The week passed in slow-mo and I could not wait for the weekend (sorry, I am only honest). After some good and long sleep, a run around the park, and a homemade avocado on toast, I decided to leave the house a bit this weekend. Throughout the week I was also not sure whether I should go back to working in an office on a daily basis, considering the hours I woke up this week - too late for my taste. Not gonna lie, I needed it, even though I spent my evenings in front of the TV, binge-watching Grey's Anatomy and not dancing till the early morning hours on weekdays. I was just tired, ok? Apparently, it's only gonna get worse the older you get. Yay!
Anyhow, going outside was part of the plan, and once I was ready (at 3 pm, classic Saturday schedule!), I headed towards Federal Cafe. I've been here a few weeks back after my acting class when it started to pour down and I needed some shelter and for once (!) there was no queue outside. I had to take my chances and ordered food and coffee back then.
Today, I obviously came with a full belly and despite the mouthwatering dishes they were serving around me, I stuck to my coffee order. Oat latte, of course. Made with Oatly (otherwise, I would've not come back 😉(I am serious, though)).
Federal Cafe has three locations in Machester, one on Deansgate, one in the Northern Quarter, and one on Oxford Road. I have seen the queues at all three of them, but so far have only managed to ditch one at Oxford Road. Even though Deansgate is closer to where I live and I also could have walked in today, I decided my luck again at Oxford Road. The places are quite small and Oxford Road has bigger windows, which appealed more to me, especially with the sun coming and going today. The branch at Oxford Road was also their latest addition to their cafes in Machester, and from the queues and busy tables I believe it's safe to say also this shop is also a success. Funnily enough, when my boyfriend and I first visited Manchester in 2021, during lockdown, on a cold, snowy April day, we already made "contact" with Federal. We were walking around in a circle, trying to stay dry with the cold snow that was coming from nowhere and my fingers started to get all white, so a coffee was a smart solution to keep our hands warm. We wandered down St Peter's Street and when I saw the sign "coffee", I was all sold. Even if it was for just a few minutes inside, we took the chance and ordered the coffee. When we moved to Manchester, we also managed to get a takeout coffee from them and I still remember my boyfriend saying that this was one of the best coffees he's ever tasted. That's a statement from him! But it seems like, he found another place that also satisfies his coffee needs.
If you follow Federal Cafe on Instagram, you understand why people queue to get a table. The food looks delicious and it also tastes amazing. I obviously tasted the avocado on sourdough (I know, it's getting boring, but hey, I have to compare!). Also, the coffee is very tasty and the staff are all friendly and work with a smile on their faces. I definitely understand the hype around it, and whenever there are no queues, I try my luck to head inside.
Today I opted for a large oat latte, easily ordered with the QR code to the table, and as my mom called, the sun kept on shining through the big window behind me and 5pm drew closer, I ordered an Espresso Martini. Is it classy I drink on my own or is it tragic? Do you drink alone? Should I even drink alone? A cup of coffee, absolutely, but what if it involves alcohol? 🤔 Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
I, in the meantime, enjoy my drink! Happy Saturday 😊
