Coffee break in Manchester

“I have been coming to this coffee shop for a weekly coffee date with my little girl for years. The staff are really lovely, very helpful and friendly and good the extra mile to give a good experience. The drinks and food are good, and good value. Better than Starbucks/Costa/Nero and cheaper. I expect to having a weekly mum and daughter coffee date here for years to come.”

“A hidden gem. My son had his 5th birthday party there today and had a fantastic time. The staff (especially our party host and who l believe to be the manager) went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and were so accommodating- nothing was too much trouble, nothing felt rushed and all the children looked like they were having a great time. Very reasonable prices too which is a bonus! will definitely be visiting there again soon.”

“Staying at Mercure Manchester Piccadilly was a fantastic experience! Raj, Kostia, and Ellie at the front desk were truly outstanding—welcoming, attentive, and incredibly efficient. From arrival to departure, everything was handled smoothly and with a genuine smile. The reception team made every interaction pleasant and easy, always ready with helpful information and quick solutions. The hotel itself is spacious, clean, and very well looked after, with rooms that are tidy, comfortable, and hygienic. Overall, a wonderful stay made even better by the professionalism and warmth of the front desk team! this”

“We stayed at Native Manchester for one night and I would definitely stay here again. For the price, it felt like excellent value compared to other options in the area, especially considering the size of the studio and the quality of reviews. Communication was seamless, I received WhatsApp updates throughout my journey, from details about the room number and PIN code to notifications that the room was ready and a reminder for check-out. The process was essentially self-service, though there is a reception available if needed. I found the whole system very streamlined and convenient. We parked at Dale Street car park, which cost around £20 for 24 hours, and from there it was just a short walk to the hotel. The building itself is really impressive, it used to be a cotton factory, and they’ve done a great job blending the original industrial character with modern design. We booked a studio apartment, which came with a bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. The bathroom had towels and toiletries (shampoo and shower gel), while the kitchen had all the day-to-day essentials, plus tea, coffee, and even a small bottle of milk in the fridge. There was also an iron, ironing board, and hairdryer in the room. The bed was very comfortable, big, and overall, the space felt well thought out and homely. One small piece of feedback from my partner is that a larger mirror, or a mirror in better lighting, would have been useful for doing hair and makeup. As well, it would have been useful if there was some tissues, like kitchen roll etc. All in all, the studio had everything we needed, the atmosphere was great, and I would happily recommend Native Manchester to anyone visiting the city.”

“One of my favourite costa coffees in Manchester, very friendly staff and great vibes inside”

“This is a Great Big Corner shop. Staff are always polite friendly & helpful Shop is Big Bright & Very clean Choices are vast and fresh. Love this place.”

“The Bailey's hot chocolate is exactly what you need on a winter's day. Thanks coffee shack! The whole place is amazing and such a fantastic location.”

“I visited Costa Gatley Sunday afternoon — a clean, well-maintained store with a cosy atmosphere and a good selection of food options. However, what stood out during my visit was an interaction at the till that left me quite surprised, and not in a good way. When I ordered a medium hot drink, the young girl serving me actively discouraged the choice. She suggested I go for a smaller size, saying: “There’s not much difference in size — go for the small and save some pennies.” As someone who has run a business for over a decade, I found this quite concerning. In most places, staff are trained to upsell — encouraging customers to consider larger sizes or additional items, which is standard practice in retail and hospitality. Her approach, while possibly well-intentioned, directly goes against basic principles of sales and revenue generation. Encouraging customers to spend less, especially unprompted, may seem kind, but it’s ultimately damaging to the business. In my view, this isn’t just unprofessional — it’s a risk to the long-term health of the store. Costa may want to consider reviewing training procedures to ensure staff understand the balance between customer service and commercial awareness. Thank you”

“Should've known that writing a review 2 days into a 4 day trip, would've come back to bite me on the back side. We stayed Monday to Thursday in November and on the Wednesday, someone knocked and entered my room without consent or without telling me who they were or why they were coming in. After I had shouted at them to get out they shut the door and walked back out of my accessible room. I got to the door and asked them what they wanted, they said they needed to fit something, never told me what though. Then proceeded to ask if I was going out that day to which I replied, im not sure. We proceeded to go out about an hour later and when we have come back the very thing that was broken, non emergency, was fixed. Again no one asked me to enter. No one asked for consent to enter the room id paid £677 for 3 nights. This is not deemed as an emergency because if it was, you have the right to tell me that and ask for my consent to enter. None of this was done. Id went down to reception who agreed it was out of line. I could've been in a wheelchair, In the shower, deaf, naked, anything, none of which was taken into account account. I was told there was no management there at the time and that I should leave me email for a manager to be in contact. That didn't happen for some days so I took to the IHG app which was also useless because a member of management - James- at the Holiday Inn Manchester told me that they dont correspond with one another so whatever they'd offered me in compensation has nothing at all to do with what theyre willing to do, which is nothing. Id suggest if you have any accessible needs, you do NOT book her as if there is any issues, they fail to deal with them, ignore emails and won't accept or compensate for this mistakes Ive left my initial review there so you can see the stark difference between the two in literally 12hrs Fantastic experience at the holiday inn. I brought my client as we were going to look at canal street etc. I had requested that the bed was made up as 2 singles and it wasnt but they quickly got me another bed and made it up for me. We had I think whats called an accessible room, and the room was stunning. Had all the plug sockets you could need along side usb charging ports. Plenty of lights along side a uv light in the bathroom. Spotlessly clean and the beds were comfy and the rooms were warm. They also had a bath along side a shower. Breakfast was amazing”

“Good location. Staff are friendly. Discount parking for the multi story car park-£11 for 24 hours. Room is clean and comfortable. Free of charge for late check out which is superb so I could get a quick shower after ran the Manchester half! Dog friendly hotel. Love it! My dog enjoyed the view.”

“I recently visited this café, and while the atmosphere and menu were impressive on their own, what truly elevated the experience was the service provided by David, one of the baristas behind the bar. His presence alone seems to set the tone for the entire front-of-house operation. From the moment I walked in, David greeted me with a level of warmth and attentiveness that felt genuinely welcoming rather than rehearsed. He has that rare balance of professionalism and approachability—quick to offer guidance on the menu but never in a way that feels pushy. When I mentioned I was looking for something new to try, he asked a few thoughtful questions about flavor preferences and then recommended a single-origin pour-over he felt would suit my taste. He explained the origin, tasting notes, and brewing process with an enthusiasm that felt authentic, not pretentious. The coffee itself was outstanding—clean, balanced, and clearly prepared with precision. What stood out even more was the care David took while preparing it: checking the grind, timing the extraction, and serving it with a brief explanation of what to expect. It’s the kind of attention to detail that shows he takes pride in his craft. Beyond the coffee, David’s presence contributes to the overall atmosphere of the café. He moves with efficiency during busy stretches without ever making customers feel rushed. I noticed him quietly anticipating needs—refreshing water glasses, wiping down the bar between orders, and checking in with guests at the perfect moments. He also seems to have built rapport with many regulars, greeting them by name and remembering their usual orders, which says a lot about both his consistency and the community feel he helps foster. In an industry where service can often feel transactional, David’s approach stands out. He brings expertise, personality, and an obvious passion for coffee, turning a simple visit into something memorable. If you stop by this café, I’d highly recommend ordering at the bar—you’ll likely learn something new and leave with a drink that’s crafted with exceptional care.”

“Located on Elk Mill retail park relatively new building. Nice, bright and pleasant always clean and tidy. Normally quick service. Baristas very fast and friendly. All on one level with easy access for disabled/wheelchair users. Children's play area outside. Large free car park.”

“Can't beat a costa hot chocolate now the weather's cooling down n winters on its way..”

“Great place to 'chill' with friends with the added bonus of rewards of 'beans' for each drink, various offers, and free WiFi.”

“Lovely service and lovely drinks! I will be back regularly!”

“Super workplace coffee shop in Exchange Quay. Easy to drop in for coffee with a group - never a long wait and very quick service. Great quality coffee, and 50p off when using a reusable coffee cup. Many other options such as alternative lattes and teas. Also new cakes & pastries available each week. Small seating space downstairs, or large benches and sofas for groups upstairs.”

“Expensive but came here as had a nice atmosphere and wasn’t too busy. Plenty of choices on the menu and free water station. No complaints and would return for sure.”

“Great place to catch up over a coffee and cake staff very friendly and accommodating tables cleared constantly and area always kept wiped down. The toilets were also equally as clean and tidy.”

“The best café with a kind and friendly staff — definitely give it a try!””

“The recption staff were extremely professional & welcoming. We especially enjoyed our evening in the Filament lounge where the staff again were attentive & friendly, especially Migel & Anandhu. The food was excellent & even took into account personal choice in regards to additional spice. 10/10”

“Clean, comfortable, and easily walkable to/from just about anything you would want to do in the city centre. Restaurant made my life easier due to the convenience. Decently priced, considering all this! I would especially like to recognize manager Sandra for being so warm and accommodating! This really makes someone feel welcome when they are far from home. :)”

“Not my first review, but another stay of over a week at this hotel. Decent location, glad I'm not parking on the grounds though with a £3 daily fee, when it was free till recently. Staff terrific again. Special shout out to Bruce who was brilliant with our reservation, as well as Amar and Hannah, who are fantastic. Finally, we often get in very late and see Nathan, who does the graveyard shift, and is another terrific member of staff. All the best to everyone and see you again soon, I'm sure.”

“Cosy little place to eat and catch a coffee. Small but warm and welcoming. :) The coffee was bitter and plentiful. Not great for taste but great for caffeine (probably?) 1/5 for the coffee. The panini was okay. A slight crisp to it, which was nice but quite scarce on the tuna. 3/5 for the panini!”

“Went in for a coffee which was very nice also had a bit of cake which was good the shop was quite and plenty of seats to sit down”

“One of my favourite places to work from when I’m out of the office! Staff are SO lovely and accommodating. Always very clean and lots of places to sit without overcrowding. Only issue (which isn’t their fault!) is the 2 hour parking restriction - I’d stay longer if I could!”

“I go once a week with my toddler to this species Costa we absolutely love the staff are friendly and always the order is right it’s a nice happy place to go to”

“Just tried the Autumn Hazel Late! Bit sweet but definitely recommend! Like the relaxing vide,not a lot of people either. Great for someone who just wants to enjoy an afternoon snack or to do some creative writing.”

“This is my No.1 Costa, excellent service, excellent coffee and lovely staff, I've been to many a Costa in some supposedly "nicer" locations but usually its been appalling. This is the one if you want your moneys-worth! The staff work hard keeping the queue moving and the very fact the cafe is always packed shows how popular the place is.”

“Simple and good hotel, with an excellent location in the northern part of the city center. Very close to the Arndale Mall and surrounded by many shops and restaurants. Exceptional service — quick, efficient, respectful, and pleasant. Clean rooms and overall a very clean hotel. The dining area is a bit crowded for my taste, and the English breakfast is basic.”

“Village Hotel, Ashton delivers a solid stay with friendly staff and strong facilities. The rooms are spacious and practical with everything you need. The gym and pool area lift the experience. Easy location near the motorway and food options. • Large room with iron, hairdryer, and tea setup • Full gym plus pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room • Helpful staff and smooth check-in”