Where to find the best pancakes in Manchester 

Named after the original title of the area now known as Ancoats, Elnecot is a neighbourhood eatery serving up British grub with a focus on traditional cooking methods and a menu that changes with the season. Alongside the likes of Shropshire rose veal cheek and Devon brown crab crumpets, the restaurant also offers an original take on the Chinese favourite, crispy duck pancakes. The ‘pancake’ in question is actually a Staffordshire oatcake, topped with confit Goosnargh leg, hoisin sauce, pickled cucumber and a refreshing relish. The vegan version substitutes the duck for mushrooms, fresh from nearby low-waste farm Polyspore.

Inspired by the wonderful imagination of Lewis Carroll, the kitschy Richmond Tea Rooms offers a theatrical dining experience like no other. Whether you’re dining under the twinkling lights of the enchanted forest or soaking up the rays in the orangery, you can choose from an extravagant range of brunch dishes, sandwiches and cakes. Alongside breakfast options such as the classic full English and avocado toast, the eatery offers American-style pancakes and, like the dramatic decor of the venue, isn’t afraid to go all out. Choose from decadent toppings including streaky bacon and maple syrup, or blueberry compote and cream.

Since it opened its doors in Ancoats several years ago, Cocoa Cabana has attracted chocolate lovers in their droves. By day, it’s a quirky cafe with a menu packed full of sweet treats. However, it transforms to a quirky cocktail bar by night, serving unique drinks with a chocolatey twist. As a haven for anyone with a sweet tooth, it’s no surprise that the menu offers a huge range of stacks – served with a mountain of buttermilk pancakes. From Nutella and banana, to salted caramel and Biscoff, there’s numerous decadent combinations to choose from.

With a reputation for serving hangover-busting brekkies, this Northern Quarter haunt has gained a cult following over the years with its retro decor and no-nonsense approach to comfort food. Don’t be put off by the inevitable queues as a breakfast at the Koffee Pot is certainly worth the wait. When it comes to the pancakes, the huge ‘All American’ option sees buttermilk pancakes layered with a sausage patty, hash brown, streaky bacon and an egg – topped with lashings of sticky maple syrup. For a vegan option, the plant-based Belgian waffles are finished with warm cinnamon apples, fresh berries and whipped cream. Wash it down with a Builder’s Brew or a KP Bloody Mary if you’re feeling adventurous.

Set in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Fress is an independent family eatery with a focus on comfort food. Serving good grub from breakfast to dinner, the venue is packed with marble table tops, kitsch light fittings and decadent golden signs. Alongside the full English and breakfast burgers, there’s a whole section of the brunch menu dedicated to pancakes and waffles. The full American experience offers a stack of traditional fluffy pancakes, piled with smokey bacon, egg, cheesy hash and maple syrup. There’s also the brekkie tacos, loaded with sausages, bacon dust and a spicy chipotle mayo, for an indulgent start to the day.

Serving everything from boozy brunches to the full Sunday spread, The Smithfield Social is the go-to spot to get your pancake fix. Inspired by the modern aesthetic of New York cafe culture while still paying homage to the historic Smithfield Market down the road, the menu is packed with locally sourced produce and brimming with benedicts and bacon. The matcha green tea and blueberry pancakes are a highlight of the brunch offering – fluffy, golden and served with Greek yoghurt, agave syrup and toasted pistachios. For those with a sweeter tooth, the eatery also offers German pancakes, piled with toasted almonds, coconut, ice cream and berries.

There’s very little more decadent in life than a pile of pancakes for breakfast. Inspired by our friends across the pond, Home Sweet Home is a bohemian bolthole serving up a range of indulgent treats from their Northern Quarter spot, including cakes, waffles and pancakes. The huge stacks are not for the faint hearted, slathered in syrup, and coming in two varieties – sweet or savoury. Fluffy pancakes can be piled high with crispy bacon, butter and a fried egg for the ‘American Breakfast’ stack, or you could chase that sugar rush with the ‘Banana Nutella’ stack – cinnamon crunch, whipped cream, banana, chocolate and salted caramel.

In our eyes, 19 Cafe Bar can do no wrong – while it’s best known for its fry-ups and doggy date nights, it also rustles up some incredible stacks. Made fresh to order, the fluffy American-style pancakes are served up in threes, with a whole host of toppings covering all the sweet and savoury staples. For any fruit fans out there, there’s fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries paired with a healthy dollop of golden syrup. The Biscoff pancakes are a crowd pleaser for anyone with a sweet tooth, piled high with Biscoff spread, crumbs, banana and ice cream, finished with a salted caramel sauce. It’s a drool-worthy menu sure to beat any sugar cravings.

With exposed brick walls and simple tables, this Northern Quarter favourite is stripped-back in decor, but certainly delivers on that relaxed day-to-night atmosphere. Taking inspiration from the famous mid-20th century New York bar, The Pen and Pencil has a menu spanning brunch to burgers, steaks to sandwiches – and of course, pancakes. A rather delicate affair compared to the other eateries on this list, these are buttermilk pancakes served with the option of syrup, bacon and pecans, or fresh fruit with dulce de leche. The drinks selection is also diverse, ranging from the ‘Triple Berry Cleanser’ smoothie to marshmallow-laden milkshakes – alongside a bespoke cocktail list.

Nurtured from a love of American breakfast culture and Canadian comfort food, Moose Coffee has firmly established itself in the city with two locations in the Piccadilly area. The house pancakes here are the stuff of legend, served in huge doorstop stacks with lashings of Canadian maple syrup. These guys certainly don’t hold back on the toppings either – there’s cinnamon spiced apple and salted caramel, banana and pecan, chocolate peanut butter and homemade granola, and even smoked sausage with streaky bacon. If waffles are more your flavour, Moose Coffee also serves piping hot stacks of the Belgian variety.