Already impressive, Manchester’s international reputation grows bigger by the month and if it’s not quite The City That Never Sleeps, a la New York, it’s definitely the city that doesn’t get much rest. There is so much to do here. Record numbers of tourists and its cosmopolitan residents both pay tribute to this compelling city.
Ground-breaking new cultural and entertainment spaces seem to be opening all the time, and the food scene is just as shape-shifting and vibrant. As such, breakfast is catered for with real zeal – the day’s first meal really matters here. And if you’re late for traditional ‘breakfast-time’, fear not: British brunch culture is thriving, nowhere more so than Manchester. Here is our pick of the best.
ANOTHER HEART TO FEED
A perfectly-pitched name for a welcoming joint that’s in the heart of a city justifiably known for the friendliness of its people. Another Heart To Feed is a smart space in Manchester’s energetic and cosmopolitan Northern Quarter district, albeit it’s Aussie-inspired and claims to serve “the best flat white this side of the Equator”.! The food offerings (10am-4pm) are creative and tasty: expertly smashed avocado on toast, delicious beetroot hummus, chocolate orange granola, Eton Mess french toast, and even Posh Beans On Toast – a very pleasant surprise indeed.
DISHOOM
Indian food for breakfast in England? Yes indeed. Dishoom is a hugely popular and elegantly discerning chain of Indian restaurants, with sumptuous aesthetics inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay (now Mumbai), a sumptuous building on Manchester’s Bridge Street,and a sumptuous breakfast menu. The bacon naans are a zingy blend of savoury and sweet, with cream cheese, tomato-chilli jam and fresh coriander leaves merging together perfectly as each one emerges freshly baked from the tandoor oven. Instead of the classic Full English breakfast, you’ll be drawn towards Dishoom’s take – the ‘Full Bombay’ – which includes akuri (spicy scrambled eggs), char-striped smoked streaky bacon, peppery Shropshire pork sausages, and masala baked beans. This, like so many other Dishoom dishes, is fusion cuisine at its finest: classics with an stunning eastern twist, spices firing up the flavours.
DAMO
Manchester is so much more than its city centre: a sprawling conurbation of suburban beauty and market town splendour, and blessed with a plethora of diverse breakfast options. Damò is an authentic ‘Roman’ cafe-restaurant in Altrincham, eight miles to the south, run by three brothers who are passionate about top quality food and service. Many devotees flock to Damò on an evening, especially for their majestic lasagne, but growing numbers of fans are heading there for a brilliant breakfast or brunch – with Italian smoked cheese and scrambled eggs, artisanal croissants, and a delicious french toast tiramisu among the main highlights.
THYME OUT FOOD CO
A few miles across the southern swathe of Manchester, you’ll find Thyme Out Food Co in West Didsbury, a chic and leafy suburb beloved by young professionals and creative types. If the sun is out and you want to eat al fresco, this is the place to go – but make sure to get there early. Ingredients are locally sourced and, as the name hints at, vegetarians will be well catered for. The Veg Out breakfast is top of the menu billing and won’t leave you hungry for more, only because the portion size is so generous: chargrilled halloumi, homemade hash browns and all the other trimmings you would expect. Other notables include a vegan fry up, duck eggs benedict, and breakfast burritos if you fancy something with a morning kick.
KOFFEE POT
Without Koffee Pot, any list of Manchester’s best breakfast spots lacks credibility: it’s a city centre classic, pulling hungry hordes into its Northern Quarter HQ for a traditional Full English and so much more. In fact, though the menu offers great British staples – including Full Scottish, Welsh And Irish breakfasts – international options are plentiful, as is the supply of good music and a convivial, community-minded atmosphere. It’s a fun place to be, and it looks funky too – with spacious red booths and vivid street art from local creatives.
OSMA
Three miles north of the city centre in Prestwich village, a little Scandinavian-inspired gem. Osma’s name derives from its founders (who come from Oslo and Manchester) and delivers some of Manchester’s very best food, and a very friendly welcome to boot. It’s billed as a ‘neighbourhood bar’ and certainly has a cosy vibe – you feel as if you are among friends here, straight away. The food is as appealing as the atmosphere: perfectly blended homemade granola and porridge, generous open sandwiches, filling soups and so on. Take note of the pedigree too: the ever-changing weekly menu proudly showcases local and seasonal produce, while the sourdough bread and sweet spot-hitting jam is made on-site at the restaurant.
ELNECOT
If Cutting Room Square in Ancoats is the place to be seen in Manchester these days, then Elnecot is the perfect venue for brunch. Especially on a weekend, when there’s a genuine buzz in the air. Opening at 11am, it’s not somewhere for an early breakfast, but if you’ve had a long lie-in and are feeling hungry and discerning, look no further. Alongside more traditional (late) breakfast offerings such as the ever-popular Elnecot Breakfast Sandwich (with potato brioche, ‘Granddad’s’ sausage, smoked streaky bacon, Lancashire cheese, Bury black pudding, fried egg, hash brown, ketchup, and chilli jam), there are satisfying crispy pork belly and wild mushrooms on toast brunch options, not to mention ‘Sexy Greens: Brunch Edit’ – which, in case you were wondering, are slow-cooked coconut seasonal greens, with white miso, hash browns, tomato chutney, pickles, Graceburn feta, and tamari seeds.
You know what they say: only breakfast can really get you going, and it’s the most important meal of the day. With the abundance of diverse and delicious options in Manchester, it would be hard to disagree with these old cliches. And with delicious classic ‘breakfasts’ now being served until later in the day, and dovetailing with brunch menus that glow with creative flourishes, you don’t even have to be up that early to enjoy what’s on offer. Perfect Full English; world-class coffee; Indian-inspired omelettes. Manchester has it all covered.
