Best brunch in Manchester: 15 trendy places for a mid-morning meal

Manchester boasts some of the best restaurants in the UK, but if you’re hungry for brunch, and we assume that you are, there are a ton of brilliant eateries giving your usual bowl of cereal a run for its money. We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to the best brunch in Manchester to help you in your search, not least because this cosmopolitan city is filled with trendy cafes and cool all-day restaurants, that it can be a tough job seeking out the good from the great.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, be it poached eggs on toast with a luxury twist, or brunch plates inspired by your favourite cuisine, from North America to India, Manchester has it all. When hunger strikes and you need something hot, fast and carb-based, Dishoom’s signature Bacon Naan Roll is always a good bet, but Manchester’s smaller independent eateries are serving some seriously exciting twists on classic brunch favourites. Elnecot might only serve brunch on Saturdays, for example, but these guys really do prioritise quality over quantity, with dishes like beef rendang Benedict and ‘Kimcheese’ toasted sandwiches.

What’s more, the city’s bustling student scene means you’re never too far from a cheap brunch in Manchester. The Koffee Pot is one such place that’s been nursing sore heads since 1978, with its legendary fry ups and rib-sticking ‘Manc Muffins’. Or head to The Pen and Pencil for killer brunch plates by day, and resident DJ sets by night. Our pick of the best brunches in Manchester includes something for all occasions, whatever your mood or budget.

Keen to start exploring? Dig your teeth into Manchester’s best brunches, from all-day affairs to blowout weekend feasts, then go ahead and book one today. And if you can’t have pancakes without Prosecco, we’ve got a whole separate guide to the best bottomless brunches in Manchester too.

Albert’s Schloss

What: Bavarian bier palace Albert’s Schloss is open every day from 9am, serving a mega brunch menu of ‘haus’ favourites, boozy ‘liveners' and freshly-squeezed juices. High on the list of dishes to try is the Kroissant Royale, which features Schloss’s Haus croissant, sweet onions, gouda, a fried egg, curry ketchup and your choice of bacon or sausage. Other dishes include its signature twists on a full English, Turkish eggs, granola with yoghurt and fluffy sweet pancakes. You can make it a boozy affair with a breakfast cocktail if you like, or stick to fresh orange juice, hot ‘schokolade’ or chai tea.
Where: 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR
Book now: Alberts Schloss Manchester

Zouk Tea Bar & Grill

What: If you love the idea of your brunch being packed with flavour and spice, then Indian-Pakistani restaurant Zouk Tea Bar & Grill is one to add to your list. This vibrant restaurant aims to uplift diners from the moment they walk through the door, with a vibrant flower arch welcoming guests on arrival, and verdant foliage hanging from the ceiling in the main dining room. The menu will pep up your senses too. For breakfast, choose from a selection of pastries, hot brunches, breakfast buns and sharing platters, with the option to make it boozy (on Saturdays only). Highlights include Bangin’s Bollywood eggs featuring poached eggs, spiced hollandaise, spinach and crispy turkey rashers, Mumbai breakfast buns stuffed with chorizo, sautéed spicy potatoes and a fried egg, and Bombay baked eggs. Besides, we love any restaurant that lets you order a bowl of spiced potatoes on the side for £1.50.
Where: Unit 5 Quadrangle Chester Street, M1 5QS
Book now: Zouk Tea Bar & Grill

Hard Rock Cafe

What: Hard Rock Cafe might not seem like the most obvious choice for brunch, but come the weekend, the team rise extra early to cook up an all-American brunch from 10am to 12pm! Lighter options and indulgent cooked breakfasts cater for every sort of appetite, from layered berry, granola and yoghurt pots, to fried pork belly on toast with crushed tomatoes. There's also a kid's brunch menu which includes a main and a juice for under a tenner. 
Where: The Printworks, M4 2BS
Book now: Hard Rock Cafe Manchester

Cafe à bloc

What: Cafe à bloc is technically a cycling cafe, but the team are quick to admit that they’re ‘not bike nuts’. Everyone is welcome at this cool neighbourhood eatery, and a good thing too, because the brunch menu is not to be missed. Served every day from 9am to 3pm, a menu featuring over 15 brunch dishes includes the likes of tiramisu French toast, with house brioche, espresso, mascarpone and salted caramel sauce, and dirty doughnuts with sausage, bacon, eggs and American cheese, served on a glazed doughnut. It’s located just outside of Manchester in Altrincham, but you could always cycle there (or get the bus!).
Where: 38 Stamford Park Road, WA15 1EW
Book now: Cafe a Bloc

Dishoom Manchester

What: Dishoom’s famous bacon naan rolls are what the Bombay restaurant is known for, and while they’re very good, we urge you to explore the rest of the menu for more excellent mid-morning munch. There’s the Parsi omelette, made with tomato, chilli and a little cheese, or its Akuri scrambled eggs, pepped with spices and served with homemade buns. Sweet fans will love the date and banana porridge cooked with oat milk and sweet Medjool dates. Do note that brunch is served from 8am to 11:45am on weekdays, and 9am to 11:45am on weekends.
Where: Bridge Street, M3 3BT
Book now: Dishoom Manchester

The Koffee Pot

What: Nestled in Manchester’s Northen Quarter, The Koffee Pot serves breakfast and brunch menus exclusively, and you’ll often find students hoping to soothe a sore head with one of its no-frills fry-ups. Choose from a range of Full English plates, from classic to Irish (with soda bread and black pudding), plus vegan and veggie options. You can order ham, egg and chips for just over a tenner, or the Manc Muffin is another popular staple, featuring a fluffy English muffin with a sausage patty, American cheese, streaky bacon, potato rosti, a runny egg and Bloody Mary ketchup.
Where: 84-86 Oldham Street, M4 1LF
Book now: The Koffee Pot

Caravan

What: Caravan is a reliable option at any time of day, but on weekends the eatery swaps its regular all-day menu for a killer brunch offering, available from 9am-4pm. Don’t go expecting run-of-the-mill brunch dishes though. Indulgent plates like jalapeno cornbread with a fried egg, spinach, curd cheese, mojo verde and chilli butter, and ricotta pancakes with date butter, molasses and double cream, are just some of the delicious options on offer. The spacious venue is perfect for everything from cosy catch-ups to big brunch gatherings, and of course, you can wash anything you order down with coffee from its very own roastery.
Where: 6 good Yards Street, M3 3BG
Book now: Caravan Manchester

Elnecot

What: This cool, industrial spot in Ancoats serves a cracking brunch menu on Saturdays, 11am to 3pm, including pastries, sarnies and one-of-a-kind brunch dishes. You’ll want to try everything on the menu, and we recommend you make multiple visits just so that you can, but for a flavour of what to expect, keep your eyes peeled for the roast ham and Baron Bigod croissant with truffle oil, poached eggs and pickles, or crispy pork belly with hash browns, savoy kimchi, fried eggs, yoghurt and chilli jam. This one is often hailed as Manchester's best brunch, and it's not hard to see why. 
Where: 41 Blossom Street, M4 6AP
Book now: Elnecot

The Counter House

What: We love The Counter House’s laid-back, leafy vibe. Decked out with foliage, huge windows and an open kitchen, this bright and friendly spot is one of our favourites for relaxed brunch dates with mates. Brunch is served Monday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and includes a California hash with streaky bacon, smoked cheddar, sliced avocado, a fried egg and chilli oil, house beans on sourdough, and poached eggs with avocado and crispy chickpeas.
Where: 35 Blossom Street, M4 6AJ
Book now: The Counter House

Sugar Junction

What: With a name like Sugar Junction, you can expect plenty of the sweet stuff at this adorable tearoom in the Northern Quarter. While afternoon tea is its main bag, don’t go sleeping on its all-day brunch menu. Granted, these guys excel at indulgent sweet treats, like coffee and pistachio French toast with vanilla mascarpone, pistachio and coffee cream, then garnished with maple syrup, chocolate and seasonal fruit. But there are plenty of savoury dishes to balance things out, like breakfast ciabattas, slow-cooked beef and eggs on sourdough, and avocado on toast with eggs, halloumi and hollandaise.
Where: 60 Tib Street, M4 1LG
Book now: Sugar Junction

Moose Coffee

What: Moose Coffee is a family-owned gaff born out of a love for American breakfast culture. Founded in 2008, it now boasts six cafes across the north west, including Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, becoming synonmous for serving up one of the best brunches in each city. The menu is truly enormous: we’re talking 25 signature dishes alone, and that’s before you’ve even had a chance to look at the Benedict and pancake selection. We’ve picked out a few of our favourites though, including the Mighty Moose hash with eggs and bacon on toast, and the Phoenix, which is essentially brioche French toast filled with peanut butter and jello.
Where: 6 Dale Street, L2 4TQ
Book now: Moose Coffee

The Pen and Pencil

What: The Pen and Pencil is a day-to-night venue that becomes a bit of a party hangout on weekends, with resident DJs and a killer cocktail list. In the day though, an all-day menu filled with hearty brunch classics draws hungry crowds, available from 10am to 4pm. Think brunch quesadillas filled with Manchego cheese, scrambled egg, green onion and chorizo, and house eggs which sees sausages, bacon, red onion chutney, poached eggs and hollandaise layered on toasted sourdough. On the last Saturday of every month, it also hosts a raucous bottomless brunch with endless food and drink for £50.
Where: 57 Hilton Street, M1 2EJ
Book now: The Pen and Pencil

Junction

What: As the name suggests, Junction is a central Manchester hangout where people meet, eat, work and socialise, preferably over one of its banging brunch plates. You can find it inside Manchester Central serving a killer brunch menu from 8am to 12pm. ‘Main’ dishes include warm banana bread with coffee and chocolate jam, and avocado on toast with toasted seeds and citrus oil, or you can choose from something off the counter, like caramel biscuit tiffin or freshly baked pastries. They’re great with a strong coffee, which comes courtesy of Heart & Graft coffee roastery.
Where: Manchester Central, Petersfield, M2 3GX
Book now: Junction

Ducie Street Warehouse

What: Ducie Street Warehouse is a multifaceted venue home to a lounge, restaurant, bar, event spaces, private meeting rooms – and even a mini cinema! Alongside its famous brunch parties and Saturday bottomless brunch, Ducie also serves a regular (but by no means boring!) brunch menu featuring focaccia Croque Monsieur, buttermilk chicken pancakes, breakfast baps, fry-ups and more. The vibes are always welcoming and relaxed here ensuring a feel-good experience all round.
Where: Ground Floor Ducie, Ducie Street Warehouse, M1 2TP
Book now: Ducie Street Warehouse

Pollen Bakery

What: We love this light, bright and beautiful bakery next to Ancoats Marina, the flagship location of two Pollen bakeries in Manchester. It serves brunch, lunch and speciality coffee with views of the water, and is an unbeatable spot for a cuppa and some seasonal grub on a hot day. Look out for spiced porridge with quince compote and caramelised walnuts, egg breakfast buns with Westcombe cheddar and kimchi mayonnaise, or any of its house sandwiches.
Where: Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union Street, M4 6FQ
Book now: Pollen Bakery

Fancy trying something new without breaking the bank? Our round up of the best cheap eats in Manchester promises delicious plates without a huge price tag