Located in North West England, Manchester is a dynamic city steeped in culture.
From football and music to universities and culture, Manchester is a thriving city that continues to grow and attract thousands of new students each year.
If you’re a student living in or moving to Manchester and looking for somewhere to study (and get good coffee), we’ve got you.
In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at 7 of the best coffee shops in Manchester for students.
1. Takk
Takk is a Nordic inspired independent café serving delicious high-quality coffee and food.
With 3 locations in Manchester, Takk aims to provide a welcoming space for visitors to work and socialise. Takk’s original café is on Tariff Street in the most easterly point of Manchester’s infamous Northern Quarter, a trendy neighbourhood home to a variety of independent restaurants and bars.
Since opening in 2013, Takk’s spacious Tariff Street branch has become a popular spot for those looking to work away on their laptop or enjoy a spot of brunch. With free Wi-Fi, a range of seating, and plenty of plug sockets for charging your devices, Takk is a great place to study or meet friends for a catch up.
Find out more about Takk by visiting their website.
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2. Idle Hands
Also located in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Idle Hands is a speciality coffee shop that serves home-made sweet and savoury treats alongside coffee, wine, and craft beer.
Established in 2014, Idle Hands has gone from strength to strength since first appearing as a pop-up in Piccadilly Station in 2015.
Now open Monday through Sunday, morning to afternoon, it’s a great space to settle in for a productive weekday study session or sample their inventive brunch menu with friends at the weekend.
With rave reviews for its food, drink, and friendly staff, this cosy café is worth adding to your list of coffee shops to try in Manchester.
Learn more about Idle Hands on their website.
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3. Ancoats Coffee Co.
Ancoats Coffee Co. are speciality coffee roasters based in Manchester with 2 locations in the city.
Their first location, Ancoats Café, was originally created as a setting to showcase their products but quickly became a hub for the community.
Located in the courtyard of former cotton warehouse Sedgewick Mill, Ancoats Café combines exposed brick with large glass windows to create a warm and welcoming space steeped in history.
Serving quality coffee and fresh bakes everyday until 5pm, Ancoats Café is a must visit for the beautiful location alone!
Discover what Ancoats Coffee Co. have to offer via their website.
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4. Fig + Sparrow
At the heart of Oldham Street, you’ll find Fig + Sparrow.
Established in 2013, this indie coffee shop has a rustic feel and laid-back atmosphere. Coffee enthusiasts can try out Fig + Sparrow’s own house blend or whatever’s on tap from local independent coffee roasters.
If you’re in the mood for food, Fig + Sparrow has a mouth-watering breakfast and lunch menu with options like Shakshuka, homemade granola, and Manchester Rarebit, all served with locally made sourdough bread.
Fig + Sparrow has indoor and outdoor seating options including several window seats which look out onto bustling Oldham Street, so perfect for people watching whilst sipping your drink of choice!
Take a closer look at Fig + Sparrow via their Instagram.
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5. Off The Press
Off The Press is a popular hangout for the local community and those visiting Manchester.
Located on the bottom floor of Manchester’s iconic One Express building, Off The Press serves speciality coffee and an array of appetising healthy food. From overnight oats and breakfast wraps to fresh pies and filled bagels, Off The Press makes healthy eating accessible and exciting.
With a bright, spacious, mid-century modern interior, Off The Press is easy on the eye and a wonderful place to study, read, or meet with friends throughout the year.
See what Off The Press have to offer (and their hilarious content) by visiting their Instagram account.
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6. Ditto Coffee
Created by the founders of online music distribution company Ditto Music, Ditto Coffee is a small coffeehouse chain with locations in Liverpool and Manchester serving no-fuss, great tasting coffee and food.
For Ditto Coffee, community and sustainability matter. All their coffee is ethically sourced and locally roasted in Liverpool whilst any baked goods are freshly made in store or by local independent businesses.
You can find Ditto Coffee’s flagship store in Manchester’s Albert Square.
Albert Square is home to Manchester’s spectacular Gothic style town hall, a Grade I listed building designed by Albert Waterhouse. The store is bright with a minimalistic style and tons of places to set up and study whilst indulging in a top-notch cup of coffee or tea and freshly baked slice of cake.
Find out more about Ditto Coffee and book a table via their website.
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7. Pot Kettle Black
Pot Kettle Black is a relaxed brunch and coffee house in Manchester.
It was founded in 2013 by professional rugby players Jon Wilkin and Mark Flanagan, the pair played together at St Helens R.F.C and bonded over their love of food and drink.
Pot Kettle Black has continued to grow with two sites in Manchester City Centre, a site in Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport, and a bakehouse which serves fresh bakes and coffee three days a week.
Why not visit Pot Kettle Black’s first site in the Grade II listed Barton Arcade in Deansgate? It was designed with the buildings history in mind having original oak flooring, vintage lighting features, and an industrial style interior.
Want to have a productive study session? Looking for somewhere to catch up with friends or fancy an hour alone with a good book? Pot Kettle Black welcomes everyone.
It’s often busy, but you can book yourself a table via their handy online booking system!
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Have you tried any of these 7 best coffee shops in Manchester before?
Whether you fancy switching up your study sessions or want to try somewhere new with friends at the weekend, there’s lots of options in Manchester and we’d recommend adding these to your list if you haven’t already.
If you’re a student searching for Manchester student houses, you’re in the right place.
At UK Student Houses we have a range of cosy, contemporary student houses in Manchester that are perfect for students like you.