With so many great places to eat, drink and be merry, it’s no surprise that Manchester takes the morning after just as seriously. Whether you fancy pancakes, a fry-up or bottomless fizz, here are nine of the best places to go for brunch.
Home Sweet Home
For American-style brunch dishes, smiley service and killer cocktails, head to Home Sweet Home. There are two locations, one in the Northern Quarter and one in the Great Northern. All your brunch faves are covered, but why not shake things up with chicken and waffles or their Texan breakfast skillet? Their coffee is excellent but the gin-spiked Manchester Smash is our top pick if you fancy something stronger.
Evelyn’s Café Bar
This light and airy restaurant in the Northern Quarter is the ideal place to start your day. If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast that doesn’t skimp on flavour, you’ll love their smoothie bowls, shakshuka, and scrambled tofu. The buddha bowl – packed with avocado, grains, pumpkin and lots more – is a good way to reset after an indulgent week.
The Ivy Brasserie
With its plush booths, glitzy bar and lush foliage, The Ivy Brasserie is a seriously glamorous place to dine. It serves modern British dishes from dawn to dusk, including breakfast every day and brunch at weekends. Start with a smoothie or a peach Bellini and then enjoy eggs Royale, asparagus with truffle hollandaise, or – our personal favourite – buttermilk pancakes with berries, yoghurt, and warm strawberry sauce.
Federal Café & Bar
Promising ‘the city’s sunniest welcome’, this Antipodean café-bar is a huge hit with brunch-loving locals. The laid-back vibe, combined with some of the best coffee in town, makes it a great place to unwind after a long week. It’s a veggie-friendly spot, too – try the citrus avo bagel or their delicious Turkish eggs. The Northern Quarter original will be joined by a sister café on Deansgate later this month.
Common
A Northern Quarter institution for over a decade, Common is a relaxed spot for brunch, lunch, and pretty much everything else. They do a solid eggs Benedict and avocado on toast, but if you’re really hungry, the Big Fry is the one to order. Kids, dogs, and hungover grown-ups are welcome, so bring the whole squad along.
The Pen and Pencil
If you’re a late riser, you’ll love this New York-inspired restaurant where brunch is served every day from 10am to 4pm. Alongside eggs and pancakes, there are kimchi bubble and squeak cakes, smoky beans on toast, and The Elvis – a hot sandwich with peanut butter, banana, bacon and maple syrup. Don’t miss their all-inclusive free-flowing brunch on the last Saturday of every month.
Mr White’s English Chophouse
Overseen by celeb chef Marco Pierre White, the menu at Mr. White’s English Chophouse centres on traditional dishes like steaks, chops, and pies. Brunch, served daily from 11am-4pm, is a similarly hearty affair. If you don’t fancy eggs or their superb all-day breakfast, try the comforting fish finger sandwich or the steak baguette with caramelised onions.
Menagerie
It’s glamour all the way at Menagerie, whether you’re sipping cocktails at the bar or recovering at brunch the next day. They offer bottomless brunch every weekend – two dishes and free-flowing drinks for £40pp. Choose from Bloody Marys, prosecco, mimosas, or Kiki’s Fruit Punch.
Beastro
Beastro’s menu reads like a love letter to carefully sourced British ingredients. No surprise, then, that their brunch menu offers free-range eggs, Bury black pudding, and bacon and sausages from their in-house butchers. Come hungry and get stuck into steak and eggs, the Full Beast breakfast, or – if you’re not in a meaty mood – omelettes and French toast.
Still looking for the best brunch in Manchester? Check out local favourites like The Koffee Pot, Alabama’s, or Mackie Mayor. For something more upscale, try brunch with a view at 20 Stories or Argentinean-style at Gaucho.
