Food & Drink
The Best Brunch in Manchester: 5 Spots Ranked for 2026
Manchester's brunch scene has grown from a Northern Quarter side-hustle into one of the strongest in the country, spanning Antipodean coffee houses, Melbourne-style all-day cafes and buzzy cafe-bars. One thing to know before you go: the best coffee-led spots here are walk-in only, so the biggest practical difference between our picks is whether you can book a table or have to queue. To find the best brunch in Manchester, we compared the city's most-loved spots on food, coffee, atmosphere, value and how easy they actually are to get into. Here are the five brunches we rate most highly for 2026, ranked, with who each one suits and where it falls short.
Our top picks
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 14 September 2026
- Updated
- 14 September 2026
- Last verified
- 14 September 2026
- Sources
- 8 sources
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
Written by
The top 5 Brunch in Manchester: 5 Spots Ranked for 2026
- Rank 1Federal Cafe & BarWATTB Pick— Best overallWATTB90/100~£15 pp (indicative, food only)
- Rank 2Evelyn's Cafe Bar— Best for a leisurely weekend brunchWATTB88/100~£20 pp (indicative, with a drink)
- Rank 3Another Heart to Feed— Best for creative, adventurous platesWATTB88/100~£16 pp (indicative)
- Rank 4Pot Kettle Black— Best for specialty coffeeWATTB85/100~£14 pp (indicative)
- Rank 5Ezra & Gil— Best casual walk-in for valueWATTB83/100~£12 pp (indicative)
The WATTB Score is our own research-based editorial assessment out of 100 — not a customer-review average.
The picks in depth
Federal Cafe & Bar
Why it won
The most consistent all-rounder in the city: Antipodean brunch and top-tier coffee, if you're happy to queue.
Consistently well-regarded coffee and brunch across several branches
Reliable, tightly-executed menu praised across aggregated reviews
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options clearly flagged
Trade-off: Walk-in only, so weekend queues are common and groups can't book
Evelyn's Cafe Bar
Why we recommend it
The pick for a leisurely sit-down brunch in a buzzy cafe-bar, with cocktails on hand.
A proper sit-down cafe-bar for a leisurely brunch, not a grab-and-go counter
Bold, globally-influenced menu cooked over an Inka charcoal oven
Buzzy atmosphere and well-reviewed service; cocktails available
Trade-off: Pricier and slower-paced than a grab-and-go cafe
Another Heart to Feed
Why we recommend it
The most creative plates here: Melbourne-style brunch for people bored of standard smashed avo.
Genuinely creative, well-presented menu that stands out from typical brunch
Natural wine and strong specialty coffee alongside the food
Strong vegetarian and vegan choices
Trade-off: Compact rooms mean weekend waits for walk-ins; only groups of 7+ can book
Pot Kettle Black
Why we recommend it
A specialty-coffee-first brunch with two smart city-centre sites and solid dietary range.
Specialty coffee is the headline strength, backed by careful sourcing
Two smart city-centre sites with good dietary range (vegan, veggie, GF)
Slightly better value than the higher-ranked picks
Trade-off: Menu is more conventional than the creative brunch specialists
Ezra & Gil
Why we recommend it
The dependable, all-day walk-in for casual brunch without a reservation or a big bill.
Good value and long all-day hours from early morning
Relaxed, dog- and laptop-friendly with no booking needed
Central Northern Quarter and Peter Street locations
Trade-off: Simpler, less distinctive cooking than the higher-ranked spots
Map of Manchester
How we ranked this list
Our ranking draws on each venue's official menus and location details, aggregated public reviews across Tripadvisor, Google and Square Meal, and Manchester food-press coverage from outlets such as I Love Manchester and Manchester's Finest, combined with our editorial assessment of food, coffee, atmosphere, value and accessibility. We have not visited or eaten at these venues; prices are indicative, vary by branch and change over time, so check current menus before you go.
Read our full ranking methodWhy you can trust WATTB
Independent & unbiased
We rank on merit. Commercial links never change which picks make a guide or where they rank.
In-depth research
Official information, specifications and aggregated expert and user reviews — compared, not guessed.
Clear pros & cons
Every pick gets its real advantages and at least one honest trade-off, so you can weigh it.
Transparent sourcing
We show how we rank and the sources behind each guide, and re-check them as things change.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best brunch in Manchester?
For an all-rounder we rate Federal Cafe & Bar highest, thanks to consistently strong specialty coffee and a well-executed Antipodean brunch menu across several city-centre branches. If you'd rather linger over a sit-down brunch with cocktails, Evelyn's Cafe Bar in the Northern Quarter is our pick for a leisurely weekend brunch, while Another Heart to Feed is the one for the most creative, Melbourne-inspired plates.
How much does brunch cost in Manchester?
All prices are indicative and change, but expect roughly £12-£16 per person for food at most of the spots here, with Ezra & Gil around the lower end (~£12) and Federal, Another Heart to Feed and Pot Kettle Black around £14-£16. A more leisurely brunch with a drink, such as at Evelyn's, is closer to £20 per person. Add coffee, sides and cocktails and totals rise accordingly.
Do you need to book for brunch in Manchester?
It varies, so it's worth checking before you set off. Federal runs a walk-in-only model across its branches, and Ezra & Gil is also no-booking, so both can mean weekend queues. Another Heart to Feed is largely walk-in too, taking reservations only for groups of seven or more. Evelyn's runs brunch on a walk-in basis and takes bookings only for dinner and all-day Sunday, while Pot Kettle Black accepts both walk-ins and bookings and recommends booking ahead for busy weekend slots.
Which Manchester brunch spot is best for a group?
For a bookable group table, Pot Kettle Black is a strong choice: its two city-centre sites take weekend bookings alongside walk-ins. Another Heart to Feed accepts bookings for parties of seven or more, though its rooms are compact. Evelyn's is roomier and suits a leisurely weekend sit-down, but note its brunch is walk-in (it takes bookings only for dinner and Sunday roast). Federal and Ezra & Gil are walk-in only, so larger groups risk a wait at peak times.
Which Manchester brunch spots are best for vegans and dietary requirements?
All five here flag options for different diets, but Pot Kettle Black and Another Heart to Feed stand out for range: PKB lists vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes plus plant-based specials, and Another Heart to Feed's Melbourne-inspired menu is strong on vegetarian and vegan plates. Federal also clearly marks vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. As always, confirm specific allergen needs with the venue directly.
Sources & further reading
8The information and claims in this guide draw on the references below. We check these when a guide is published or updated.
- Product informationPrimary source
Federal Cafe & Bar - Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch Menu (opens in a new tab) — Federal Cafe & Bar
Supports: Federal's brunch menu, dishes and dietary options
- Product informationPrimary source
Federal Locations - Coffee & Brunch Across Manchester (opens in a new tab) — Federal Cafe & Bar
Supports: Federal's branches (Northern Quarter, Deansgate, Circle Square, Altrincham) and walk-in-only policy
- Product informationPrimary source
Evelyn's Cafe Bar - Menu & Bookings (opens in a new tab) — Evelyn's Cafe Bar
Supports: Evelyn's address, Inka charcoal-oven cooking, globally-influenced menu and booking policy
- Product informationPrimary source
Another Heart to Feed - Bookings & Menu (opens in a new tab) — Another Heart to Feed
Supports: Another Heart to Feed's branches (Northern Quarter & West Didsbury), Melbourne-inspired menu, natural wine and walk-in/group-booking (7+) policy
- Product informationPrimary source
Brunch Manchester - Pot Kettle Black (opens in a new tab) — Pot Kettle Black
Supports: Pot Kettle Black's locations, brunch dishes and dietary range
- Product informationPrimary source
Best Brunch in Manchester | Ezra & Gil (opens in a new tab) — Ezra & Gil
Supports: Ezra & Gil's brunch offering, opening hours and walk-in model
- Customer & expert reviews
Evelyn's Cafe Bar: Review (opens in a new tab) — Manchester's Finest
Supports: Evelyn's globally-influenced menu style and atmosphere
- Related analysis
The best breakfast and brunch spots in Manchester for 2026 (opens in a new tab) — I Love Manchester
Supports: Editorial context on Manchester's leading brunch venues
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