Didsbury chocolatiers Cocoa Cabana to open in Ancoats – and chocolate martinis are on the menu

Big news for chocolate lovers. Burton Road’s favourite chocolatiers are opening a second chocolate shop in Ancoats this month.

An initial announcement had us expecting the site would open in November 2018. But we really should know by now that things rarely happen on time in the hospitality industry.

Cocoa Cabana has been wowing south Manchester locals with its delicious home-made chocolates, extravagant cakes, beautiful afternoon teas and indulgent hot chocolates ever since it opened in Didsbury back in 2012 .

It moved to a bigger site on Burton Road to cater to demand, and now it’s moving to a second shop on Murray Street Ancoats so city dwellers can enjoy their goodies easily too.

The new shop will bring with it all of the Burton Road favourites, plus a new late-night cocktail offering with – wait for it – chocolate cocktails. Highlights include a salted caramel martini and chocolate martini, alongside a selection of classic cocktails, beers, wines and softs for evening drinks.

Throughout the day, diners can look forward to fresh coffee and a menu of sweet and a range of savoury treats from overnight oats to delicious buttermilk pancakes, light lunch favourites and homemade sharing boards.

For anyone looking for little pick-me-up, cakes, pastries and sweet treats, including the famous gooey brownies, will be available all day to eat in or take out.

But the really special chocolate offerings have to be Cocoa Cabana’s chocolate platter, which combines a selection of mallows, fruit, pretzels, brownie pieces and goodies to dip into freshly made and melted chocolate, and their renowned chocolate afternoon tea. Think sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and award-winning salted caramel, and an assortment of housemade desserts and petit four. Delicious.

They’ll be hosting chocolate-making workshops and cocktail-making classes and there’ll even be a gift shop too where you’ll be able to pick up chocolate treats and beautiful plants, candles and cards from a range of artisan suppliers.

“At our shop in Didsbury we are constantly visited by city-based customers who’ve taken the trip down to enjoy our famous sweet treats, pick up a gift or order one of our occasions cakes, so opening in the city centre was a no brainer,” says owner Sarah Gallacher, who has won both Great Taste awards and Academy of Chocolate awards for her truffles.

“With the addition of a late-night bar we can’t wait to open in the vibrant Ancoats neighbourhood and welcome our loyal customer and new faces in to join us for delicious chocolate treats and a cocktail or two.”

We can’t wait. Let’s hope her cute little sausage dog will be making an appearance too.