Cocoa Cabana Ancoats

This chic chocolatiers-cum-cocktail parlour follows in the footsteps of award-winning entrepreneur Sarah Gallacher’s West Didsbury ventures, encouraging more sitting and supping in the form of brunch, lunch and the “famous” chocolate afternoon teas.

Above a tier of proper finger sandwiches (smoked salmon and cream cheese, cheese and pickle, ham and mustard, egg mayo…), you’ll find gooey chocolate brownies worth making a detour for alone alongside big, bright macarons and scones ready to dollop with warm homemade salted caramel and chocolate sauces. There’s unlimited tea, coffee and hot chocolate to wash it all down, and you can add a glass of fizz for a little extra or plump for Bottomless Afternoon Tea, with 90 minutes of Prosecco, Aperol Spritz, Taste of Seville, Mimosa or Peach Bellini quaffing. Bottomless Brunch has the same drinks offer; food-wise, think eggs bennie but on a homemade potato cake, sauteed mushrooms and spinach on sourdough, and variations on scrambled tofu with roasted asparagus. Lunches include of-the-moment Reuben baguettes with peppered pastrami and gherkins or salads the likes of the Scandi Västkust, with prawns in dill-cream and caviar.

Open into the evening, bubbles and cocktails are a thing – a Cherry French with Chambord and vodka for us, thanks – and of course a chocolatier is nothing without all kinds of luxurious hot chocolate flavours to drink (White Berry Warmer, for example, or the latest craze for Biscoff) and a milkshake or two thrown in for good measure.

Want to be the first to receive all the latest news, tips, articles, guides and updates from Confidential Guides? Sign up here.