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I’ve lived in Manchester for well over 4 years now and being right in the heart of it for that length of time has made me realise how much I love this city. It’s the type of city that never stops growing, from the opening of new bars, restaurants and independent shops to forever changing street art and film features.

To celebrate everything that has made Manchester the prodigious city that it is today the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and designers RUDE have created the “We Do Things Differently Up Here” collection. The product collection that contains bright and quirky prints featuring recognisable illustrations and snippets all inspired by Manchester. You can see more of the collection and purchase them >here< 

So in collaboration with MOSI/designers RUDE and this amazing celebratory mug from the collection itself, I thought I’d share with you guys something I can’t go a day without and one of my favourite things about Manchester… the coffee shops!

So here’s a list of all my favorites and where to find them:

Cakes, shakes, coffee, breakfast, main meals and tex-mex, Home Sweet Home NQ is my favourite all-rounder. Aside from their quirky décor, incredible looking cakes and tasty mochas, if their pulled pork doesn’t win you over then their fried butter milk chicken or beef brisket will definitely do the trick! Then there are their fish tacos or sweet potato fries or burgers or cheese burger toasties or…. I could go on.

Who wouldn’t want to eat American style breakfasts any time of the day in a cosy home like coffee shop? Moose Coffee serves their extensive range of specialty breakfasts up until 30 minutes before closing time! That’s bagels, eggs, smoked salmon, sausage, prawns, homemade potato hash, toasted muffins and a ton of other breakfast inspired food served all day everyday. But if that doesn’t float your boat then their sandwiches, pancakes or burgers will turn your mouth into a swimming pool of foodie drool right after you taste their sweet range of coffee syrups.

The forever expanding coffee shop famously known for its Afternoon Tea, Parisian style cakes and freshly made sandwiches containing the most peculiar and popular fillings. The type of coffee shop where a glass of wine or freshly shook cocktail goes hand in hand with slice of Victoria Sponge or a slab of chocolate brownie.

A vintage inspired, beautiful quaint tea room tucked away on Tib Street. If you’re looking for a unique experience filled with fresh coffee, loose teas, milkshakes, cupcakes, gateaux’s, sandwiches and soups made from locally sourced ingredients, then this is the place. Aside from Sugar Junction’s incredible  Afternoon Tea, Breakfast menu, puddings and ice cream, what also makes them great is their offer of vegetarian and gluten free options.

A pint sized boutique coffee placed right next door to vintage clothing store Pop Boutique on Oldham Street. With its electric, retro surroundings and incredible homemade specials such as bakes, bloomers, soups and quiches don’t let its size put you off a visit because petite size of this café makes the services that much more personal.

The Grindsmith Expresso and Brewbar is my recent favourite speciality coffee shop to hit Manchester. Funded through Kickstarter this Scandinavian style wooden coffee shack popularity grew quite quickly on Victoria Bridge Street, so much so they now also own a coffee house on Deansgate! It’s not just the incredibly décor and interior design that makes Grindsmith a ‘must visit’ coffee shop, its hand ground coffee practically speaks (or tastes) for itself and its warm pastries and freshly made breakfast/ lunch selections are drool worthy to say the least.  

A reasonable new coffee shop that I’ve heard many people recommending, bringing a unique experience to Barton Arcade that was in much need of an independent contender. The ‘new feel’ Pot Kettle Black coffee shop was started by St Helens rugby duo Jon Wilkinand Mark Flanagan whom wanted to introduce a NQ experience to those who visit Barton Arcade.  I’ve yet to visit this coffee shop but thought I’d pop it into my favourites as a ‘must visit’ after browsing through incredibly packed bloomer sandwiches and tasty chunky brownies!

Richmond Tea Rooms is a traditional luxury café and bar in the heart of Manchester Village.  With Alice in Wonderland experience of afternoon high tea, vintage style teacups and unique fixture and fittings it’s no wonder I haven’t met one person who doesn’t know about this place. Their menu ranges from 4 selections of Afternoon Tea, tasty freshly made sandwiches, hot cooked breakfasts (including a vegetarian option) and of course their incredibly large cake selection! Pull together the mouth-watering food, hot coffee and fantasy surroundings, it’s a great experience as well as a lunch time treat.

One of our most local coffee shop Fig & Sparrow, not content with just a coffee shop this industrial style coffee house is also a home ware shop! Selling locally sourced craft and art work as well as home necessities the ambience of this café & shop is unique and fresh. It’s pretty hard just to pop into the shop without smelling the array of baked bread, smooth grounded coffee, loose teas and hot food without wanting to pull up a seat!