Layla’s Cafe

Layla’s Cafe is a canalside coffee shop in Castlefield. It has a welcoming community feel and an appealing menu of brunch and lunch dishes with a Middle Eastern flavour.

Coffees are serious, not just the typical long blacks and flat whites. Come for collagen lattes, espresso tonics, black sesame cold foams and Mont Blanc cold brews with vanilla and orange zest. We’ve come a long way since a jar of Gold Blend.

Food varies from healthy stuff like overnight oats to some pretty interesting specialities like braised leeks on toast with whipped vegan feta, house dukkah and burnt leek oil with amaranth.

Lunch is a little less imaginative with smash burgers and fried chicken on French toast but when the sun is shining, those outdoor tables more than make up for it. For a city centre spot, it’s a very peaceful location. The setting is the big draw here.

There are also some interesting events in the diary – daytime rave and in bed by 10pm? Yes please.