Best Lunch Restaurants in North Downs

"Pot Kettle Black, Unit 14, Barton Arcade Deansgate, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 2BW - Visit now. Tucked away beneath the beautiful glass roof of Burton’s Arcade is specialist coffee shop Pot Kettle Black – vigilant against over roasting, this place presents its brews in trademark red mugs, served with a glass of water and a Viennese wafer. It’s spacious, cosy, and that little bit off the beaten track."

"A boutique-styled café tucked in the Barton arcade has earned the position of one of the best Manchester City Centre coffee shops. It is situated in a beautiful Victorian building in the famous Barton Arcade, and something you may not know, the popular Manchester coffee shop is owned by Rugby League’s Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan. You can get all types of coffee here from standard espresso, Piccolo, Flat While, Latte and Cappuccino."

"Pot Kettle Black serves an impressive menu of breakfast fit for any breakfast lover from 8 am – 4 pm. Awarded the best tea and coffee shop in Manchester, it’s also a great place to go if you just want a coffee. You can get breakfast here from just £6!"

"Another city centre spot perfect for working in, Fig + Sparrow is incredibly warm and welcoming, with some outdoor seating allowing guests to take in the hustle and bustle of city life. Serving up top-quality coffee that they sourced from the North East, Fig + Sparrow also sells gifts and design products, too – a great little touch to the cosy independent cafe. Fig + Sparrow, 20 Oldham St, M1 1JA."

"Fig + Sparrow is a great coffee shop where you can enjoy delicious coffee and a quick snack in a cozy environment. The perfect spot for a break while vintage shopping in the Northern Quarter. This place has super cute decor and its interior reminds me a lot about cafés in Scandinavia these days."

"Like many others, you might mistake Fig & Sparrow for a quirky trinket shop. But you’d be very wrong. Nestled to the rear of this popular independent lifestyle store is a quaint coffee shop that offers some outstanding beverages."

"A fantastic cafe with a couple of locations in the city, Federal was founded by an English and Portuguese couple that have created an Australian-Esque brunch experience. The sexy vibes and laid back culture make federal a perfect way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy Manchester weekend. They have an extensive breakfast and brunch menu which includes a wonderful mix of great homemade food and coffee from Ozone coffee roasters in London."

"Serving up quality Antipodean-style coffee from two locations in the heart of Manchester city centre, the ever-popular and much-loved Federal Cafe & Bar is still open for walk-ins to grab yourself a wide range of takeaway beverages this weekend. 9 Nicholas Croft, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1EY&94 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3ND. You can find more information via the Federal Cafe & Bar website here."

"Making a name for themselves on the local culinary scene, Federal has become a brunch favourite for tourists and locals. If their photos featuring delicious meals won't bring you in, the nearly 5-star rating across the board should. Open daily and serving all-day brunch, this is the place to visit if you get that breakfast craving."

"Bill’s in Spinningfields is celebrating Shrove Tuesday with a brand new pancake menu, available to order from 21 February to 1 March. The inclusive menu is perfect for both vegan and non-vegan pancake fans – with both sweet and savoury options to chow down on. This year’s menu options include sweetcorn pancakes with eggs, feta and avo, roast tomato and black olive vegan pancakes, classic lemon and sugar, banana and salted caramel, white chocolate with frozen berries and ice cream with chocolate sauce."

"Why: Traditional breakfast dishes grace the menu at Bill’s, with a full English and stacks of pancakes featuring. For something a little healthier there’s a whole section on eggs (yes, including of course eggs with avocado toast) and a garden plate which includes eggs, roasted tomatoes, charred peppers, smashed avocado, mushrooms and more. Where: 8-12 John Dalton Street, M2 6JP"

"Giraffe is on the first floor in The Orient and is close to the escalators to the ground floor with plenty of room for buggies. The city centre also has a branch, in Spinningfields."

"Lying above Dovedale, and a short distance from Mill Dale, as Peak District pubs go, few are better positioned for a meal after a walk in the surrounding hills. Here you’ll always find a selection of real ales, a tantalising wine list and exceptional food, as recognised by The Good Food Guide, Michelin and Sawdays. With authentic beams and characterful quarry tiles underfoot, crackling log fire and a warm welcome for walkers with muddy boots and their four-pawed pals, it feels familiar – an old haunt."

"Based in the Northern Quarter, this café serves breakfast and lunch dishes including a large range of hot dishes. One TripAdvisor traveller said: “I usually venture in here for the Full English (and then I'm so stuffed I never need to eat again all day!) or the Indian Panini but I tried one of the specials today and was not left disappointed."

"Rose Cottage Cross Street, Castleton, Peak District National Park S33 8WH EnglandCafe, British, Soups, HealthyBreakfast, Lunch, BrunchReservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Wine and Beer, Dog Friendly, Family style+44 1433 620472"

"The first Instagrammable place that we visited in Manchester was a trendy coffee and breakfast spot called Hampton and Vouis, which reminded me of a show home in a luxury property development. I really liked the pink colours and beautiful designs and if you’re looking for a perfect photo spot in Manchester that is not so busy in the morning, head there!. If you need to store your luggage in a safe place, while you’re exploring the city, I recommend using LuggageHero – they have a lot of storage locations and amazing rates."

"Taking great pride its award-winning speciality coffee, Hampton & Vouis is still open this weekend in the heart of the city centre to grab yourself a freshly-brewed cup to go. 31 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 4EW. You can find more information via the Hampton & Vouis website here."

"Why: As with all of the other Ivy restaurants, this Manchester site is dripping in glitz and glamour, so breakfast here is as much about the surrounds as it is the food. Pastries and toast kick things off, while there are full English options for both vegetarians and meat eaters. If you fancy something a little more virtuous there is an extensive section dedicated to eggs and a light and healthy selection too, which features the likes of smoked salmon on rye bread and dairy free coconut yogurt with berries."

"From the ground floor brasserie serving all kinds of classic British dishes to the swanky Asian-inspired restaurant upstairs, the Ivy is the place to be. Not only are the interiors highly Instagrammable, but the food and drink selection is just as impressive."

"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."

"If gorgeous food, a fine dining experience and an environment steeped in history are your thing, then make The French your next restaurant of choice. Based within Manchester’s grand Midland Hotel, The French became one of the first UK restaurants to be awarded the honour of a Michelin-star. Since reopening in 2013, and again undergoing refurbishment in 2016, the restaurant has made rapid progress towards once again becoming one of the finest eating destinations in the country."

"The flagship fine dining restaurant at The Midland Hotel is Manchester’s long-standing answer to Haute cuisine. Now under the Manchester-born chef Adam Reid, winner of the BBC’s prestigious Great British Menu, who has brought The French a new sense of youth. Despite the name, The French focuses on British food using local ingredients and native flavours such as Beef Dripping, Rhubarb and Lancashire cheese."

"Adam Reid at The French is one of the city's top fine dining restaurants, boasting an array of awards from 4AA Rosettes to multiple inclusions in The Good Food Guide. The chef, a Manchester native, likes to put a twist on modern British food across a choice of four, six or nine courses."

"An interactive journey back in time, the Stockport Air Raid Shelters offers a glimpse into how people lived during the wartime blitz. Explore the labyrinth of tunnels filled with displays, posters, recreated living and sleeping areas, and a bunker, all accompanied by an audio guide highlighting the cultural, political, and social aspects living in the shelters. I Opening Times: Tuesday-Friday 1-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm."

"The Stockport Air Raid Shelters are a jolting walk back in time near Manchester. Located about 6 miles from the main Manchester area and in great Manchester, this place is an interesting, short excursion from the city Centre. The place will transport you into a dark time- the Britain of the 1940s during the war."

"Stockport Air Raid Shelters, Great Underbank, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 1NE - Visit now. Stockport museums are beginning a phased reopening of their sites. The first to re-open were Bramall Hall and Stockport Air Raid Shelters."

"Let your tension and stress melt away with a relaxing session of massage therapy at this traditional Thai massage centre in Sale. Established back in 2013, Unique Thai Massage provides a diverse range of treatments designed to restore your body and mind including deep tissue, hot stone, aromatic and authentic Thai massage as well as special packages for couples or friends. The venue is beautifully decorated to give an authentic oriental feel as well as a calmness and serenity, ideal for a refreshing moment of pampering and self-care."

"Need to know: A regular winner at the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism & Good Food Awards, and the reigning Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year, The Three Horseshoes Country Inn is a renowned spot for traditional cuisine, whether you’re after a hearty meal or a dainty afternoon tea. A great reputation for customer service, and dog-friendly too. Open for takeaway: No"