The best Manchester coffee shops FT Siop Shop, Just Between Friends, Idle Hands & more

Known for their punchy coffee and fluffy, extravagantly decorated doughnuts, it’s no surprise that Tib Street’s Welsh bake house Siop Shop has cemented itself as a firm Northern Quarter favourite. A quick glance at their always innovative Instagram account will clue you in on the deep-filled doughnut treats they have on offer (the menu’s always changing but look out for the Lemon Meringue), plus they also serve up a nifty brunch menu for those after something a bit more filling.

Take a short stroll up the road from Siop and you’ll find their Tib Street neighbours, Just Between Friends. You can also find them up the road in Ancoats, or at their charming little spot in Wilmslow. Whichever spot you do end up at, you can be sure you’ll always be getting some of the most delicious coffee Manchester has to offer.

Ezra & Gil’s airy and rustic original Northern Quarter venue on the corner of Hilton Street finally has its trusty sidekick on Peter Street. With a menu chock full of meals made with local ingredients (we’d recommend the filling chicken caesar salad or sausage butty on sourdough bread), Ezra is also the perfect place to grab a takeaway drink, with a range of teas and regionally sourced coffees happily available.

Pie’s the name of the game at Idle Hands, the Northern Quarter coffee house that features a different selection of sweet and savoury bakes every other day. In addition to pie, Idle Hands also sell beers and natural wines that can be taken away, alongside a coffee selection that’s conscious of customer satisfaction. Ethically sourced, their team want visitors to experience new and surprising flavours with each cup – making this a great spot to kick start your day in an unexpected way.

Specialising in hand-roasted, small-batch speciality blends from all around the world, Mancoco strictly works with ethically sourced beans from identifiable single-origin farms, estates or small farm cooperatives. Their artisan coffee bar is housed within the railway arches just off Deansgate, and is a quite wonderful space to take a break and get your caffeine fix.

Certainly one of Manchester’s most unique coffee shops, the cosy Didsbury Village spot doubles up as an exhibition space with an actual bookshop hidden in the back. Along with coffee and tea, guests can tuck into an impressive menu of locally-sourced produce, along with speciality beers, wines and spirits from around the world.

While Pollen is rightfully acclaimed for its outstanding sourdough loaves and indulgent pastries, they don’t half know their way around a flat white, which makes for the optimal accompaniment to those unreal baked goods. Grabbing a coffee and croissant to go from their Ancoats spot and strolling along Islington Marina is one genuine bliss, too.

Amongst all of the welcome regeneration that has Chapel Street beginning to flourish, the lovely team over at Procaffeinated offers an array of speciality coffees to enjoy in or take away as well as natural wine, craft beer and cocktails, and a sumptuous brunch menu for those after a bite to eat.

Definitely one of the more unique offerings on the list, Ōdiobā is described as a ‘hi-fi listening bar and coffee shop’ set within Stockport’s flourishing underbanks.

The recently launched concept comes from the team behind NAM, and it’s fantastic to see them back after sadly closing their doors in Ancoats.

A coffee house by day and Audiophile Hi-Fi bar by evening, Ōdiobā is now home to NAM’s famous sound system, which forms an integral part of the venue’s exciting offering, which shifts between early-morning caffeine and late-night cocktails.