Meridian Café & Bar

You're walking past the Georgian facades of Spring Gardens in the city centre when you clock Meridian—properly lit, properly busy, but never rammed. It's the kind of café that's clearly thought about every detail: the espresso's punchy, the pastries look like they cost more than they do, and there's always something decent on the speakers. Grab a seat by the window and you've got ringside seats to Manchester's smartest street. The vibe's upscale-casual without being precious about it; you can sit with a laptop or sink three espressos with mates and neither feels out of place.