Coffee spots worth the detour

Callum Fenwick

@callum_frames

6Items

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Right, so I don't just live on energy drinks and the vending machine brew at work, promise. These are the places I actually drag people to before or after a gig in the NQ, or on a proper lazy Sunday when the vinyl's spinning and I can't be bothered making my own. Ranked on coffee, vibe, and whether it's got a seat free when I inevitably turn up at the worst time.

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The list

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Coffee spots worth the detour — 6 items
Name	Address	City	Why I rate it	Best for
1Idle Hands	Dale House, 35 Dale Street, Northern Quarter	Manchester	Proper sound little spot, dead chilled, and the pies are an actual meal not a snack. Baristas know their stuff but don't make you feel daft for asking.	Sunday recovery after a loud gig
2Ezra & Gil	20 Hilton Street	Manchester	Long communal tables so you end up nattering to randoms, which is sound when your mates bail last minute. Coffee's consistently mint.	Group catch ups before a show
3Foundation Coffee House	Sevendale House, Lever Street	Manchester	Proper industrial feel, loads of laptops out which normally does my head in but somehow works here. Been going years and it's never gone downhill.	Getting actual work done
4Chapter One Books	Lever Street	Manchester	Cafe and bookshop combo, there's a fountain by the door which is a bit mad but I'm into it. Good desks if you need to actually sit and type.	Quiet reading or laptop time
5Federal Cafe & Bar	9 Nicholas Croft, Northern Quarter	Manchester	Started going for brunch years back and stayed for the coffee. Always buzzing, never feels dead even on a wet Tuesday.	Brunch before a matinee gig
6Nibble	Oldham Street	Manchester	Tiny, tucked away next to the vintage shop, easy to walk straight past if you're not paying attention. Worth hunting out though.	A hidden gem stop on a coffee crawl