Gone are the days of being limited to a Subway or a supermarket meal deal for your lunch sandwich whilst working in the city. A string of new gourmet sandwich shops have been popping up in the last few years, here are our top picks in the city centre.
First up on our list, we have a staple of any Manchester-based sandwich list, Fat Pat’s. If you haven’t already heard of them this Manchester institution serves fresh ten-inch milk roll subs out of its window down a small back-alley in Chinatown.
They have gone viral on social media with their Philly cheesesteak becoming somewhat of a viral sensation. Quality comes at a price though, as said sarnie will set you back £13, or £18 if you get it with fries and a drink, although there is an argument to be made that they are big enough to feed two. You can make your own mind up on that.
Fat Pat’s is located at 88 Portland Street, M1 4GX.
Next up on our list is a newer addition to the city’s sandwich scene, Rack. Opening their first shop in Stockport in 2021 Rack has seen its popularity grow at a rapid rate, and its easy to see why. They have a range of sarnies available and cater to all tastes with both hot and cold bites available.
They’re more of a treat yourself sandwich rather than an everyday with all their sandwiches costing just under £10. They currently have four locations: Stockport, Sale, the Arndale and YES in the city centre.
Check out their website for their addresses in full, but if you are in town, then their Arndale location is the best to check out, that is located in the Arndale Market.
Next up is a relatively new kid on the block, Ad Maiora. They are an Italian sandwich shop serving up giant schiacciata loaves which contain a range of premium ingredients including ‘nduja, burrata and mortadella.
They only came into being at the back end of 2022, ran by a couple who initially sold their food out of their Northern Quarter flat before moving to their current two locations in Media City and Ancoats. But already they have become a firm favourite within the Manchester sandwich scene and it’s easy to see why.
Their massive eats will set you back around a tenner with the build your own sandwich, including five toppings of your choice, priced at £10 on the dot and the ‘mystery’ option priced at £11.90 for those of you who want to roll the dice and put your full faith in the chef’s creativity.
Visit their Instagram for their full menu and to pre-order a sarnie, as well as see both of their locations. Their Ancoats store is located at 23 Radium Street, M4 6AY, along with equally lovely bakery The Flat Baker, which is located below this Italian gem.
Sticking with an Italian theme for a minute, next up we have Ciaooo Loaded Garlic Bread located again in Ancoats. This is the second store opened by the same people who created Ciaooo Neapolitan pizzeria and as the name suggests, they specialise in everything garlic bread.
Their sandwiches are no different, as they have recently begun selling garlic focaccia sandwiches which look as amazing as they sound, and we cannot wait to try them!
They also don’t break the bank, having a deal on Tuesday-Thursday and 12-3pm on Friday where you can acquire one of these wonderful bites and a soft drink for only £7.
Ciaooo is located at 93-95 Shudehill, M4 4AN.
Finally, we have one of the longest serving sandwich joints in the city, Rustica. This Northern Quarter powerhouse of the sandwich game has been feeding hungry bellies since the turn of the millennium, and their popularity is only increasing.
Based on the corner of Tib and Hilton Street this tiny takeaway always has a queue outside of it, and its easy to see why. Their sarnies are priced at around £5 and lots of them are constantly changing and updating, meaning your time waiting to order gives you ample time to browse the menu.
Be aware though, there is one queue to order and another to collect, with the former being on Hilton Street, hopefully avoiding embarrassment for any newcomers.
Rustica is located at 1 Hilton Street, M4 1LP.
For more of the best places to eat, visit out page here.