Pollen Bakery ★ 4.7
Sunday Times-listed Manchester bakery by Ancoats Marina, baking sourdough loaves and laminated pastries. The cinnamon morning bun is the menu's calling card.
Worth the queue: Cinnamon morning bun
Bakery counters in Manchester worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Where to queue for bread and pastry
Companio Bakery ★ 4.6
Ancoats bakery in Manchester run by Baneta Yelda and Neil Large; cardamom buns and pizza doughs filled with cheese. Open wed-sat 08:00-14:00.
Worth the queue: Cardamom bun
Long Boi's Bakehouse ★ 4.5
Old corner-shop bakehouse on a leafy Forest Range corner in Levenshulme, founded by an ex-Pollen baker. At 40 Forest Range. Booking recommended.
Worth the queue: Cardamom morning bun
Pollen Bakery ★ 4.5
Canal-side sourdough bakery and cafe at Cotton Field Wharf in Ancoats. House sourdough, cruffins, maritozzi, brunch menu and Hasbean specialty coffee daily.
Worth the queue: Maritozzi with whipped vanilla cream
Siop Shop ★ 4.4
Welsh-influenced bakery cafe on Tib Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Pic-niq sausage rolls, bara brith, brunch plates and excellent espresso daily.
Worth the queue: Pic-niq sausage roll
Lily Vanilli at Mackie Mayor ★ 4.3
Pastry counter inside Manchester's Mackie Mayor food hall. Daily-changing tarts, slices and seasonal sweets, the lemon tart is the regulars' first order.
Worth the queue: Lemon tart