Top 3 early morning Northern Quarter hangouts

The Northern Quarter: where things don’t get going until at least 10am. If for some inexplicable reason you’re in the area early morning, you’ll know what a wasteland it is. So here are three places you can rely on to shelter from the rain and have a decent cuppa while waiting for the world to wake up…

North Tea Power
Open weekday mornings from 8am, NTP is perhaps the most reliable haven for early risers – especially after one or two of their expertly brewed, ever-rotating filter coffees perks you up. Ever-ready owners Wayne and Jayne will also rustle you up a toasted teacake or bowl of home-made granola and yoghurt if you ask nicely. The upbeat soundtrack (Kindness, College, Delorean etc) helps too.
36 Tib Street, M4 1LA, Tel: 0161 833 3073, Mon-Fri 8am – 7pm, Sat 10am – 7pm, Sun 11am – 6pm, @northteapower

North Star Piccadilly
Taking over the spot previously occupied by An Outlet in December 2011, North Star Delicatessen – with its main outlet in Chorlton – offers a peaceful city centre cafe (pictured) in Carver’s Warehouse on Dale Street. Office workers and commuters may spoil things later on – but between 8am and 9am, you practically have the place to yourself. The cafe recently started opening 15 minutes earlier on weekdays, and offers a breakfast menu and bagels.
77 Dale Street, M1 2HG, Tel: 0161 237 9619, Mon-Fri 8am – 5pm, Sat 10am – 6pm, Sun closed, www.northstardeli.com

Takk
Opening at 8.30am – talk about late starters! – Manchester’s only Icelandic-style coffee house is going from strength to strength since arriving on Tariff Street six months ago. Offering a spacious, airy environment – plus plenty of sweet things, including their award-winning brownies, to get your day off to a flyer – Takk has quickly established itself as a firm favourite with the early morning crowd.
6 Tariff Street, M1 2FF, Mon-Fri 8.30am – 5pm, Sat 10am – 6pm, Sun closed, @takkmcr

Finally an honourable mention goes to Koffee Pot, with its unearthly 7.30am weekday openings.

UPDATE: Oldham Street’s newest arrival, Fig + Sparrow, has started opening at 8am Mon-Fri.