Fresh - local - ethical
Our café menu offers freshly prepared, delicious food with a local twist, sourced from the best of the region's producers and ethically traded.
Café Rylands, located in the magnificent surroundings of the John Rylands Library, has been described as one of the most pleasant cafés in Manchester.
You will find a menu that is very different to anything offered in the area: locally sourced cheeses, pies and tarts, locally baked bread, regional preserves and pickles, fresh salads with regional seafood and Goosnargh chicken, and delicious open sandwiches, as well as traditional afternoon tea. The café is fully licensed, so you can enjoy a glass of wine with your meal.
Our coffee is not only Fairtrade but Rainforest Alliance certified and organic. So you can enjoy great-tasting coffee in the comfort of knowing that you're not exploiting the growers or damaging the planet.
The café hosts regular tasting events, drawing inspiration and recipes from the historic cookery books held in the Library's collections – check the Events pages for more information.
The café is open to anyone, not just visitors to the Library. So if you are working, shopping or visiting Manchester we would be delighted to welcome you to Café Rylands.
Typical Menu
Fairtrade, organic hot beverages
A wide selection of speciality teas
Chilled soft drinks
Red and white wine
Home-made soup
Delicious salads and platters made with local produce
Open sandwiches and panninis made to order
Delicious cakes and pastries
Afternoon tea
Children's menu
