Here’s our (mostly Manchester-based) list of places to eat, drink and be covered in pureed carrot in…
CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
Cafe Couture, Oxford Street, Manchester (part of Manchester Museum). Babychanging facilities: Yes. Highchairs? Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though you have to go in via the Museum as the Oxford Rd entrance has steps. Staff: Sweet. Baby-friendly? Yes, with children’s menu. Worth a return visit? Yes.
Cup, Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Highchairs? Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Bloody lovely. Baby-friendly? Yes, with a children’s menu and colouring-in for older kids. Worth a return visit? Yes.
Deliciously Swiss, Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury. Babychanging facilities: No. Highchairs? No. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though very small inside. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? No children’s menu but what child wouldn’t like the sticky pastries and cakes on offer here? Worth a return visit? If you’re passing – a very good bakery that supplies Urbis, the Midland Hotel, Cornerhouse and the Liverpool Tate.
Dough, High Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Highchairs? Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Very friendly, which might have something to do with the owner having a young son. Baby-friendly? Yes, there’s a children’s menu and colouring-in stuff to boot. The stairs down to the toilets are a bit scary, though. Worth a return visit? Yes, a child-friendly haven in the midst of the Northern Quarter.
Dukes 92, Castle Street, Castlefield, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes, outside. Worth a return visit? In the summertime, yes, as it’s one of the best outdoor casual eateries in town.
Gabriel’s Kitchen, Upper Brook Street, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: No, but they plan on getting some within weeks. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though it’s small. Staff: The owner has his own kids and is very pro-babies and children. Which is good, as when we went Milo decided to destroy the place. Baby-friendly? Yes, very, with a kids’ menu and a willingness on the chef’s part to adapt the adult’s menu to suit younger palates. Worth a return visit? It’s a bit out of the way but if you happen to be near the Whitworth or MRI, definitely the best place to grab a bite to eat. Run by the same guy as the Whitworth’s cafe – so everything fresh, local, sustainable and rather delicious.
Manchester Art Gallery Cafe, Mosely Street, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Best in the city centre. Highchairs? Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes, with an excellent baby and children’s menu, plus they will heat up your own baby food for you. Worth a return visit? Definitely, the best child-friendly cafe in the city centre.
The Modern Caterer, The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes, in the disabled WC across the atrium from the cafe. Highchairs? Yes. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though the cafe is cramped – stick to the tables in the atrium. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes, all food is local, sustainable and home-cooked, with a children’s menu and activity packs. Also a nice outdoor area where bigger kids can tear about. Worth a return visit? Absolutely.
Nexus Art Cafe, Dale Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: No. Highchairs? No. Buggy-friendly? No, a big flight of steps is the only way in or out. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? No. Worth a return visit? With older kids, maybe, as it’s a nice respite from town on a busy day and has a good, healthy menu.
North Star Deli, Wilbraham Road, Chorlton. Babychanging facilities: No. Highchairs? No. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though quite cramped inside. Staff: Cool (not in a good way). Baby-friendly? No, most food unsuitable for kiddies and also expensive. Worth a return visit? Only if you’re passing and need a decent coffee.
The Social, Urbis, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes. Highchairs? Yes. Buggy-friendly? Very. Staff: Really friendly. Baby-friendly? Yes, with a children’s menu. Worth a return visit? Absolutely – highly recommended.
Waterstones, The Arndale, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: No, but you can use the ones in the Arndale, nearby. Cafe: Yes, with highchairs. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: OK. Baby-friendly? Yes, there’s a kiddies’ play area at the back of the store and the cafe is always calm and quiet. Worth it? Yes.
BARS & PUBS (WITH RESTAURANTS)*
Kro Piccadilly, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: Yes, though deep in the basement, not signed (it’s the first cubicle as you go in) and no hand-washing facilities inside, which makes it difficult to manage if you have a babe in arms. Highchairs? No. Buggy-friendly? Yes. Staff: Efficient. Baby-friendly? Not the first place I’d take a toddler. Worth a return visit? If you happen to be passing – a better place is the Pret a Manger opposite.
The Northern, Tib Street, Manchester. Babychanging facilities: No. Highchairs? No. Buggy-friendly? Yes, though you’ll need to use the Oldham Street entrance to avoid the steps. Staff: Given that this is an uber-cool pub in the Northern Quarter, the staff couldn’t have been more accommodating. Baby-friendly? Yes, though no children’s menu. Worth a return visit? Yes.
Trof 3, The Deaf Institute, Grosvenor Street (off Oxford Road), Manchester. Babychanging facilities: No. Highchairs? No. Buggy-friendly? No. Staff: Extremely unfriendly, to the point where they told us they had ‘no room’ for us. They backtracked when we got all parental on their ass… Baby-friendly? No. Worth a return visit? No. A shame, as Trof serve great food and tout themselves as a cafe during the day, but we’ll not be back (with or without our babies).
* I’m not talking 24-hour-on-a-bender-boozers here, more pubs and bars that have good daytime food menus, and are close to visitor attractions and shops. Most of these were visited while Milo was still a babe in arms; it gets harder as they get bigger and I’d recommend calling to check those you’re unfamiliar with if your kids are older than 12 months.
