7 Of The Best Must Visit Dessert Restaurants In Manchester

Now that summer is almost upon us and lockdown restrictions begin to ease, now is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a treat and catch up with friends and family. Manchester is jam-packed with must-visit dessert destinations and there are places all over the city offering different sweet treats from loaded waffles to freshly baked pastel de natas, you’re sure to find something to appease your sweet tooth.

We all get the craving for something sweet every now and then, so knowing the best places to visit when that happens is ideal when you need to seek out something sweet. With that in mind, here are 5 of the best dessert restaurants in Manchester.

Ginger’s Comfort Emporium

If it’s a nice, warm day and a tasty ice cream is calling you, then there is no better place to head to than Ginger’s Comfort Emporium. Head up the stairs in Afflecks to the first floor and you’ll find Ginger’s, packed full of eclectic ice cream flavours and tasty desserts. You might have spotted their ice cream van around the city, visiting one of the many events or markets, but there’s no better place for a sit-down treat than visiting their emporium in Affleck’s Palace.

With flavours such as black treacle and parkin, baked apple sorbet, and their iconic Chorlton Crack (peanut butter and salted caramel), you’ll never find bland vanilla ice cream here! As well as ice cream, they offer other desserts and puddings such as affogato, toasted ice cream sandwiches, french toast, and other specials.

Black Milk

Black Milk, based in the Northern Quarter, has been on a mission to create the most extravagant waffles and milkshakes in the city since 2015. Their pancake and waffle stacks are phenomenal, and their milkshakes are out of this world, but since they opened in 2015, they’ve branched out and now offer a range of dessert spreads, chocolate bars and sauces.

With new outdoor seating on the recently pedestrianised Oldham Street, there are plenty of seats available for when you get a serious sugar craving. From their gigantic “Freakshakes” to loaded s’more and pancake stacks, there are plenty of sweet options available for when you want to grab a treat in the city centre.

Sugar Junction

Another Northern Quarter spot, Sugar Junction is very aptly named and offers some of the best cake offerings in the city centre, alongside a delicious food menu and boozy drinks offering. You must visit here if you’re with friends or are meeting up with family, as the place is decorated with a vintage vibe and food and drinks are served using fine china, teapots and crystal glasses.

Sugar Junction is a real hidden gem in the middle of the city centre, where you can step away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Their afternoon tea is a must, but their counter cake options are always fantastic and they offer some great vegan and gluten free options, too! If you simply can’t choose which slice to go for, then they have a cake platter where you can get a taste of three slices instead. For more special occasions, then their Cake & Cocktails pairing is a must! You get to enjoy a delicious vintage cocktail, such as a French Martini or a Blackberry Bramble, with a decadent slice of cake.

Archie’s

A Manchester hot spot, Archie’s is famous in the city centre and beyond, having gained a loyal customer base and celebrity following, including Kevin Hart, Rita Ora and Floyd Mayweather. Although their menu mostly focuses on burgers, fries and fried chicken, they also have an extensive selection of desserts and milkshakes.

Their fully loaded waffles are not for the faint-hearted and pack a seriously sweet punch. Choose from options such as the City Slicker, which is made using Reese’s Cups, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and flakes, or the Moonwalker, which has Maltesers, Milky Bar, whipped cream and finished off with crushed Maltesers on top. If you’re in the city centre and fancy a bite to eat, or even just want to indulge in dessert, then you must visit one of their 4 locations – each one provides an experience you won’t forget!

Slattery

Moving slightly out of the city centre, Slattery is just a short tram ride away from the centre of Manchester but is well worth the trip. Slattery has been crafting and creating chocolate and patisserie since 1967 and if you want to visit somewhere a bit more formal, then a visit to Slattery is a must.

The Slattery shop and restaurant is full of surprises and there is plenty to choose from, including breakfast and lunch items or simply just chocolate and desserts. You’ll find homemade traditional desserts including dutch apple pie, bread and butter pudding and sticky toffee pudding, chocolate-based baked goods such as strawberry and chocolate kebabs, brownies and indulgent fudge cake, and delicious ice cream sundaes. If you’re up for a challenge, why not take on the Slattery Chocolate Challenge which combines chocolate cake, with hot chocolate and, you guessed it, more chocolate! But, be warned, this challenge is for serious chocoholics only!

Conclusion

Manchester is home to so many fantastic dessert restaurants, it’s hard to choose just 5 of the best. If you head anywhere in and around the city, then you’re sure to find one of the many dessert restaurants! Not only does Manchester have a vast array of dessert restaurants, but the city is also home to many famous bakeries and bakery products, including McVities, Regal Foods and Real Lancashire Eccles Cakes – the city really is one of the dessert hotspots of the UK.

Author bio: Natalie Wilson is a freelance writer in the travel niche, and can provide advice on anything from packing essentials to hidden gems. When not writing, Natalie can be found reading a good book with a cup of tea or planning her next travel destination. You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976