If you're going to succeed in the Northern Quarter then you have to have just one word in your name. The nearby Drip has proven popular, Dry (around the corner) is known for it's heritage and now Cup brings more coffee and cake goodness to Manchester. Quirky inside, and with a high standard of service and selection.

A mid-sized coffee shop that's sandwiched in to a dark corner of the Northern Quarter. Free wi-fi is on offer, as are a reasonable selection of cakes, coffees and toasted items. All wood inside, very 'NQ' (toilets could do with improving) and overall a decent enough stop off point.

Manchester's original vegetarian cafe, providing hot and cold dishes in a modern, clean environment on the busy Oxford Road. The prices are reasonable, ...

Love donuts? If so then this is your heaven - if not then best avoid. Krispy Kreme has finally arrived in Manchester and their slick new store in Trafford Park (a second in central Manchester will open soon) is a sweet success for the American donut brand. Inside you'll find room for around fifty 'diners', with a take away and drive thru operation (my only complaint so far is that it's often quicker to walk inside and order than it is to struggle with the drive-through) and what they call a Donut Factory. Donuts, coffee and frappes, that's what Krispy Kreme does.

Krispy Kreme comes to (Central) Manchester. Thankfully I live and work close enough to their Trafford Centre outlet to call it my home, but the city centre dwellers are not so lucky. Worry not, KK will be bringing the donuts and coffee to the masses in 2008 with the opening of their city centre branch in Piccadilly.

Love Saves the Day is a small coffee shop and deli on Deansgate, right at the bottom next to Deansgate Locks and the station. With seating for less than ten, and standing for the same again, this can get packed on a lunchtime. Freshly made sandwiches and snacks, as well as award winning coffee makers, are the reason why.

A new Love Saves The Day in the Northern Quarter - part coffee shop, part deli, LStD is Manchester's leading independent coffee house and their first venue on Deansgate does a roaring trade.

A neat little deli opposite the old UMIST building. Great coffees, and fresh morning goods (they usually run out well before lunchtime). There's four rows of groceries too, and a good choice of drinks, plus a unique selection of cigarettes and alcohol.

A hidden gem that's well worth the ten minute car ride from central Manchester. Part deli, part coffee shop, housed in a three storey former pub. Up in the attic is a purpose built centre for training chocolate chefs, on the ground floor is a well appointed deli and cake shop, whilst on the first first floor is an award winning cafe. The menu is so extensive that there's barely enough room to fit all the dishes on.

Didsbury gets it's own tea shop - and it's a delightful little place, with an obvious eye on the brew but it has equally high standards in food and music.