Insiders' Guide To Leeds
@HERN_RESTAURANT
EAT
The Swine that Dines
This small neighbourhood restaurant in central Leeds is all about traditional dishes made with seasonal ingredients. Chef Stu Myers’s cooking is top notch, while his wife Jo will look after you and ensure you leave well fed. It’s the food we always want to eat – and the team are constantly trying new things, like Southern fried chicken nights. There’s also a great value Saturday lunch menu with three courses coming in at £22.50.
Visit SwineThatDines.co.uk
Empire Café
On a back street in the city centre, Empire Café has its own chicken rotisserie and cooks everything on an open fire. Expect big, delicious dishes alongside an interesting small plates menu made up of Thai chilli prawns, venison tartare and a celeriac pinwheel. There’s also a great wine and cocktail list.
Visit EmpireCafeLeeds.co.uk
Hern
Hern is a small and cosy neighbourhood restaurant in Chapel Allerton that serves seasonal dishes made with great cooking techniques. The set menu changes weekly and is always delicious. Dinner could include asparagus with blood orange gremolata, followed by turbot with tomatoes and marinated peppers, and a lemon sorbet with crème fraîcheand olive oil. It also has our favourite wine list in the city.
Visit HernRestaurant.com
Ox Club
A trip to Leeds should always include a visit to Headrow House, a multi-use venue housed within a former textile mill. Here, you’ll find Ox Club, a great steak restaurant. The team champion local and regional producers in and around Yorkshire, with a rotating menu of dishes. It does a cracking Sunday roast, too.
Visit OxClub.co.uk
Eat Your Greens
Vegetarians should head to Eat Your Greens which has a predominantly veggie/vegan menu of sharing dishes. There’s a great drink list – with inventive cocktails, local beers and natural wines – and the restaurant turns into a lively bar later in the evening with live DJs.
Visit EatYourGreensLeeds.co.uk
Bavette
Bavette is our new bistro in Horsforth. Focusing on classic French bistro food and great seasonal produce, it’s all about enjoying simple, tasty food in a relaxed environment. We were inspired by lots of the great places we’ve been to or had the pleasure of working in over the past 15 years (including Racine, Terroirs, and The Culpeper for Sandy; and The Dairy and Claridge’s Fera for Clément). It’s our love letter to these places.
Visit BavetteBistro.com
DRINK
Tabula Rasa Bar
Tabula Rasa Bar was crowned 16th place in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars. The drinks really are amazing, though you’ll need to book ahead if you want to grab a table. It focuses on high-quality spirits and ingredients sourced from Leeds’ Kirkgate Market.
Follow @TabulaRasa_Bar
The Melbourne
This is a cool neighbourhood bar/pub in north Leeds. It’s our local so we’re loyal visitors. The beer always tastes great, and Sam, the owner, is a great guy to have a pint with. You’ll find some nice wines, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches, on the menu.
Follow @MelbourneLeeds
Bottle Chop
If you’re after natural wines, head to Bottle Chop in Headingley. The deli stocks a range of cured meats, cheeses and cupboard staples, before serving wine in the evening. The team host regular tastings, music events and summer BBQs.
Visit BottleChop.co.uk
The Domino Club
We love this jazz club and speakeasy in the city centre. There’s always a fun atmosphere and it has live music on Wednesday to Sunday nights. Drinks are delicious and reasonably priced, and there’s an excellent whisky list featuring classics and world whiskies.
Visit TheDomino.co.uk
SHOP
Wayward Wines
This small wine bar and shop imports its wines from small European producers. You’ll also find craft beer and cider, plus quality extra virgin olive oil. The team regularly invites winemakers to the store for tastings and events.
Visit WayWardwines.co.uk
Kirkgate Market
This huge indoor market in the city centre has been open for over 150 years. It’s home to great food shops (veg, fish, meat, bakeries, coffee shops) as well as plenty of street food vendors. They’ve got the balance spot on for keeping it relevant without turning its back on the history.
George & Joseph
George & Joseph is a fantastic independent cheese shop. It’s in the same area as Hern and Wayward, so worth visiting. You can buy a ploughman’s bag filled with bread, cheese, ham, olives, pork pies and a couple of craft beers.
Visit GeorgeandJoseph.co.uk
City Centre Arcades
Head to the city centre, home to some beautiful arcades filled with a mix of luxury shops and small independent stores. Don’t miss Thornton’s (one of the oldest) and the Victoria Quarter where you’ll find the designer brands.
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SLEEP
The Bells
Leeds isn’t known for its hotels, but The Bells is a nice collection of serviced apartments. Just a ten-minute walk from the station, all the amenities are modern, and there are good self-catering facilities for longer stays. A solid choice for a weekend.
Visit TheBellsLeeds.com
Arts Hostel
For an affordable staycation, this hotel has modern rooms filled with contemporary artwork. The hostel is a social enterprise by East Street Arts, so all profits are reinvested into the community. There’s a real community feel, and you can book private rooms if you don’t fancy sharing.
Visit ArtHostel.org.uk
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VISIT
Roundhay Park
Roundhay is Europe’s biggest inner-city park. It’s beautiful and comprises 700 acres of parkland with lakes, woodland and formal gardens. If has a few playgrounds, too, if you’re with kids, as well as tennis courts.
Royal Armouries Museum
This is the national museum of arms and armour, home to an impressive collection. From Japanese weapons to Henry VIII’s armour, there’s a lot to see.
Visit RoyalArmouries.org
First Direct Arena
There’s always something going on here, so check it out when you’re next in the city. Some big-name artists have played here over the years, including Elton John, Stormzy and Stereophonics.
Visit FirstDirectArena.com
Visit BavetteBistro.com and follow the team on Instagram @BavetteBistro
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