The best breakfast and brunch spots in Manchester

Located away from Altrincham’s main foodie drag, on a leafy street opposite Stamford Park is à bloc. Once a bicycle repair shop, this cafe is ideal for a weekend mooch with the promise of a banging brunch at the end of it. Serving up dishes like a Colombian inspired arepa brunch and a whipped feta and avo on toast. More of a sweet tooth? These guys create decadent doughnut creations by the tray load every day.

If you’ve ever managed to give yourself a Schloss-shaped hangover then you’ll the only logical course of action is to head straight back there for one of the city’s biggest and most impressive cooked breakfasts. This Bavarian beer hall knows what it’s doing when it comes to brekkie. Alongside classic breakfast offerings laden with Cumberland sausages and Burford Brown eggs, their bacon or sausage ‘kroissant’ creations are loaded with slow cooked onions, gouda and crispy shallots. Perfektion.

Over in Prestwich, All the Shapes has been steadily luring people away from the city centre haunts since 2015. We can see why a trip north is worth it. Their food offering takes in Mediterranean, Mexican and Asian influences, with colourful dishes like eggs with feta and hummus, breakfast burritos and crispy fried gnocchi with mushrooms. Plus, there’s a gorgeous outdoor space for alfresco coffees and bevs too.

Another Heart To Feed is a class act when it comes to breakfast and brunch. No prizes for guessing that the smashed avocado is a hit here, topped with a perfectly poached egg and a smattering of beetroot hummus. There’s also more chef-y creations like Eton mess french toast and chocolate orange granola. Plus, they have established the genius concept of a brunch happy hour – cocktails are two for £14 from 10am – 4pm every day.

This Liverpool import has firmly established itself as a Manchester favourite, with three sites now in the city – Cross Street, University Green and Spinningfields. When they initially started out, they were all about the coffee, so you can be sure you’re grabbing an excellent brew whether it’s a simple filter or something more extravagant. The breakfast menu is focussed around the BSC signature dish of the buoy – a toasted brioche with melted cheese, scrambled eggs and more.

With sites in the bustling centres of Altrincham and Sale, Blanchflower pride themselves on making every single thing on their menu in-house including the bread and pastries. Always changing, always moving and always improving, no two visits to Blanchflower are the same, and they seemingly manage to excel in complex, intricate brunch dishes just as masterfully as the classic bacon butty.

Located in a little bungalow in the scenic heart of Chorlton’s Longford Park is Caffeine & Co, a family-friendly oasis of coffees, bakes, breakfasts, sandwiches and soups. This isn’t your usual park kiosk though, brought to you by the people behind Blanchflower, there’s no better spot to take a stroll to for a breakfast toastie and a flat white amongst the flora and fauna. Here, a Saturday morning basically writes itself.

Not to be confused with Chorlton’s favourite tapas joint Bar San Juan, Cafe Sanjaun is a cheerful, super authentic Colombian cafe. While it doesn’t have any of the hallmarks of the trendy brunch spots which have marked Stockport’s foodie reinvention, this place makes up for it in terms of punchy South American flavours and an atmosphere you just want to hang out in. Breakfasts come with smoky beans, guacamole, perfectly runny eggs and satisfying arepas. If you like your breakfasts loaded with freshness, this spot on Petersgate is a must.

Damò is the authentic Roman spot in Altrincham run by three brothers. While their lasagne is winning over hordes of loyal customers in the evening, it’s certainly worth stopping here for brunch too. Brunch is a hybrid of English and Italian staples, so expect to find artisanal croissants with Italian smoked cheese and scrambled eggs, or the utterly unmissable french toast tiramisu. 

Dishoom is an outstanding breakfast and brunch place, but you knew that already from the perma-queues down the street to get in. It really is all about those bacon naans, each freshly baked to order in the tandoor oven, packed with added zing in the form of  cream cheese, tomato-chilli jam and fresh coriander leaves. Sarnies not really your thing? There’s an array of appealing cooked breakfasts and vegan options too, enjoyed with brunch-friendly cocktail options. This is fusion cuisine exactly how we want it.

This Ancoats institution has made a big name for itself over the last couple of years in part due to its outstanding Brunch offering, one which, when added to the equally excellent roast dinner, make Elnecot a very popular weekend destination. Brunch dishes are available until 3pm every day, and with dishes like pulled lamb shoulder and crispy pork belly, there’s some delicious deviations from your regular breakfast offerings.

A breath of fresh air in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Evelyn’s combines Manchester’s industrial heritage with a not-so-subtle love for all things natural. The first thing you’re likely to spot through the exterior windows are the abundant hanging baskets overflowing with plant life. The brunch menu obviously features the mandatory avo toast, but with a coriander and grapefruit flourish. Heartier options include a fried chicken sandwich and steak and eggs.

Another Northern Quarter brunch and coffee staple, Ezra & Gil is a proper smart neighbourhood hangout with a simple but excellent food menu and a long list of coffee, tea and smoothies on hand to perk you up in the mornings. Their brunch offering is served all day and features everything that you’d expect but done exceptionally well. Their classic E&G breakfast is a must-try as is the smashed pumpkin on toast – a twist on a true classic that really works.

Not just for raucous evenings, The Firehouse offer a day club menu featuring brunch specials including breakfast pitas, house sourdough toasts, avocados, shrooms, salmon, super soft scrambled eggs, their own brunch sauces, smoothie bowls, honey buns, granolas and more. There’s also fresh juices and coffee and day club cocktails. You can go bottomless on drinks for an additional £25 – with cocktails, spritzes, pilsner and Prosecco all available.

Federal on the edge of the Northern Quarter is easily one of the city’s hottest spots for brunch thanks to the team poaching, toasting and Instagramming their way into the heart of Mancunians. Open daily with brunch served all day, and breakfast before 12. Think banana bread with vanilla mascarpone, halloumi and shrooms, or eggs any way on toasted sourdough. The independent and locally owned coffee shop brings the sunshine of Antipodean cafe culture to our grey skies. They have a site on Deansgate too, and a coffee truck outpost in Altrincham.

Fig + Sparrow have been doing the cosy NQ coffee shop thing for over a decade, and they’ve got it nailed – comforting Scandinavian decor, expertly poured specialty coffee, a window for watching the world go by, and of course aesthetically pleasing breakfasts and brunches. But it’s not just about how the place looks – with options covering the breakfast spectrum from a full Englishes to dishes like smoked courgette and minted peas, it never misses when it comes to the quality of the food.

Gladstone is a seriously smart operation out in Stalybridge. Drawing inspiration for the Middle East, the team are committed to using only the freshest and — where possible — locally sourced ingredients to offer fusion feasts with one foot in the west and another the Mediterranean. On the menu, diners will find everything from brunch classics like eggs benedict and steak and eggs, served with an exotic twist, through to more aromatic dishes such as shakshuka or Palestinian flatbread with labneh, sumac, and tomato-herb dressing. They also have a traditional barber shop on site.

Gooey are know for their indulgent sweet treats, but in their spacious Northern Quarter cafe  a largely-savoury brunch menu is also available, which boasts unique takes on established favourites. Whipped avo on toast, bacon butties made with Shokupan bread, hash brown stacks and halloumi with chilli jam. All of which is before we mention the real show stopper here — the incredible French toast, topped with an assortment of seasonal goodies

A definitive Manchester breakfast spot, Koffee Pot at the top of Oldham Street have been serving the great hungover masses of Manchester for ages now and they’ve got it down to a fine art. They have a range of British brekkies available from the traditional Full English to a Scottish, Irish and even a Welsh breakfast to tuck into, plus bagels, burritos and the like. When it comes to breakfast, these guys mean business.

Playfoots has played a big part in Monton’s foodie reinvention, having set up shop here over a decade ago. A rather unassuming cafe-bar on the corner of Monton Road, attention to detail greets you at the door as natural wood panelling meets eye-catching abstract mural work. Hit this spot in the morning to choose from an enviable breakfast menu of meat, vegetarian and vegan options available, alongside a wide range of bagels, including an apparently famous Korean fried chicken iteration. Arrive hungry, these guys don’t hold back when it comes to portion sizes.

With an original spot in the ornate surroundings of Barton Arcade and newer, spacious spot at Angel Gardens, Pot Kettle Black describe themselves as “Antipodean coffee culture with a Northern accent”. If there’s one thing we know about Antipodeans, they know how to do brekkie. With eye catching plates of “vibrant easy going food”, outrageous sweet treats from Half Dozen Other, and some of the best brews around, this is a place you could enjoyably waste a morning in.

Not content with supplying some of the city’s very best pastries and baked goods from their tiny New Islington kitchen for so many years, the Pollen team have added an additional location in KAMPUS, which comes with a huge kitchen and pastry development space. A bigger space means the opportunity for a bigger menu of breakfast and brunch dishes – all produced with the same care and attention as you’ve come to expect from a team at the top of their game.

Transport yourself to the sunkissed isle of Sicily every weekend with a banging breakfast menu that’s served until 12pm. There’s classic arancini balls, pancakes, french toast and best of all, a fully loaded Italian breakfast. You’ll also find Sicilian eggs benedict, avocado bruschetta and some pretty special breakfast boards that come with pastries, meats, cheese and a bottle of Prosecco. There’s also bottomless options available every Friday and Sunday.

A post-lockdown addition to Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, The Smithfield Social has already made a big impression on the people of the city with their daily brunch offering – which is available until the leisurely hour of 4pm. It’s all about the quality of the ingredients here, and we’d recommend being a little adventurous. How about truffle and pecorino hash browns? Or cacio e pepe beans on toast? Simply don’t knock it til you try it.

Another elder statesman of the Manchester coffee scene, Takk are serious about brews, but that doesn’t mean they neglect sustenance either. All the brunch classics are available, plus dishes like nduja greens, or grab a simple breakfast roll. Takk is a laptop-friendly joint, especially at their University Green location, so this is one we’d recommend if you’re in need of a breakfast-shaped treat while working from home or deep into a study session.

Didsbury’s independent eatery just off Burton Road is a brunch paradise serving fresh coffee, food, pastries, juice and more! The menu has all the classics, with the Full Didsbury being a firm favourite – a South Manchester take on the infamous builders breakfast, complete with smoked Cheshire bacon, sausage, egg, homemade hash, black pudding, tomatoes, rosemary and sea salt mushrooms and sourdough toast, all for just £12.

A long-standing Northern Quarter haunt, Trof is a safe bet when it comes to brunch. Their full English brekkie is a serious contender, and comes in both veggie and vegan variations. Keeping it simple is the name of the game here, but the confit duck hash is also well worth a try. This is a spot where hungover brunch can happily transition into low lit day drinking.