Ad Review// If you’re hunting for good pizza near the Christmas Markets, Franco Manca on King Street, Manchester is a bit of a gem, especially if you can nab one of the window tables. It’s the perfect spot for people-watching while the city rushes past, ideally with a slice in one hand and a dip in the other.
We visited at around 1:45pm on a Friday afternoon, right in the middle of Storm Claudia. Outside was absolute chaos (wind, rain, the lot!) but inside was calm, bright and relaxed. It wasn’t particularly busy, which meant we had plenty of time to chat, linger over each course and really make the most of the Christmas set menu.
I visited with Helen from North West Family Adventures and between us we worked our way through starters, pizzas and dessert… all in the name of research, obviously!
Franco Manca King Street Restaurant address: 37-43 King St, Manchester M2 7AT.
Christmas at Franco’s – 3 Courses From £25
Franco Manca’s current festive offer, Christmas at Franco’s, is brilliant value if you want a proper sit-down meal without blowing the Christmas budget. The festive menu runs from 12th November to 4th January 2026.
You can choose:
- 3 courses for £25, or
- Upgrade to 4 courses for £35, which adds a trio of nibbles, unlimited dips and a side salad.
The 3-course option lets you mix and match from the main menu:
- Any Bite (starter)
- Any Pizza – including Franco’s festive special
- Any Dip – the hot honey dip is a must
- Any Dessert – at King Street the festive treat is a homemade tiramisu
For the quality and portion sizes, it’s a really solid deal. You don’t leave feeling like you’ve had a “set menu” compromise – it feels like a proper meal out.
Menus and prices are correct at the time of our visit, but they can change, so it’s always worth double-checking before you go.
Starters – Truffle Lovers, This One’s For You
For starters, I went all in on cheese and ordered the Truffle Fonduta (£7.25).
This comes with Béchamel, Smoked provola, Goat’s cheese, Stilton, Franco’s Grana, Truffle oil and toasted Sourdough bread for dipping.Toasted sourdough
It arrives as a bubbling, molten bowl of cheesy goodness with toasted sourdough on the side. It’s very cheesy and properly rich – exactly what you want on a grim, stormy Manchester day.
I’m not usually a fan of goat’s cheese, but I honestly couldn’t pick it out in the mix, which was a bonus. The whole thing is just smooth, savoury and comforting. I did end up asking for extra bread because there was still so much sauce left to mop up. Definitely one for cheese lovers, and it’s suitable for vegetarians too.
Helen chose the Tuscan Sausage dish (£6.95), which comes with Tuscan sausage, Friarelli cream, Mozzarella Franco’s Grana and crispy pancetta.
She very kindly let me try some and it was gorgeous, very rich, savoury and full of flavour. It’s the kind of combo you could happily imagine as a pizza topping or tossed through pasta. If you’re more into meat than cheese, this is a great shout to start with.
Mains – Festive Pizza With a Twist
For my main, I went straight for the festive special (£14.25):
White béchamel pizza with crispy pancetta, wild mushrooms, stilton, cranberry & smoked almonds.
On paper, it sounds like a lot, and I was a bit wary of the stilton, but actually it’s really well balanced. You don’t get that strong blue cheese hit, instead it just adds a bit of depth. The cranberries and smoked almonds give it a clever festive twist without going full “Christmas dinner on a pizza.”
If you’re going to order this, I highly recommend pairing it with the Hot Honey dip. It adds a lovely sweet heat that just brings all the flavours together and makes the crusts genuinely exciting to eat.
Helen chose the Tre Porcellini (£13.95), which is new to the menu, featuring a Yellow tomato base, Mozzarella, Tuscan sausage, Crispy pancetta, Hot honey & ’nduja sauce, Basil and Chilli threads.
It arrived looking so pretty and vibrant, especially with the chilli threads on top. It also came with a little card explaining more about the pizza, it translates to Three Little Pigs, which is a cute touch and very on-brand.
Both pizzas were generous without being heavy. One thing Franco Manca absolutely nails is the base – the dough is made fresh on-site every day and left to prove for 24 hours. The pizzas are cooked in an enormous oven set to 450°C, so they’re ready in minutes
The result is a base that’s light, chewy and full of flavour, so you don’t get that dense, stodgy feeling afterwards, even when you’ve “accidentally” polished off the lot.
Dessert – Cake, Cheesecake or Pizzetta?
Despite being very full at this point, we powered on to dessert. For research.
I ordered the Chocolate & Hazelnut cake with Madagascan vanilla gelato (£5.50). It was exactly what I needed after a rich pizza. A proper chocolatey hit with the cold gelato cutting through the sweetness. Comforting without being over the top.
I’d originally had my eye on the Nutella Pizzetta with Crushed Biscoff (£6.25), which is essentially a dessert pizza, but by the end of the meal I just wanted something cold. That one is firmly on my “next time” list.
Helen went for the Cheesecake with Amarena cherries (£5.75), which looked absolutely beautiful. Creamy, generous and topped with those glossy cherries. If you’re a cheesecake fan, it’s a strong option.
Portafogli-go – Pizza for Walking the Markets
If you don’t have time to sit in, or you’re planning to wander around the Manchester Christmas Markets, Franco Manca also does a clever Portafogli-go option – a Neapolitan pizza folded and made for walking.
At King Street you can choose from Margherita (£8.90) or Nutella & Biscoff Pizzetta (£6.25).
They’re ideal if you want something warm and filling while you’re making your way between stalls, without juggling a flimsy paper plate and a fork in the rain.
Service, Vibe & Who It’s Best For
The vibe at Franco Manca King Street is very relaxed:
- Lots of tables and plenty of natural light
- Casual, comfortable and family-friendly
- Ideal for date nights, catch-ups with friends or a pre-/post-markets meal
There’s no strict dress code, it’s all very casual and laid-back, so you can rock up in your winter layers and nobody will bat an eyelid.
Service-wise, we couldn’t fault it. The staff were genuinely lovely and made the whole visit feel relaxed and fun. A special shout-out to Simon (supervisor from the Piccadilly branch who was over for the day), TJ and Armann the chef for looking after us so well.
Top Tip: If you can, try to grab a window table – it’s perfect for people watching along King Street while you work your way through the set menu.
Franco Manca on King Street – Manchester City Centre Opening Times, Bookings & Takeaway
Franco Manca is a pizza chain and Manchester is lucky enough to have three branches: King Street (this one), Piccadilly Gardens and the Trafford Centre.
If you’re heading out that way, it’s a great excuse to combine shopping with pizza. You can check out my Trafford Centre restaurants guide for more ideas on where to eat nearby.
Opening Times – Franco Manca King Street
- Sunday – Wednesday: 11:30am – 9pm
- Thursday: 11:30am – 10pm
- Friday & Saturday: 11:30am – 10:30pm
You can usually just walk in. Franco Manca keeps plenty of space for walk-ins and the team will seat you as soon as they can. They also take bookings at most locations, so if you’re heading in at a peak time (like Friday night in December), it’s worth reserving a table to be safe.
Live locally? Check out the menu, order online and collect from store. You can also order Franco Manca via Uber Eats and Deliveroo, which is especially dangerous knowledge if you’re a pizza lover.
Final Thoughts – Is Franco Manca King Street Manchester Worth a Visit?
Absolutely.
Franco Manca King Street ticks a lot of boxes:
- Central location, ideal for the Manchester Christmas Markets
- Cosy, relaxed atmosphere with space for families, couples and groups
- High quality, great-value pizza with properly good dough
- A Christmas set menu that feels like a treat but doesn’t wreck your budget
- Friendly, attentive service that makes you want to come back
For £25 you can enjoy three generous courses, try something a bit different from the festive pizza menu and still leave feeling like you’ve had a proper meal out. And if you can’t finish it all, they’re more than happy to box things up to take away.
If you’re planning a festive day in the city, I’ve also featured Franco Manca in my guide to where to eat near the Manchester Christmas Markets, which is packed with more budget-friendly options nearby.
Franco Manca King Street is one of those places you know you can rely on: good food, good value and a very happy belly on the way out.
