The Best Places to Eat in and Around Leeds
From swanky bistros and sleek cafés to fine-dining gems and new openings, Leeds has it all
The Cut & Craft
23 King Edward Street, Leeds LS1 6AX
0113 831 4829
thecutandcraft.co.uk/leeds
An elegant destination for steak, cocktails and more, The Cut & Craft’s restaurant in Leeds has recently undergone an expansion. The historic location now includes an elegant adjoining bar and lounge, alongside two beautifully-appointed private dining rooms (with space for up to 40 guests), giving diners even more choice when they visit. Stop by for lunches, weekend brunch, Sunday roasts, afternoon tea and indulgent dinners.
Madre
4 Wellington Place, Leeds LS1 4AP
0113 511 9111
thisismadre.co.uk
Find everything from a raw oyster bar and Mexican wings to filled tacos, homemade salsas and wood-fired options like grilled bone marrow and barbecued octopus here. The drinks list is just as impressive, with plenty of variations on a classic margarita or Paloma. Can’t choose? Opt for Madre’s Table, a hand-picked selection of favourite dishes made for sharing.
Bavette
4–6 Town Street, Horsforth LS18 4RJ
bavettebistro.com
Voted Best Local UK Restaurant 2024, this neighbourhood bistro serves a seasonally-led menu of classically driven dishes. Owners Sandy and Clément have a shared passion for food, wine and hospitality and bring plenty of French flair to this corner of Yorkshire. Open Tuesday to Sunday, the always tempting, seasonally-driven menu includes delights such as steak tartare and matchstick chips to start, and magret de canard with sauce vierge to follow.
Kerala Canteen
5 St Peter Street, Leeds LS9 8AQ
0113 873 0635
keralacanteen.com
Placed in the Best 100 Indian Restaurants UK, this award-winning spot in Leeds is a must-visit destination for South Indian tapas created using high-quality Yorkshire produce. Former MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Bobby Geetha is behind the vision here, and from canteen tapas and curry bowls to a vibrant set menu and fantastic Sunday roasts, this restaurant is an LN favourite and should not be missed.
Hern
5 Stainbeck Corner, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PG
0113 262 5809
hernrestaurant.com
A true hidden gem, Hern tends to fly under the radar on Leeds’ culinary scene but remains top of the list for those in the know. The dishes at this neighbourhood bistro are fuss free and seasonal, often changing daily, whilst the accompanying wine menu is strictly organic and biodynamic, sourced from vineyards across Europe.
The Empire Café
6 Fish Street, Leeds LS1 6DB
empirecafeleeds.co.uk
Charmingly retro, this institution in Leeds has been keeping diners happy for more than 120 years. Walk-ins are always welcome and no matter the time of day, Wednesday to Sunday, there is something everyone in the café, the bar and from the open-fire kitchen.
Azotea
Twelfth Floor, Hyatt Place, Sovereign Square, Leeds LS1 4DA
0113 529 7800
azotea.co.uk
High above the city, this rooftop bar and restaurant is a real urban oasis. Serving authentic Latin American-inspired plates and handcrafted cocktails, it’s where to kick back so whether you are soaking up the sunset over drinks, enjoying an intimate dinner or dancing to live music, this uniquely vibrant space is the place to enjoy the warmth of Latin American culture in Leeds.
Sukhothai
15 South Parade, Leeds LS1 5QS
0113 242 2795
sukhothai.co.uk
Recently refurbished, this fiercely independent Leeds restaurant has been a standard-bearer for authentic Thai cooking in Yorkshire for more than 13 years. Diners can expect a fabulous new bar area (complete with high-top seating), new booths and a moodier interior. From the new menu, expect your favourite classics as well as the likes of their show-stopping seafood platter, and Khao Soi, northern Thailand’s iconic coconut curry noodle dish.
The Swine Bistro
77a Otley Road, Headingley LS6 3PS
0113 469 2383
theswinebistro.co.uk
This fabulous neighbourhood bistro has earned great acclaim for its offering, earning it a spot in both The Good Food Guide’s Top 100 Best Local Restaurants and Squaremeal’s Top 100 Restaurants. Small batch cooking and hyper-seasonal ingredients keep the menu constantly changing and regulars coming back for more, but expect such delights as Gilthead bream with tomato, mustard and Meanwood salad, or pork collar with sauce charcuterie, artichoke hearts and spinach, plus sides including braised leeks with smoked ricotta and rhubarb chutney. Sunday lunch here is a must too, and their weekday lunch menu is always a treat.
The Highland Laddie
36–38 Cavendish Street, Leeds LS3 1LY
highlandladdie.com
Named Britain’s Best Pub less than a year after welcoming its first guests, this is a proper pub through and through with a great food offering at its heart. Brought to you by the same team behind Empire Café, the menu is built around refined old school nostalgia, with a dedicated dining room and space set aside for walk-ins. Surf and turf comes as grill-blistered sardines in a sea of pork trotter gravy, the shepherd’s pie of spiced lamb keema comes with urid dahl and potato poppadom mash, and there are freshly baked madeleines, sweetened with lobster and served warm with Yorkshire chorizo butter.
India Bistro
33–39 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD
0113 340 0236
indiabistro.co.uk
A warm and inviting spot for authentic Indian dishes, you’ll find this recent addition in the buzzy suburb of Chapel Allerton where it’s quickly becoming a favourite. There’s so much to choose from on the menu including delicious small plates, options from the grill and plenty of curries (the railway lamb is our favourite).
The Smithfield
76–78 North Street, Leeds LS2 7PN
thesmithfieldleeds.com
Brand new to Leeds, taking over The Reliance’s old site on North Street means The Smithfield has a lot to live up to. Luckily, it’s under the guidance of head chef James Donovan, and whilst there’s an eclectic, offal-led but constantly evolving menu starring ox heart and hogget, there are plenty of alternative choices too. Much of the food comes perfectly charred straight off the grill, whilst the oven-baked, thick-crusted, deep-filled pies are suitably golden, and there’s a great wine list, plus locally brewed cask and keg beers to wash it all down with.
