Breakfast in Manchester

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

It’s 2023 and time to make a few changes, so why not make one of them a vow to hunt out and eat a good breakfast in Manchester every day? After all, a bunch of boffins in white coats are always saying how it’s the most important meal of the day (I dispute this, mind, it’s obviously tea – or dinner to you non-Northern-born interlopers).

In Manchester, we have more breakfast options than you can shake a breadstick at. Whether you’re looking for healthy, filling meals to kick off your day or BMI-destroying plates of gluttony to wipe out that hangover, we’ve got the lot. No matter where your tastes lie, you’re bound to find something nestled in the city’s winding little streets.

If you’re a firm vegan or vegetarian, you’re covered, and the same goes for all you bacon-obsessed carnivores, lovers of French pastries, single-origin coffee junkies or any other obscure food niche. And if you simply just like eating nice food, why not try the lot? Treat it like an advent calendar that’s actually good.

Most of the below establishments open about 8 or 9 am but we’ve included a few later places, as sometimes all you need is a good brunch. Here’s our pick of the places which offer the best breakfast in Manchester.

Not that we’d list her as a leading authority on food, but Parks and Recreation protagonist Leslie Knope did once say, “Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?” Worth thinking about.

Our top picks

Bloom Cafe

Bloom Cafe, 45 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2AY - Visit now

Bloom Cafe opened on Deansgate at the end of 2020, serving cakes and CBD-infused drinks. Happily, now they’ve launched a new breakfast-slash-brunch menu with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, making it an ideal place to refuel during those hectic shopping trips in the city centre.

Bloom Cafe
Bloom Cafe

Dishoom Manchester

Dishoom Manchester, 32 Bridge St, Manchester , M3 3BT - Visit now

Mention Dishoom to anyone in Manchester, and you’ll hear one question, over and over: “Did you have the Bacon Naan Roll?” Well our reviewer tried the double Bacon Naan Roll and rather enjoyed himself. Don’t worry vegans – they have a vegan sausage alternative alongside a choice of more traditional Indian breakfasts.

Dishoom Manchester

The Pen and Pencil

The Pen and Pencil, 57 Hilton Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 2EJ - Visit now

Lovely little venue in the Northern Quarter that everyone should visit at least once. And why not make it for breakfast? They’re open from 10am every day, with a great first-thing menu for all you hungry Mancunians.

Mary & Archie Chorlton

Mary & Archie Chorlton, 111 Manchester Rd, Manchester, M21 9PG - Visit now

Mary & Archie Chorlton is the second and arguably best of the Mary & Archie bars, serving up a hearty breakfast from 10am every day of the week.

Mary & Archie Chorlton

The Con Club Altrincham

The Con Club Altrincham, 48 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ - Visit now

The Con Club is a perfect example of Altrincham’s dazzling food scene. The menu is wide-ranging but everything fits together perfectly, delivering excellent food for all tastes, set in beautiful surroundings. And you can try their breakfast offerings, every day of the week from 10am.

The Con Club Altrincham

Blanchflower

Blanchflower, 12-14 Shaw's Road, Altrincham, WA14 1QU - Visit now

Another excellent breakfast venue in Altrincham, leading us to assume that all those resident footballers must demand high-quality early morning fare. And that’s exactly what they get here, from 9am every day.

Blanchflower
Blanchflower

The Remedy Kitchen

The Remedy Kitchen, Unit 19, Royal Exchange, St Ann's Square, Manchester, M2 7EA - Visit now

The Remedy Kitchen is Manchester’s leading healthy eating space, dedicated to detoxing the body and mind. During lockdown it served as a delivery-only space, like so many others, but now it’s fully in action, offering healthy meals to start your day, every day (except Monday, oddly). New year, new you? Now you have no excuses.

The Remedy Kitchen
The Remedy Kitchen

Federal Cafe Bar

Federal Cafe Bar, 194 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND - Visit now

The Federal Cafe Bar on Deansgate is practically drowning in hype. But does it live up to it? Yes, on every possible level. It’s a superb spot for lunch, breakfast and delicious (but artery-clogging) treats.

Federal Cafe Bar
Ian Jones

Koffee Pot

Koffee Pot, 84-86 Oldham Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LE - Visit now

All hail the Koffee Pot. Why do people love it so? It’s cheap and divey, with red vinyl booths and is the ideal place to go for a hungover late breakfast, run into friends, hang out and drink too many cups of builder’s tea. The food is solid fry-up fodder with changing brekkie specials like kippers and haggis.

Photo of Koffee Pot in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Ben Williams

Moose Coffee Manchester

Moose Coffee Manchester, 20 York Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 3BB - Visit now

Moose Coffee celebrates ‘the best meal of the day’ (brunch) in American style, with stack pancakes, potato hash, Huevos Rancheros and eggs any way. There’s always a queue.

moose coffee manchester creative tourist
BW

Pot Kettle Black

Pot Kettle Black, Unit 14, Barton Arcade Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 2BW - Visit now

Tucked away in Barton Arcade, a small but beautiful shopping centre between St Ann’s Square and Deansgate, is Pot Kettle Black. This cosy cafe serves up both excellent coffee and an inventive brunch menu, we particularly recommend the figs on toast, with whipped ricotta, fresh mint and infused honey. There are comfy seats, wifi and plenty of plug sockets here; Pot Kettle Black may be off the beaten track, but’s bang on in our books.

Pot Kettle Black cafe in Manchester.
Pot Kettle Black - courtesy of venue

19 Cafe Bar

19 Cafe Bar, 19 Lever St, Manchester, M1 1BY - Visit now

19 Cafe Bar is located near the bus stops off the main Northern Quarter drag, instantly making it appealing because: cheaper and less pretentious. We’re big fans of their Breakfast Club offer and Brunch Cocktails.

19 Cafe Bar

Gorilla

Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 5WW - Visit now

Gorilla’s main selling point is their giant ‘royal’ sized full English breakfasts which come in vegan and veggie varieties too. Sometimes size really does matter, especially if you’re hungover and hungry. The food probably won’t kill your hangover, but a pint probably would, and they sell those here too.

Gorilla, Whitworth street Manchester

Federal Cafe

Federal Cafe, Basil Chambers, 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1EY - Visit now

By now you’ll have realised that Manchester is awash with breakfast choices – and joining them on this swelling listis this little café on the edge of the Northern Quarter. While it might be smaller than the rest, we love the food here, and the coffee even more.

Image courtesy of Marketing Manchester

Evelyn’s Cafe Bar

Evelyn’s Cafe Bar, G18 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1NB - Visit now

Casual, friendly and very, very comfortable, Evelyn’s championed great breakfast in Manchester when it was set up a few years ago. From healthy Buddha bowls and smoothies to indulgent breakfasts of steak and eggs.

Evelyn’s Cafe Bar
Charlie Spargo

Tea Hive

Tea Hive, 53 Manchester Rd, Manchester, M21 9PW - Visit now

Tea Hive is one of the best breakfasts in Chorlton. Sure, there’s some nice places along Beech Road and the many (many) bars dotted around the area make a pretty good fist of it, but for a pure breakfast fix, Tea Hive reigns supreme.

Tea Hive

The Beagle

The Beagle, 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M21 0BQ - Visit now

Another Chorlton favorite, The Beagle has some excellent breakfast options and their Mexican infused menu sets it apart from the competition. There are some great choices for vegetarians and vegans here too, we highly recommend the frijoles on toast, or, if you’re feeling like getting on an early morning buzz, try their famous Bottomless Brunch which promises infinite brunch and endless booze.

Image courtesy The Beagle.

Where to go in Manchester

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Public

New to Stevenson’s Square, Public is the Northern Quarter’s new local, from the team behind Evelyn’s.

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Osaka Local

Wonderful Japanese street food vendor, often found at Grub and other street food events in and around Manchester and the North.

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A new gastro pub in Didsbury Village, specialising in hearty meals and high-quality drinks. 

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The Refuge is a restaurant and bar based at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, specialising in bright, exciting small plates.

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97 is a smart new cocktail bar from the team behind Tariff & Dale and The Lead Station, based on Beech Road in Chorlton.

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