The Best First Date Bars in Leeds

Need to impress your new love interest? You’re in the right city, because Leeds is chock-a-block with first date bars.

Got a Hinge match? Check. Exchanged witty banter and impressed your new love interest? Check and double check. But wait – where are you going to head for your first date? If you’re stuck for ideas, don’t fret, as Leeds is awash with bars that are perfect for an unforgettable first date. From secret speakeasies to crazy golf madness, you’ll find them all in this list.

Outlaws Yacht Club

European-style, effortlessly cool, eclectic… that’s three ways to describe Outlaws. Whether you deem it a cafe, bar, exhibition space, or even a hairdressers – you heard that right – there’s no doubt that this is one of the coolest first date bars in Leeds.

Stop by for a lunchtime rendezvous to tuck into one of their famous Outlaws grilled cheeses and peruse their in-house vinyl selection, or save the festivities for later on in the evening with a craft beer or cocktail in hand, when they often have local and international DJs on the decks.

Outlaws Yacht Club, 38 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DY.

Flight Club

Credit: Flight Club

A bit of healthy competition on your first date can’t hurt, right? Well, Flight Club certainly doesn’t disagree! Grab your own private area, collect your darts and bombs away.

Don’t worry about counting scores, changing games or going to the bar to order more drinks – they’ve developed a state-of-the-art technological system to take care of that. That’s even more time to get to know your new beau – perfect! After your game, you can lock eyes over one of their signature sharing trophy cocktails and debrief.

Flight Club, Sovereign House, 1-2 South Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5QL.

Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen

Credit: Wisdom Makubile

We all know that Belgrave is one of the best first date bars in Leeds, so if you want to stick to something tried and tested, a trip here is a safe bet. Three floors of wonder await in the form of the canteen, the music hall and Leeds’ most spectacular roof terrace.

They have a stellar selection of drinks, with beers including ShinDigger’s Mango Unchained, and Spicy Margaritas a favourite for cocktail lovers. The food is what’ll keep you coming back, though, with Patty’s Burgers and Dough Boys slinging goodness on the ground floor for a relaxed first date bite.

Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.

Junkyard Golf Club

Two people with hats on at Junkyard Golf Club in Leeds

Choose Junkyard as your first date and you won’t have to worry about any awkwardness – quite the opposite, in fact. You and your date will be plunged into a world of neon absurdity before going head-to-head on one of their three crazy golf courses – Bozo, Gary and Pablo.

The latter is right next to the bar (one of their epic cocktails is a must) and pays homage to drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, so expect crashed narcos planes and grizzly bears as you fight – or golf – your way through the jungle.

Junkyard Golf, The Light, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 8TL.

The Domino Club

Credit: Jacob Savage

If you’re looking for one of the most special first date bars in Leeds, The Domino Club should be at the top of your list. A not-so-secret hidden gem, you and your date will head down the stairs to the back of Lord’s Barbering and enter a 1920s style speakeasy.

There’s live music every night, from jazz and blues to funk and soul, so snuggle up in a (just ask if you can’t see what you want) booth or put on your dancing shoes. Their cocktail menu is seriously premium, with timeless classics and signature mixes among a huge selection of wines and beers.

The Domino Club, 7 Grand Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PG.

Below Stairs

Classy affair you’re after? Below Stairs it is. Tucked away on South Parade, blink and you might miss it, but this is the perfect first date bar in Leeds if you want to make a first impression.

Dark walls give way to herringbone floors and industrial finishings in this swanky underground venue, and the drinks menu, full of innovative, inspired mixes, isn’t to be sniffed at, either. Take a seat in a dimly lit corner and sup on a sugary sweet Barmalade, complete with Finlandia vodka, marmalade, soda, Jack Daniel’s whiskey and yellow Chartreuse.

Below Stairs, 12 South Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5QS.

The Maven

You get the best of both worlds at The Maven, one of the city’s best kept secrets. In the early evening, it serves as the perfect intimate setting to enjoy a quiet cocktail with your date – we’re partial to a Forbidden Daiquiri or two – but come nightfall, it transforms into one of the biggest parties in Leeds.

The tables and chairs are pushed to the side to make way for a giant dance floor, where you can hold hands and twist the night away to a soundtrack of soul, jazz, hip-hop and more.

The Maven, 1 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7DH.

Headrow House

Headrow House has four floors of fun just waiting for you and your date to explore. Step through the doors and you’ll be greeted by their in-house, award-winning restaurant Ox Club, with a menu to die for.

Across the way, the beer hall will beckon you in, with brews from every corner of the world for you to share – and that’s all before you climb the stairs to their two roof terraces with their own cocktail bar. With heaps of fun to be had for every occasion, there’s no doubt this is one of the best bars for a first date in Leeds.

Headrow House, 19a The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.

Hello Music Lounge

Credit: Reece Leung

Sitting above ramen restaurant House of Fu, it’s only right to visit karaoke bar Hello Music Lounge once you’re done slurping those famous noodles. Good music and good cocktails are what they do best, but if you and your date want a bit of privacy, make sure to grab your very own booth.

Kitted out with state-of-the-art sound systems, there are thousands of songs for you to strut your stuff to, whether you’re feeling more Taylor or Beyonce. Shyness got the better of you? Don’t worry, you’ll find DJs spinning tracks in the main room, too.

Hello Music Lounge, House of Fu, 19a The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.

Friends of Ham

Artisan charcuterie, craft beers, tempting wines and cosy vibes? It can only be Friends of Ham. Tucked away down the street from Leeds Station, you’ll find a cool, open-plan bar upstairs, but if descend a floor, you’ll be met with a tranquil candlelit space for you to snuggle up in.

It’d be rude not to grab a charcuterie board to share, and their Spanish selection never fails to impress. Think manchego, mahón, chorizo ibérico, sourdough and more, which washes down perfectly with a bottle of punchy Samurai shiraz.

Friends of Ham, 4-8 New Station Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DL.

Whitelock’s

Credit: JMA Photography

Whitelock’s is a stone-cold Leeds institution, so if you’re stuck for first date ideas, a trip here will do the job. In the winter months, you can take shelter from the elements inside this beautifully atmospheric pub, complete with stained glass windows, a pressed-tin bar top and leather booths – a plate of their famous fish and chips won’t hurt, either.

Come summer, grab an ice-cold pint of Virtuous and pootle outside to a wonderful courtyard that you could spend all day long in making plans for the future.

Whitelock’s, Turk’s Head Yard, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HB.

Blind Tyger

A leather booth inside Blind Tyger, a first date bar in Leeds

Want to impress your date by whisking them away to a hidden drinking den? Well, if you find yourselves near Cross Belgrave Street, ascend the stairs to Blind Tyger and you can do just that. Snag one of their cosy dark leather booths in a dimly lit corner and get to know each other – and the cocktail menu.

You can keep it classic with a suggestive Sex on the Beach, or go signature with their God’s Own Cocktail, heady with its blend of vodka, raspberry and cranberry tea syrup and pineapple.

Blind Tyger, 5 Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.

Electric Shuffle

Credit: Electric Shuffle

If you and your date are looking to engage in a bit of healthy competition, a visit to Electric Shuffle will do just the trick. One of the best first date bars in Leeds, this grand Grade II-listed building is home to nine top-of-the-range shuffleboard tables.

They use camera tracking technology to follow the puck and automatically keep the score for you, so there’ll be no squabbling about points. Their drinks menu is something to write home about, with wine, beer and cocktails you can get delivered to your table at the push of a button.

Electric Shuffle, 123 The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5RD.

Roland’s

Amongst the hustle and bustle of Call Lane is where you’ll find Roland’s, the ultimate place to take shelter and hunker down with your date. Small yet perfectly formed, this laid-back bar has dark wooden flooring, twinkling fairy lights and a seriously stacked liquor shelf.

Hungry? Don’t fret, you can share one of Homeboy Pizza’s Detroit-style pies. After you’re done, you can even wow them by taking your drinks up to the hidden roof terrace where you’ll be in for a great night. Top tip – the Espresso Martini is tip-top.

Roland’s, 9 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BT.

Vinyl Grounds

A glass of wine being held up in front of a cabinet stocked with records and bottles.

Drinking in Leeds just got ten times cooler with the arrival of Vinyl Grounds in the city centre. Founded by Leeds locals Saroop and Jay, the coffee-meets-wine bar has taken over the old Brownhill & Co. site, turning it into a cosy spot for tipples and tunes.

Just imagine locking eyes with your lover over a gorgeous glass of wine while soulful records play in the background– that’s our idea of dreamy first date! Not drinking? Their speciality coffee roasts keep the chemistry flowing without the hangover.

Vinyl Grounds, 30 Central Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DE.

Roxy Lanes

A lit up bowling lane at Roxy Lanes in The Light

You’ve scored a date, but will you be able to score a strike at Roxy Lanes? The perfect first date bar in Leeds if you’re looking for something lively, it’s the biggest Roxy bar in Leeds and is the ultimate playground.

You and your date will never be far away from fun, whether it’s air hockey and pool or ice-free curling and shuffleboard. If you two lovebirds just want to sit back and relax, you can grab a table and watch all the live sports action on one of their huge TVs.

Roxy Lanes, The Light, 44-48 The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 8TL.

North Bar

Credit: Max Wailes

If your date is a craft beer aficionado, you’ll want to impress them by taking them to North Bar. One of the first craft beer bars in the whole country, you’ll have more than 150 beers to choose from at any one time, with a rotating tap list showcasing brewing’s very best.

Why not mix and match your way through delights such as North’s Piñata and Transmission? You’ll also find well-stocked fridges packed with craft beers from other UK and international breweries, which you can enjoy in or take away to continue the date elsewhere.

North Bar, 24 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6NU.

Water Lane Boathouse

Overlooking the River Aire at Granary Wharf, Water Lane Boathouse is one of the best first date bars in Leeds, come rain or shine. It comes from the team behind Headrow House and Belgrave, so you already know it’s one of the coolest spots in the city – think Scandi-inspired, laid-back decor.

If the sun’s shining, take a pew on one of their outside benches overlooking the water and make use of their two for £13.95 cocktail deal, available all day everyday. After all, nothing screams romance like sharing a Cherry Bomb with your date.

Water Lane Boathouse, Canal Wharf, Holbeck, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5PS.

Mojo

A visit to Mojo is a must if you want to work some – ahem – mojo on your date. You’ll hear it before you see it – the motto here is ‘Music for the People’, and with a whole playlist of banging guitar tunes, it’s easy to see why.

Their drinks menu is a whopping 120-cocktail strong. Want to make things even hotter? Opt for a flaming Zombie, heady with rum, apricot and tropical juices. Elsewhere, you can grab a fruity Strawberry Spritz complete with Beefeater strawberry gin, Fiyah crush and prosecco to lock eyes over.

Mojo, 18 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PQ.

Chance & Counters

A man and a woman playing a board game at Chance and Counters in Leeds

Beer and board games under one roof? Yes please. Ever since Chance & Counters burst onto the scene, it’s proven itself as one of the best date night spots in Leeds.

The late-night Merrion Street haunt has over 500 different games spread across two floors, and with glorious comfort and tempting tipples, you and your date will be set for the night. You can try your hand at much-loved favourites like Monopoly and Scrabble, or lesser-known gems such as Catch the Moon and Cat & Mouth.

Chance & Counters, 6-8 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PQ.

Pixel Bar

Credit: Pixel Bar

If you and your date love all things video gaming, then a trip to Pixel Bar is in order for your first date. Walk down the stairs into this console haven, slide into a booth and kick things off – will it be Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch?

The latter is perfect for a first date – zoom around a race track on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, face off on Boomerang Fu or join the ultimate showdown on Super Smash Bros. After you’ve worked up a thirst, it’s time to give their 2-4-1 gaming themed cocktails a whirl.

Pixel Bar, 25 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3AL.

The Northern Market

Craft beer, street food, frozen cocktails… is there anything that The Northern Market doesn’t do? Take the stairs down to this basement haunt and feast your eyes (and belly) on 10 taps of lager, as well as four cask beer lines.

Don’t fret, though, this isn’t just a place for beer lovers. Spirits and wines also give way to a selection of cocktails, and don’t even get us started on the food. Take your pick from four vendors, including Leeds legends The Falafel Guys and their drool-worthy wraps and salad bowls.

The Northern Market, 12 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3DW.

Sela Bar

Live music, pizza, beers and cocktails are the perfect ingredients for a first date, and Sela knows that all too well.

This effortlessly-cool subterranean hangout plays host to up-and-coming musicians almost every night of the week, has a selection of over 30 beers spanning the globe, as well as an ever-changing cocktail menu chock-full of delights. We think their pizza is one of the best Leeds has to offer – you and your date will be hard-pressed to resist one of these hand-pulled, stone-baked treats.

Sela Bar, 20 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6NU.

The Alchemist Trinity

The Alchemist Mad Hatters cocktail with smoke

If your date hasn’t taken your breath away already, perhaps the city skyline view from Alchemist will do it. An oh-so-stylish restaurant and bar sitting atop Trinity Leeds, a visit here is sure to seriously impress on your first date.

Mix and match with a few sharing plates – the ultimate bao buns are ideal for your bae – before working your way through their incredibly innovative drinks menu. They truly live up to their name, with bewitching cocktail concoctions, delivered with plenty of theatrical flare. Think smoking beverages, colour-changing spectacles and unusual serving glasses.

The Alchemist Trinity, Level 1, Trinity, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6HW.

Cover image credit: Ellie Stevenson

Ella Aldridge Writer

Ella moved to Leeds in 2018 and has spent the years since getting to know every corner of the city – its bars, restaurants, music venues and hidden gems. She joined the Leeds-List team as a writer in 2023 and covers food, drink, music and nightlife across Leeds, with a particular focus on the city’s independent bar and restaurant scene. She never passes up an opportunity to try somewhere new, be it visiting an exhibition, trying out crafting or dining out somewhere entirely off the beaten track. More from Ella Aldridge