The Art of Tea

28-01-2009
Michael McLean  0 

Well worth a visit. Very relaxed atmosphere, friendly service and great home mad cakes. They've got an exhibition opening on 4th Feb and I'm definitely going back for that (if only because they're also getting a late licence so I can drink beer while I eat cakes).

Great, down to earth cafe in an otherwise flashy part of town.

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05-10-2008
Niall

This is the best cafe in Manchester, just yesterday i bought lord of the rings and sat reading there for half an hour or so.The food is well priced and is of a good standard plus the crockery is awesome!

16-09-2008
dancingpriest

Love the idea of this place however was quite disappointed by the food. Cakes were dry and the menu still hasn't changed significantly since they first opened last year. Would be nice to see them championing local produce and putting it on the menu. The tea was nice and the record shop fantastic.

09-08-2008
katie

A great cafe - something a bit different. The food's tasty and reasonably priced, the atmosphere relaxed, and I love the book shop at the back of the cafe. Also, the framer who works in the converted garage behind the book shop is very good value for money and does a good job.

05-06-2008
martin

The best cafe in Manchester, the others don't even hold a candle to this place. I accept that kitsch isn't everybody's bag, it's not mine particularly,but they do simple things well and have housed it in a friendly and comfortable environment. Its like an Oklahoma where the staff don't look at you in disdain. The dusty wee bookshop and bijou record stall, and not to forget the sporadically opening picture-framer are adjuncts which ensure this one premises has more character than most of the northern quarter, with half the attitude. But as for the food, a short menu done well, with the jewel in the crown being the home made-cakes. Ironically the tea, is a bit of a formality, a decent range including your darjeelings, camomiles, roibooshs ect. The real star on the drinks line up is, surprisingly, their espresso. They manage to serve me an espresso how it should be done; short, hot, with creme and no bloody grain in the bottom. Those don't sound like a big deal but the amount of bad espresso I've had in town (that means you Love Saves The Day, Cup, Oklahoma, Cornerhouse) it makes me maybe overly flattering to someone who just pulls of the basics correct. I have to admit on occasion I have had some espressos that weren't up to scratch when they've been busy but to be honest when the place/staff/food are that nice I'd feel bad for bending their ear on something that small. Particularly since they don't harp on about how great their coffee is (.....LStD).