Bars and Cafes in Oxford Road & All Saints (Manchester)

Eighth Day Café

This famous co-operative vegetarian and vegan restaurant has been around since the seventies, and offers excellent value hot and cold food, fruit juices and light snacks throughout the day. The friendly atmosphere inside the Eighth Day Café is enhanced by lots of primary color decor, plenty of funky murals, and an endearingly ramshackle feel. The imaginative food menu changes on a regular basis and often includes hearty soups, vegetable pies and bakes, curries, bean casseroles and pasta dishes. The café has no license to serve alcohol, but you can buy a bottle from their neighboring licensed shop and bring it in if you wish.

Kro Bar

This award-winning Danish bar and restaurant has taken over what was once a derelict building, and is located opposite the University of Manchester. The two floors have distinctly different personalities: the ground floor is simply furnished, with white-washed walls, while upstairs goes for a warmer feel with rich red decor and lots of paintings and photographs. Very popular with students and visitors to the nearby Contact Theatre alike, it has earned a reputation for both the quality, quantity and value-for-money aspect of its menu. Besides main courses like the Danish meatballs and home-made fish cakes Kro Bar also offers a cosmopolitan drinks menu, with house wines and a good range of draft beers.

Sandbar

A popular hangout for the more fashionable residents of Hulme and clued-up students, Sandbar is a neat multi-room bar with muted pastel decor, a relaxed ambiance and friendly staff. Drinks include probably the best range of draught continental beers (including Gambrinus and Krombacher) in the city, along with food, mainly of the vegetarian variety (served midday until 3pm on weekdays) such as home-made soup and filled ciabattas. Wednesdays see DJs playing easy listening classics and alternate Saturdays bring sound systems with jazzy, downtempo beats. Well worth checking out as a refreshing change from the more in-your-face establishments on nearby Oxford Road.

Lass o' Gowrie

One of the first locations in the region to have its own micro-brewery, you can watch their real ale, Log 35, being made along with its big brothers, Log 38 and 42. This is an extremely popular Victorian pub with plenty of mahogany and gas lighting to give it that old-fashioned ambiance. A selection of sandwiches and bar snacks are available at lunchtimes, and the service is quick and friendly too. Due to its close proximity to BBC North there is even the possibility of bumping into a local celebrity.

Jabez Clegg

The name might be unusual and it might on first glance look like a place of worship but, it is actually a very popular pub. Placed in a very prime spot, that is almost directly opposite Manchester University, it is crowded with students. The long wooden benches, loud indie music and general buzz in this converted church ensure Jabez Clegg's popularity amongst the student population. A nominal admission fee is charged for late entrance on Friday and Saturday.

The Salutation

This is a very popular pub with Hulme locals, students and lecturers from both the nearby universities and it tends to get very busy, particularly at lunchtimes. A well-known focal point for community and social activism over recent years, the atmosphere - and clientele - is lively and unique within the city centre. Meals are served at lunchtimes and also in the early evenings during term-time. At the back of the pub there is a small beer garden and you can enjoy regular live Irish music nights during the week, which are always great fun.

Christie Bistro

To locate this charming coffee shop and restaurant, you need to go under the archway towards the university's main administration block, turn left across the quadrangle and look for the sandwich board quietly advertising its presence.Once inside this small, intimate bistro you will find top-notch food which competes very favorably with many of the city center's best known restaurants. Recent choices have included venison pâté for starters and pan-fried trout steak in a creamy leek sauce with new potatoes and salad for mains. Sweets include home-made desserts or a glass of port. Filter coffee with scones and tea cakes costing less than £1.

Scubar

This bar is very popular with the Manchester Metropolitan University and Royal Northern College of Music students. Scubar is a fun place to make friends or take a group for a relaxed fun night. There are always drinks offers available but most end before 10p, see the menu. They have cocktails, £1.50 shots, real ale, lager, beer, spirits, wine and don't forget their extremely popular range of fish bowls! The bar has a jukebox, foosball, a big screen TV for live sports, and game machines; all with comfy seating. The upstairs can be booked for parties and birthdays. You can always find someone to have a chat with at this friendly bar. -Victoria Hunt

Odder

Odder is the younger bar of Odd in the Northern Quarter. This popular new bar with its quirky interior designs has two rooms: the larger one upstairs is decorated with clocks, mirrors, comfy booths, and a separate bar. They don't sell cocktails but they do have a good range of spirits and European beers. The drinks are a little pricier than that of a tacky student bar, but then again the drinkers tend to be more mature or artsy students who want to enjoy a pint or a glass of wine and a quiet chat down stairs. With friendly bar staff and tasty light meals and snacks, this bar is well worth a visit- it could be right up your alley! -Victoria Hunt

Czech Bar

This bar is very popular with students from the nearby Royal Northern College of Music and also sports fans as there are big screen TVs for live events, a pool table, and table football. For those hot summer days, there is a beer garden. The staff is very friendly. Delicious food, from salads to burgers, is served all day. A good range of drinks from hot chocolate to cocktails (with two-for-one specials), fishbowls, and very cheap shots are available on Monday nights. They have a good range of different bottled lagers and is a fun place to chat with mates during the day and an excellent place to drink, drink, drink at night especially with their pub quiz once a week! -Victoria Hunt

The Deaf Institute

Though not healing the hearing impaired, the Deaf Institute in Manchester has a repute for deafening the wits of its patrons. A live music venue it will make you forget everything and drown you into an ocean of melody. Various bands and soloist perform at this three level venue. You can hit the restaurant if your tummy rumbles or take the bar for some intoxicating relaxation or get loud where all the action is. Check the website for a complete list of events.