Born from an obsessive love for speciality coffee, inspired by the joy of Mediterranean cuisine, and aimed — in part at least — at flexitarians, Hampton & Vouis is the brainchild of partners Nicky and Niko. Combining British and Greek sensibilities and heritages, the menu is based around the idea of primarily eating vegetables with the occasional flourish of meat or fish. An approach more of us need to take for both health and environmental reasons, although the emphasis here is very much on the fact the dishes taste incredible.
First, though, the drinks. This Princess Street establishment has a partnership with esteemed experts at Buxton Coffee Roasters, which works directly with farmers worldwide and champions both sustainable and ethical practices. Suppliers own their own land, middle parties aren’t invited to the table, and fair prices are paid for everything. The result being a guilt-free, hand-roasted blend of Brazilian, Thai and Ethiopian beans. Meanwhile, the majority of other refreshments are supplied by firms in the north of England, which the Hampton & Vouis team says is part of a wider ethos to support “likewise businesses.”
Onto the food, and a variety of bowls are arguably the most eye-catching options, packed with mouthwatering fresh vegetables, grains, fruit and more. Elsewhere, popular menu items include poached egg on fresh sourdough, French toast, vegan pancakes, and a variety of dairy, vegan and no gluten cakes. All of which are made by local bakers, and change on a regular basis, with celebrated Manchester spots like Pollen, Holy Grain and The Flat Baker among the list of trusted partners. Unsurprisingly, then, Hampton & Vouis is always in the running when it comes to the city’s best options for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and its appeal is aided no end by the interior. Perfectly understated, it packs bold flourishes with subtle statement pieces, for example those chairs.