Over at Oldham street sits a quirky little independently female-owned cafe called Nibble. 

What we like about Nibble is how their menu is quite extensive. Moreover, what we think makes it better is how they have a number of selections for both gluten-free and vegan customers. 

Their cafe offers standard brews–americanos, lattes, and cold brews, to name a few–but has a small list of teas available as well. Additionally, we also like how they offer a wide array of smoothies and milkshakes that are all gluten-free!

Although we think that their coffee had the perfect amount of creaminess and bitterness to it, we found that their vegan and gluten-free brownies truly stole the show. We were happy with how they were neither too dry nor too moist, but were rich and flavourful.

However, we did feel as though the cafe itself was quite small. 

Given the small dining space, there were very limited tables and chairs inside the cafe. But we appreciated that they made up for this by having enough seats outside for customers who want to dine in.

We also found it notable that he staff was very kind and welcoming. Aside from that, we also appreciated how we didn’t have to wait very long for our coffee and snacks. 

Their decor–although a bit quirky– was colourful and charming all the same.

Overall, despite its limited space, we thought Nibble would be a nice gluten-free cafe to stop by in Manchester when you’re in the mood for a quick chat with friends.

Next on our list is a restaurant-cafe in Church Street whose pies have left a mark in the hearts of many Mancunians: Pieminister.

We were happy to see that their extensive menu of pies ranged from British favourites to original Pieminister recipes. We were especially pleased that their menu contained a wide selection of gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian pies!

We also thought that their drinks menu was fairly sizeable as well. We noted that they had a wide variety of drinks available, ranging from standard beers and wines to even coffees and teas.

That being said, although we think their beers are most commonly paired well with their pies, we found it all the more pleasant to have a cup of coffee after a hearty pie. 

We liked that they had a number of brews available, despite them not being anything particularly special. We didn’t mind this, since a comfort meal like a good old British pie calls for a coffee equally as comforting–at least we think so!

We did notice that Pieminister’s decor sports a more rustic look with dark-coloured walls and darker-coloured furniture. Its warm colours harbour a relaxed space which, we believe, always brings about a good time.

Although we appreciated the staff’s attentiveness, we did feel that the waiting time for our gluten-free pies took longer than expected. Still, we found it very professional that they made an effort to constantly update us.

Regardless of the long waiting time, we still think Pieminister is just one of the very gluten-free friendly places in Manchester!

Evelyn’s is one of the more popular cafes in the Northern Quarter that doubles as a refined bar come evenings.

We were pleased to see that their menu had a good collection of appetizing brunch classics as well as more adventurous combinations. Additionally, we immediately noted that their menu was not dedicated to gluten-free selections. 

Unfortunately, we found the gluten-free meal options pretty limited. But we appreciate that there were options in the first place. 

On the bright side, they do offer more vegan options along with their standard menu. 

What we liked about Evelyn’s, though, was how their brews had a little more variety than other cafes. We liked that they had the classics but were pleasantly surprised to see that they even offered chai lattes and Vietnamese iced coffee.

Alternatively, we believe their collection of teas is also pretty decent, should customers be in the mood for something else.

Another thing we liked about Evelyn’s is how their cafe is very well decorated. The place has large windows that allow lots of natural light and plants that bring a bit more colour to the surroundings.

However, despite having a pleasant ambience, we did feel as though the crowd the cafe generates during peak hours may make the experience a little less cosy. We found that the music, along with the busy crowd, can get a bit too loud for relaxing.

Still, we were happy about the decent waiting time for food and drinks. We also appreciated how the staff attended to our needs despite the crowd.

Overall, we felt as though Evelyn’s is a little cafe more fitting for friendly catch-ups (and perhaps even dates) with its lovely ambience, coffee, and brunch menu.

Another cafe along Oldham street is a charming bookish cafe called Fig + Sparrow.

This cafe offers a good assortment of food and drinks that we believe are generally healthy. What makes their menu even better is that most dishes here are either gluten-free or vegetarian!

However, we felt as though the brews they provide are pretty standard. Although they have no adventurous blends of their own, we were satisfied with what they had to offer regardless–you can never go wrong with the favourites, anyway! 

What we like about Fig + Sparrow, though, was their variety of loose-leaf teas. Aside from offering the familiar, everyday teas, they also have less common options, such as Samovar Orange Spice and Pure Himalayan Darjeeling.

In spite of their notable selection of food and drinks, we did think that the staff was not exactly the friendliest. We were glad our orders were taken correctly but felt as though the barista in charge was clearly not having a good day. 

In addition, we also thought that service was a bit slower than other cafes. For instance, our orders took about 10 minutes to be completed.

Even so, we believe that the general experience of the cafe was alright. The place itself displayed a simplistic, laid-back but bookish feel, and the numerous outlets, along with the fast WiFi, we thought made up for the awkward and long service.

Ultimately, Fig + Sparrow is the kind of cafe best experienced when you’re in the mood for something a little more chill and productive. The combination of food, coffee, outlets, and WiFi is an excellent recipe for work or even a study date!

Next on our list is Expo Lounge over at Didsbury, a whimsical cafe that we think harbours nothing else but a good time and good vibes.

We were keen on their sizeable menu, which had a lot of tasty options and alternatives for everyone. That said, we were particularly happy knowing that everything on their standard menu can be easily adapted to a vegan or gluten-free dish. 

In addition, we found that they offer a lovely but seasonal Christmas menu in preparation for the holidays. As expected, we were pleased that their limited menu also has alternatives for those with dietary preferences or restrictions.

We also appreciate that their cafe has some typical and relatively unique brews. Standard brews such as cappuccinos were available, but we were glad to see that the less common affogato was also offered.

However, we did note that their teas were very limited and standard compared to their coffees. Save for their estate teas, their other selections were–what we thought–the familiar ones that can easily be found at home.

Their interior design offered a vibrant bohemian-like aesthetic that we believe was both whimsical and charming. We were particularly fond of the maximalism of it all, which made for a very warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Aside from their fun decor, we greatly appreciated that the staff went above and beyond with their service. They were considerate and helpful and ensured that our orders would be free of any ingredients that would trigger any of our allergies. 

Finally, with its pleasant vibes and superb service, we honestly think Expo Lounge is a cafe-restaurant that is very well deserving of its positive feedback. It’s definitely a must-try for Mancunians and visitors alike!