Costa Coffee

You're at Salford Quays, that sprawling media and business hub where ITV and BBC Northwest have their offices, and you need a caffeine fix. This Costa, tucked inside the Blue building at Media City, does exactly what it says on the tin: decent espresso-based drinks, pastries that won't offend, and enough seating to actually get some work done if you're remote. It's got that corporate-adjacent vibe—plenty of laptops, the odd business call happening at corner tables—but it's not pretentious about it. The clientele is a mix of media types, students from nearby unis, and locals popping in before or after a walk around the quays.