Flat Whites & Freelancing at Ezra & Gil - My Favourite Third Place in Manchester

Ezra & Gil: A Mancunian Love Story My love affair with Ezra & Gil, an undisputed hero of Manchester’s coffee scene, started in 2018 when I first relocated to the city. It didn’t take me long to discover Ezra & Gil: a neighbourhood café that has cemented itself as a thriving hub for Manchester’s community, creatives, remote workers and coffee aficionados. [Image credit: Manchester Finest] Each morning on my commute through the Northern Quarter, I’d pass by Ezra & Gil, stealing glances through the slightly ajar door. The smell of freshly ground coffee would pleasantly waft in my direction, tinged with the sweet smell of warm pastries, as I caught a brief glimpse at the industrial decor within: high ceilings, steel beams and onyx-grey walls that exuded a moody yet inviting atmosphere. But what really captured my attention was the people inside: the freelancers (or who I assumed were freelancers) tapping away on their laptops, deep in concentration, perfectly at home in this cosy social space. I’d look at them with envy and wonder: Would I ever be afforded that freedom? To work for myself, to set my own schedule, to spend my days in a place like this? Several years later, when I finally took the plunge and became a freelance copywriter & brand strategist, my first order of business was a no-brainer: grab my laptop and head straight to Ezra & Gil. [Image credit: Ezra & Gil via Facebook] About Ezra & Gil: Where It All Began Ezra (meaning ‘helper’) & Gil (meaning ‘happiness’) was founded back in 2014 with a vision of creating a neighbourhood hang out, a place with a strong social space. Since their opening eleven years ago, it’s safe to say they’ve achieved their vision and then some. The first Ezra & Gil opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, followed by a second Manchester venue on Peter Street in 2021 and a third in Liverpool in As well as serving a delicious breakfast & lunch menu, wine & cocktails – including my favourite, the classic mojito – Ezra & Gil also sel...