Breakfast in Manchester

All hail the Koffee Pot, which has been around for so long it was probably already the hippest breakfast spot in town back when Liam Gallagher was dribbling Ready Brek down the front of his onesie – but has recently moved. 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. Weirdly, they open at 7:30am during the week. Not very rock and roll, that.

– Kate Feld

Alabama’s walls are a gentle blue, its booths mustard-coloured, and the long bar around the kitchen is a sprightlier take on the one in Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. The menu has a good number of veggie (and vegan!) options than most and is dotted with appealing things like classic eggs Florentine and buttermilk pancakes with wild berries.

– Polly Checkland Harding

From Canada (by way of Liverpool) this small, chilled out café off Fountain Street serves up a good selection of North American brunch treats, including several variations on Huevos Rancheros, the breakfast choice of all discerning cowboys. Pancakes and veggie variations are also available – and they serve their own custom blend of coffee. Come early (or be prepared to actually wait in a queue outside for a table) –Moose Coffee is fiendishly popular. Bonus points for employing ‘can-do’ servers who somehow remain friendly and accommodating despite the perpetual scrum at their front door.

– Kate Feld

Head into the suburbs, to the People’s Republic of Chorlton, and to its award-winning gastro pub, The Beagle. The Beagle has a solid brunch menu; full English and American pancakes sit alongside interesting options – the breakfast burrito is recommended – and with the Metrolink only a few minutes away, it’s quick enough into town to call local. We’ll fight you for those pancakes…

– Susie Stubbs

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 (8am-3pm daily) – 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.

– Polly Checkland Harding