Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Thumbs Up

"Home Sweet Home has grown from humble beginnings to many locals’ favourite eatery that now boasts two locations in the city. Whether you opt to eat in the original Northern Quarter branch or the newer venue in Great Northern, expect a huge focus on dessert alongside the equally impressive savoury menu. The ice-cream shakes hark back to the 1950s in the best possible way, American style pancakes are the ultimate breakfast treat and their deep dish cookie pie is to die for – and that’s not even mentioning the incredible array of colourful sugar-covered pimped out cakes that sit tantalisingly in their dessert bar."

"Found in Northern Quarter, Home Sweet Home gives you a taste of the American pie with its mouth-watering brunch menu. Home Sweet Home offers generous helpings of comfort food and over-the-top indulgent treats to satisfy all your heart's cravings - toasties, tacos, eggs, bacon, waffles, fried chicken, steak, coffee, milkshake, cakes - Home Sweet Home is classic American dining with high quality, fresh ingredients."

"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."

"With the main space in the Northern Quarter and a funky outpost in one of Hatch’s shipping containers, this sleek coffee shop is an ode to Scandinavia. The owners are obsessed with all things Nordic (particularly Reykjavik), so opened this ode to the region complete with the house Nordic Style espresso (roasted by Clifton Coffee in Bristol), cosy ‘hygge’ vibes and trendy baristas. At the Oxford Road shop, there’s a more contemporary Scandinavian them, with a turquoise coffee machine, plenty of blonde wood and funky grey tiles create a calm backdrop to enjoy your coffee, or purchase one of the handy reusable cups and get an iced coffee to take away."

"Everyone knows that everything Scandinavian is cool, from their lights to their murder mystery TV to, well, their weather. The Scandinavian theming of this Manchester cafe isn’t entirely clearly drawn – not sure a prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich is traditionally Scandinavian – but the laidback interior is very Scandi, as is the giant map of Iceland on the wall. Wear a heavily patterned jumper if you want to hammer home the theme."

"Restaurants Coffeeshops. Takk is a love letter to scandi coffee houses, and it’s been serving up hygge vibes to savvy Mancunians for years. They now have three outlets across the city, but we still love their Northern Quarter branch the most."

"North Tea Power, located in Manchester, GB, is a casual joint that serves up a variety of delicious coffee and tea drinks, soups, sandwiches, and more. Fido is welcome to join you at one of their pet-friendly outdoor tables while you enjoy your meal. North Tea Power is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 7pm, Saturday from 9am to 7pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6pm."

"If you're in need of some comfort food, North Tea Power should be high on your list. The Northern Quarter coffee shop is fronting cheap eats in the form of all day breakfast and smart sarnies. When you're done, check out their tasty herbal tea selection."

"A cracking cup of coffee, a great name and serves alcohol too (but not first thing in the morning). What more could you want?. 36 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA@northteapower / northteapower.co.uk"

"A local favourite, Ezra & Gil is consistently busy, with freelancers, Instagrammers and general foodie lovers all big fans of the Northern Quarter spot. The perfect place to go if you’re after a seriously photogenic breakfast with a bustling atmosphere, Ezra & Gil has a tasty brunch and breakfast menu featuring all the classics, from full English breakfast, to all the eggs and smashed avo on toast a millennial could dream of. The menu is pretty big, too, so you’re guaranteed to find something that tickles your fancy."

"Ezra meaning ‘Helper’ & Gil meaning ‘Happiness’ is an evolutionary concept in urban coffee and cafe culture. A true neighbourhood hang-out with a vision to provide a simple menu, made up of the best food and drinks. Housed in an old un-occupied former clothing showroom on the ground floor in Manchesters Northern quarter."

"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."

"Before he founded the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell set up the Salford Lads’ Club in Ordsall in 1903. The idea behind clubs like these was to keep young boys in deprived areas out of trouble, and channel their energy into constructive pursuits and sport. The list of former members here is illustrious and includes the actor Albert Finney, the Busby Babe Eddie Colman and guitarist Graham Nash of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash."

"Located a 20 minute walk away from the Peel Park campus, Salford Lads' Club was established in 1903 as a purpose built club for boys. The club was famously featured on the cover for the The Smiths album 'The Queen is Dead'."

"Down the River Bollin, Riverside Park is north of the town centre and merges with West Park. Despite being surrounded by the town, Riverside Park feels remote and has two big parcels of woodland, along with a community orchard, butterfly meadow and wildflower meadow. This last area is grazed by docile longhorn cattle to help stop invasive grass species."

"CFCCA is the UK leader in Chinese visual culture, with a reputation for debut solo exhibitions and a roster of internationally-renowned artists; impressive considering that, three decades ago, it was just a series of events in Manchester’s Chinatown. As Manchester’s Chinese population is second only to London’s, the centre’s heritage is particularly important; now represented in a new archive and library. Best feature: A vibrant events schedule, spanning film screenings to workshops and even Mandarin lessons"

"Centre For Chinese Contemporary Art is a unique art gallery with a year-round programme of socially engaged exhibitions, events, and artist residencies. They have over 30 years experience of working with emerging and established artists to provide a space for conversation, debate, and cross-cultural exchange. They are the go-to place to discover new artists and explore relevant global issues from different international perspectives."

"Manchester's Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art will reopen both of its galleries on Wednesday May 19. Exhibitions Multiplicities in Flux and Autopsy of a Home, which originally opened in October, will be back until June 13. Booking is advised at cfcca.org.uk but walk-ups are welcome."

"This attraction features well-maintained locomotives that date back more than 100 years. A preserved railway, it is now also the home of the collection from the Southport Railway Museum and was opened to public access in 2005. It also operates passenger services from Preston Riverside to and from Strand Road Crossing."