Take-out
Bakery
Serves meat, vegan options available. Sourdough & viennoiserie bakery. Offers a mushroom breakfast bun, marinated tofu sandwich, breads, vegan cakes and coffees. Open Wed-Fri 08:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-16:00. Closed Mon-Tues.
7 Reviews
First Review by blinki
Ariana.W
Points +299
Delish Coffee, but very pricey! - Edit
The coffee here is the best I've had so far in Manchester! Had an oat milk flat white (served in a very small cup). I was able to take this away and sit by the canal to enjoy it in the sun.
Read moreExtremely limited vegan options in the cabinet, only one very expensive muffin. I brought it because I was feeling peckish, and although it was very yummy I couldn't justify the cost as it was so small!
I would return for the coffee on a sunny day, but would pass on the pricey muffin.
Updated from previous review on 2024-10-26
Pros: Coffee, Location
Cons: Extremely limited options in cabinet, Expensive
Guest
keep_it_tdy
Points +15406
Nice, but Not Nice Enough - Edit
Hopes were high when heading here, I had read and been told many positive things about it. And while it was a lovely venue in an outstanding location, the actual experience of being here didn’t match my expectations. The vegan options were extremely limited (though the peach crumble muffin I had was delicious) and oat chia latte I had carried decent enough flavour, but it may as well have been an iced drink as it arrived to me stone-cold.
Read moreNot nearly as good as I thought it would be and I wouldn’t be in a hurry to return.
Guest
Kristol
Points +817
Lovely spot! - Edit
Lovely spot along the canal with a nice interior. We just picked up some sourdough and focaccia which were delicious! I spotted some other vegan options on the counter like a tofu sandwich and some cakes, not sure on their vegan pastry availability. Definitely makes a lovely start to a Sunday morning.
Read morePros: Nice aesthetic , Great atmosphere
Guest
nicirl
Points +2175
In love with Pollen - Edit
Their vegan option(s?) are amazing but limited and so expensive it’s probably worth selling a kidney before coming. Still 4* because their food is amazing BUT genuinely way too overpriced so it’s a dilemma as to whether I want to eat a full meal at a restaurant or a sandwich…
Read moreGuest
Hiddenlavender
Points +308
Very nice - Edit
Really cute, very delicious and nice sitting by the canal. The sourdough bread is out of this world. The mushrooms on toast was superb.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-05-28
Guest
JoanneH.
Points +865
Most delicious vegan cake ever - Edit
Went here at the end of the day so there were not many (vegan) options left, but luckily they did have one option to answer my cravings: a raspberry coconut cake. Honestly probably the most delicious vegan cake I’ve ever had. Next time I’m visiting Manchester, I’ll 100% make sure to step by Pollen again.
Read morePros: Delicious delicious delicious
Cons: Not many options , A tad expensive
Guest
blinki
Points +955
Go for bread and a coffee. Food options are limited but good - Edit
I’d give this a 3.5 if I could. 3 feels harsh but I don’t think it deserves 4.
Read morePollen might do the best sourdough in the country. Maybe the world. It’s excellent, they’re such a good bakery. The location on the marina is also lovely. The coffee is good.
But this is happy cow so I think the review needs to be focused on vegan options. The bread is obviously vegan but I think their vegan options are lacking. It’s a small food menu to be fair but it’s one vegan breakfast item and one vegan lunch. I’m not a mushroom or kimchi fan so neither appeal to me. They used to do a different tofu sandwich that was exceptionally nice so I do trust what they do is good.
They did vegan croissants for veganuary which were brilliant. But I’ve never seen them since. Staff have said they get asked often but no they’re not doing them. They will almost always have a vegan cake option but not loads.
To me the vibe feels like they will do vegan options because they kind of have to in the location but there doesn’t seem to be any passion or drive around doing lots of vegan options or creative ones. It’s a shame given how good pollen is but that’s their choice on priorities.
I’d recommend it for a coffee and to pick up bread but I don’t bother going looking for anything else.
Guest
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