The Best Places for Dessert in Manchester, UK

Manchester Dessert Cafes
Manchester Dessert Cafes | © Hans / Pixabay
Emma Lavelle

We all get that craving for delicious desserts. Sometimes savoury food just doesn’t hit the spot and you and your pals just fancy an ice cream sundae or a hefty slice of tantalising cake. Forget what your parents taught you – we’re not bothered if you don’t finish your main and skip straight to the good stuff. Here are the best places in Manchester where you can seek out something sweet for a sugar hit.

1. Gingers Comfort Emporium

Ice Cream Parlour, Contemporary, Ice Cream

If it’s ice cream that’s tickling your taste-buds, climb the staircase in Afflecks to the first floor to discover the most eclectic selection of flavours imaginable. Chances are that you’ve seen Ginger’s ice cream van at one of the city’s many events, festivals or markets, but for an ice-cream hit whenever you fancy, their base in Afflecks is a dessert lover’s heaven. With flavours including baked apple sorbet, black treacle and parkin, and the iconic Chorlton crack, you’re not going to find bland vanilla here. Choose to enjoy your ice cream on its own, in a traditional cone, with a toasted brioche, on top of a hot pudding or in a milkshake. Yum!

2. Home Sweet Home

Cafe, Contemporary, American

Home Sweet Home has grown from humble beginnings to many locals’ favourite eatery that now boasts two locations in the city. Whether you opt to eat in the original Northern Quarter branch or the newer venue in Great Northern, expect a huge focus on dessert alongside the equally impressive savoury menu. The ice-cream shakes hark back to the 1950s in the best possible way, American style pancakes are the ultimate breakfast treat and their deep dish cookie pie is to die for – and that’s not even mentioning the incredible array of colourful sugar-covered pimped out cakes that sit tantalisingly in their dessert bar. You could come back here every day of the week and try a completely different cake every day – now there’s a mission we’d like to accept!

3. Sugar Junction

Tea Room, Tea , British, Vegetarian

If you like your cake served on chintzy china with afternoon tea vibes, or you’re gluten-free but still want to have your cake and eat it – head to one of Sugar Junction’s two locations in the Northern Quarter and Altrincham. There are sumptuous scones, creamy milkshakes and steaming hot puddings galore, but it’s the cake counter that catches our eye. If you simply can’t choose from the diverse selection of scrumptious cakes (again, it’s worth noting that they always have excellent gluten free options), then opt for the cake platter and share three slices of your choice with a friend.

5. Fireworks

Ice Cream Parlour, Contemporary, Dessert

The recently opened Altrincham eatery, Fireworks, bills itself as the UK’s first dessert restaurant. Expect to be blown away and probably stuck for choice at the impressive array of sweets on offer. There’s ice-cream, brownies, tarts, pancakes, macaroons, waffles and milkshakes – all boasting an incredible range of flavours and options for different dietary requirements. It’s the sundaes that we’ll be heading for however: monstrous in size, dramatic in appearance and utterly delicious. A word of warning – you may need to take a friend to share one with.

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