24 hours in Chorlton | An insider’s guide to the bohemian heart of Manchester
Make the most of your day in one of Manchester’s most creative neighbourhoods with our insider’s guide to the best things to eat, drink, and do in Chorlton.
With some of the city’s best bars, cafes, and independent shops, Chorlton has long held the title of Manchester’s most bohemian suburb.
The area’s often named as one of the best places to live in the UK — and with so much to offer and gorgeous green spaces nearby, it’s easy to see why.
Stuck where to begin?
The Manc’s got your back.
Make the most of 24 hours in Chorlton with our guide to the best the neighbourhood has to offer.
Morning
Chorlton is a brunch lover’s paradise, with loads of quirky independent cafes to choose from.
Start your day by fuelling up with a hearty full English at Mary & Archie.
With brunch served till 3pm, it’s okay if you fancy a lie-in — this much-loved local gem will have classic breakfast dishes ready to go when you arrive.
They champion locally-sourced produce and there are plenty of veggie and vegan options, too.
If you’re feeling creative, give the breakfast burrito a go.
Got a sweet tooth? Head to The Lead Station for to-die-for blueberry pancakes and French toast.
You can also add a brunch cocktail to any dish for £5 — choose between a Bloody Mary, Espresso Martini, Bucks Fizz or Breakfast Spritz.
Go on, treat yourself.
Afternoon
Get some of the city air out of your lungs with a trip to Ivy Green & Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve, one of Manchester’s best green spaces.
It’s easy to spend a whole day strolling around Chorlton Ees — it’s a great place to take the dog for a long walk or to go on a bike ride along one of the many trails that lead to the River Mersey.
The perfect Sunday afternoon? A walk with friends around the nature reserve followed by a pint at the Horse and Jockey pub, ideally located on Chorlton Green.
Reward yourself after your walk with a well-earned slice of cake and a cuppa from Tea Hive.
This adorable little cafe doesn’t mess around when it comes to sweet treats – think cake, cake, and more cake.
It also has a huge range of loose leaf tea and even a tea-inspired cocktail menu.
We recommend settling in with a brew and a generous slice of the cake of the week.
Ride the wave of your sugar high all the way to Chorlton Bookshop, a family run bookshop that was established in 1983.
It’s the perfect place to find a gift for the bookworm in your life, and the friendly staff are always happy to help out with recommendations.
Continue the book theme by popping to Chorlton Library.
This Grade 2 listed building has been at the heart of the community since it opened back in 1914 and has recently undergone a major refurb.
It’s also Manchester’s second busiest library and hosts the Chorlton Book Festival every year.
There are brilliant shops to browse all along Beech Road, like The Curious Fox pictured below.
Next, tuck into a hearty late lunch on the terrace outside the legendary Barbakan Deli.
Enjoy a fresh quiche, homemade soup or hot ciabatta sizzler while sipping on a cup of award-winning Italian roasted espresso.
All the breads, cakes and pastries at Barbakan are baked throughout the night on-site, so get ready for a seriously delicious smell when you walk through the doors.
We believe Sunday lunch is the most important meal of the week, so don’t miss out on getting your hands on a delicious roast dinner if you find yourself in Chorlton on a Sunday.
The Chorlton Green serves one of the entire region’s best roasts, and even does a version for dogs so your pet can join in on the wholesome times.
There’s a choice of chicken, beef or nut roast served alongside carrot and suede mash, perfectly crisp roast potatoes, stuffing, seasonal vegetables and a giant Yorkshire pudding.
Gravy comes in a big boat on the side and cauliflower cheese is £3 extra.
Let your lunch digest as you have a browse in Unicorn Grocery, a 100% vegan and organic supermarket with a deli counter.
Yes, we really do recommend visiting a supermarket as an essential thing to do in Chorlton – but this isn’t any old supermarket.
Unicorn is a worker-owned grocery store that champions sustainability and fights food waste with its locally grown, seasonal produce.
It has some gorgeous organic and Fairtrade treats, along with a refill station to reduce plastic waste.
If that wasn’t enough, it has twice been named Best Food Retailer at the BBC Food & Farming Awards. Stock up those cupboards.
Evening
Kick off the evening with a couple of pre-dinner drinks at The Beagle.
A long-time Chorlton favourite, this laidback neighbourhood bar has a welcoming atmosphere and offers 15 keg lines and three cask pumps – all serving modern, seasonal beers.
They have a belting happy hour too, running 4pm til 7pm Sunday to Thursday, and all day Monday, with £4.50 pints, £6.50 cocktails and £19 bottles of wine.
Once you’ve polished off your tipple of choice, head out for dinner at one of Chorlton’s many fantastic restaurants.
Bar San Juan is a small authentic tapas bar that’s been providing locals with some of the best tapas outside of Spain for over a decade.
The lively interior is sure to warm you up on even the greyest Manchester day.
It’s frequently named one of the city’s best tapas restaurants and serves traditional dishes along with some modern twists on classic Spanish cuisine.
Just a few doors down is The Jane Eyre too, a relative newcomer to the neighbourhood after building up a loyal following in Ancoats.
Here you’ll find brilliant cocktails and seasonal small plates in a beautiful mid-century restaurant and bar space.
In more of a pizza mood?
Look no further than Double Zero.
This Neapolitan pizzeria serves pizza made from slow-rising sourdough, baked in a wood-burning brick oven specially made by an artist in Naples.
It’s BYOB, so bring along a bottle of wine (or two!) and fill up on some deliciously fresh Italian fare.
Room for dessert? You’re in luck. We can’t recommend the homemade tiramisu highly enough.
If you want to finish your day in Chorlton with a bang, go on bar crawl around a few of the neighbourhood’s best watering holes.
This vibrant suburb is a rising star when it comes to a great night out.
Benito Lounge serves unique cocktails in a relaxed, welcoming interior.
The Chocolate & Cherry Black Russian is a caffeine-infused twist on a classic that’s sure to get the party started.
The bar even offers a carbon neutral spirit – look out for Five Hundred Cuts on the menu.
If you’re after great beer, try out The Beer House on Manchester Road.
This quirky pub prides itself on stocking local craft beer from the best independent breweries around Manchester.
It was the runner-up Pub of the Year 2019 and 2020 and its quiz nights draw people in from all over the city.
Other great options for a few drinks include The Beech Inn, Brewski, The Font and Proof Bar & Kitchen.
Featured image: unsplash