Grindsmith Media City

Grindsmith Media City has been keeping the creatives and apartment-dwellers of Salford Quays well fed and caffeinated since 2016. What was once an outpost for the city centre brand is now the only place to get the full Grindsmith fix, following the closure of its Bridge Street cafe in autumn 2021. Their mobile pod, which used to be on Greengate Square, is now at Pollard Yard in Ancoats where the Grindsmith roastery is housed.

But back to Grindsmith Media City. This appealing split-level space is a reliable spot for coffee, breakfast and brunch, with workday staples like bacon butties and sausage barms at decent prices. Brunchers with a bit more time to relax will find all the classics on the menu: eggs royale, avocado on toast, full English and so on.

The coffee is the heart of the business though (Grindsmith was a roastery before it opened any cafes) and you’ll notice an almost religious dedication to the art of the bean here. Baristas are well-trained and knowledgable, and the coffee list is long and specific. You can also buy packets of their signature roasts to take home.