Cafe Marhaba

Tucked away down a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it alley off Back Piccadilly, this modest family-run spot has been quietly feeding Manchester for over three decades — and it’s no exaggeration to say it’s become an institution in the process. No fanfare, no flashy branding, and only the most sporadic of social media activity; Cafe Marhaba thrives on something rarer and far more powerful: word of mouth.

Established in 1992 by Nazir Ahmed and now run with his son Abdul, this place has remained fiercely true to its roots. The space is small — a handful of tables down one side, a fridge of Rubicon and water at the back, and a long counter stacked with Bain Maries of bubbling curry in front. Here, you don’t come for the décor. You come for the flavour. Naans are rolled and baked fresh to order in the tandoor, pulled blistering and steaming from the clay oven, and brushed with ghee. The scent alone will draw you in, but it’s the food that makes you stay.

A Mancunian rite of passage for many, Cafe Marhaba’s rice ‘n’ three is a local legend: choose from a rotating selection of rich, slow-cooked curries ladled onto a heap of fluffy rice. A dark, velvety lamb karahi might sit next to a keema dotted with peas and potato, or a tender fish curry that clings lovingly to every bite. Saag aloo is a highlight — hours in the making, it’s a ghee-rich spinach and potato marvel with enough flavour to tempt the most reluctant veg fan.

And then there’s the kebabs. The chicken tikka naan — charred meat straight from the tandoor, nestled into warm bread and topped with salad, chilli and yoghurt — is comfort food at its absolute finest.

Despite the city’s ever-accelerating pace and polished newcomers around every corner, Cafe Marhaba remains delightfully unchanged. It’s still ridiculously good value. It still pulls in regulars who’ve been coming for decades. And it still makes some of the freshest, most honest food in the city. Ask anyone who knows — they’ll point you here. No frills. No nonsense. Just brilliant curry.