Vegan-friendly
Fast food
Juice bar
Take-out
Bakery
British
Catering
European
Co-op cafe and health food store est. since the 1970s. Mostly vegan with the exception of dairy milk offered. NOTE: Please verify if cow's milk is still offered. Open Mon-Sat 11:00-15:00.
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111 Oxford Rd, Manchester, England, M1 7DU
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Last update on 31 Mar 2025 by EatLeaves
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89 Reviews
First Review by Stevie
Geloo
Points +120
Nice Place - Edit
Very good shop with a lot of vegan goodies. restaurant is ok but nothing special.
Read morePros: lots of vegan food, fresh vegetables, loads of vitamins
Cons: food could be better
Guest
Sudokanji
Points +42
I've been going there for two decades! - Edit
I've always been a fan, and have been going since the days when it was a very small shop and cafe, rather than spread over two floors like now. It's probably the best it has ever been. I love the way you can eat downstairs, then get some shopping upstairs on the way out.
Read moreThe shop's takeaway counter always has a huge range of pasties and cakes, most of them vegan. The cafe has lovely food options - sandwiches, salads, hot meals, smoothies, and lots of cake options. Again, a lot of the options are vegan. I love 8th Day, it's a haven in the city.
Pros: Good options, lots for vegans, A really nice place
Cons: None
Guest
blinki
Points +960
From the old school - Edit
Eight Day is very much a cafe of the 80s. It has the basement canteen thing going on, only ever a few options and pretty basic food. But they do that well. It's a pleasant basement canteen and the food is always tasty. I find the vibe and nice reminder of veggie cafe days gone by. I guess it reminds the (then) one veggie cafe in my nearest city growing up so it feels homely but I can see how now everyone would feel that.
Read moreI'd usually like a bigger portion, especially because it's not that cheap but it's still reasonable value for money. The food does taste good, occasionally very tasty but never anything exciting. Having everything be one pot dishes to sit on the hot plate really limits them. The choice of vegan cakes is great because they buy in from two different bakeries.
I still go here more often than any other cafe, it's quick, friendly and dependable. I know it's a bit dull but I just still like it.
Guest
Dusty27
Points +153
Letdown - Edit
This cafe has been there forever, it used to be fantastic, great food at good prices. I think the food has gone down hill and the portions are tiny. I still eat there now and again hoping it has changed but alas it doesnt.
Read morePros: shop, its a co-op
Cons: Small portions, a bit expensive
Guest
S.H.
Points +70
Poor cafe. Good but expensive shop. - Edit
I'd been eating at 'Eighth Day' for over 15 years before it dawned on me that I'd never really enjoyed a meal there!
Read moreThat might sound a little daft but I was always so relieved to have somewhere that I knew provided Vegan options that I'd never stopped to think about the food itself.
Let's put the positive(s) first: the desserts are generally very good with a variety of Vegan choices. There are also good, tasty smoothie options.
As for the rest of the food: personally I tend to find it quite dry and boring. They really do appear to embrace the "wholefood" philosophy which unfortunately can mean lots of bland pulses etc. A non-Vegan friend of mine ate here with me fairly recently as he was genuinely keen to try Vegan food and had an open mind to doing so in the future. The experience has completely turned him off such cuisine and he now refuses point blank to try anything Vegan! Such a shame because whilst what he tried at Eighth Day was pretty representative of their food it was not typical of the tasty Vegan food we all know and love.
A little like 'The Egg' in Liverpool, Eighth Day Cafe is a very dated interpretation of a vegetarian and Vegan eaterie. Certainly not fun or uplifting.
The shop upstairs is however very good and stocks a lot of Vegan foodstuffs as well as alcoholic produce. They also have a deli counter with a good choice of pasties, wraps, desserts and so on. The shop is quite expensive but I guess most places of this type are.
My 3 Star (Cow) rating is an average for both the cafe and shop. I would rate the Cafe itself as 2 stars and the Shop as 4.
Updated from previous review on Friday April 22, 2016
Pros: Great Shop With Deli-Counter, Lots of Vegan Options, Great Desserts
Cons: Poor Cafe, Bland Food in the Cafe, Shop Quite Expensive
Guest
itsmeagain
Points +514
Nice food - Edit
Got a nice lentil curry here, we chilled for hours downstairs sipping tea with soya milk. Lovely vegan cakes,
Read moreloved the vegan snacks upstairs, and staff were keen that we had enjoyed the food, asking was all ok.
Pros: vegan foods, snacks in shop, tasty
Cons: overpriced shop, looks like a student basement flat.
Guest
Alan81
Points +93
The factory records of food - Edit
A Manchester institution, my other half has been coming here since her student days in the city in the late 80s/early 90s. We always try to come for breakfast if we stay in the city and pick something up for lunch from the counter upstairs in the shop.
Read moreThe shop is very well stocked and the cafe is not salubrious, more a cafeteria but the food is bloody good along with the music and the atmosphere. Love this place.
Guest
StevieSurf
Points +1895
A Manchester institution - Edit
Good food - mostly vegan, great cakes, we'll run cooperative. Good store on the ground floor.
Read morePros: Community feel, Good food , Positive friendly staff
Cons: Can be pricey
Guest
Bernardccc
Points +197
basement eating... - Edit
Not good for the less able. A bit canteen like...and expensive considering that...but the chick pea tagine was very good. Sausage casserole good too. both chocolate and vanilla chai cakes were very dry (if not stale).
Read morePros: downstairs to a vegetarian shop...
Cons: expensive. all options similar...stew, casserole,
Guest
RJS
Points +191
Friendly helpful staff and healthy food - Edit
Nice lunch with the kids. Haven't been for ages and was pleased to see its still serving trad healthy veggie stuff.
Read moreGuest
ayjay3
Points +104
Amazing - Edit
Good choices of basic meals all day. Been coming off and on for 10 years and doesn't change much - but it doesn't need to! Highly recommended.
Read morePros: good choice, very fresh , prices
Cons: parking
Guest
jennyc32
Points +4389
Wholesome, flavoursome food - Edit
The shop upstairs is excellent, and has an impressive deli counter (look out for the vegan croissants, they're amazing!). Downstairs you find the cafe and a large seating area. As well as a small salad section, there's a daily bake, dahl and a few chilli/curry-type dishes, with the options of rice, potatoes and green veg. It's really flavoursome food, and the portions are generous. The breakfasts are also good, and it's one of the earliest starts for vegan breakfasts in Manchester.
Read moreThere's also an extensive cake section (vegan options clearly labelled), and I've never been disappointed. The vanilla chai cake is my favourite.
It's not a fancy place, you collect your food at the counter like a canteen and clear your tray away at the end. Great value for money and a wonderful place in the vegan community.
Guest
J-Veg
Points +2065
great shop and cafe - Edit
Both the shops and the cafe downstairs are really great for veggies and vegans, either for picking up supplies, refuelling or meeting for social meet-ups. The salad bar is good for taking food away and the hot meals are really good if you have more time.
Read moreIf you are visiting Manchester then you can't ask for much more!
Guest
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 +703
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 +4221
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 +813
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 +679
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
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