The best bakeries in Manchester

Pollen Bakery's spacious locations are ideal for grabbing fresh bakes or enjoying a bite to eat. Going by its social media presence, this is one of the most popular bakeries in the country, and it's easy to see why once you've laid eyes on their appealing assortment of baked goods, ranging from freshly-baked pastries and sourdough breads to convenient seasonal brunch options.

Half Dozen Other, the bakery arm of Manchester's beloved Pot Kettle Black cafés, specialises in artisanal baked goods with a modern twist, including croissants, Danishes, and cookies with unique flavour combinations. Beyond serving as a wholesale supplier to venues across Greater Manchester, Half Dozen Other opens its doors to the public on weekends, offering seasonal specials and beverages on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out.

Lovingly Artisan, a quaint sourdough bakery, was founded by experienced baker and sourdough pioneer Aidan Monks in the Lake District. The bakery utilises a slow, 48-hour fermentation process and heritage grains to produce organic, award-winning breads. With a branch in Altrincham, customers can purchase a variety of sourdough breads directly, although home delivery across mainland UK is also offered. In 2024, British Baker declared Lovingly Artisan Britain's best artisan bakery for the second year in a row.

Hey Little Cupcake! in Manchester City Centre is a celebrated independent cupcake bakery known for baking all its treats fresh on-site. In addition to its Spinningfields café, it offers a delivery service. The bakery features a variety of seasonal cupcakes and custom celebration cakes. Visitors can also enjoy a themed afternoon tea or participate in a cupcake decorating class at the café, which also hosts children's parties.

Siop Shop on Tib Street is a must-visit for anyone with a passion for baked goods. This Manchester bakery has garnered a loyal fan base thanks to its inventive doughnut flavours, though it also offers timeless favourites like jam and custard. Alongside these sweet treats, you can enjoy freshly baked buns, savoury snacks, and coffee. Those who appreciate good branding will also enjoy Siop Shop's social media presence.

Gail's Bakery, originally from London, is steadfastly expanding its presence in Manchester and nearby areas. Renowned for baking its own bread, pastries, and cakes with high-quality ingredients sourced from small suppliers, this popular bakery chain features bright interiors. Each location displays a selection of delightful sweet and savoury treats at the front counters, available every day.

Gooey Bakery + Café is a favourite haunt in Manchester for those with a penchant for desserts and artisanal coffee, offering a casual setting to indulge in both. The café's stylish décor and inviting ambiance create an ideal backdrop for enjoying a variety of scrumptious sweets, from decadent brownies to airy pastries. In addition to the main bakery in the Northern Quarter, you can get Gooey cookies from their Ducie Street kiosk.

Yellowhammer, a project by renowned chef Sam Buckley, is a spin-off of his acclaimed Stockport restaurant, Where The Light Gets In. Unlike its parent, Yellowhammer primarily functions as a bakery, providing an assortment of freshly-baked breads and pastries throughout the day. The venue, featuring distressed-brick interiors, also serves as a pottery studio and transitions into a lively space offering small plates in the evenings.

First opened in 2015, Companio Bakery is a charming artisan bakery in Manchester. Adhering to the Real Bread ethos, which advocates for bread made without processing aids or artificial additives, Companio Bakery provides a variety of freshly baked sourdough breads, pastries, and viennoiserie. The range at this bakery includes seasonal treats like stollen and mince pies, along with brioches, flapjacks, and more.

Alex's Bakery is a prime spot for any Mancunian craving sugar. Situated on Deansgate, the bakery serves a delightful assortment of sweet delights daily, including rich brownies, playful cupcakes, celebration cakes, and more. They also offer corporate catering. Additionally, you can visit the bakery for afternoon tea, with options for a traditional menu or a Brazilian-inspired selection.

Sanam Sweethouse & Bakery, part of the same group that operates the iconic restaurants of the same name, specialises in Pakistani and Indian desserts. The Lebanese bakery offers a wide selection of treats, such as cakes, biscuits, and savoury snacks, at multiple locations across the city. All the delicious offerings are prominently displayed at the counter.

The Loaf MCR bakeries specialise in loaf cakes, taking the baking classic and updating it with moreish toppings such as Oreos or a Jammy Dodger variant. Their mini loaves make for a nice and filling treat, and larger celebration loaves are also available. Plus, between the trendy pink café setting and the eye-catching baked goods, Loaf MCR is also sure to go down a treat on your social media profiles.

Located in Salford, Procaffeinated is a friendly local bakery-café. True to its name, the sit-down bakery specialises in artisanal coffee, making it an ideal place for coffee enthusiasts. However, their offerings extend beyond just coffee. Procaffeinated bakes its signature sourdough bread and pastries every day offers a diverse brunch and lunch menu and serves natural wines, craft beers, and cocktails alongside its hot beverages.

Award-winning boulangerie La Chouquette brings a slice of Paris to Didsbury. As dedicated followers of French baking traditions, they prepare their sourdough bread and pastries daily, offering everything from quick savoury bites such as ham and cheese croissants, posh sausage rolls, and quiches to grand celebration cakes, viennoiseries, and more. Their selection varies frequently, but the queue out the door remains a constant.