Rise

So I spent the day in Wilmslow (15mins on train from Manchester Piccadilly) thinking I’d have a change of scene while I worked on a new project and would try and pop a load of new biz’s on the Unilocal map at the same time. Whether I’m missing a few side streets I’m not too sure but most of the town centre seems to be filled with identikit chains and all the usual brands you’d get on any high street.
Venturing a little further off the main drag, I spotted Rise with their board saying «best coffee in Wilmslow» so thought why not pop in and see if they’re on the money with this!
A nice little coffee shop with 2 friendly guys working, they seem to do a number of food options with me seeing everything from soups, sandwiches and beans on toast on other patrons plates around me.
I ordered my customary Flat White and having picked up on the ‘Aussie’ voice of the barista I thought I was on to a winner. What arrived for £2.50 was a bowl of coffee — pretty much a latte which although wasn’t too bad was about 4 times too big to be a flat white. They may serve the best coffee in Wilmslow… but all I could taste was the milk. When leaving urban centres there always does seem to be a drop in levels of knowledge or a bastardisation of a recipe to suit local needs and unfortunately the flat white seems to suffer from this… I should have gone for an espresso or macchiato instead…
A nice little place, pop in if you’re after a chilled out place for lunch.

They are independent which always scores points in my book. They have great pastries and most importantly the coffee is good. Another plus is the free wifi. The atmosphere is relaxed and it has a central location. Others rated the service down but I found the staff to be friendly and attentive.

For me, rise works because its not a chain! You can come here to relax on a saturday morning, you dont feel rushed, the coffee is superb and nice food too — always an excellent cake on display. Nice atmosphere, and on a sunny day a good place to get a coffee to go, and for a walk.

Just been into rise — my first visit since it stopped being best barista and what a change! Service loads better than the bad days, very good coffee and excellent moist carrot cake. I will be making more regular trips down there to try the fresh muffins (no plastic wrapped stuff here!) or maybe some posh chesse on toast. Good independent feel to the place — definately worth a go.

Rise, formally known as ‘Best Barista’.
I go pretty much on average every other week. The paninis are really good as are the smoothies. But they loose two points because the service is awful.
I can’t believe so many people work there yet no one has a clue who ordered what or what each other are supposed to be doing, and I’m saying this over months, if not years of going in this place.
They really should get less stars but I just can’t do it. The food is tasty, organic and local, plus it is privately owned so we gotta help ‘em out haven’t we.
Food: ⁵⁄₅
Service: ²⁄₅

I love Rise not only because its all about supporting your local independent retailer, but because the freshness and quality of the food and drink is truly outstanding! This really is a hidden gem!
Let’s start with the coffee… its made to perfection, the coffee is strong, with a long lasting aftertaste, topped with milk which is steamed slowly (it takes maybe ¾ minutes) to make a soft silky foam not a bubble bath. Other coffee is hard to drink after the Rise experience!
As always though, I am always tempted to get a sandwich and a slice of cake too, and they are equally as good. The sandwiches are wonderfully fresh, filled with gorgeous quality ingredients (there’s no skimping here)…loving their welsh rarebit right now, and the cakes, well they are just melt in the mouth perfection!