Not to miss in Manchester

Canal-side sourdough bakery. Grab a seasonal cruffin or fresh pastry with a flat white and eat by the water.

Go early, pastries sell out

Roastery-café in the glass-roofed courtyard of a Victorian cotton mill. Good for a flat white among exposed brick.

Open daily, quiet before 10am

Small Tib Street café known for rotating sourdough doughnuts, plus vegan options, alongside speciality coffee.

Arrive early for vegan doughnuts

One-Michelin-star modern cooking that opened in 2024. Splurge on the tasting-style menu; the roast duck has drawn praise.

Book several weeks ahead

Michelin Bib Gourmand wine bar with seasonal small plates and natural wines. Share several dishes and ask for pairings.

Walk-in seats go fast

Long-running Curry Mile favourite for charcoal-grilled tandoori chicken and lamb chops, plus slow-cooked curries and lentil daal.

Opens evenings; Sunday from 2pm

Newer 14th-floor restaurant serving Southeast Asian barbecue and dishes from chef Sam Grainger, with city views.

Reserve a sunset table

Neo-Gothic library with stone arches and a historic reading room. Shoot the main reading room interior and the façade.

Open Wed-Sat, 10am-5pm

Canal basin framed by red-brick warehouses and railway viaducts. Walk the cobbles and bridges for reflections.

Visit late afternoon for light

Small square lined with rotating street murals by local artists. Combine with nearby Thomas Street's colourful shopfronts.

Murals change; check recent posts

Circular domed building with a striking exterior and an impressive reading room inside. Free to enter.

Go on a weekday morning

All-day halal brunch café with Turkish eggs, tall brioche French toast and coconut matcha; second site opened in Northern Quarter.

Go before 10am

Pasta restaurant that grew from a pop-up; its tiramisu served from a drawer became a social media sensation.

Save room for tiramisu