Normally, being woken up at 6 o’clock in the morning is usually the worst thing in the world for me. There is nothing more I love than my sleep, so when my partner James woke me up, it was safe to say I was fully prepared to have a tantrum until he let me go back to bed. That was until he offered to drive us on a road trip to Manchester. So yeah, that caught my attention!
Must eat – Mowglis, Corn Exchange.

If you love authentic, Indian cuisine then look no further. Mowgli’s serve their flavoursome food in tiffins, that deceivingly small but once on your plate leave you with a mountain of food! As a recently converted vegetarian, their Mowgli paneer is the best veggie curry I’ve ever had! For £7.25 (plus £2.50 for rice), the quality of the food is incredible, and you can tell every dish is cooked with the upmost care. With swing sets and fairy lights to give the restaurant a soft glow, the vibe is energetic and full of life, making a delightful dining experience.
Must drink – Pot Kettle Black, Barton Arcade.

They describe themselves as ‘Antipodean coffee culture with a northern accent’, and they hit the nail on the head. With fresh, vibrant food and smatterings of Northern touches in the décor – the coffee shop is a cosy, quiet break from the bustling streets of shoppers. We decided to skip the food at PBK and head straight to the coffee. At £3.00, I was delightfully surprised when my hot chocolate arrived with not only a chocolate wafer, but a small glass of water to help wash down the borderline too-rich chocolate. James’ flat white (£2.90) arrived similarly, both of us agreeing that the coffee shop was an excellent find.
Must see – Central Perk café, Primark.

The Central Perk café was just as cool in person as you could imagine; with décor featuring the infamous couch and art work of all the iconic symbols that represent the show – a Friends fan would have to try hard to find a fault. But honestly the drinks were a bit lacklustre. We ordered a strawberry milkshake and another flat-white, and when my milkshake was okay at best. The fake artificially flavouring left an odd taste in my mouth, that thankfully James’ coffee managed to get rid of. Would I say it was a great café? Probably not. But it’s definitely a fun place to visit for the photo opportunities.
I hope to go back to Manchester soon, let me know where I should visit next! Catch you next time!



