Manchester has no shortage of great coffee shops. In fact, deciding where to go can sometimes be harder than deciding what to order once there.

There are cafés for working, cafés for catching up with friends, cafés that look like they belong on a Pinterest board, and cafés where ordering pancakes alongside a coffee feels almost compulsory.

For anyone searching for some of the best cafés in Manchester city centre, these five all bring something a little different to the table.

1. Department Coffee + Supplies, Spinningfields

First up is Department Coffee + Supplies, and this one is for the people who appreciate a very good-looking coffee shop.

Its Spinningfields space inside the XYZ Building has a warm, design-led interior, plenty of natural light and seating that makes people want to stay for a while. The café serves speciality coffee alongside an all-day brunch offering.

Basically, it has serious Pinterest café energy.

It is particularly good for those days when someone needs to get out of the office or house, open the laptop and actually get some work done. There is something about working with a really good coffee beside the laptop that makes replying to emails feel slightly more enjoyable.

Come for the aesthetic, stay for the coffee.

2. Sugar Junction, Northern Quarter

For something completely different, Sugar Junction on Tib Street brings a little old-fashioned charm to the Northern Quarter.

Rather than ultra-modern interiors, Sugar Junction leans into its vintage personality, with China tea sets, traditional décor and plenty of character. It serves gourmet coffee alongside homemade cakes, food, brunch and its well-known afternoon tea.

And really, who can walk past a counter of fresh cakes and confidently say they are only getting a coffee?

The whole place feels cosy and welcoming. It is a lovely choice for a slower catch-up with a friend, especially when coffee and cake are both firmly on the agenda.

3. Haunt MCR, Peter Street

Then there is Haunt MCR.

Situated on Peter Street, just a short walk from St Peter's Square, Manchester Central and The Midland, Haunt is in a brilliant location for people exploring Manchester city centre.

That makes it particularly handy for visitors to the city who want a decent coffee without wandering miles away from the main sights.

But Haunt is not just convenient. It has a relaxed Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere, serves barista-made speciality coffee, and offers brunch, lunch, cakes and bakes during the day.

It is one of those places where the atmosphere matters just as much as what is in the cup.

4. Black Milk, Northern Quarter

Anyone with a sweet tooth probably already has Black Milk on their radar.

Its flagship Manchester café sits on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter.

While Black Milk has become known for seriously indulgent desserts, the coffee deserves some attention too. And if coffee alone feels a little too sensible, this is definitely the place to add pancakes, cake or something covered in pistachio cream.

No judgement here.

For a coffee stop that can very quickly turn into a full blown treat, Black Milk is an easy choice.

5. Bruncho, Deansgate

Finishing the list is Bruncho on Deansgate.

Bruncho is an all-day brunch café serving handcrafted coffees alongside breakfasts, French toast, Mediterranean-inspired dishes, and plenty more.

The café is cute, welcoming, and right in the heart of Manchester, making it an easy stop before shopping, meeting friends, or spending the day around Deansgate.

It is also a good choice for those occasions when one person says, "Shall we just grab a coffee?" and everyone knows there is a strong chance brunch will be ordered five minutes later.

Coffee plans sorted?

Manchester's café scene really does have a bit of everything.

For beautiful interiors and a productive laptop day, Department Coffee + Supplies ticks the boxes. For vintage charm and cake, Sugar Junction is hard to beat. Haunt brings atmosphere and a brilliant city centre location, Black Milk is perfect for something a little more indulgent, and Bruncho combines great coffee with plenty of brunch options.

Whether it is a quick coffee, a long catch-up or an excuse to order pancakes, these five Manchester cafés are definitely worth keeping in mind.

The only difficult part is deciding which one to try first.