Night & Day Cafe

It’s November 2021 and Guy Garvey, commanding frontman of iconic Manchester stadium-filling indie set Elbow, is addressing the crowd inside the intimate Night & Day Cafe. Among other things, he’s talking about the 94,000 people who signed a campaign to save this bonafide Oxford Road institution after a single noise complaint from a nearby apartment building. If nothing else, this speaks volumes about just how beloved and respected this small but legendary Oldham Street institution is. 

First opened in 1991, in what was once a traditional British fish and chip shop, Night & Day Cafe has evolved from a simple eating and drinking spot to a landmark music venue with a big reputation for platforming bands in ascendancy. So, while everyone in crowd at that surprise Elbow gig, a few hundred at best, will always remember the magic of a night when a group who regularly sell out arenas opted to do something more intimate, even more will tell you about how they caught the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Kasabian, Jessie J, Paulo Nutini, and Arctic Monkeys here. A long time before they became huge. 

Easily up there with the Northern Quarter’s most famous hangouts, while the gigs well and truly cemented this address on the map, it’s also still a very popular choice for casual drinks and dining. The bar is well stocked with a great selection of beers and a strong wine game, although the cocktails are a big draw for many visitors. Beyond this, Big Mouth, the latest “food project from Night and Day” is just the most recent example of why the kitchen stand up for eats. Handmade Neapolitan-style pizza from 2pm, including vegan options. Come for a bite and some booze, then, stay for the full experience, we don’t know where the city would be without this one.