Last Updated on 9 June 2025 by Colette
Manchester is full of independent coffee shops offering excellent coffee, delicious snacks and a relaxed atmosphere. You’d think from this list that all the best coffee shops in Manchester were located in the Northern Quarter… Well they pretty much are because that suits the vibe of the Norther Quarter; cool, relaxed and a bit quirky.
In Manchester city centre you’ll find a wealth of coffee chains but for the coffee enthusiast, you’ll find the best coffee shops in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Don’t worry, if the Northern Quarter is the wrong side of town for you, I’ve included coffee shops elsewhere in Manchester too!
Many of the Northern Quarter based coffee shops are within easy walking distance of Manchester Piccadilly train station so if you’re looking for a great place to grab a coffee on a work day, these might be what you’re looking for!
Is there anything better than a steaming hot cup of coffee and free WIFI? I think not. Whether you’re looking for flat whites, cold brew or a double espresso, hopefully this list will help you find the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious coffee whilst supporting one of these local businesses.
Here’s eleven of the best independent coffee shops in Manchester
Takk – 6 Tariff Street, Manchester M1 2FF | CLOSED
After more than a decade, Takk quietly closed down with the venue have been sized by landlords on 9th September 2024
TAKK is an independent coffee company with three outlets based in Manchester – the main one of course being in the Northern Quarter! Takkk are both a coffee shop and roasters with a focus on serving high quality specialty coffee in a stylish and welcoming space. Takk is the perfect to work, meet and talk whilst enjoying artisan coffee, brunch and homemade cakes.
Takk don’t accept bookings or reservations – walk ins only.
There are two other Takk venues in Manchester – you’ll find Takk Coffee at Hatch, 103 Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED and Takk University Green, 138 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP
You can find Takk on instagram
Foundation Coffee House – Lever Street, Manchester M1 1JB
Located in the Northern Quarter, Foundation Coffee House offers artisanal coffee and a creative menu, along with a trendy urban vibe. You can buy a range of speciality coffee and coffee making accessories while you’re in store.
We popped in on a Sunday morning just to grab a take away cup of tea but were told there was a ten minute wait so we decided to elsewhere. I don’t mind a bit of a wait if I’m sat down or if it’s for a good coffee but it seemed a bit of an unnecessary wait for an English breakfast tea to take out!
You can also find Foundation at 48-50 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6LS and 11 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3HU
You can find Foundation Coffee House on instagram
Ezra & Gil – 20 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 1FR
Located in the Northern Quarter (shocker), just a spit from Piccadilly Gardens, Ezra & Gil is a hip, stylish coffee shop, offering excellent coffee and a delicious brunch menu – it’s a firm favourite of mine. From super instagramable french toast to smashed pumpkin on sourdough toast (try it, it’s amazing) these guys are nailing the brunch options. (Don’t be fooled – they are open all day and do a great range of sandwiches, pastas and poke bowls too – I just happen to be obsessed with their brunch!)
As well as a sit down cafe set up, you can also order coffee to take away.
Ezra & Gil don’t take bookings or reservations. There is often a queue out the door of at peak times (so Saturday or Sunday mornings, lunchtimes etc) – you can’t book but they will let you put your name down for a table on arrival and then you can hang around outside or pop back when your table is ready.
You can find Ezra & Gil on instagram
You can find out more about Ezra & Gil here:
Federal Cafe & Bar – 9 Nicholas Croft, Manchester M4 1EY
Federal Cafe & Bar is rarely seen without a queue – they are a small but very busy venue and don’t take bookings so it’s a case of walking up and deciding if it looks worth the wait! (Of course if you decide the queue is too long at Federal this time round, there’s plenty of other options for a great cup of coffee nearby and you’ll find them on this list!)
If you are lucky enough to get a table in Federal, you’ll find a delicious brunch menu (made with ingredients sourced from sustainable independent local suppliers wherever possible) and specialty coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.
You can also find Federal at 194 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND and R3 No2 Circle Square, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7FS
You can find Federal on instagram
Idle Hands – 35 Dale Street, Manchester M1 2HF
Idle Hands (yes, it’s in the Northern Quarter too) is a cosy, friendly speciality coffee shop serving up excellent coffee, natural wine and craft beer to drink in and take away alongside freshly baked sweet treats mostly in the form of pies – and I’m not talking steak and ale, you’re going to find a variety of sweet pies on offer including things like vegan cherry pie, pecan pie, salted caramel apple pie, banana cream pie – this selection changes daily.
Idle Hands is open daily from 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday and from 10 on Saturdays and Sundays. (Kitchen hours are slightly shorter – check their website or give them a shout on instagram to check!)
You can find Idle Hands on instagram
Fig + Sparrow – 20 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JA
Fig + Sparrow is a charming boutique coffee shop in the Northern Quarter of Manchester offering coffee, tea, baked goods. They have a small number of tables outside for those days when the Mancunian weather is on our side!
Download the Fig + Sparrow app to earn loyalty points and a cheeky 10% discount.
Fig + Sparrow is open from 8.30am to 5pm on week days and between 9am and 5pm on weekends!
You can find Fig + Sparrow on instagram
North Tea Power – 36 Tib Street, Greater, Manchester M4 1LA
Located in the Norther Quarter, North Tea Power (what an epic name) serves up a range of coffees, teas and delicious breakfast and lunch options.
North Tea Power serve espresso based coffees using their own seasonal Deer Hunter single origin espresso – and if that’s not your thing, filter coffee is on the menu too. Alongside their coffee options, North Tea Power offer a range of fancy lattes and over twenty different types of tea!
You can find North Tea Power on instagram
Pot Kettle Black – Barton Arcade, Manchester M3 2BW or Angel Gardens, 1 Rochdale Rd, Manchester M4 4GE
With two locations in Manchester city centre, Pot Kettle Black offers, in their words “Antipodean coffee culture with a northern accent” which basically translates as premium coffee and speciality teas, along with a delicious brunch and lunch menu all served up with a bit of northern character!
Book a table at Pot Kettle Black Barton Arcade | Book a table at Pot Kettle Black Angel Gardens
You can find Pot Kettle Black on instagram
Siop Shop, 53 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LS
Northern Quarter based Siop Shop offers excellent coffee and baked goods with a creative twist including homemade donuts and their very own soft serve ice cream. (In fact you’ll find them on our list of the best places to get donuts in Manchester!)
Siop Shop is open seven days a week – keep an eye on their instagram for opening times.
You can find Siop Shop on instagram
Ancoats Coffee Co. Royal Mills Roastery – 9 Royal Mill, 17 Redhill St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5BA
Ancoats Coffee Co. is a speciality coffee brand that aims to create incredible tasting coffee, while pushing the boundaries of speciality coffee, all with a sustainable and ethical ethos.
The Ancoats Coffee Co. cafe has become the focal point of the roastery hosting everything from public cuppings, intimate supper clubs and home brewing workshops, to barista challenges and SCA competitions. This hub for coffee lovers brings together community, hospitality, and great shared experiences around wholesome food and fantastic coffee
Ancoats Cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sundays 10am to 4pm.
You can find Ancoats COffee Co. on instagram
Bold Street Coffee – 53 Cross St, Manchester M2 4JN
Bold Street Coffee is an award winning speciality coffee shop beginning life on Bold Street in Liverpool in 2010 before spreading its wings and opening not just one but two venues in Manchester – one on Cross Street (2021) and a second on University Green.
Bold Street Coffee offers specialty coffee with rotating blends on the menu as well as a selection of freshly made sandwiches, all day breakfast and lunch.
Bold Street Coffee on Cross Street is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sundays from 9am to 5pm.
You can find Bold Street Coffee on instagram
Grindsmith Coffee – 5-6 The Garage, MediaCityUK, Salford M50 2BS
Not strictly in Manchester city centre, you’ll find Grindsmith out at Media City in Salford. Grindsmith is a speciality coffee shop and brunch location in the heart of Media City UK. Coffee is freshly roasted in their dedicated Roastery each week and available to buy for home use.
Grindsmith is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Manchester city centre and soak up all the character this coffee shop has to offer with its stained-glass window, giant chandeliers, bespoke bar, and a cosy mezzanine.
You can find Grindsmith Coffee on instagram
Nomad Coffee, Ground Floor, 24 Lever Street, M1 1DW
Nomad Coffee is a popular, laid-back coffee spot in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, perfect for your morning caffeine fix or a chilled weekend brew. Open from 7:30am on weekdays and from 8:30am on weekends, serving up friendly vibes and expertly brewed drinks.
You can find Nomad Coffee on instagram
I hope this list of the best coffee shops in Manchester provides you with some great options to try and enjoy Manchester’s coffee scene (it’s a thing) – let me know if you’ve found a new favourite, or if there’s anywhere I’ve missed!
Read these posts next:
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Dog friendly cafes and bars in Manchester
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Fantastic guide to Manchester’s independent coffee scene, Colette. Definitely adding a few of these to my must-visit list. Really useful, thank you!