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The Best Remote Working Cafés in Manchester, England
Myself (via WordPress) - April 06, 2025
The Best Remote Working Cafés in Manchester, England
6 April 2025Manchester is a vibrant city in Northern England with a long history. There’s something for everyone, including digital nomads and remote workers. If you’re a digital nomad or remote worker, you’ll discover many independent remote working cafés in Manchester. Here are some of my recommendations.
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Feel Good Club (26-28 Hilton Street, Manchester M1 2EH)
Founded in 2020, Feel Good Club is an independent, queer-owned mental health café on Hilton Street. Positive affirmations, well-being and self-care are the order of the day at Feel Good Club. It’s one reason they’re popular on social media, after all. These philosophies extend to their freshly cooked food, which is delicious! I recommend their toasties!
Moreover, FGC hosts many community events (especially in the evenings), so when you’re not working, you can make friends too! Some of these events include regular coworking groups, further increasing opportunities to make friends. There’s even an indoor greenhouse you can hire out too. Note this café can get quite loud in the afternoons and evenings, so I recommend bringing some noise-cancelling headphones when you visit.
One of Feel Club Club’s many amazing home cooked meals. (Credit: Own work)
Social Refuge (27, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AJ)
Located in the heart of Great Ancoats Street lies Social Refuge, the in-person café and co-working space for Queer Lit. I remember first checking out Queer Lit when they first opened an in-person bookstore on nearby Tib Street. Their rapid expansion showcases Manchester at its best – inclusive, independent and memorable – and when you visit, you’ll understand why.
If you’re in the LGBTQ+ community, a trip to Queer Lit is essential! It’s Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ bookstore with books encompassing all aspects of the community. There are regular events (including a weekly quiz), a co-working space and a downstairs area, with many comfortable seats. They also serve alcohol in the evenings, if you fancy coming here late. There’s a wide variety of sandwiches available. While they’re not freshly made, they are delicious.
However, even if you’re not queer, you will love at Social Refuge. If you’re a remote worker, Queer Lit is among the best places to work from in Manchester. During the day, Queer Lit is very quiet, especially the downstairs.
Moreover, the loyalty scheme is among the most generous in Manchester. They’ll give you one stamp with every book or hot drink you purchase, with seven stamps required for a reward. I cannot recommend Queer Lit enough.
A Panoramic view of Queer Lit’s cafe, alongside the food. (Credit: Own work)
Nomad Café (24 Lever St, Manchester M1 1DW)
For cafes purposely targeted towards digital nomads, look no further than Nomad Café on Lever Street. The clue’s not just in the name, but also in the many digital nomads you see working by the windows facing the road. This café serves some of my favourite sandwiches I’ve ever eaten at a café, and are well worth their premium price tag. I particularly love their tuna spicy melt!
The atmosphere is quaint, the staff are friendly, and there are lots of plug sockets available. Worth adding, there are no cushions or soft seating, which can make long remote sessions difficult. If you need something soft to sit on, I recommend bringing your own or using your coat.
The best tuna melt sandwich I’ve had in Manchester, alongside a Bee Network bus. That’s how you know you’re in Manny (Credit: Own work).
Foundation Coffee House (multiple locations)
Foundation Coffee House is an independently owned chain of coffee stores found exclusively in central Manchester. One of these stores – the café I went to – is even directly opposite Nomad Café!
What makes FCH stand out is its wide range of unique brews, including beetroot latte, red eye coffee and Kevlar. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you’ll appreciate the variety.
Moreover, I love FCH’s atmosphere, which blends modern, retro and nature to make cosy vibes, ranging from retro 60s-style dining seats right the way through to modern circular tables. FCH directly appeals to remote workers on their website. FCH follows through with free wifi and plenty of plug sockets.
I really wish I had found this place sooner because I’d love to have checked out more of their brews. When I’m back in Manchester, I will absolutely return!
A view of my small snack meal from Foundation Coffee House! (Credit: Own work)
Black Sheep Coffee (2-4 St Ann St, Manchester M3 2BW)
Okay, this one’s not an independent café. It’s one of five branches – yes, five – of national chain Black Sheep Coffee in Manchester City Centre. However, the Deansgate café’s quaint atmosphere edges out the others. It’s small but has a great location, with lots of character and plug sockets to match.
I’ve also personally found this café to be the quietest of all the BSC branches in Manchester City Centre. They’re also most likely to have 50% off food discounts, making BSC a cheaper option for nomads on a budget. The nearby BSC in Spring Gardens is another favourite of mine.
The smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels are the highlights of Black Sheep Coffee’s menu. (Credit: Own work(
Rhode Island Coffee (multiple locations)
This is another independently owned chain of eight cafes across the North West. While they do not have a café in Manchester City itself, you can easily access RIC in Oldham, Stockport and Altrincham. I highly recommend taking the time to visit.
Rhode Island Coffee is an award-winning coffee chain, having won both local and national awards. And yes, their coffee very much takes inspiration from the US state of Rhode Island, while also being its own unique blend. Their mochas rank among the best I’ve had in the UK, and their sandwiches are lovely.
Disclaimer – RIC are not the most remote worker-friendly on this list (their venues do not have plug sockets). However, their delicious food, alongside their relaxing vibes, means you should definitely go there one morning to get some work done or even just chill. They are truly a home of great coffee.
That Rhode Island Coffee Mocha tastes as good as it looks.
There’s still more remote working cafés in Manchester!
Manchester hosts many more cafés I have yet to check out, so this list is by no means complete. When I return in the future, I’ll be sure to try out a few more updates to this article! Until then, remote workers and digital nomads alike, new to Manchester, will find the perfect place to get some work done.
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