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Vegan
Fast food
Juice bar
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
British
Catering
European
100% plant-based co-op cafe, est. in the 1970s. Has a changing menu with seasonal ingredients. Example offerings may include salad bowls, soup & sandwich, seasonal dhal & stews, sweet treats, smoothies, juices, coffee, and tea. NOTE: While the cafe is 100% plant-based, the shop sells some vegetarian options, which are clearly labeled. Open Mon-Sat 11:00-15:00. Closed Sun and bank holidays. Note that the shop has different opening hours.
103 Reviews
First Review by Stevie
MickeyRC
Points +47
Fantastic - Edit
The Eighth Day Cafe and Shop is the only place that you can go In Manchester where you can get a good healthy wholesome meal, that you can thoroughly get stuck into because you know it is what you have asked for. the staff are all always very helpful, and will tell you honestly, whether it is Vegan or Vegetarian, which makes it so much more enjoyable. Fantastic.
Read morePros: Good choice of meals, Proper Vegan Breakfast, Disabled Access with lift
Cons: Some tables rock, spilling your tea
Guest
NicNewbs
Points +1141
Fab or vegans and vegetarians - Edit
I ate here for lunch yesterday with my vegetarian bestie.
Read moreThere was only one main course item I saw that wasn't vegan. I was really impressed by this.
The shop upstairs had a brilliant choice of vegan wraps/pasties and cakes to take away.
I will be returning.
Guest
Travels_in_Reggie
Points +5483
Eighth Day shop and cafe - Edit
The shop is on pavement level and the cafe down the stairs in the basement.
Read moreThe shop has a wide and varied choice of foods, beauty, cleaning products, vitamins etc etc. Small fridge/freezer section, personally was hoping for a wider choice of vegan cheese. Well set out, didn't feel cramped like some shops do.
Good deli counter with plenty of vegan choices and well labelled. Food can be taken away hot or cold. I treated myself to a lemon slice which was delicious. Nice selection of fresh breads and bagels available too. I felt the prices were comparable with other similar health food stores.
I did venture down into the cafe but there wasn't anything on the menu that particularly caught my eye although the food looked fresh and the cafe clean and comfortable, if a little dark as there are no windows. I'd definitely return for lunch if in the area again.
Pros: Good choice of products, Vegan products labelled well
Cons: Staff efficient but not overly friendly
Guest
amurleopard42
Points +172
Vegan shopping made easy - Edit
This small shop has a surprisingly wide range of vegetarian products, including many vegan options such as soy milk and yoghurt, spreads, fake cheese, fruit, biscuits, chocolates, ... My personal highlight is the fresh deli counter: you can find numerous kinds of pasties and cake there, with the ingredients listed and the vegan ones clearly marked - in fact, most of the pasties and cake slices were vegan when I visited several times this week. They also sell breads from the Chorlton-based Polish deli and bakery Barbakan, some of which are quite tasty. Overall, a goldmine for veg*ns close to Manchester city centre.
Read morePros: Wide choice, including many veg*n items, large deli and bread counter
Cons: More and unchilled fresh fruit please
Guest
Sam883
Points +38
Great food - Edit
Tasty vegetarian food and great value for money downstairs at the hot food restaurant. Get in early for lunch because it gets real busy and the queue can get long.
Read moreUpstairs they have shop full of all things vegetarian style - including good versions of those things you wish were less horrible chemical filled. like non dangerous toothpaste and organic cotton buds :)
Great for a quick snack from the deli counter upstairs as well.
Guest
Alyson
Points +862
Great shop and food - Edit
Was visiting Manchester for the first time in 8 years so it was interesting to see all this changed. The shop was really extensive and we got a range of things not available in the health shops where I live, as well as some cooked food from the counter in the shop. To our amazement they were holding a special evening meal that night so we ate downstairs at one of the Christmas evening dates. The food was very good -so good that I couldn't leave a single bit, and had the set 3 courses so was absolutely stuffed by the end of it. Downside was that it was a bit noisy as the venue is a bit echoy, and there was a large table of loud students - maybe spoilt is a bit for the other diners, but that's not the restaurant's fault. Highly recommend.
Read morePros: veggie-vegan, range, tasty
Guest
JB23
Points +63
Paying for the privilage - Edit
Another great cafe that has slowly gone downhill over the past 5 years (I think the fantastic long standing chef left and its never been quite the same). Staff are lovely, menu changed frequently and quite creative, but food always seems sloppy/bland, with tiny portions and overpriced. Coffee and fresh juices just ok, cake are expensive. Always busy at lunchtime with students/uni staff so hard to find a seat. Any meat eaters who come here hoping to find out more about vegan or veggie food would probably think "Urghhh..never again!" (McDonalds: 4, 8th Day Cafe: 0). It seems nothing will drag the cafe back to full glory, and you feel you're just now paying for the privilage of being there.
Read morePros: Vegan , Menu changed regularly, Kid friendly
Cons: Expensive, Sloppy/bland food, Hard to get a seat
Guest
Mimi
Points +165
Canteen Style Food - Good Shop - Edit
The restaurant serves canteen style food with a canteen style attitude. Lunch was slopped onto a plate with little care, pride or attention. I had a pie . . . which really wasn't that good. I would say, as a vegan, that the food is adequate but lazy, and because of this it feels slightly overpriced too. Staff attitude - indifferent, uninterested.
Read morePros: Location, Vegan Options, Good Shop
Cons: Slightly Expensive, Uninterested Staff
Guest
cprisacariu
Points +143
ok food close to University and near health shop - Edit
This is perfect when going to the University of Manchester or when wanting to buy organic food for home. It has good food and organic tea. Nice personnel. Decent closing hours (can grab an early dinner there also. Take away opportunity (like any other vegetarian restaurants. Has old tradition of down-to-earth food... just read around.
Read morePros: near Univ., good food, organic tea
Guest
places-in-pieces
Points +737
go to unicorn instead - Edit
the food in the cafe was just ok. the staff was indifferent and aloof. the prices in the store and the cafe were a tad bit expensive. the location is good though.
Read morePros: location
Cons: staff, food quality, prices
Guest
mikebinos
Points +165
Great breakfast - Edit
While the cafe is underground and the store upstairs, it's still an enjoyable experience at 8th day. On Oxford in the university district, the full breakfast they serve (vegetarian and vegan versions) is great. Friendly staff who will accommodate different diets , ie making the vegetarian breakfast dairy-free (without butter) but including the eggs. The smoothies and raw energy balls are nice too, and the lunch/dinner meal is also good. The shop upstairs is a good place for organic cheeses since Unicorn (though a better shop overall) is vegan.
Read moreGuest
lwe2405
Points +40
tasty food and great shop but overpriced - Edit
the food was really good and flavoursome, however, it cost me £6 for lunch that wasn't really that filling and I didn't even have a drink. friendly people. has sort of a old school canteen style feel going on. not sure if this is intentional. anyway, thought the interior could be improved. the shop is top-notch and has everything you need.
Read morePros: good food, friendly staff, great shop above cafe
Cons: overpriced, canteen style
Guest
alimac
Points +265
Eat yummy food then buy store cupboard essentials - Edit
This cafe is excellent. From the outside it looks like a shop (there is a whole foods store upstairs) but venture down stairs and you will be rewarded with a light and airy atmosphere with ample seating. All food is home made and as the cafe is run by a co-operative the staff are really into their work and happy to explain what is in each of their daily specials or the main menu. The food is freshly made and there is a great variety of drinks to go with the delicious food. They have many vegan options; online menu is at http://www.eighth-day.co.uk/cafemenu.htm
Read moreThe only bad point is that I wish they did an all day breakfast, we got there just after the end of the breakfast serving!
Pros: light and airy, good value, vegan options
Cons: no all day breakfast option
Guest
angulimala28
Points +37
Superb shop and restaurant - Edit
I just adore the Eighth Day.... it has been around for yonks and has always provided a great shop and a wonderful cafe/restaurant.... convenient for both uni's.... great ethics..... delicious food and drinks and great ideas in the shop for improving your diet and lots of ethical treats to buy for yourself.... can be a little noisy down in the cafe but a young friendly bunch of people...just tops!
Read morePros: great tasting food, great ethics, range of drinks
Cons: bit noisy, stairs down to cafe
Guest
fire horse
Points +120
Brimming with Veg*n delights - Edit
I had a lovely meal there yesterday. The staff were very friendly and they were really accomodating about me not eating garlic and onion and being vegan. The chef came out from the kitchen and pointed out the things that I could eat off the salad bar, and they made a plate of food up for me that was very tasty. I must say... their carrot and cabbage salad was devine - don't know what they put in it to make it taste so good.
Read moreI had the vegan carrot cake to follow and that was gorgeous - full of nuts and juicy sultanas.
You could spend a fortune in the shop upstairs - it's packed full of food, cosmetics, toiletries etc with plenty of vegan stuff too.
Pros: everything under one roof, friendly, relaxed atmosphere
Cons: none
Guest
starsnspikes
Points +60
Delicious food, unfriendly staff - Edit
I've been going to 8th Day for years now, and there are many aspects of it that I'm very impressed by. The shop stocks a variety of healthy vegetarian and vegan foods, magazines and a large range of beauty products. The cafe serves delicious wholesome food that tastes like something you would make at home. You know they use fresh, healthy ingredients. There are lovely vegan options that are full of flavour, and I have rarely been let down. They also have a wide range of vegan desserts, including cheesecake! This is refreshing because often places that offer vegan mains don't stretch to offering desserts.
Read moreAs a vegan, it's a place I can go into, choose from a number of appetising options, and have a full meal.
I've noticed comments on ehre about the ambience in the cafe. I personally have never minded it. It's colourful enough and they have artwork on the walls that gets changed periodically, and a library section and sofas where you can sit and read.
The food is pricey, but the portions are really generous.
The one criticism I have though is that the staff are often fairly unfriendly. There are some great people working there who are so helpful, but they are unfortunately let down by a few who come across as superior, forget the importance of smiling and come across as cold.
The sign by the counter asking people not to use mobile phones while being served so that they can properly interact with you is diluted somewhat by the lack of enthusiasm in those interactions.
Overall though I would absolutely recommend 8th Day. Anyone who visits Manchester should give it a try. It's still the only place where I am consistently truly satisfied with the food.
Pros: gorgeous food, good choice for vegans, the shop is great
Cons: slightly pricey, unfriendly staff
Guest
hack_man
Points +28740
Not for your average student - Edit
The food is fine but it comes at a price. A very professional looking place and part of the Manchester vegetarian scene for many years now, they know they are part of the establishment so can set their own rules.
Read moreWhilst the shop is extremely well-stocked it is overpriced and the cafe lacks atmosphere even though there's actually nothing that wrong with it. A good choice of main courses, salads and soups, hot and cold drinks but for a good feed you're talking over £10 including drink (unless you opt for the free water) and that's not including desert. A more student friendly attitude is required considering its' location in university heartland. Nevertheless, we always find ourselves here whenever in Manchester so it must be doing something right, but now I have discovered Mod Pop Cafe and Earth Cafe in a much cooler part of the city there is competition!
Pros: huge range of groceries, food choices
Cons: pricey, atmosphere
Guest
ebo
Points +33
Good food, but limited choice. - Edit
Eighth Day is in a great location for students in Manchester, opposite the Manchester Metropolitan University. The food there is good, but the choice is often quite limited. There's usually only 3 mains a day, if you don't count soup and pizza. The mains change daily, so if you're not too fussy, the lack of choice won't really bother you. However, what they do have is usually very tasty, healthy and filling! The pizzas are also very good, and better than you'll get in most restaurants.
Read moreBut in my opinion, the decor really lets it down. The cafe can feel quite soulless at times, with boring light wood all over the place. Trays aren't usually cleared away fast enough either, and you will often have to sit on a table with someone else's leftover still on it.
Pros: Generous portions, Always tasty, Never too hard to find a seat
Cons: Very bland decor, Limited choice, Trays and plates left on tables.
Guest
jacqui2
Points +146
Nice place for smoothies and cakes - Edit
Had lunch here on 02/06. I found it a little pricey - 2 of us had lunch for £17 - the smoothie was lovely, had a nice salad (£2/small bowl) but I chose an "oriental tofu burger" which was inedible - it was really, really salty. My friend had the 8th day pizza which had a mix of veg and was tasty. The cakes were nice. I wouldnt come back for the main meals but for cakes and smoothies I would highly recommend the place - nice atmosphere.
Read morePros: Smoothie, Helpful staff, Nice atmosphere
Cons: Disappointing main meal, Quite expensive
Guest
JohnnySensible
Points +7566
Thank you "8th Day" - Edit
For sure they have good days & bad days. On the good days "enjoy"! On a bad day smile & help out a little by clearing a table or giving words of encouragement & even bigger smiles. I am so happy that I can visit whenever I am in Manchester. I first ate at the old location in perhaps 1980 - I still remember an incredible "flap-jack" full of sunflower seeds / pumpkin seeds / linseeds & the fragrant lemon balm tea. They have "nutrified" me so many times over the years. Zillions of "cruelty-free" meals have been served. Manchester's other "oasis"!
Read moreGuest
Foxtrot
Points +73
Could be better - Edit
The cakes here used to be great, but have gone downhill. The soup is sometimes delicious, sometimes bland. Stews are good value for money, but the bakes are a rip off. Basically, this place is a bit hit and miss.
Read morePros: healthy, fresh food, lots for vegans
Cons: nothing organic, in a basement, looks like a canteen
Guest
Stevie
Points +11785
Eight day, Manchester - Edit
I've eaten here a few times and never had any problems. No problems getting tasty vegan food. Central location only a few mins walk from Oxford Road train station makes it handy for me. It could be open longer hours though.
Read morePros: Tasty vegan food offered, Location
Cons: Could be open longer
Guest
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