It’s time to play hide and seek with these cool cocktail spots.
What’s better than a delicious, expertly-made cocktail? A delicious, expertly-made cocktail at a place not everyone knows about, that’s what! Hidden away from the passing public, there are a handful of bars where the Harvey Wallbangers are hush-hush, the French 75s are furtive and the Manhattans are served with a garnish of mystery. So which will it be first? Grab your mates and lead them on a journey of discovery with added drinks…
Blind Tyger
With its dark leather seating, flock wallpaper and retro styling, Blind Tyger has the unmistakable vibe of a private prohibition-era club to which just you and a select few friends are invited. Ascend the staircase to this sanctuary of sweet drinks, where the talented mixologists will conjure up cocktail alchemy. Order up God’s Own Cocktail with its hit of rhubarb, or go for a timeless classic like a Negroni. Spirits are premium, the atmosphere understated – it’s a gem.
Blind Tyger, 5A Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.
The Maven

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The Maven hides its light under a bushel by having an unmarked doorway – you have to know it’s there to climb the stairway to cocktail heaven. Once inside, you’ll find a charming set of rooms with a stylish Victorian feel to them. You might feel like you’ve not only stepped inside somewhere secret, but back in time too. The cocktails are reliably brilliant and creative – try the fragrant Aviation, heady with gin, Crème de Violette and Maraschino.
The Maven, 1-3 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7DH.
The Domino Club

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Imagine a vintage New York speakeasy in the prohibition era. Actually, scrub that, you don’t need to imagine it – just go to The Domino Club. It’s at the bottom of a staircase hidden behind a door in Lord’s Barbering, and it’s one of the best places you can drink in Leeds. Slide into a booth to a soundtrack of live jazz and prepare for the classics in more ways than one, as well as a few twists – will it be the Espresso Martini or a Pisco Sour with Champagne syrup and house bitters?
The Domino Club, Grand Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PG.
Below Stairs

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Another downstairs drinking hole, Below Stairs oozes cool and calm, with cosy seating and plenty of little areas to squirrel yourself and your guests away in. From your slightly sunken position you can watch the world go by through the windows as you enjoy cocktails carefully made to tell a story – that’s just a bonus, because they taste amazing too. The Turtle Dove is a must-try, with Herradura Plata tequila bolstered by vanilla and pink grapefruit soda.
Below Stairs, 12 South Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5AL.
Tiki Hideaway

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It’s got hideaway in the name, so you know that this place isn’t screaming about itself from the rooftops. It’s up above the ever-buzzing Call Lane Social and brings a much-needed slice of 1950s Polynesian-style fun to Leeds. Tiki Hideaway isn’t so shy with the liquor, however, setting Zombie cocktails on fire all night long. Try the distinctly tropical double rum hit of The Beachcomber to be transported from your secret drinking spot to sun-kissed faraway shores.
The Tiki Hideaway, Call Lane Social, 38 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DT.
Cover image credit: Saltwick Media