Eats

The best pancakes in Manchester and where to find them

For Pancake Day, and beyond.

Georgina Pellant - 19th February 2023

Pancakes might traditionally be a relatively simple staple, but here in Manchester our restaurants and cafes go large, with dozens of different styles, flavours and toppings to choose from.

There’s a pancake to suit everyone if you know where to look, from sweet to savoury, miniature to fat and thin to fluffy.

We’ve broken down some of our favourites below to help you get your pancake fix all year round. Yes, it may be Shrove Tuesday is looming, but one day is hardly enough to sample them all.

There are some newcomers to check out for 2023 too.

Keep reading to discover the best places for pancakes in Manchester.

Cocoa Cabana

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Cocoa Cabana is the absolute best place to head for pancakes in Manchester.

For Pancake Day, they’re going bottomless – it’s £12.50 for as many as you can eat, the only rule being you have to finish one stack before you order the next.

Flavours include tiramisu, Biscoff and caramel, and Kinder Bueno.

Lazy Sundae

Head to Lazy Sundae ice cream parlour in the Northern Quarter for its famous soufflé pancakes.

This pancake day, you’ll find specials topped with either honeycomb, banana and miso caramel or Nutella and strawberries.

A popular order in Japan and, increasingly, across the globe, opt for personalised toppings like wafers, chocolate sprinkles, fruit and ice cream to make this special, puffed-up pancake your own.

Ice cream flavours are vast, and there’s a good range of sorbets for vegans and the lactose intolerant to enjoy too.

Ducie Street Warehouse

If you think you can manage to eat your body weight in pancakes then this might just be for you.

Ducie Street Warehouse has got unlimited servings of pancakes priced at £13.50 for 30 minutes off non-stop servings.

Their pancakes can come loaded with everything from Nutella and maple syrup to mixed berries, cinnamon sugar and more.

Hampton and Vouis

This cute little cafe next to Albert Square is very easy to miss, but well worth seeking out.

Venture inside, and you’ll find great coffee, a counter full of bakes from local suppliers and an excellent year-round pancake menu.

Here, fluffy American-style pancakes are loaded with sauce and sweet treats like Jammy Dodger biscuits, raspberries, caramel sauce and strawberry jam (pictured above).

There’s also a Lotus Biscoff stack, a special apple crumble and custard stack, and a Biscoff and Bueno stack. All come with vanilla ice cream on the side.

This pancake day, the Hampton and Vouis chefs have created a number of specials too. Think crab meat and smashed avocado, poached egg and lemon butter sauce, or pistachio ice cream topped with lemon syrup, white chocolate and pistachio.

Fluffy Fluffy

There are more fat, fluffy, wobbly pancakes to be found at Fluffy Fluffy, formerly known as Fuwa Fuwa, on Whitworth Street.

These are traditional handcrafted soufflé pancakes topped with flavours like matcha tiramisu, raspberry banana, and blueberry.

The Botanist

Already famous for its hanging kebabs, The Botanist has created a pancake-friendly version to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.

Stacked high, you’ll get six miniature Scotch pancakes dressed with either marshmallows, strawberries and lemon drizzle or hot chocolate sauce and chocolate brownie chunks.

Available from 28 February to 2 March at all Manchester sites, be quick – before they’re all gone.

Moose Coffee

Canadians are famous for their pancakes and the selection at Moose in Manchester is up there with the best. Made fresh to order, think a stack of three dusted with icing sugar and served with Canadian butter.

Whether you opt for savoury or sweet toppings maple syrup on the side is pretty much a given (yes, even with your eggs and bacon) and we’re absolutely here for it.

The only thing that could make it more authentic is if the staff split the bill for you unrequested.

The Koffee Pot

A greasy spoon cafe, but make it Northern Quarter.

The Koffee Pot has long been a go-to breakfast spot, way before it moved up from Stevenson Square to its new premises on Oldham Street.

It’s known for its fry ups and breakfast tacos, but you can get a solid pancake stack here too. Think all-American buttermilk pancake stacks with added sausage patty, smoked streaky bacon, hash brown, fried egg and maple syrup.

It’s basically a full English in a pancake stack, and who doesn’t want that?

19 Cafe Bar

This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot has become an absolute go-to for naughty pancakes, thanks to its chocolate bar-laden menu.

The Biscoff and Kinder Bueno pancakes are the big draws here at 19 Cafe Bar. Loaded with the likes of Biscoff crumb and spread, banana, ice cream and salted caramel sauce, or homemade Kinder sauce, Bueno, chocolate sauce, roasted hazelnuts and vanilla ice cream, .

There are healthier pancake options too and a strong list of brunch cocktails available from the bar.

Evelyn’s

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This trendy cafe in the Northern Quarter has a solid brunch menu, including indulgent buttermilk souffle pancakes loaded with honeycomb butter and a spiced berry compote.

There are specials for pancake day 2023 too, like Nutella and strawberry, date caramel and banana, and a spiced apple compote.

Washed down with a coffee or a brunch cocktail, you can’t go wrong.

Kong’s Chicken Shop at Dogbowl

If you like a bit of fried chicken with your pancakes, it’s got to be Kong’s. Some of the best in the city, chicken here is rolled in a secret spice mix then double dredged for extra crispiness.

This pancake day, head down to Dogbowl for American style buttermilk pancakes served with either chicken, bacon and maple; berry compote, candied pecans, whipped ricotta and mint; or Caramelised banana, pecans and salted caramel ice-cream.

Feature image – Moose Coffee