Eats

The best places for breakfast and brunch in Manchester

From bacon naan rolls, to your classic loaded avocado smash, fry ups and more, these are some of Manchester's best breakfast spots.

Dolly Busby Dolly Busby - 5th October 2021

Breakfast is often called the “most important meal of the day”, and we’d have to agree.

Whether you’re an early morning riser, in need of that hangover cure, or want a fun, filling brunch date, that early morning call for decent scran is not to be ignored.

That said, the breakfast debate can be a heated one. Sugary pancakes vs a big, greasy full English, or granola with yoghurt and fruit – which one are you?

No matter which camp you fall into, this list of Manchester’s best breakfast and brunch spots has a little of everything – meaning you don’t have to pick sides.

Keep reading to find our top picks for satisfying breakfasts that are sure to satisfy those strange hangover cravings.

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Banana bread french toast with caramelised bananas, toasted pecans & whipped vanilla mascarpone / Credit: Federal

Federal

Northern Quarter and Deansgate

A Manc favorite (and a recent winner at this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Awards), Federal provides top-quality coffee and delicious Aussie-inspired food out of its NQ and Deansgate kitchen. Open from 8 am, queues here are common – but don’t worry, they’re fast-moving too.

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They also offer all-day brunch, so no need to rush in if you’ve got a sore head. Start your morning with a nutty granola, halloumi and shrooms or a super healthy acai bowl, or alternatively opt to enjoy the likes of steak and eggs, smoked salmon bagel or anything with streaky bacon.

Drinks-wise, think fresh juices, iced coffee, loose leaf tea. Alternatively, they also have an impressive natural wine list.

See Saw / Credit: The Manc Eats

Batard

86 Princess Street

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If you love a good McDonald’s breakfast muffin but feel too guilty to order one, new indie bakehouse and kitchen Batard has a sustainable and ethical version on its menu that’s just as good (if not a million times better) than the original.

Breakfast here is served from 9 am until 12 pm, with other tasty dishes including the likes of stout rarebit; babka french toast with red wine poached pears, tahini mascarpone and burnt white chocolate; and toasted sourdough with a choice of spreads.

Another Heart To Feed

Stevenson Square / Burton Road

Strictly walk-ins only, Another Heart To Feed has two locations: one in the Northern Quarter, the second (and original site) on Burton Road in Didsbury.

The smashed avocado, feta, and beetroot hummus is the stuff of legend and probably one of the most Instagrammed brunches in the city – but there’s plenty more delicious stuff on the menu here too.

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Think Turkish eggs with dill labneh and harissa on sourdough; broad bean smash with tomatoes, mozzarella and beetroot hummus; beetroot cured salmon and more.

Dishoom’s breakfast menu is a bit on the different side / Credit: Dishoom

Dishoom

From its epic bacon naan rolls to spicy scrambled eggs and chilli cheese toast, Dishoom’s breakfast menu is a bit on the different side – taking inspiration from the Irani cafes of the empire.

Served from 8 am, it’s a popular choice over on Manchester’s Bridge street. Set inside the iconic former Mason’s building, its settings are impressive too.

if you want to try a breakfast with a difference you cannot go wrong here. It’s one for the more adventurous foodie.

Fress is an incredibly popular spot for breakfast and brunch in Manchester Credi / Credit: Fress

Fress

Northern Quarter

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An incredibly popular spot for breakfast and brunch in Manchester, dishes at Fress are served from 9-4 pm and it’s strictly walk-ins only.

Head in to try dishes like ‘the brekkie beast’; ‘posh beans on toast’; ‘dunkin’ brekkie tacos’ and ‘what hangover, chicken waffles’ – and, if you’re feeling a boozy one, opt to make it bottomless with 90 minutes of unlimited drinks on top.

Anything you want, Fress has got it.

The TFC roll has not been on the menu at Evelyn’s. Taiwanese fried chicken with spinach, roasted chilli sauce and fried egg / Credit: Evelyn’s

Evelyn’s

Northern Quarter

A strong Northern Quarter favourite, Evelyn’s is a great place to go with family and friends for a cozy and relaxed morning. Open from 10 am in the week and 9 on weekends, brunch here is served until 5 pm so you’ve plenty of time to enjoy.

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Opt for the likes of shakshuka or buttermilk pancakes if you’re keeping breakfast traditional, or dive into small plates like pineapple cured seatrout and Taiwanese fried chicken at brunch.

A gem in the heart of the Northern Quarter, it buzzes with life and if you want to continue your stay there, it is also known as a great date night spot.

The PKB Brekkie Bun featuring sausage patty, streaky bacon, egg and cheese in a homemade pretzel bun / Credit: PKB

Pot Kettle Black

Barton Arcade Manchester & Moda Angel Gardens

Originally a coffee bar, Pot Kettle Black also has its own micro bakery which provides all the tasty cakes, pretzel buns, and more that you can enjoy on their menu.

Brunch is served here from 8 am to 3 pm. with a range of popular items including their ‘brekkie bun’ and the ‘monte cristo’ cheese toastie. PKB also serves a cracking vegan brunch featuring the likes of bircher muesli, coconut porridge, chai-soaked fruit, and Asian scrambled tofu on sourdough toast.

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With its original site set in the beautiful Barton Arcade, PKB Is an absolute must.

Koffee Pot has been proudly “creating and curing hangovers since 1978” / Credit: The Koffee Pot

The Koffee Pot

Oldham Street, Northern Quarter.

Shoutout to all the greasy spoon lovers, this is your haven. Koffee Pot has been proudly “creating and curing hangovers since 1978”. For full English lovers, began breakfasters, veggie fanatics, pancake connoisseurs and those obsessed with egg bennies, this is your spot.

Open from 9 am Monday to Thursday, 8 am Fridays and 9 am on the weekends, head to The Koffee Pot for a proper English breakfast scran.

Black Sheep Coffee is a great go-to for that first cup of coffee / Credit: Black Sheep Coffee

Black Sheep Coffee

Deansgate, Manchester Piccadilly Place and Station & Manchester Spring Gardens

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For the really early risers, Black Sheep Coffee is a great go-to for that first cup of coffee. With four sites spread across the city, there’s never a Black Sheep too far away either.

There’s plenty of pour-over options here, or if you’re not feeling that then go for loose leaf tea, hot chocolate, cold press coffee, or a local kombucha. Food-wise, think Canadian egg, bacon and cheese on ‘house-made biscuit’, daily changing quiches and wraps filled with spinach or chorizo.

Black Sheep Coffee opens at 6.30 am Monday to Friday, 7 am Saturdays, and 8 am Sundays.

Eats

Romantic restaurants in Manchester that are perfect for Valentine’s Day 2023

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

With Valentine’s Day in Manchester fast approaching, the city’s restaurants and bars are gearing up to welcome couples wanting to celebrate the day.

With so many great restaurants in Manchester, if you’re looking to take your other half out to eat you are quite literally spoilt for choice.

For those lost in a sea of menus and wondering where to book, we thought we’d help make things a little bit easier by recommending some of our favourite romantic restaurants and a few other popular date night spots to help get you started.

Keep reading to discover our top picks for where to take your date in Manchester this Valentine’s Day.

Hawksmoor

Not many London brands successfully make the move up to Manchester, but one that has done it with aplomb is high-end steakhouse Hawksmoor.

It’s pricey but worth it, with a stunning wood-paneled cocktail bar (and bar menu) available next to the restaurant to help you get your date off to a flying start.

As a steakhouse, it’s not particularly great for vegetarians or vegans – although there are some nice fish dishes to be found on the menu. The meat here is chargrilled in the josper, whilst sides typically come laden with rich cheese, nutmeg and cream.

The aforementioned cocktail list is excellent, as is the wine list. One of the owner’s mums is actually a wine critic for The Guardian and her at-home cooking style, taking simple dishes and executing them very well, was one of the inspirations for the Hawksmoor menu today.

The Sparrows

If you’re a self-confessed pasta lover with no objection to stuffing yourself with carbs on Valentine’s, visiting Manchester’s newest addition to the Michelin Guide is an absolute must.

One of the best restaurants in Manchester by a long shot, it is run by a married couple – with Polish-born Kasia Hitchcock positioned out front and her chef-partner Franco Concli working away making dumplings in the back.

Spatzle (pictured above) is the house specialty, said to mirror sparrows in flight – hence the restaurant’s name. It’s best eaten with a simple sauce of butter and sage, but there are numerous sauce options – plus countless European dumplings, a fine sake selection and an organic wine list.

The hushed, sleek interiors, meanwhile, will have you convinced you’re somewhere in New York – not on the back streets of the Green Quarter – as well as fostering a sense of intimacy between you and your dining partner.

Read more: This hidden Manchester pasta and dumplings restaurant has just made the Michelin Guide

The Oystercatcher

Image: The Oystercatcher

A visit to The Oystercatcher requires a trip out to Chorlton, but it’s well worth it to taste some of the best fish on offer in the city – often chargrilled in the josper oven for added flavour.

Getting a good seafood menu together is challenging in a city as landlocked as Manchester, and the lists change weekly at the restaurant in reflection of this.

Oysters dressed with shallot mignonette tend to be a mainstay, whilst a sample menu lists the likes of black sea bream, scallops, monkfish, seabass, sea trout, mussels and crab.

Sides are ordered separately, with choices like fennel gratin, chargrilled broccoli, hispi cabbage, triple cooked chips and more.

The Perfect Match

Image: The Perfect Match
Image: The Perfect Match

A charming little 26-cover bistro in the south Manchester neighbourhood of Sale, it’s not just the name that makes this spot a perfect choice for a romantic date.

Serving up some critically acclaimed British and European food with a beautiful hand-picked selection of wines, find rich and comforting dishes like lamb ragu gnocchi, baked bone marrow with truffle, and 32-day dry-aged red Hereford beef on its regularly-changing a la carte menu.

As for pudding? Tuck into the likes of popcorn and white chocolate posset with salted caramel, or enjoy a peanut butter pie with candied peanuts and a warming glass of Pedro Ximinez.

10 Tib Lane

Image: 10 Tib Lane
Image: 10 Tib Lane

With sultry low lighting, quality cocktails, £1 oysters and plenty of tucked-away seating spread over three floors, 10 Tib Lane could’ve been made for date night.

Serving a tantalising small plates menu alongside some beautiful low-intervention wines, its Cumbrae oysters with mignonette are a must-order to get your night going.

Followed up with the likes of steak tartare, lamb sweetbreads, duck in port sauce, bone marrow and pommes anna, and charred hispi cabbage in shallot sauce, foodies should be in absolute heaven.

Erst

Image: MCR Life UK

Another award-winning, Michelin-recommended eatery, this time from the team behind the Levenshulme (and now also Ancoats) bakeries, Trove.

Open Tuesday to Saturday, with its concrete floors and relatively sparse settings, it’s the food here more than the decor that makes Erst so romantic.

A love of fermentation and pickling has clearly passed from one sibling’s kitchen into another. Plates here are ordered to share, with a list of 10 to choose from.

Each designed simply to showcase the natural flavours of the produce, order as many as you can muster then tuck in with a good bottle of natural wine on the side.

Ornella’s Kitchen

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

Home to some of the best pasta in Greater Manchester, you do have to schlep all the way out to Denton for it – but if incredible Italian food is part of your partner’s love language then trust us, it’ll be worth it.

By day, Ornella’s is very much a tiny deli cafe with room for just 12 diners at once. By night, the combination of the small space, low lighting and mouthwatering dishes make it a pasta lover’s paradise.

Dish-wise, think plump lobster ravioli, butter-drenched crispy sage and hazelnut spinach ricotta ravioli, and carbonara bucatini liberally doused in pepper and egg yolk, with crisp flecks of guanciale on top – all freshly made on-site by hand that day.

Read more: Inside Ornella’s, the tiny Tameside pasta kitchen that’s getting everything right

Climat

Image: Climat
Image: Climat

The recent subject of a rave review from Guardian food critic Jay Rayner, Climat might be a relative newcomer on the Manchester dining scene but we’re expecting big things in 2023.

Opened by the team behind the Michelin-recommended Corvena in Chester just before Christmas, it boasts a stunning wine list (the name nods to the importance of weather in creating incredible wines) as well as some reportedly ‘genius’ dishes on its menu.

Serving a mixture of small and large plates, it also has one of the best panoramic views of the city skyline – looking down across Manchester from its perch on Blackfriars.

Read more: ‘It’s hard not to fall in adult love’ – Guardian food critic Jay Rayner hails new Manchester restaurant

20 Stories

Image: 20 Stories
Image: 20 Stories

It feels like this Spinningfields rooftop restaurant needs no introduction at this point, but we’re going to do it anyway.

A glamourous restaurant and bar with a huge, heated outdoor terrace, it sits right at the top of the No.1 Spinningfields building overlooking the swanky glass towers of the business district from its position on high.

Long favoured for date night thanks to its breathtaking views of the skyline, its menu is not to be sniffed at either with a selection of delicious modern British dishes on offer.

Hispi

Image: HIspi Bistro

Part of Gary Usher’s Elite Bistros group, this charming neighbourhood eatery in Didsbury Village is a wonderful spot for a romantic date.

The custard tart here is legendary, with an unctuous wobble that defies you to dare leave without ordering a slice.

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Known for taking bistro classics and executing them to an exceptionally high standard, at Hispi you can expect a relaxed dining experience erring on the casual side.

Evelyn’s

Image: Evelyn’s

Another laid-back eatery with a casual setting, Evelyn’s offers a mixed menu of small plates that can be ordered to share or larger ones to enjoy alone.

A popular cafe by day, at night it comes alive in a whole new way – lit up romantically with plants trailing down from hangers above your head.

Evelyn’s also boasts a ‘secret’ bar below, The Daisy, where you can sneak off with your date afterward to enjoy a few cocktails (or wines) in a romantic setting.

El Gato Negro

The chef’s table at El Gato Negro in Manchester gives you a direct view of the chefs as they work. / Image: El Gato Negro

This AA Rosette and Michelin-recommended restaurant on King Street is a fail-safe date option in our (humble) opinion.

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Serving up a mix of tapas dishes split into sections like fish and shellfish, meat, charcuterie, vegetables and para picar, tuck into the likes of Catalan bread, Padron peppers, salt cod croquettas and Morcilla scotch eggs.

Alongside a great wine and cocktail list, El Gato is also known for its sherry and vermouth selection – and both make a great complement to this style of dining.

For an ultra-romantic twist, if you love the idea of having a bit of theatre whilst you eat you can opt to sit at the chef’s table which faces directly into the kitchen.

Read more: Ten of the best restaurants and bars to visit on a date in Manchester

Dishoom

Image: Dishoom Manchester

If you ask us, romance doesn’t have to be all white tablecloths and rose petals – sometimes it’s more fun to get stuck in and share a curry with your loved one.

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Since it opened in Manchester with queues out the door, Dishoom has remained one of the city’s most popular curry houses whilst maintaining an elusive, sultry feel – thanks, in part, to its setting within the city’s stunning former Masonic Hall.

Nestle up in one of its many beautiful corners on Valentine’s Day, with walk-ins always welcome.

Feature image – 20 Stories

Eats

This Manchester pub is serving a pay-as-you-feel Sunday roast

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A pub in Manchester is going above and beyond for its locals, giving back to its community by serving up pay-as-you-feel roast dinners every month.

Specifically designed to be a safe space for the community, The Old Abbey Taphouse in Hulme brings together chefs in its community to cook up delicious meals from scratch on the last Sunday of the month.

Neighbours are invited to come, eat and pay only what they can afford in return (be that a little or a lot), with giant Sunday roasts served from 7pm until the kitchen runs out.

Past community feasts have included a choice of honey mustard silverside beef top joint, chicken supreme, cauliflower cheese pie, or homemade vegan sausage roll.

Trimmings, meanwhile, span the likes of beef dripping potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, honey roast rainbow carrots, boiled cabbage, giant fluffy Yorkshire puddings, and apricot and walnut stuffing.

Image: The Old Abbey Taphouse
Image: The Old Abbey Taphouse

All of Old Abbey Taphouse’s meals are made from scratch with love by community catering company Heart & Soul, which is comprised of chefs in the local community all wanting to give something back.

Its community cooking first began at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic with what was called ‘Taphouse TV dinners’.

This service – a collaboration between The  Old Abbey Taphouse, Geeks for Social Change, ACORN, and Gaskell Garden Project– started off as a free or pay-as-you-feel meal service for residents, with a suggested donation of £2 per meal.

During the pandemic, the Taphouse TV Dinners campaign saw the pub deliver nearly 3,000 two-course dinners to people who were struggling in the local community.

Read more: All the Michelin recommended restaurants in Greater Manchester

Since then, the pub has reopened and started to offer the popular meal service as a sit-down event in partnership with Heart and Soul kitchen.

Image: The Old Abbey Taphouse
Image: The Old Abbey Taphouse

Last year, The Old Abbey Taphouse was named the Community Pub of the Year by the Trafford & Hulme CAMRA branch.

The flagship venue of STEAM Hubs and Pubs C.I.C (Community Interest Company), it regularly runs club nights, live music gigs and pub quizzes as well as hosting community feasts.

Read more: Meet the couple who quit their jobs to sell sandwiches from their Northern Quarter flat

Feature image – The Old Abbey Taphouse

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