Feature

Great independent cafes to try in Manchester this weekend

We're spoiled for choice when it comes to local coffee shops in Manchester - and you can show your support by heading down to visit this weekend.

Jess Walmsley Jess Walmsley - 14th July 2020
Home Sweet Home

Manchester businesses have been opening their doors and welcoming back customers for long-awaited lattes and fantastic filter brews; which is welcome news after 14 weeks of sipping instant coffee.

Costa Coffee recently made headlines for giving all their coffee club members 300 points – the equivalent of £3 – as a “welcome back” token for customers. But the luxury of being able to provide free drinks simply isn’t possible for smaller businesses who have been struggling to keep their heads above water during lockdown.

We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to local coffee shops in Manchester – and you can show your support by heading down to visit some this weekend.

Here are a few ideas…

Soul Coffee

Northern Quarter is renowned for its alternative and independent stores. But their cafes are second to none.

ADVERTISEMENT

One perfect case in point is Soul Coffee.

Situated on Great Ancoats Street, Soul Coffee is a unique coffee and gelato bar serving speciality blend drinks, handmade Italian Gelato and some disco dancer brunch & dessert items.

ADVERTISEMENT

The headliners of the menu are the decadent desserts all whimsically named after popular soul songs, from ‘Just to keep you satisfied’ french toast stack to their ‘I heard it through the grapevine’ Lotus Biscoff Milky Shake.

Soul Coffee is the only place in Manchester which offers true Italian Gelato in multiple forms from a sweet Affogato to a classic scoop on cone. With more hot weather on the way, it could be worth ducking in.

Idle Hands

Idle Hands is the place to go for a piece of pie and a cuppa.

ADVERTISEMENT

The venue excels in pastry-making; baking all kinds of exciting flavours and creations from coffee, cookies and cream to sticky toffee pudding!

Aside from pie, you can also enjoy a lovely lunch menu and treat yourself to a cheeky glass of vino whilst you’re at it.

You can order and collect online or go in as normal – but it’s worth noting that opening times are subject to change as they adjust to the new climate.

Head over to their website to find out more.

Vienna Coffee House

Vienna Coffee serve everything from breakfast (named after areas in Manchester like ‘Deansgate’ and Castlefield’) to Sunday roasts or quaint afternoon tea.

ADVERTISEMENT

This family-run business is located nearby to St Peter’s Square, serving up a wide variety of delicious dishes.

But as good as the food might be, the clue’s in the name. Customers just can’t get enough of that coffee.

Vienna have their own amazing blend; Guatemalan, Indonesian and Rwandan beans, freshly roasted which they create into a classic Viennese coffee.

Incredible.

Learn more online.

ADVERTISEMENT

ManCoCo

ManCoCo is a hidden roastery and café tucked beneath the arches of Hewitt Street in the ever-evolving neighbourhood of Castlefield.

Selling, ethically-sourced coffee from single origin farms and estates, ManCoCo hand-roast the beans right here in Manchester – serving them in fresh cups of coffee or grounded powder to go.

They’ve also got a wide range of organic, artisan teas available, along with own range of cool branded cups.

If you’ve had a bit of a heavy night and need a little pick-me-up for the morning, ManCoCo is the perfect place to visit and get your hands on a strong Mancunian coffee.

Discover more on their website.

ADVERTISEMENT

Federal

Federal has proven so popular they’ve had to branch out.

Now, the popular cafe has two spots in town – one in Deansgate and another in Northern Quarter.

Federal prides itself on “Antipodean happiness” in Manchester, serving food and drink that has seen customers coming back in through their doors since 2014.

Both cafes are open for walk-ins only; serving breakfast, all day brunch, lunch options, coffee and cocktails!

They regularly run enticing deals on their socials – including a bagel and coffee for £5.

ADVERTISEMENT

Keep up to date by following their Instagram page.

Seed & Cherry

Seed and Cherry is another independent cafe in the quirky Northern Quarter region of Manchester city centre.

This venue specialises in artisan ingredients but remains hugely down-to-earth; with a crackling atmosphere and dog-friendly policy.

Their coffees are exquisite, as they use a blend of artisan ‘speciality grade’ coffee beans (you get to choose which beans you’d like when ordering).

The food menu has European and Mediterranean-inspired small plates – meaning you can save room for their famous French toast.

ADVERTISEMENT

Learn more online.

Ezra & Gil

Ezra & Gil

Another caffeine pit stop in the Northern Quarter is Ezra & Gil; Ezra meaning ‘Helper’ and Gil meaning ‘Happiness’.

E&G was wildly popular before lockdown and nothing has changed in that respect – although the look is a little different with perspex screens and a new ordering system in place.

Known for eclectic coffees from white chocolate matcha lattes to a range of fun iced drinks, Ezra & Gil even has its own an app where customers can click and collect if you prefer.

They’re also open for visitors to sit in or take away.

ADVERTISEMENT

Siop Shop

An ultra cool cafe tucked away down Tib Street is Siop Shop.

This lovely little venue specialises in amazing baked goods – especially their beautiful and indulgent doughnuts!

As well as doughnuts, you can take your pick from a number of exciting savoury options which are updated regularly, including sausage rolls, snickerdoodle cookies, and salted caramel brownies.

You can follow your nose or find them on Tib Street NQ.

Visit their website to find out more.

ADVERTISEMENT

Just Between Friends

View this post on Instagram

🧊

A post shared by Just Between Friends (@justbetweenfriendscoffee) on

Further down Tib Street is another top cafe called Just Between Friends – which also has another location in Beehive Mill, Ancoats.

JBF serve an amazing variety of freshly-baked pastries, coffee and tasty sandwiches.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s more than a few chocolate-dunked treats up for grabs, too.

Feast your eyes on their food via their Instagram channel.

Home Sweet Home

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCgBL5fh7OA/

Home Sweet Home have won the outdoor seating game in Manchester – creating a European-style continental alfresco section that spreads right through Edge Street.

ADVERTISEMENT

While dining outdoors you can scoff down some decadent cakes, sip shakes and tuck into a range of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

A crowd favourite is the pancakes. Order them and you’ll quickly find out why.

Ultimately, Home Sweet Home is the place to be if you want to soak up some Manchester atmosphere (and hopefully sunshine) whilst chomping on a large wedge of cake!

Find out more online.

Chapter One Books

Chapter One Books is a quirky cafe and bookstore where you can read to your heart’s content in the centre of the city whilst sipping on fresh coffee and munching a slice of homemade cake.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Lemon Drizzle and Earl Grey comes highly recommended, and the coffee is cracking, too – making Chapter One an ideal spot to curl up with good book.

Top tip: Make sure you arrive early.

It can be tough to get a seat, sometimes; such is the popularity of the place.

Head over to their website to read more on this NQ hotspot.

Pot Kettle Black

Up next, we have Pot Kettle Black aka PKB Coffee.

ADVERTISEMENT

This stylish coffee house has two sites in Manchester: one in Barton Arcade and the other in Spinningfields.

Currently, they have only reopened their Barton Arcade cafe where you can either book a slot or just drop in.

PKB serve coffee with a twist, taking inspiration from Antipodean culture to bring customers flavours from all the way across the globe.

Flour from Manchester mills, butter from Normandy, pistachios from Iran and chocolate from Belgium. PKB take influence from everywhere.

Visit their website to learn more.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tea Hive

Tea Hive Chorlton

Outside of the city centre is a beautiful tearoom in Chorlton.

Tea Hive takes inspiration from our Mancunian worker bee and serves hearty brunch and lunch dishes alongside mouthwatering cakes! They use loose leaf tea and artisan coffee so it’s a real treat to go in and enjoy not only the atmosphere but the amazing quality of food and drink.

The most popular choice amongst locals is their Sautéed Mushroom on toast (vegetarian & vegan) – washed down with one of their 10 different types of hot chocolate.

That will definitely hit the spot.

The Manc is supporting Manchester’s independent businesses with the hashtag #buzzingtobeback so if you fancy exploring more of what the city has to offer. Let’s continue supporting local independents to get the region buzzing once more!

Read more about what we’re doing for the industry here.

Read more about eats in Manchester here.

Feature

Ravyn Lenae at Gorilla Manchester – Our ‘One Wish’ was granted

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

This was Ravyn Lenae’s first rodeo at Gorilla and it’s safe to say she had the Manchester crowd hooked on her live set like ‘Candy’ (sorry).

Only two lines in and three puns deep but Ravyn’s performance was nothing to joke about, especially with her to-die-for vocals and killer live accompaniment.

Her most recent album and tour are both branded, Birds Eye, and while Gorilla may not be the most panoramic place in our beautiful city to overlook the Manchester skyline, the bubbly and engaging crowd sure painted a pretty well-rounded picture of the Mancunian hospitality. 

The introduction to ‘Bad Idea’ feels like a spaceship descending to earth and it couldn’t be more fitting because let’s face it, an artist this good simply can’t be living on the same planet as us she’s simply out-of-this-world.

Similarly, the follow-up ‘1 of 1’ has an identical space-tech vibe with a static-filled opening and instrumental making it a perfect predecessor. These two tunes have impressive soundscapes with the live drums even more so helping to excite a sold-out venue.

Ravyn Lenae Manchester show
Ravyn Lenae wasn’t shy on stage, commanding the Gorilla stage.
Ravyn Lenae Manchester Gorilla
Lenae appreciating the roars of the Manchester crowd.
Credit: Audio North/The Manc Group

Seven tracks into the setlist, Lenae knows how to keep Gorilla at her fingertips performing hits ‘M.I.A’, ‘The Night Song’ and ‘Candy’ back-to-back-to-back – easily the holy trinity of track runs on this tour.

Taken from her debut outing Hypnos, the afrobeats and lo-fi inspired ‘M.I.A’ doubles as a dancefloor filler and an instant crowd pleaser, ironically we were lost in the music.

The middle of this three-track-run ‘The Night Song’ keeps spirits high and boosts our confidence as the 25-year-old has us singing, “Hair down, feeling alright/ Got my edges on tight, It’s a party tonight”.

Her sweet-named album track ‘Candy’ jet sets us to a tropical paradise with its reggae-fused rhythms, and after a full ten minutes of side-stepping and attempting to dance, the cold temperature outside didn’t even cross the crowd’s mind.

Besides being some of her best numbers, these three upbeat tunes take us through a small piece of her past three projects with each of the singles featuring on a different respective release from 2018 all the way up to present day.

Ravyn lenae showing some love to at the Manchester show.
Nothing but love from Ravyn Lenae and her crew for the Mancs.
Ravyn Lenae live
Lost in music, Lenae and band at Gorilla, Manchester.
Credit: The Manc Group

Steve Lacy produced ‘Sticky’ was another standout, her rocker chic-esque vocal style flaunts all over the live band’s arrangement as she flaunts, ‘What did you do?/ Got me confused’.

‘One Wish’ was ethereal; I may have an unfair bias with this single being my personal favourite in the American star’s discography, but the vocal delivery and Lenae’s characterisation elevated this to new heights – even better than its original studio recording, maybe.

Manchester never misses the chance for an encore, especially not when it’s the plucky guitar bop ‘Love Me Not’. Up there with one of her best.

Read more:

The crowd erupted as Lenae asked, “You want one more?”, before whistling, “See right now I need you, I’ll meet you somewhere now”, it was obvious concertgoers wanted this show wasn’t done.

The Manchester date marks the final show of the whole tour and Lenae was feeling very reflective during song breaks, telling the buzzy crowd, “I’m so grateful that I still get to tour this part of the world and I appreciate you all braving the cold for me”.

When you’re getting to witness someone as remarkable as Chicago-born singer Ravyn Lenae, a little bit of nippy Manchester weather is nothing!

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Feature

The best, biggest and bouijiest hotels to stay at in Manchester city centre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The best hotels to stay at in Manchester city centre

Hotels are opening in Manchester city centre at a rate that’s hard to keep up with, diversifying the overnight offering with every passing minute, and they’re also some of the very best in the UK.

We’ve got plenty of familiar boltholes if you can’t tear yourself away from the familiarity of a Premier Inn purple bedroom, or the reliable comforts of a Hilton, but also plenty of smaller names offering a stylish place to rest your head.

We’ve rounded up a dozen of the very best that Manchester has to offer – expect rooftop pools, riverside terraces, grand architecture and celebrity chefs.

And not all of them come with an eye-watering price tag…

The top 10 hotels in central Manchester

1. Dakota

If you want a hotel with loads of atmosphere as well as a grown-up space with a dark, moody interior, then Dakota is absolutely the one for you.

This beautiful hotel opened back in 2019; a huge £30m black box on the outskirts of the Northern Quarter that has seen celebrity guests such as Hugh Jackman, Molly Mae-Hague, Mel B and many more.

The deluxe suites here will set you back around £765 a night, and come with their own living room and loads of luxuries. No wonder it was voted ‘one of the best places to stay in the world’.

Even if you’re not stopping the night, the riverside terrace is an absolute gem for a civilised drink, filled with plants and natural light.

29 Ducie Street, M1 2JL | dakotahotels.co.uk

2. voco Manchester

voco hotel mcr
what happened to hotel brooklyn manchester?
Credit: voco Manchester

Formerly Hotel Brooklyn – we all know Manchester has a habit of drawing comparisons to New York, albeit a smaller, soggier version, – voco Manchester still has all the glamour as was originally intended.

The hotel first opened at the worst possible time, being thrust in and out of lockdowns within weeks of opening, but since then it’s attracted rave reviews and been named among the top 20 ‘hottest new hotels’ by Traveller’s Choice among many glowing reviews.

Even after being over by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) in December 2023, the 189-room hotel has taken on a new life, boasting the in-house Runyons Restaurant which still keeps those US connections, as well as an open-plan lobby lounge featuring a big screen for live sport and entertainment.

It may be different from what it was but there’s still plenty of style to be seen here.

59 Portland Street, M1 3HP | ihg.com

3. The Lowry Hotel

Just across the border into Salford is The Lowry Hotel, and a big, sweeping curve of pure class sticking out above the river. It’s got a global reputation and it’s no surprise when its guestbook features some of the biggest celebrities of all time.

Remember when Taylor Swift rented out the entire place, or Jose Mourinho decided to just live there, rather than find an apartment, during his time as Manchester United manager? Not to mention Britney Spears, David Beckham, Rihanna, Take That, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and countless others.

Having undergone a £5m bedroom refurb, The Lowry has one of the smartest and brightest interiors in the north of England, one of the region’s most expensive hotel rooms (a casual £4,500 a night for the presidential suite), as well as a super high-tech spa. We also enjoy just heading there for the Lowry bottomless brunch, to be honest.

50 Dearmans Place, M3 5LH | thelowryhotel.com

4. Kimpton Clocktower

The Kimpton Clocktower – previously known as the Palace and Principal Hotel, among multiple other monikers – oozes timeless sophistication, a relic of Victorian grandeur but with a boutique hotel feel to it.

The lobby is one of the most impressive spaces in Greater Manchester, all polished tile and marble beneath a glass-domed ceiling, setting the scene for the rooms themselves (high ceilings, big windows, and plenty of historical details).

Another big plus when it comes to the Kimpton is its in-house bar and restaurant: The Refuge, which is a cut above the average hotel offering and is very much its own entity with a reputation for fabulous late-night and seasonal events, a divine bottomless brunch and plenty of other distinct draws.

Oxford Street, M60 7HA | kimptonclocktowerhotel.com

palace hotel manchester
The lobby at Kimpton Clocktower
kimpton clocktower hotel room prices
One of their many stylish rooms
Credit: Kimpton/The Manc Group

5. The Midland

If only walls could talk, The Midland Hotel would have some of the best stories on Earth.

The landmark hotel has been part of the fabric of Manchester for more than 100 years, with 312 luxurious rooms, and it’s storied that it’s where Charles Rolls and Henry Royce (of Rolls Royce fame) were introduced.

Then there are the communal spaces, even fancier now after their £14m refurbishment, including restaurants Adam Reid at The French and Mount Street Dining Room, and the incredible circular champagne bar in the middle of the lobby.

It’s also the place to come for a traditional afternoon tea and has a truly cracking spa. This place doesn’t need any kind of sale pitch: it’s unquestionably one of the best hotels in Manchester – if not the best.

16 Peter Street, M60 2DS | themidlandhotel.co.uk

midland hotel review
Credit: Tecmark Ltd (via Flickr)

6. Whitworth Locke

The curb appeal of Whitworth Locke is something else, from its decadent bar housed in a Parisian-style conservatory and fine culinary offerings (Peru Perdu and a Foundation Coffee House are both in here), to its incredible location right on the edge of the Gay Village.

Each of the rooms is a self-contained haven, from studio apartments all the way up to two-bedroom duplex suites, decorated in a Pinterest-worthy palette of greens and pinks (a muted sample of the terracotta bricks outside).

There’s a free workspace area that spills into a truly stunning conservatory bar, as well as a packed calendar of events too, so whether you’re an out-of-town guest or a local Manc looking to fill a few hours, you’ll be kept busy enough.

74 Princess Street, M1 6JD | lockeliving.com

Whitworth Locke hotel review: This historic Manchester building is home to one of the city’s most beautiful hotels
Safe to say we’re big fans of this much-loved Manchester hotel.

7. King Street Townhouse

You have, almost without a doubt, seen photos of the King Street Townhouse before – this is the hotel that introduced the infinity pool to the city centre, with views of the Town Hall (well, currently of scaffolding).

The hotel has its own cinema room, a rooftop terrace bar, a new gym, and incredible afternoon teas.

The smart rooms range in size from ‘snug’ to ‘cosy’ to ‘comfy’ to suites, with suites priced at around £430 a night.

From afternoon tea and lunch deals to spa offers, big group events, private screening and so much more, King St Townhouse isn’t just one of the best hotels in Manchester, it’s also one of the most well-rounded in terms of its overall hospitality.

10 Booth St, Manchester M2 4AW | kingstreettownhouse.co.uk

8. The Alan

One of the newest hotels to open in Manchester (and they are popping up like daisies) is The Alan, which has stripped the old Princess Street Hotel back to expose and celebrate its original features.

There are 137 bedrooms, each with high ceilings and warm textures, an open-plan kitchen, a restaurant and bar, as well as event spaces.

The devil is in the detail here and the design has been carefully thought-out. The floor is made from a collage of discarded marble, and the dried flowers illuminated beneath the bar were actually foraged by the hotel’s owners at the time they secured plans for The Alan… while they were broken down on the side of the motorway.

18 Princess St, Manchester M1 4LG | thealanhotel.com

There’s another new hotel in Manchester – and The Alan is a beauty
It’s gone on to become comfortably one of the best luxury hotels in Manchester since it opened in 2022.

9. Stock Exchange Hotel

Famous names absolutely litter Stock Exchange Hotel, which is easily one of the grandest spaces in all of Greater Manchester.

Not only does it come from Gary Neville’s rapidly-booking hospitality empire, but it’s also backed by world-famous hotelier Winston Zahra, not to mention high-profile chefs and hospitality figures like Tom Kerridge and The Schofield Brothers having run the kitchen.

You could be looking at as much as £1500 for a night in the suites, but the rooms start at a much lower rate – and then there’s ‘The House’, an enormous fully serviced, ultra-exclusive penthouse apartment with its own roof terrace.

4 Norfolk St, Manchester M2 1DW | stockexchangehotel.co.uk

10. The Reach

The newest addition to Manchester’s ever-growing hotel and resort sector, The Reach has landed just a short walk from Piccadilly Station and is only a few minutes away from the bustling Northern Quarter, meaning that like Dakota, it’s picked a prime logistical and cultural location.

But enough about topographical perks, this place is simply sublime, serving exquisite food and drink from its Lock 84 restaurant overlooking the Rochdale Canal, with rooms that are just as spacious as they are luxurious.

Perfect for business or pleasure, The Reach is already becoming a popular choice for those visiting Manchester and has comfortably landed itself on the list of the very best hotels we have to offer here in the city centre.

7 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JB | thereachmcr.com

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

More Feature

Circa Waves interview on new album and 2025 tour lineup

Audio

Circa Waves on their new album, unreal tour lineup, a big health scare and ‘the best band’ around right now

Affiliate

Chicago the Musical razzles (and dazzles) at the Palace Theatre in Manchester

best sandwiches in manchester city centre

City Centre

Where to find the best sandwiches in Manchester city centre and beyond

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches