Caffè Nero

I like this café Nero in Deansgate. It’s not bad at all. Though if you ask me about preference, I would choose to stick by the one on Market Street.
However, this one is a nice place to be when its a sunny day because they play really soothing music here. Good music and a good cup of cappuccino, there’s nothing more that sounds more relaxing!
Other than that, its just a normal, typical Nero.

Hmmm well it’s kind of like starbucks except a bit of step down in my opinion. Bad times then it would seem; Nero’s follows all the rules the standard big coffee cafes, lots of tables and seating with a few sofas if you can snatch one. Drinks and sandwiches are your regular rip off and you can sit and enjoy with your frothy latte chipala menira el pedrino coffee thing, accompanied by a tiny Panini.
Panini means sandwiches in Italian so I’m unsure how this slipped into a cheese toastie but hay if it makes it sound better than it’s worth the extra £3…

Why mention this particular branch of Caffe Nero? Well, as I found out completely by accident, when I had quite an important meeting with a potential colleague, this outlet offers live music. And for somewhere that’s seemingly shunted to the office end of Deansgate, that’s something of an achievement and offers pleasant respite from sharp suits making spider diagrams and talking about monthly targets.
I’ve always liked Caffe Nero, I suppose as much as you can like a chain coffee house. I know people who spatter vitriol at the word ‘Starbucks’ but no one seems to feel that strongly about Nero… I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Perhaps a quiet, peaceful thing. I went through a phase when I was working at Barratt’s Shoes in Southport (peh! *spits vitriol*) where, due to a heatwave and a hazardous lack of air conditioning in that hellhole of a shop, I became addicted to the fruit boosters at the Caffe Nero next door. Still to this day if the summer sun beats down, I cannot resist a fruit booster, a delicious, pulpy sorbet of a drink chockfull of real fruit. I’ve tried the Starbucks alternative, and I’m afraid it just doesn’t cut the pineapple.
I have friends who swear by Caffe Nero caramel lattes for their naughty morning fix, and the paninis you can get in there, toasted for you and melty fresh, are good value for money. With live music to boot this Deansgate offering is cosy, comfy and cultured. If you make it to one Caffe Nero in the city, make it this one.

Very small but good. Now that the smoking ban is in operation this shop is so much better. I love the cheescakes in particular and also the lemon cake.(husband is a Chocolate cake man!)coffee tends to be stronger in this chain than at Starbucks but it is always tasty. This chain has a loyalty card where you get a free drink when you fill a card with ten stamps (one stamp per drink purchased) handy to save and to use as a treat when you ae skint! It is narrow and does get pretty full but I always feel comfortable in here. The staff are friendly and manage to somehow move the queue without making you feel rushed or pressurised.
It is so different and tons better without the smoke!