Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Gregson Lane

"This cosy café on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter is known for its snug interior, quirky detailing and incredible-looking cakes. If you’re looking for sweet treats to photograph, you’ll find it hard to select just one cake from their selection, so it’s a good idea to bring a couple of friends with you. And don’t get too stuck into photographing the food that you forget to capture all of the eclectic details, such as their neon pink signs."

"Home Sweet Home is doing half-price pancakes today, to celebrate what is 'basically their Christmas'. Their stacked pancakes - three piled on top of each other - are served with cinnamon crunch, maple syrup and whipped cream as standard. You can then add banana, Nutella and salted caramel; or fresh berries, compote and frosting."

"From the towering cakes to the boozy milkshakes, Home Sweet Home is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. The American-inspired brunch restaurant will wipe away any morning blues with its titan breakfasts; opt for pancake stacks with a breakfast cocktail thrown in for good measure."

"If you’re looking for a no-frills working space where you can buy a classic black coffee with milk on the side, or a perfectly steamed almond milk flat white, Takk is for you. Located in the northern quarter, this reasonably priced café is extremely popular with students and digital nomads looking for somewhere to knuckle down for a few hours. The bench-style seating means you’ll always have a space to work and you might even meet a few fellow students on the way."

"If you’re on the look out for fresh artisan coffee in minimalist, Nordic-inspired surroundings, then stark, hipster hangout Takk is probably the place for you. Undoubtedly a NQ favourite, the coffee at Takk is just as good as the atmosphere, serving ‘North Projekt’ – a Bristol-roasted Nordic Style espresso that forms the basis of all their drinks. It’s definitely a brew to keep the mind sharp, but I heard they feature regular guest espresso too!"

"TAKK is one of Manchester’s best independent coffee houses, with three spots scattered throughout the city centre. Providing locals and visitors with a warm and welcoming space to work and meet, TAKK takes its inspiration from the laid-back lifestyle in Scandinavia and Iceland. Their coffee is great, and their food is simple and delicious."

"North Tea Power, 36 Tib Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 1LA - Visit now. Leading the way on industrial chic and high end coffee before the Northern Quarter had reached its peak, North Tea Power has been loved by Mancunians for years now. The staff still pay meticulous attention detail to the coffee, plus you can fill up on the café’s doorstopper sandwiches and sweet treats."

"Unlike their name would suggest, it is their coffee they are best known for (although they do have some seriously good loose leaf teas). Small brunch and breakfast style items, great gluten free cakes and a perfect place to work or read for a couple of hours make this a Manchester coffee shop that ticks pretty much every single box."

"North Tea Power was one of the first craft coffee bars in the Northern Quarter, consistently serving up a high quality range of coffees, teas and snacks. They use London based Square Mile beans, and a rotation of guest beans if you want to get fancy with your brews. From lattes to a V60s, they’ve got it covered."

"Ezra & Gil have planted themselves firmly on the booming NQ independent coffee shop roster. Translating into ‘helper’ (Ezra) and ‘happiness’ (Gil), they have an immense, light-hearted place that profits from so much space that they’ve even been able to plonk a small shop inside – ideal for picking up a few provisions. Their urban coffee is one to rival any nearby coffee shop, and their popularity is proven by the sheer amount of folk in the café at any one time."

"Another Northern Quarter brunch and coffee destination, Ezra & Gill is a smart neighbourhood hangout with a simple yet excellent food menu. Its brunch is served all day and you can pick from posh beans on toast topped with parmesan, a classic sausage sandwich, or sweeter things like organic oats porridge or brioche French toast. No matter what your taste, Ezra & Gil has something for everyone."

"As a Northern Quarter classic, Ezra & Gil have earned their position as a neighbourhood hangout spot. But many flock to this quaint eatery for a weekend morning for a plate of simple but delicious food. At Ezra & Gil, you can also enjoy freshly brewed coffee, tea, and smoothies."

"You're guaranteed a warm welcome at this traditional seaside cafe - which has a quirky-style interior complete with a large collection of wall-mounted artefacts. The breakfast menu is renowned - with a variety of size options, including the aptly named "mega" and "mighty" options, best served with a big mug of tea or coffee. 7 Cocker Square, Blackpool, FY1 1RX"

"Dog-friendly cafe The Wagging Tail in Churchtown not only provides beer and popcorn for dogs, but also serves a range of meals, cakes and drinks, including those suitable for vegans and coeliacs. There's even GF and vegan Afternoon Tea"

"Burgess Cafe Bar at IABF, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Engine House, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M1 5BY - Visit now. If you have a more literary bent, head over to the small but perfectly-formed café at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. Refreshingly free of distractions (background music is a no-no), this is the ideal place to sit and read a book amongst like-minded people."

"The owners of Monolos were frustrated at the lack of eateries which truly catered to children and parents, so they created this unique “restaurant and playhouse “ which serves crowd-pleasing American food such as burgers, steaks and milkshakes, alongside a large soft play area. You can relax knowing that children of all ages will be entertained, whilst you enjoy your food and let them come and go as they please- they will return to the table to eat when they have tired themselves out!. This place has to be on our list of child friendly restaurants in Manchester."

"An offering of Cypriot dishes including hot and cold mezze dishes, burgers and wraps and mediterranean flatbreads. All their meat dishes (including chicken, beef sujuk and lamb) are listed as halal. Veggie options include haloumi and falafel."

"You might recognise The Horror Crypt from The Killers music video for Here with Me, but this quirky spot on the promenade has recently undergone a facelift - transforming it into an exciting walk-through attraction. You'll find genuine props from horror movies & TV shows, terrifying special FX, animatronics and life size displays based on some of your favourite scary movies and histories most feared murderers - complete with many an unexpected surprise. A must-visit for any horror fan and definitely not for the faint hearted."

"Lurking amidst the retail shops on Birley Street lies the UK's only horror-themed tea room. The Crypt is a hangout for horror lovers and people who love the spooky season all year round. The walls are dripping with horror movie props, merchandise and memorabilia."

"It may not look like much from the outside, but inside two Victorian villas on Nelson Street you’ll find The Pankhurst Centre – a heritage site of women’s activism. Once the home of local Manchester political campaigner and icon Emmeline Pankhurst, who lived at 62 Nelson Street from 1898 to 1907, it’s here that the very first meeting of the suffragette movement took place. Cut to the present day and visitors can now drop by to explore the story of women securing the right to vote."

"An unassuming little house on Nelson Street, this spot was the birthplace of the Suffragette movement. The home of inspirational leader Emmeline Pankhurst, the first Women’s Social and Political Union meeting was held here in 1903. Nowadays, the place has been converted into a museum detailing the battle for women’s equality in Britain and celebrating its great former occupant."

"The Pankhurst Centre is easily one of the best indoor activities in Manchester. Discover the story of Emmeline Pankhurst, a British political activist whose family lived in the house from 1898 to 1907. The centre was where the first meeting of the suffragette campaign for votes for women took place!"

"Five-star hotel The Lowry underwent a swanky new makeover in late 2019, including a new look for the two-AA-rosette restaurant and bar. Their luxurious dining & drinking terrace is the perfect place to relax out of reach of the bustle of the city centre. With a sunny view of the River Irwell and hospitality to beat, this is a luxury to be experienced in Manchester."

"Situated in The Lowry Hotel on the Manchester/ Salford border, this fine dining breakfast menu is unbeatable. The restaurant itself is glass-walled and overlooks the Santiago Calatrava’s Trinity Bridge. The decor includes purple leather chairs, semi-circular banquettes, Fornasetti plates and mirrors."

"Enjoy exquisite food and service at The Coach & Horses, based in the heart of the Ribble Valley. Pub classics include Lancashire cheese & onion pie, while main courses showcase the best in local meat and fish. Alternatively, feast on their classic Sunday lunch with the whole family."