First look inside chic new Japanese restaurant Musu

A new upscale Japanese restaurant is opening in Manchester later this month and it’s already taking reservations.

MUSU, which means “endless possibilities” in Japanese, will open November 24 at 64 Bridge Street and hopes to bring a taste of authentic Japanese culture to the city.

Mysteriously, the restaurant’s website doesn’t give any information on specific menu items, but they say their food will combine Japanese and local ingredients into a variety of different dining experiences.

Diners can opt for the Sentaku menu and choose their own dishes, or the Kaiseki set menu curated by Chef Patron Michael Shaw. There’s also sushi chef Andre Aguiar’s Omakese menu, which is described as a “theatrical and educational sushi experience” – the only such menu available in the UK outside of London – and the menu of cheaper Subayai lunch.

The bar is stocked with Japanese sakes and whiskeys, some of which are exclusive to MUSU, such as Mizunara – a collaboration between master blenders Maison Courvoisier and Japanese Maison Suntory. MUSU also offers a four whiskey tasting flight.

At the weekend, the restaurant will bring the Japanese after-dinner tradition of Nijikai to Manchester, with resident DJs and an Izakaya snack menu available until 1am.

The restaurant’s interiors pay homage to clean Japanese design with a dark color palette and elaborate Geisha wall decorations.

MUSU will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5:30 p.m., with the last table at 9:30 p.m., and lunch Wednesday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m., with the last table at 2:00 p.m. The Nijikai party will take place every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Reservations are now open and can be made either online via the MUSU website or by calling 0161 8837753.