Bottega by San Carlo unveils new chapter at Selfridges Manchester
Bottega by San Carlo at Selfridges Manchester is set to reopen on Thursday 15th October following a refurbishment, unveiling a new iteration of the restaurant that elevates the full Bottega experience. Bringing together design, authentic Italian food and expertly crafted cocktails, the refreshed restaurant will offer guests a true taste of Italy in the heart of Manchester.
The newly refurbished Bottega introduces a fresh interior scheme evoking the spirit of craftsmanship. Art is woven into the new space with a collection curated by San Carlo’s in-house art curator, Katie Forrester, bringing together expressive portraits and contemporary colourful assemblages from local galleries and artists. The new collection adds personality to the space, bringing more colour, character and creativity into the Bottega experience.
The food offering will also be updated with San Carlo’s new autumn/winter menu, featuring a selection of seasonal dishes. Highlights include Carpaccio di Barbabietola, pairing delicate beetroot carpaccio with creamy goat’s cheese, asparagus and toasted herb breadcrumbs, finished with a yuzu honey dressing. Carpaccio di Vitello features slow-cooked, thinly sliced veal with silky celeriac cream, wild mushrooms, Grana Padano and fresh black truffle, while Insalata di Zucca combines roasted pumpkin with chestnut mushrooms, ricotta salata, toasted hazelnuts and fresh black truffle. Rigatono Affumicato con Monkfish pairs smoked rigatoni with monkfish, a rich bisque and fresh chives.
Pasta and signature dishes include Risotto Zucca e Tartufo, a pumpkin risotto finished tableside in a pecorino wheel and topped with fresh black truffle, alongside Beef Cheek, featuring slow-braised beef cheek with creamy mashed potatoes, red wine jus and salsa verde. The menu also features dishes prepared and finished tableside, including Cartellata Zucca e Tartufo, pumpkin-filled large ravioli with sage butter and shaved black truffle, and Vitello Valdostana, crispy veal stuffed with Fontina cheese and ham, topped with wild rocket, Grana Padano and rosemary oil.
The drinks offering takes guests on a liquid journey through La Dolce Vita, with a drinks list inspired by the grand hotels, legendary bars, personalities and glamour of 20th-century culture. Moving from Venice and Milan to Rome, each cocktail carries its own story, bringing the character and romance of some of Europe’s most iconic drinking destinations into the new Bottega experience.
Highlights include the Hemingway Martini, inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s visits to The Gritti Palace in Venice, where the Martini became part of his ritual – ice cold, uncompromising and timeless. Bellini 1948 is inspired by Giuseppe Cipriani’s creation of the iconic Bellini at Harry’s Bar in Venice, where white peach and sparkling wine became a legend. Campari Seltz is a two-ingredient serve inspired by Milan in 1915 and the drink that helped define the aperitivo ritual. The Negroni Sbagliato draws on the story of Milan’s Bar Basso, where a “mistake” saw sparkling wine replace gin in a Negroni, while The Audrey pays tribute to Audrey Hepburn and the golden age of Roman glamour with an elegant and delicate serve. Together, the cocktails bring Bottega’s storytelling to life through the drinks menu, complementing the new interior and seasonal food offering.
First opened at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square in 2013, Bottega has been part of San Carlo’s Selfridges story for more than a decade. The reopening marks a new chapter for the restaurant, building on its longstanding presence within the store while bringing a refreshed expression of Bottega to the Manchester dining scene. During the refurbishment, guests can continue to enjoy San Carlo at Gran Café, located within Selfridges Manchester.
Marcello Distefano, CEO at San Carlo Group, commented: “Bottega has been part of the Selfridges Manchester experience for more than a decade, so this refurbishment marks an exciting new chapter for us. We wanted to elevate the entire experience, from the design of the space through to the food and cocktails, while staying true to what Bottega represents – craftsmanship, quality and creativity. It’s about creating a space that feels distinctive while also reflecting the energy and character of Manchester.”
Bottega by San Carlo will reopen at Selfridges Manchester on Thursday 15 October 2026.