Manchester, UK
I was looking forward to a day off in Manchester. When I saw it on the calendar I thought I might get to see a Man U game until I saw the price tag. I’m in the end it didn’t matter much. We didn’t get to The Lowry until about 4:30 am and I went back to sleep until nearly noon.
The Lowry Hotel
50 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5LH, United Kingdom * https://www.thelowryhotel.com/
This spot was very nice. The bed was the first thing that I noticed since I made a bee line for it. The bed was massive and comfortable. It was so big that the pillows side by side felt a million miles apart.
The room was quite spacious as well and with some nice seating options. The bathroom had a great shower with a massive rain/waterfall that I love. Although no real door which I dislike.
It had a mini bar which is nice on paper, but it means the fridge is useless which is a big no no for me. The closet was a HUGE walk-in. Robes and slippers were available, bonus points there. There was a kettle with dehydrated coffee.
The location was nice. A short walk to the heart of the city but far enough away from the chaos that it felt mellow.
Room 4.5/5
Staff 4/5
Amenities 4.25/5
Overall 4/5
The late night arrival felt like it unravelled any adjustments to the time change I had made. I ended up sleeping until 11:30am and with my slow morning process I wasn’t out the door until after 12:30. Given that my caffeine window was quickly closing, I decided to try and check multiple boxes at once. First stop coffee and Breakfast/lunch, no not brunch. My first stop was Takk. The walk took me through the mall. I’m not sure if it was because it was Saturday, a game day, a long weekend, or a nice sunny day, but it was pure madness in the city centre.
Takk
6 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF, United Kingdom * http://takkmcr.com/
Arriving at Takk was a relief. It was only a couple of blocks off of the main drag but felt like a whole different world. A quiet street with a couple of cute spots. There were a few tables outside and tons of lovely seating in. The space when you go inside is warm and inviting with friendly staff greeting you at the door.
I ordered a delicious flat white and smashed avocado toast with poached eggs. Even though it was on the colder side I was craving the fresh air in the morning so I sat outside. They brought out my flat white in a nice glass. The smashed avocado was fantastic. It was exactly what the doctor ordered to get me going. Nice bread with a healthy portion of avocado. The charred (or maybe blanched?) cherry tomatoes were awesome. It maybe wasn’t the easiest to eat, but I would go for it again for sure.
This is a worthy destination.
Coffee 4/5
Food 4.25/5
Staff 4/5
Ambiance 4/5
Overall 4/5
Because one coffee is never enough and 3pm was quickly approaching I decided for one more coffee stop on the way back to the hotel. Along the route was another spot I had been checking out called Fig & Sparrow.
Fig & Sparrow
20 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JA, United Kingdom * +44 7483 373315
They had a nice write up somewhere and so I decided to give it a shot. It looked as if they had a nice breakfast menu and if I go again I might give it a try.
When you walk in the place is quite cramped. The entry is narrow and leads you to the counter where you order right next to their wall of stuff you can buy. Gifts. Candles, cards, other stuff. It is a nice touch but cramped and honestly I wasn’t blown away by any of the gifts.
I ordered a coffee and because I had to a little sweet to go with. I sat in the back with a view of the whole operation. It had a nice atmosphere. The coffee was tasty and the millionaire’s shortbread was delicious. The cramped space though felt awkward blending the sit down crowd with the take away crowd. If you are not in a rush it is a good spot to hang with friendly staff.
Coffee 4/5
Food 4/5
Staff 4/5
Ambiance 3.5/4
Overall 3.75/4
I then made my way back to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon. In the evening my hunger came out of nowhere. In an attempt to avoid hanger I was going for something close and convenient. There was a pub near the hotel that had good food reviews but when I got there it was a mad house that my hanger wasn’t ready for so I kept walking. It turned into a nice evening stroll. Town, and especially the people, were on fire. I eventually landed at a ramen spot.
Tokyo Ramen
55 Church St, Manchester M4 1PD, United Kingdom * http://www.tokyoramen.co.uk/
Tokyo Ramen was a dark punky vibe. Two levels of seating, mostly communal, and stickers on just about every surface. The menu was super simple. There were 3-4 types of ramen, 2 appetizers, and 2 beers. I love it. Don’t try and make everything under the sun.
The ramen itself was simple and delicious. The broth was tasty and the noodles just right. The chashew was the highlight though. It was delicate and fell apart as you ate it. The real winner was the slight char on it that the guy behind the counter added at the last second with a couple of blow torches.
The worst part of the experience was trying to get my bill. The waiter acknowledged my request several times, but it still took awhile. Oh well.
Food 4.25/5
Staff 3.5/5
Ambiance 4/5
Overall 3.75/5
It was a great trip to Manchester as always. I look forward to the next one.
