Monton has long-since established itself as a trendy neighbourhood while keeping things on the DL. Playfoots has played a big part in this, having set up shop here over a decade ago. A rather unassuming cafe-bar on the corner of Monton Road, attention to detail greets you at the door as natural wood panelling meets eye-catching abstract mural work. Hit this spot in the morning to choose from an enviable breakfast menu, with meat, vegetarian and vegan English options available, alongside a wide range of bagels, including an apparently ‘famous’ Korean fried chicken iteration, sweet and savoury pancakes and classics like Eggs Benedict.
Traditional brunch finds its way onto plates at Playfoots, too, but with a twist, and all fresh ingredients are locally sourced to guarantee satisfaction — the Yorkshire butchers, the Lancashire dairy and Manchester made bread are three examples. Drinks-wise, thirsty punters can enjoy a range of canned and tap craft beers almost as generous as the food portions, cocktails (not least the excellent margaritas), and a small but expertly curated wine list. Those looking for something less boozy, meanwhile, can look forward to freshly ground coffees, mushroom coffee, turmeric, beetroot, matcha, chai, blue chai and CBD teas. A decent events programme is also in place, with quizzes dominating Thursdays, Fridays handed over to DJs and live music on Sundays. All promoted via the Instagram page, so get following. As a final note, this place is super-dog friendly, with free sausages given to any hound.