Where to spend a long weekend in Manchester

To kick-start your long weekend in the best way possible, start at The Koffee Pot – a Manchester institution that’s been slinging hangover-busting brekkies since 1978. With its no-nonsense approach to good grub and kitschy seventies interior, it prides itself on both traditional fry-ups and that classic Northern hospitality. Helpfully divided into fry-ups, pancakes and Benedicts, the cafe promises the finest quality ingredients, including meat from Littlewood’s Butchers and the infamous Bury black pudding. There’s also the ‘MancMuffin,’ piled high with sausage, streaky bacon and a potato rosti. Wash your hearty breakfast down with a Builder’s Brew or a KP Bloody Mary if you’re feeling adventurous.

No trip to Manchester is complete without a slice (or 10) from the fifth best pizzeria in Europe. Regarded as the stuff of legend by Manchester folk, Rudy’s is the undisputed king of Neapolitan pizza inside the M60 – crafted from top-quality ingredients, fresh dough and a blast in the wood fire oven. From humble beginnings to an Italian empire, the pizza pioneers now have over 10 members of the Rudy’s family across the country, and four locations in Manchester alone, with a venue planned for Didsbury later in the year.

Once your stomach is fully lined, you might want to explore some of the fantastic culture that the city has to offer. Founded in 1889, The Whitworth Art Gallery is a stunning exhibition space, showcasing over 50,000 works of art, alongside a learning centre and study zone. If you’re feeling peckish, The Whitworth Cafe specialises in homemade soups and other light bites, served with homemade bread from Trove bakery nearby. With stunning views of the sculpture garden and floor-to-ceiling windows creating an airy space, the cafe is the perfect spot to grab some coffee, cake and culture during your long weekend.

Set in an ex-MOT garage in Manchester’s buzzing Ancoats neighbourhood, The Firehouse draws on saucy summer nights spent on Mediterranean islands, enjoying cocktails and stellar company around an open fire. With a reputation as the ‘place to be’ on the weekend, the sociable venue is transformed into a performance space come evening, offering an impressive line-up of live entertainment – from DJ sets to dance crews. The menu revolves around its signature chicken, coated in peri spices and charred over an open flame, accompanied by a range of rustic sides and pita bread lovingly baked in-house. While the venue is a top contender for your evening meal, it also offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the local entertainment scene.

For a unique party atmosphere, we’d recommend popping into the florist on Oldham Street to enjoy some quirky cocktails. The Bud and Pot is a front for speakeasy-style bar, Lost Cat, which is split over two floors. While the venue is laidback during the day, it ramps up the entertainment in the evening, offering everything from live music to an impressive ‘buy one get one free’ deal on cocktails. The cocktails themselves are renowned for being weird and wonderful with ingredients including olive gin, hot honey and cream cheese foam – definitely worth a pitstop on your whistle stop tour of Northern Quarter bars.

Where better to spend your evening than the Northern Quarter, Manchester’s trendiest neighbourhood, which combines bohemian bars with endless indie shops and eateries? Black Dog Ballroom is hidden under Affleck’s Palace, an iconic Mancunian landmark, and it’s the perfect venue for a late-night game of pool with a pint. Inspired by the pool halls of New York City, the basement bar has an impressive range of beers on tap and a cocktail menu inspired by cities and states in the USA. The drinks pair surprisingly well with the Chinese grub from Salt & Pepper, who has taken over the onsite kitchen to serve up its famous chicken at all hours.

As the home of frozen margaritas and all things tequila, we’d always recommend ending your night at Crazy Pedro’s. With venues on both Short Street and Bridge Street, the people of Manchester go to Pedro’s for the party and stay for the pizza. Known for outrageous flavour combinations that’ll make purists wince, the food menu includes the cheeseburger-inspired Mac Daddy and another piled high with potato waffles. If that wasn’t wacky enough, the venue is also known for its pizza nachos, which come served in a bin lid with an entire 16-inch pizza chopped up on top. With the largest selection of tequila and mezcal in the city and local DJs taking to the decks throughout the weekend, Crazy Pedro’s is not one to be missed for people who love to party.

Whether you’re nursing a sore head or simply wanting to start the day right, there’s very little that beats fresh pastry in the morning. With a treasure ‘trove’ of homemade goodies baked fresh each day, Trove is always worth a visit at some point over your long weekend. Launched many years ago at Levenshulme market, the independent bakery, cake and wholesaler has grown from strength to strength with three locations across the city. The house baked sourdough is the star of the show when it comes to the brunch menu, served with seasonal ingredients to create the likes of French toast and various egg dishes. There’s also artisan coffee, bespoke tea blends and cold-pressed juices to put a spring in your step for the rest of the day.

Manchester is brimming with unique cultural spaces and Hatch is no exception – the outdoor venue is located under the Mancunian Way and has everything you need to indulge in a few hours of good grub and retail therapy. There are over 30 independent traders, all housed in their own vibrant shipping container and facing out onto a huge open-air courtyard. With the likes of Kong’s Sandwich Shop, Grandad’s Sausages and Bondi Bowls onsite, it’s a great spot to grab a lunchtime bite to eat – if you have the time between getting a manicure at It’s A Nail Thing and scoring your caffeine fix at Takk’s Espresso Bar.

No long weekend in Manchester is complete without a meal at a traditional Northern boozer. As a stalwart on the Ancoats scene since 1811, you can’t get more authentic than Edinburgh Castle. The team behind Asian eatery Cottonopolis have recently restored the historic venue to its former glory. Foodwise, there’s a huge array of pub classics served in the downstairs bar area, while the upstairs restaurant offers more of a fine dining menu. Whether you fancy pickled ox tongue or a hearty pie, the pub is the ideal spot to end your long weekend in this vibrant city.