Food & Drink

A brand-new ‘Polynesian paradise’ tiki bar has opened in the Northern Quarter

Lono Cove has decided to bring its summer spirit right here to Manchester.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 13th October 2021

There’s a brand-new “Polynesian paradise” tiki bar that’s just opened up in the heart of the Northern Quarter.

It may now officially be autumn, with the temperatures dropping by the day, but Lono Cove has decided to bring its summer spirit right here to Manchester after having been “redefining the way we socialise” since opening its first site in Chester in 2018, and after being voted the number one bar in the nearby city too.

The immersive tropical escape, where “amazing cocktails are just part of the story”, has settled and opened doors on Thomas Street.

The underground venue – which has taken over the old Apotheca unit – has been completely refurbished and kitted out with slick contemporary finishes, resort-style decor, and enough greenery and tropical flourishes to make you forget all about the typical Manchester rain that’s bound to pay us a visit.

Award-winning Lono Cove has decided to bring its summer spirit right here to Manchester / Credit: Facebook (Lono Cove)

Boasting an “expertly-crafted menu of cocktails and premium spirits”, and widely-celebrated for its drinks and service, Lono Cove has become a firm favourite for locals and tourists alike in Chester.

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It’s hoped that Mancunians and visitors to the city will take it to their heart in the same way.

There’s two floors of tropical cocktails, with the ground floor full of comfortable booths and two stunning birdcages – which cater for groups of up to six people – and the basement featuring a stunning floral décor, a DJ, and a drinks offering that’ll get the party started.

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The bar boats an “expertly-crafted menu of cocktails and premium spirits” and is celebrated for its drinks and service / Credit: Facebook (Lono Cove)

It’s the perfect place for private parties, cocktail masterclasses, and more.

Fancy a sneak peak of some of the cocktails on the menu? Well, there’s a range of tiki classics, including the always-dependable ‘ZOMBIE Mojito’, and a special sharing cocktail known as the ‘Treasure Chest’, which is full of Polynesian flavours – passionfruit, pineapple, and vanilla.

Lono Cove | 14 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1DH

Featured Image – Lono Cove

Food & Drink

Viral Christmas Markets trader to open Manchester’s first tiramisu cafe

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Misu Tiramisu is opening its first cafe in Manchester

Manchester is set to get its first tiramisu cafe, after viral Christmas Markets trader Misu Tiramisu has secured a bricks-and-mortar location.

The local business was one of the most popular operators at this year’s festive event, thanks to its miniature tiramisu ‘drawers’.

The individually portioned and colourfully packaged desserts quickly became one of town’s top puddings, and owners Aleem and Aishah went on to launch a stand inside the Manchester Arndale too.

And now they’re branching out again with their first tiramisu cafe, over in Stretford.

You’ll find all their delicious flavours of handmade tiramisu, including classic, pistachio, Biscoff, mango, and lemon – plus a whole host of new varieties for the cafe.

Misu Tiramisu will be creating new flavours like strawberry matcha, white hazelnut, and ‘intenso’.

The desserts will be served alongside speciality Italian coffee, plus focaccia sandwiches and pastries.

The new cafe will feature an open counter where customers can see the tiramisu being made.

Misu Tiramisu owners Aleem and Aishah spent a year refining the recipe for their tiramisus after a trip to Milan, first launching with their first market stall in Sale.

Misu Tiramisu at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Misu Tiramisu at the Manchester Christmas Markets
Misu Tiramisu will open a cafe in Stretford
Misu Tiramisu will open a cafe in Stretford

Aleem, Co-founder of Misu Tiramisu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be opening our first bricks and mortar cafe in Stretford town centre. It’s a big milestone for us, and we can’t wait to create a destination where people can sit down and really enjoy the experience of our range of freshly made tiramisu..

“More than anything, we want to build somewhere that brings people together and becomes a genuine part of the local community – see you soon, Stretford!”

Chris Houghton, Retail and Leisure Director from Bruntwood added: “The Misu Tiramisu cafe will be a great addition to Stretford town centre. The team’s unique offering adds a fresh and vibrant concept to the area and we can’t wait for everyone to try it and enjoy their great hospitality.”

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “We are delighted that the Misu Tiramisu cafe has decided to open in the new-look Stretford town centre.

“The Council is committed to improving all our town centres. This will be a great addition to the shops and hospitality in the Stretford redevelopment.”

Misu Tiramiu will open its doors at Unit 6, The Mezzanine, 26 King Street, Stretford, Manchester, M32 8AE.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Coffee Rules: The Greek-born cafe that’s gone on to become a beloved Greater Manchester brand

Danny Jones Danny Jones Coffee Rules Manchester locations

It’s rare that you find a place in an already saturated food and drink scene like Greater Manchester’s that genuinely comes across like a local community cornerstone, but that’s exactly what we got when we visited Coffee Rules in Salford.

We went for a brew, one of those viral iced coffee we’ve seen on socials, and maybe a nice bite to eat – but we left with much more and the impression that these lot are onto something big.

Opened in Arta back in their home country (also up in the northwest, by the way), they’ve never struggled to get queues out the door, and it’s no different here. This one is run by two siblings, 23-year-old Thomas and his big brother Marios, 30, who have been smashing it since 2023.

Since launching their growing UK brand in the likes of The Meadows neighbourhood – one of two they have in the city of Salford alone, the other being Swinton – they’ve brought the lines with them. With authentic Greek food and drink like this, it’s not hard to see why.

coffee rules salford
marios thomas coffee rules
Credit: The Manc Group

They’ve now expanded to more than eight sites total, including one still keeping their own local reputation alive over in Athens, and this looks to be just the beginning.

Having not only spread across the ten boroughs but further out into the region with their Liverpool locations as well as a Yorkshire stronghold up in Sheffield, there’s more to come from Coffee Rules, both in terms of premises and their plans to take on the rest of the brunch game and beyond.

Suburban Mancs may have already seen the regular midday and weekend crowds that pack out their Chorlton venue, the Rusholme one is often filled with fresh-faced uni students in need of their caffeine fix, and it’s an increasingly similar story for those based in Bolton.

Or maybe you’re one of the many people based in Manchester city centre, who nip to their quiet, tucked-away corner of Ancoats for a fresh bake or even to have your eye caught by some of their merch with that modern mythological-inspired logo.

Whichever one happens to be closest to you, you’ll have the same satisfying experience, from sipping on speciality coffee and the scran, to the service and all-around atmosphere.

They’re also about to start hosting board game nights over at their Salford site, where they’ll be making the most of their large terrace with plenty of seating, which also has the added bonus of a retracted pergola – perfect for sunny days or simply sheltering from the Manc rain.

One thing we also noticed was just how many locals not only popped in throughout our time there, but the sheer number that had chosen to start their day at this particular spot.

There’s a regular Greek crowd, of course, but there’s also the native Salfordian and those currently residing in and around the up-and-coming area, who were pulling up in the large car park and taking a pew, or even those just looking for quick and top-quality grab-and-go stuff.

In fact, it’s one of the quickest venues we’ve seen fill up that fast in a hot, Med minute.

iced coffees saflord
greek places salford
juice places manchester
Credit: The Manc Eats

Speaking of, whether it be one of their superb Spanish lattes, or the equally sweet, sultry and viral ‘Freddo Cappuccino’, or their traditional spanakopita, not to mention their many Mediterranean pastry variations, there’s a big call for pretty much everything on the menu.

We could go on at length in listing what impressed us about just this one Coffee Rules branch, and we’ve made many trips to their Chorlton one in the past already, but it’s probably best that we just urge you to give it a try sometime soon. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.

This is one of the fastest-growing franchises in the UK, and it’s no wonder they keep pulling in plaudits and invites to bigger and better industry within the industry as time goes on events over the past few years.

Oh, and one more thing, there’s plenty of savoury stuff that you’ll likely fall in love with, but we highly reccommend ordering the red velvet. Wow…

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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