Food Shops in Manchester

Emma Nuttall

We’re not talking supermarkets or department store food halls here: these are Manchester’s truly independent food emporiums, where the cake is beautifully crafted, the wines are from all over the world and the chocolate is the finest artisan you can find. Tuck in!

Our top picks

Barbakan Delicatessen

Barbakan Delicatessen, 67-71 Manchester Rd, Manchester, M21 9PW - Visit now

This award-winning, continental bakery in Chorlton is simply the place to go if you’re in need of some delicious, freshly baked carbs or posh bits and pieces for the pantry.

Lunya Manchester

Lunya Manchester, Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 2BB - Visit now

Bringing the taste of Catalonia to Manchester’s Barton Arcade, Lunya’s latest delicatessen and restaurant is all set to replicate the massive success that it’s been enjoying in Liverpool. The Manchester deli is an authentically decorated larder of treats both sweet and savoury, stacked to the rafters with more than 1,000 Spanish and Catalan specialties, including hams carved from the bone, and jars and jars of olives. Other delis we can recommend include Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar (Italy’s finest), Thyme Out Delicatessan in Didsbury and continental bakery Barbakan Delicatessen in Chorlton.

Butcher’s Quarter

Butcher’s Quarter, 66 Tib Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LG - Visit now

For a hunk of meat that’s a cut above the rest you could do a lot worse than The Butcher’s Quarter, the artisan butchers located on Tib Street in the belly of the Northern Quarter, that specialises in locally sourced cuts of meat. Their attention to detail is second to none.

Butchers Quarters, butchers and delicatessen in Manchester
Image courtesy of Butchers Quarter

Cheese Hamlet

Cheese Hamlet, 706 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Greater Manchester, M20 2DW - Visit now

Head to the Cheese Hamlet in West Didsbury for a huge range of cheese, mustard, and preserves. Just add Port!

Cheese and Win platter by Cheese Hamlet
Image courtesy of Cheese Hamlet

Eighth Day

Eighth Day, 111 Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 7DU - Visit now

Eighth Day is a veggie and vegan superstore that’s less of a shop-cum-cafe and more of a Manchester institution. Perfect for those still sticking to New Year’s resolutions.

Unicorn Grocery

Unicorn Grocery, 89 Albany Rd, Manchester, M21 0BN - Visit now

An absolute haven for vegetarians, vegans or anyone who cares deeply about where their food comes from. A cooperative that traces its origins back to the Rochdale Pioneers, The Unicorn has been around for over twenty years and is more popular than ever.

Where to go in Manchester

Image of the outside of Altogether Otherwise at night with people inside
Manchester
Event venue
Altogether Otherwise

Altogether Otherwise is a haven of activity where all are encouraged to make, do, dance, read and enjoy pursuing creativity with no pressure.

Manchester
Shop
House of Books & Friends

Playing a powerful role in the community, this venue functions as a bookshop, café and place to meet and chat with likeminded individuals.

Manchester
Shop
Bags of Flavour

Bags of Flavour is the Northern Quarter’s answer to high end vintage with high quality exclusive garments and accessories.

Altrincham
Shop
IDAHO

Every piece in IDAHO has something special and will guarantee to make your homes, offices and wardrobes feel a little more inspiring.

Manchester
Shop
Want Not Waste

Want Not Waste is a student-run, not-for-profit zero waste shop operating out of Academy 1 at the University of Manchester Students’ Union.

Ancoats
Shop
Ancoats General Store

Ancoats General Store serves the local community as a sustainability-focused convenience store stocking craft products, locally-sourced wares and top tier vegan produce.

Urmston
Shop
Goodness Zero Waste

On a mission to help making a difference more convenient, Urmston’s Goodness Zero Waste is a great spot to shop sustainably for food, beauty and household products.

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UNITOM bookshop
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SB_BreweryTour- Distillery Two
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Image by Jonathan Schofield.
Spotlight on

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Detail of an abstract sculpture, with burned materials and rusty chicken wire at the centre, with rusted metal bars bent around it.
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