Six places to grab a bite when you’re Christmas shopping at Manchester Arndale 

As Christmas shopping season starts to intensify, don’t pretend you’re not going to need some sustenance to carry you through. You’re going to need fuel to keep you going – and we don’t mean liquid refreshment.

So we’ve put together a list of places to pick up a quick bite when you’re doing your Christmas shopping at Manchester Arndale.

No mean feat, considering the food offering is getting bigger and better all the time.

On the Cross Street side there’s the food court which is home to fast food big boys like KFC, McDonalds, Chopstix, Taco Bell and Waffle Island, whilst on the High Street side there’s the Arndale Market and more big fast food names like Five Guys and Nandos.

But that’s not all – not by a long shot. Stalls like Bobo Tea and My Cookie Dough have popped up on the walkways, offering a convenient spot to grab a quick bite mid-shop.

And The Ancoats General Store team has taken over the middle of Halle Place as Kiosk, near Manchester brand Archie’s who’ve opened yet another outlet – this time in the Arndale’s new dining quarter.

Read on to find the right place for you to refuel.

Bobo Tea

Bubble tea has become quite the phenomenon in Manchester, a trend Arndale fixtures Bobo Tea were quick to leap on when they arrived.

Creamy milk teas come with sweet tapioca pearls, whilst fruity iced jasmine teas and fruit slushies come with recommended fruity jellies or juice bubbles.

They’re also making delicious crispy bubble-shaped waffles, which you can load up with a range of toppings. These range from Nutella and Kinder chocolate to matcha soft serve with fresh strawberries and an Oreo crumb.

A plain bubble waffle with three toppings, ice cream and sauce will set you back just £2.50 – or £3.50 if you want to add frozen yoghurt or soft serve.

My Cookie Dough

Sugary pick-me-ups don’t get much sweeter than My Cookie Dough, which can be found on the upper level by Currys PC World.

Soft-baked cookie dough comes topped with fresh ice cream, with base flavours like original milk chocolate, fudge and honeycomb or salted caramel brownie starting at £4.25.

Toppings range from Nutella and peanut butter to crushed Oreos, cream cheese frosting and chocolate sauce.

True cookie dough fans can opt for a custom stack priced at £7.25. These feature layers of cookie dough with double ice cream, and more toppings like crushed Oreos, dulce de leche and Nutella.

Kiosk

Locally roasted coffee, pastries and cakes are the order of the day at Kiosk – the new Manchester Arndale cafe run by the team behind Manchester’s coolest corner shop, Ancoats General Store.

For early-risers, seasonal organic porridge (£2.50) comes in three flavours – mince pie (yes, really), apple and cinnamon or lemon crunch –  whilst lunchtime options include locally made sandwiches from street food favourites The Otto Men, and weekly sweet treat drop-offs from local suppliers Lush Brownies, Silver Apples Bakery and Drizzle City Bakes.

But it’s not just a coffee shop – they also serve alcoholic drinks including Mancunion lager, Manchester gin and Salford rum until 7pm every day.

Archie’s

Archie’s fans looking for a quick bite will not be disappointed at the Arndale.

The fast food chain has long established itself as a local alternative to McDonalds and Burger King – with the added bonus that every ingredient on site is prepared freshly that day.

Their burgers are the stuff of legend as are their shakes, with many named after the celebrities who designed them. Kevin Hart, Rita Ora, Nas and Amir Khan have all had a crack, but if none of those catch your eye you can always build one more to your taste yourself.

Rollers

Rollers has been a fixture in the Manchester Arndale for as long as we can remember. They bake fresh pizza dough and sub rolls every day, and it’s up to you to choose your toppings.

The breakfast deal here is mega, costing just £2.95 for a freshly baked roll, egg, sausage, rashers of bacon and any drink before 11.30am.

For lunch, it steps up a bit with a pizza roll or chips and drink costing £5.75. Toppings include four types of chicken (garlic, piri piri, jalfrezi and roasted), tomato, cucumber, onion, mushroom, sweetcorn, olives, mixed peppers, jalapeno, beef, tuna, pepperoni and turkey ham.

Gino D’Acampo My Coffee & Deli Bar

Tucked away at the front of Next opposite The Printworks, Gino’s deli is the This Morning star’s third concession in the city. A quick trip on a Tuesday lunchtime vouches for its popularity.

Choices range from dishes of cannelloni and lasagne (£5.95) to plump slices of pizza (£3.95), and spianata sandwiches (£4.85). Hearty salads, meanwhile, come in around £6.25.

A bakery offers treats to enjoy with coffee, with choices like croissants, muffins, and even a naughty-sounding chocolate fudge cake. Not the most traditional Italian fare, perhaps, but still delicious with a brew we’re sure.