Louis, an entirely new restaurant and musical venue from the Permanently Unique Group, whose reputation for creating unforgettable experiences has culminated in the development of this ambitious new project, will open in Manchester on the 13th September.
Louis is an ode to the classic New York restaurants which are often portrayed on the silver screen as a home from home, where guests are welcomed into an intimate booth, surrounded by quietly excellent cooking and perfectly mixed cocktails, whilst live performances provide the soundtrack to the evening.
Guests will be treated to a menu curated by Executive Chef Ippokratis Anagnostelis, the visionary behind FENIX, and Italian Chef Matteo D’Elia who has worked previously at restaurants including Il Gattopardo, the Broadwick Soho and Bacchanalia. Together, they bring a profound appreciation for the Mediterranean influences that have shaped Italian American cuisine. The menu highlights a refined selection of classics made with exceptional ingredients.To start, guests can indulge in Green Lip Breaded Mussels and Iberico Meatballs in marinara sauce or scratch-made Caesar salad. For the main course, savour larger plates like Tomahawk and Veal Chop served with Crispy Potatoes in marinara. Fresh pasta will be handmade onsite in a dedicated pasta workshop adjacent to the Louis kitchen, with beloved favourites such as Rigatoni Alla Vodka and Tagliatelle Bolognese featured on the menu.
Will Meredith, the Head of Beverage, will curate a dynamic 12-drink menu that celebrates American classic cocktails. This collection will be thoughtfully divided into aperitifs, dinner cocktails, and digestifs, ensuring a seamless enhancement of the entire dining experience. Each cocktail will artfully blend Italian heritage with American flair, featuring standout creations such as the Bloody Maria, the Manhattan, and the PB&J Old Fashioned.
Designed by Fabled Studios, Louis will offer the best seat in the house to each guest, with a tiered design centred around the main stage placing the spotlight on the live acts to create an atmosphere reminiscent of mid-20th century New York. Deep velvet will wrap the venue while classic Italian marble hugs the curves of the room leading guests into different areas within the space to discover pockets of intimate tables shrouded with café curtains.
The bar, adorned with large chains, will lure people over with warm lighting and glimmering gold tones while the WCs will offer guests a darkened and moody experience. Louis will also be home to over £1 million of modern fine art including pieces by Marco Battaglini, Alec Monopoly, Brainwash and Ted Todd, combining classical Italian styles with modern graffiti style New York influence.
As a city known for its musical prowess, Louis will instil the quintessential Manchester ear for fresh new talent into the Louis line-up, alongside a weekly roster of performers from soul singers and pianists, to jazz quartets and full swing bands – each evening will be an entirely new experience, yet the familiar feeling of being at Louis, amongst friends, will be a constant.
