suggest the Chophouse Classic: a nine-layer chocolate cake with caramel ice cream and caramel sauce.
900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria
50 Dow St., Manchester, NH
If authentic Italian pizza from Naples is what you’re craving, 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria is the place to be. The classic, cozy environment is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a relaxing and inviting experience along with great food.
900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria uses a wood-burning brick oven to ensure the most mouth-watering, authentic pizza on this side of the Atlantic. Not up for pizza? They also make pastas and salads catering to everyone.
What to get at 900 Degrees: There’s no question — you want a signature pizza made with Italian cheese and your favorite toppings. 900 Degrees also offers gluten-sensitive pizza crust and vegan cheese as options.
Thai Food Connection
1069 Elm St., Manchester, NH
Thai Food Connection is a lively Manchester NH restaurant that offers the full range of traditional Thai foods, along with some other Asian options like Malaysian laksa and Japanese ramen. This restaurant features an exhibition kitchen, which makes for an incredible and unique dining experience.
From specialty soups to salads, curries, fried rice, and Thai street foods, Thai Food Connection is filled with hearty dishes for both first-time diners and Thai food aficionados. With top-notch service and friendly service, you won’t regret checking out this downtown restaurant.
What to get at Thai Food Connection: If you haven’t had khao soi before, this is a great place to try the delicious soup-like Northern Thai dish! And yes, pad Thai is the most popular dish on the menu here. For good reason!
2023 Update: A previous version of this post recommended Republic Cafe, which has since closed.
More on Manchester, NH:
- 33 Cool Things to Do in Manchester, NH
- Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Manchester, NH
- 12 Best Manchester NH Hotels For Your Next Trip
More on Merrimack Valley;
- Best Restaurants in Concord, NH
- Where to Get Breakfast in Concord NH
- Best Hotels in Concord, NH
- 24 Cool Things To Do in Concord NH
- 28 Fun-Filled Things To Do in Nashua NH
Best of New Hampshire:
- 50+ Best Things to Do in New Hampshire
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What are your favorite Manchester NH restaurants? Share away!
