Manchester is hardly short of places combining caffeine with baked goods, but few have mastered the partnership quite like Siop Shop. Sitting on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter, this compact Welsh-inspired café has earned a loyal following for two things done remarkably well: serious coffee and extraordinarily light sourdough doughnuts. The room revolves around a busy counter, with a steady flow of regulars arriving already knowing exactly what they want.
Doughnuts are the headline act. The sourdough is proved for 24 hours, creating a particularly airy texture which makes ordering a second dangerously easy. Fillings, toppings and shapes change constantly, with everything made in-house and vegan choices regularly joining the selection. Familiar flavours sit alongside wonderfully irreverent specials, which have previously taken inspiration from Love Hearts, Solero ice lollies, hot cross buns and even roast dinners. Cakes, glazed buns and twists also appear, while sandwiches and occasional savoury creations broaden the offering beyond sugar.
The coffee deserves equal billing. Beans roasted through the team’s Siop Tec arm underpin espresso, flat whites, filter and carefully prepared pour-overs, giving black-coffee drinkers plenty to explore. Bags are available to take home, and staff can point you towards whichever roast best suits your preferred brewing method.
Seating is limited and the most popular bakes can disappear quickly, so this is best approached as a purposeful daytime stop rather than somewhere to occupy a table for hours. Arrive early, ask what is brewing, choose whatever looks most outrageous from the counter and prepare to understand why Siop Shop remains one of Tib Street’s essential addresses.
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