
San Carlo Manchester
Manchester City CentreSan Carlo is Manchester's most famous and, some say, best Italian restaurant. Run by the Distefano family, it's said to...

The Lowry Hotel
SalfordThe Lowry Hotel is Manchester’s premier 5-star hotel. While technically in Salford, it is ideally located next to Spinningfields, Manchester’s...

Escape to Freight Island
Manchester City CentreFood hall meets music festival is how we’d describe Escape to Freight Island to anyone confused about what they’ll find...

Frederiks
MerseysideOne of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual...

On the Hush
Northern QuarterThe Northern Quarter has never been short of Instagrammable spots with its litany of graffitied walls and shop fronts but...

Another Hand
Manchester City CentreFrom the team that brought you 3 Hands Deli, Another Hand opened in February 2022 in the unit just next...

Aunty Ji’s
ManchesterAunty Ji’s is fast becoming one of Levenshulme’s favourite cafes thanks to its friendly, all-comers vibe and a menu that...

Station South
ManchesterHoused in an old railway station building saved in 2018 and restored with Heritage Fund support, Station South is a...

Corner & Bloom
ManchesterSunny spots with seats, scran and a bit of sauce are few and far between, but this popular independent family-run...

Long Boi’s Bakehouse
ManchesterLocated on a back street in Levenshulme, this women-owned and women-run neighbourhood bakery is well worth sniffing out for sweet...

Yellowhammer
StockportBread, buns and other bakes are the name of the food game at Where The Light Gets In spin-off Yellowhammer...

Pot Kettle Black Barton Arcade
Manchester City CentrePot Kettle Black is born out of owners Mark Flanagan and Jon Wilkin's time travelling (and playing rugby professionally) down...

Crowded House
WhitefieldCrowded House in Bury town centre is for those occasions when you want NQ-style food and drinks but you can’t...

Federal Manchester NQ
Northern QuarterKeeping the Northern Quarter fed and watered since 2014, the first Federal is a daytime destination a stone's throw from...

Greens Sale
TraffordTV chef Simon Rimmer's famous non-meatery Greens has been going strong in Didsbury since 1990 and now he's branched out...

La Chouquette
ManchesterSince opening at the far reaches of Didsbury Village, round the corner from the chippy, French boulangerie and pâtisserie La...

The Ugly Duckling
TraffordWhen Nick Theaker took over The Stamford pub in Altrincham’s “posh bit”, Bowdon, he had a big job on his...

Procaffeinated
SalfordClean lines, stripped wood, potted greenery, local art, yoga brunch... these are just some of the calming factors at newly...

Pot Kettle Black Angel Gardens
ManchesterPot Kettle Black is born out of owners Mark Flanagan and Jon Wilkin's time travelling (and playing rugby professionally) down...

Sandinista
Manchester City CentreNamed after the rowdy 1980 album by The Clash, bar with food Sandinista is one part wild Latin spirit and...

Oats And Honey
SalfordWhatever it is you're after, "social sustainable store" Oats And Honey is likely to have it – from Aloë earrings...

Delifonseca
MerseysideLiverpool's acclaimed deli and restaurant Delifonseca has a loyal following thanks to its irresistible victuals from the UK and beyond.

The Art of Tea
ManchesterIndependent coffee shop and bar The Art of Tea offers more than just good quality loose leaf tea. It's situated...

The Bookbinder
MerseysideAs a "neighbourhood pub, wine bar and eatery" The Bookbinder manages to straddle all three quite different roles: well-kept cask...

Lupo
PrestwichPatiscerria and small-batch Italian hand-roasted coffee that's the name of the game at the award-winning Lupo Caffe Italiano.

Bacaro
MerseysideLike the backstreet Venetian tapas places which inspired this central Liverpool bar and restaurant, there is something about Salt House...

Justino’s
MerseysideTaking the corner spot once occupied by Et Alia is Justino’s - a family-run Italian restaurant and bar headed up...

Abyssinia Cafe and Restaurant
West YorkshireAbyssinia Cafe and Restaurant has been dishing up its award-winning traditional Ethiopian recipes since 2014, showcasing the cuisine's abundance in...

LEAF Smithdown Rd
MerseysideLEAF’s fairly new local, up Allerton way, continues the theme, with over 60 varieties of loose-leaf tea (the OG LEAF...

Trof
Northern QuarterTrof was the OG Mission Mars bar in Manchester and it’s still got ‘top Manchester night out’ written all over...

Zara’s Hub
MerseysideQuaintly calling itself a "wine bar" on Instagram, Zara's Hub actually dabbles in a bit of everything, from a classic...

Society
Manchester City CentreDoes Manchester need another hipsterish food hall? Probably not. But do we want one? Judging from the peak-time busyness of...

Federal Manchester Deansgate
Manchester City CentreKeeping the Northern Quarter fed and watered since 2014, five years on and Federal claimed another foothole, this time on...

Tea Hive
ManchesterTea Hive is a quaint little cafe celebrating the nation's favourite cuppa, and cake, lots of cake. As you'd expect,...

Milk & Honey Cafe
Manchester City CentreMilk & Honey Cafe does pretty much what it says on the tin – it's a bona fide cafe, only...

Wilson’s Social
Northern QuarterGlass-fronted bar and restaurant Wilson's Social is part of the Selina NQ1 hostel, formerly Hatter’s. It’s a brunch, lunch and...

One Percent Forest
MerseysideSandwiched between an estate agent and a solicitor’s office, cafe-bar One Percent Forest could easily go unnoticed, were it not...

Pollen Bakery KAMPUS
Manchester City CentreHaving branched out from its Piccadilly archway roots with a move to Ancoats marina two years in, popular purveyor of...

Abyssinia Kitchen
MerseysideCooked from scratch with quality fresh ingredients and no preservatives, the dishes at Abyssinia Kitchen showcase the exotic and aromatic...

Neighbourhood Bistro and Bar
MerseysideTicking all the boxes for brekkie and brunch in South Liverpool is Neighbourhood Bistro and Bar on Woolton Road.

Papillon
MerseysideWith its striped pink awning and corner spot on Hope Street, Papillon is one of the prettiest eating places in...

Malmo
MerseysideIf it's a daytime pitstop you need, head to Malmo, where all your Scandi breakfast, brunch and lunch needs will...

Ezra and Gil Peter Street
Manchester City CentreThe opening of Ezra & Gil Peter Street in 2021 was greeted with glee by brunch and coffee hunters this...

Ramona
ManchesterPredominantly a pizzeria, Ramona incorporates a bakery, margarita bar, coffee counter, stage and Firehouse restaurant, and is found in the...

Hanover Street Social
MerseysideHanover Street Social is a big, buzzy bistro and bar from Paddy Smith’s Red and Blue Group, which also runs Salt...

Common Ground
TraffordAn artisan tea and coffee house for people who know the difference between Aeropress, Batch Brew and V60, and no,...

Joro Vegan Eatery
MerseysideTucked away on Birkenhead's Hamilton Square , just a couple of minutes walk from Woodside Ferry Terminal, is Joro’s Vegan...

Haunt
Manchester City CentreWhen Peter Street lost its Caffe Nero it gained Haunt, an independent coffee shop and wine bar. Stepping inside, you...

Thyme Out
ManchesterA stalwart of the Didsbury cafe scene, Thyme Out has been going strong since 2006. Locals rave about the brunch...

Inspire Cafe
ManchesterInspire Cafe is an inclusive, relaxed gem of a community cafe housed in a former church in Levenshulme. It serves...

Slattery
WhitefieldMuch like Betty’s in Harrogate, a trip to Slattery in Whitefield can be a day out in its own right....

The Ink in the Well
MerseysideYou can't miss the bright blue facade of The Ink in the Well on the iconic Lark Lane. This 2021...

Levy Market
ManchesterLevy Market is a bustling community market running every Saturday from March to December. It was established in 2013 with...

Isca
ManchesterIsca is a natural wine bar and shop on an unassuming street in Levenshulme, brought to you by Caroline Dubois (sommelier...

The Old Hardware Shop
MerseysideWhere once you could stock up on chicken wire and clothes pegs, now you can fill up on greasy spoon-style...

Foundation Coffee House Northern Quarter
Northern QuarterFoundation Coffee House Northern Quarter is the first of three locations in the city centre from this homegrown brand. This...

The Banyan Tree
Manchester City CentreSituated on the Castlefield-Hulme border, The Banyan Tree is a neighbourhood eatery that’s much appreciated by the people living in...

Duke Street Market
MerseysideFollowing in the footsteps of other successful models in the region, with communal dining tables and a mezzanine served by...

Toast Withington
WithingtonThere’s no shortage of cafes along this stretch of Wilmslow Road, but by all accounts, family-run Toast of Withington is...

Volta
ManchesterVolta is owned by Luke ‘Unabomber’ Cowdrey and Justin Crawford - the DJ-restauranteur duo behind Chorlton’s Electrik bar, the Electrik...

Rococo Coffee House
MerseysideRococo is an independent coffee house slap bang in the centre of town, occupying two upstairs floors of a historic...

So Marrakech
TraffordAs well as homewares and style items, concept store So Marrakech has a daytime café, offering a taste of Morocco...

Takk Northern Quarter
Northern QuarterTakk is one of the mainstays of the always-evolving coffee and brunch scene in the Northern Quarter. It’s been around...

Thoughtfully Cafe
MerseysideIndependent coffee shop Thoughtfully Cafe is just a few minutes walk from Liverpool ONE but it feels like a world...

Overdraught MCR
ManchesterOverdraught MCR opened its doors in October 2019 with a name that's a cheeky nod to the previous incarnation of...

Factory Coffee
SpinningfieldsWhile lockdown marked the end for some businesses, for others it was a chance to expand into surprising new territories....

Chapters Of Us
MerseysideHang out with your pooch or your pals inside or take advantage of the terrace at this self-styled neighbourhood coffee...

Electrik
ManchesterElektrik is an award-winning independent bar with great coffee and a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. They offer...

Toast Altrincham
TraffordAs Nigel Slater once said, 'No matter how bad things get, it's impossible not to love someone who made you...

Bold Street Coffee Manchester
Manchester City CentreOpen in Liverpool since 2010, BSC is something of an institution over there and the place to go if you're...

Cafe Sanjuan
StockportServing a unique Caribbean-Colombian combo, Cafe Sanjuan is the creation of Luis Felipe Sanjuan, who hails from Barranquilla, a bustling...

Atomeca
ManchesterFrom coffee and fresh pastries first thing to curated wines and small plates come evening, this self-styled "all-day European drinkery"...

92 Degrees Claypit Lane
West YorkshireA Liverpool success story that’s gradually extending its tendrils across the North, 92 Degrees has opened two venues in Leeds,...

Another Heart To Feed NQ
Northern QuarterAnother Heart To Feed in Manchester's NQ is one of our top brunch spots. It's a coffee shop inspired by...

Blanchflower
Trafford'Create, don't curate' is Blanchflower's motto and to that end, much of their produce is made in-house.

Siop Shop
Northern QuarterHead to this Welsh-inspired daytime cafe for "gwasanaethau coffi a thoes", or coffee and pastry services – listed on Facebook...

92 Degrees John Dalton Street
Manchester City Centre92 Degrees John Dalton Street is the first Manchester opening for this Liverpool-based success story. It’s entering a crowded market...

Folk Didsbury
ManchesterFolk is a bit of an institution in Didsbury, having been on the scene for over a decade now. Even...

Ancoats Coffee Co. Piccadilly
Manchester City CentreAncoats Coffee Company in Manchester Piccadilly is set in 111 Piccadilly, a light-filled handsome building near the train station. If...

Cuckoo
PrestwichLike the interloping bird that gives it its name, Cuckoo was an odd-one-out when it first opened in Prestwich back...

Vibe Cafe
MerseysideThe Vibe serves cheery vegan food that will light up your Instagram feed and fill your belly. Known for its...

Gladstone Barber & Bistro
TamesideNobody goes to the barbers expecting a roast dinner, or for that matter, a feast of home-style Palestinian food. Unless...

The Italian Club Bakery
MerseysideTracing their roots back to the mountain village of Picinisco near Rome and the seaside city of Bisceglie in Puglia...

Riva
TraffordBringing new life to Hale village is relaxed restaurant and bar Riva, which cleverly scoops up trade from morning till...

Man Bites Frog
ManchesterMan Bites Frog is the sort of relaxed neighbourhood bar every neighbourhood needs. It’s friendly, a bit kooky (or should...

The Goods In
PrestwichJust across the road from the Heaton Park tram stop is The Goods In, a newbie cafe-bar from the team...

Pollen Bakery
Greater ManchesterAfter an initial stint tucked away in an archway near Piccadilly, this airy bakery and cafe moved to a spot...

Barbakan Deli
ManchesterThe folks at Barbakan have been nose to the grindstone for over 50 years - they were here long before...

Ropes & Twines
MerseysideWith a nod to its Ropewalks neighbourhood, Ropes & Twines is a speciality coffee shop, wine bar and even art...

Lovelocks Coffee Shop
MerseysideNestled in the Cultural Quarter, a stone's throw from St George's Hall and Walker Art Gallery, Lovelocks recently relocated up...

LEAF Bold St
MerseysideHoused in a former tea room over two floors of an art deco building, LEAF's name and USP was meant...

Treehouse Café
SalfordSalford independent the Treehouse Cafe is the sort of picture-perfect coffee house you frequently see on Instagram but rarely stumble...

Ma Boyles
MerseysideMa Boyles, a self-described 'ale house and eatery', has been around in various guises since the mid 19th century. As...

Pokusevski’s
StockportPokusevski’s has it all. Literally. From the Victorian stained glass windows, the art deco lamps and the Moroccan knick-knacks to...

92 Degrees Mustard Wharf
West YorkshireThe residents of Mustard Wharf no longer have to go very far in search of a good cup of coffee....

Slyce
OldhamLike its sister restaurant Muse next door, Slyce brings a taste of the city to the bucolic surroundings of Uppermill.

Ca Phe Viet
ManchesterServing up Vietnamese coffee in the traditional and modern way, freshly filled banh mi baguettes plus bowls of aromatic and hearty...

The Brunch Club
MerseysideBrunch Club by name, brunch club by nature – and those in the know make sure they book a table;...

Nordie Bar
ManchesterNordie Bar is a dog-friendly neighbourhood bar with a focus on coffee, craft beer and cocktails.

Pippin’s Corner
MerseysidePippin’s Corner is a charming, family-friendly cafe-bistro that makes the most of its handsome corner spot on Lark Lane. Head...

Ezra & Gil Hilton Street
Northern QuarterIf you want to experience Northern Quarter cafe culture in its purest form, head to Ezra & Gil Hilton Street,...

Nibble NQ
Northern QuarterBased in the bijou space next to Pop Boutique, this independent female owned and run café is small in size,...

Ancoats Coffee Co.
Manchester City CentreIf you’re serious about your coffee, Ancoats Coffee Co has to be your first port of call in this part...

Wine & Wallop Didsbury
ManchesterConveniently located opposite West Didsbury Metrolink station, Wine & Wallop Didsbury is a cosy retreat where you can sample an...

Recardo’s
TraffordPatisserie by day, bar and club by night, Recardo’s landed on Hale’s Ashley Road in summer 2021. It’s a boujee-style...

All The Shapes
PrestwichAll The Shapes has that relaxed café-bar, all-day-eatery thing nailed. It’s the sort of place where you feel equally comfortable...

Victor’s
TraffordVictor's is an upscale neighbourhood restaurant. Of course it is, it’s in Hale. Locals call in for everything from brunch...

California Coffee & Wine
TraffordCalifornia Coffee & Wine is a ray of SoCal sunshine. The Cal-Mex flavours served up are fresher and sharper than...

Trove Manchester
Manchester City CentreTrove Manchester is the younger sister of the original Trove in Levenshulme which made its name through fantastic bread and...

The Refinery
MerseysideWith Moroccan tiling, concrete flooring and filament lighting, The Refinery is certainly on-trend with its decor. This chilled-out bar and...

HOME
Manchester City CentreOne of Manchester’s flagship buildings, HOME is many things including cinema, theatre, art gallery and, of most interest to Confidential...

The Rivals Bar & Restaurant
Manchester City CentreWhen The Rivals opened in 2017, it was the first time in a long time that The Royal Exchange Theatre...

Ducie Street Warehouse
Northern QuarterDucie Street Warehouse is all sorts of things, but one of those things is a restaurant. It’s an all-day affair...

Trove Levenshulme
ManchesterTrove Levenshulme has been going strong since 2011. The main draw is its fantastic bread, which forms the basis for...

Grindsmith Media City
SalfordGrindsmith Media City has been keeping the creatives and apartment-dwellers of Salford Quays fed and caffeinated since 2016.

Another Heart To Feed Didsbury
ManchesterAnother Heart To Feed in Didsbury is an ecologically-minded coffee shop inspired by coffee culture capital of the world, Melbourne.

Off The Press
ManchesterWhere once there were printing presses, now it's all coffee presses. This daytime, non-weekend creative cafe workspace in the black-and-silver...

The Klondyke Club
ManchesterNo round-up of Levenshulme’s social spaces could exclude The Klondyke Club AKA The Levenshulme Bowling and Social Club. This century-old...

Three Piggies Alehouse & Canteen
MerseysideThe Three Piggies Alehouse & Canteen looks like a transplant from a Cornish surfer town with its flaking driftwood walls,...

Idle Hands
Northern QuarterIdle Hands have a super-tight following – who helped by setting up a crowd-funding campaign in their honour when the...

Playfoots
Salford“Just rock up and have the time of your life,” says Playfoots over Instagram. The cafe-cum-bar in the small town...

Sugar Junction
Northern QuarterWith a very vintage vibe, homemade cake and cocktails, and tempting hot and cold plates dished up all day every...

Bill’s Liverpool
Bill’s began life as a quirky East Sussex market cafe before transmorphing into a crowd-pleasing chain and colonising city centres...

OSMA
PrestwichOSMA is a clever contraction of Oslo and Manchester, the home cities of its two owners. However this portmanteau is...

Bold Street Coffee
Open since 2010, BSC is something of an institution and the place to go if you're in need of caffeine...

The Jane Eyre
Manchester City CentreThe Jane Eyre is a self-styled ‘neighbourhood bar’ offering seasonal food, classic cocktails and local beers. Presided over by Eyre siblings...

Lazy Sundae
Northern QuarterEat in or take out at Northern Quarter ice cream parlour Lazy Sundae, where everything’s peachy, from the shop frontage...

Takk Oxford Road
Manchester City CentreThe second permanent opening from Icelandic-inspired coffee house Takk brings a little bit of NQ hipsterism to the University of...

Casa Italia
ManchesterCasa Italia Didsbury is an Italian restaurant but there’s not a pizza in sight. The focus here is on quality...

92 Degrees Middlewood Locks
SalfordNamed after the perfect temperature to brew a cup of coffee, 92 Degrees originated in Liverpool where it has three...

LEAF West Kirby
MerseysideLEAF has headed over the water, and its West Kirby outpost continues the theme, with over 60 varieties of loose-leaf...