From animated neon signs to locally sourced yumminess, these Leeds eateries are guaranteed to impress.
The perfect restaurant doesn’t exist. Or does it? Incredible aesthetics, mouthwatering food and drink, banging tunes and vibes on point – we’ve got some contenders for you with this list. They’re all different, too. Whether you’re looking for laid-back or high-end, healthy or indulgent, we’ve got you covered. These are Leeds’ coolest restaurants.
Döner Summer
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Döner Summer is definitely one of the coolest restaurants in Leeds. For starters, it’s on Call Lane, which is the most hip and happenin’ area in the city centre. There’s the decor too. Think exposed brick, mix-and-match chairs and loads of lush, green plants. Effortless. Then, you have the menu. It’s 100% vegan junk food and it’s delicious. Epic kebabs stuffed to the brim, bountiful burgers piled high and copious fries loaded to the heavens. We’re talking fried chick’n, Korean tofu bites, stacked hummus bowls and more, all set to get your mouth watering.
Döner Summer, 10-12 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DN.
FINT
Elevated and refined, FINT is an achingly cool place to grab a bite to eat. Inspired by Scandinavia, it’s set in a modern, airy space with light wood accents and a muted palette. The menu continues the theme, with Nordic brunch, lunch and dinner dishes the order of the day. You might be tucking into things that you’ve never heard of before, like salmon smorrebrod (Swedish open sandwiches) or crumpet Benedict. It might be cool as, but it’s certainly not pretentious. The staff are down-to-earth and super friendly, always happy to help.
FINT, 73 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3BR.
White Cloth Hall
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More of a sleek all-day dining hall than a restaurant, White Cloth Hall is the ideal destination when you’re not quite sure what you fancy. The light and airy venue was first built in 1775 and today it boasts four independent kitchens, each one slinging out sensational dishes. There’s filling focaccia pizza slices from Morty’s, colourful tacos from Salma Modern Mexican, sizzling meats from Lupton’s Chop House, and East Asian plates from Rakku. With a main bar serving a selection of alcoholic drinks, as well as coffee and baked goods for more casual hangouts, even the pickiest of eaters will be satisfied here.
White Cloth Hall, 27 Crown Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DA.
Bundobust
Credit: Bundobust
The combination of Indian street food and house-brewed craft beer makes Bundobust one of the coolest eateries in Leeds. The interior (and exterior) is decorated with a jigsaw of old doors, exposed brick and long tables. It feels laid-back and relaxed. The food? Well, it’s sensational. Served in street-food style metal bowls and designed to share, it’s fresh and full of Indian flavour – crispy okra fries, layered Bundo Chaat, warming tarka dhal and an Indian take on the classic burger. Not sure what to get? Go for one of the combos with a friend (or five).
Bundobust, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ.
Ox Club
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Ox Club is a grill restaurant tucked away in Headrow House – a building full of cool spaces – and this one doesn’t disappoint. The interior has a casual industrial vibe, with steel beams, painted brick and wooden furniture. The menu? It’s full of deliciously smoky flavours, thanks to a wood-fired grill imported all the way from the USA. Their small plates and mains change with the seasons and the local produce on offer. Think red leg partridge with chorizo and cannellini beans, and cured trout served with beetroot, horseradish and wheaten bread. Don’t skip on the burnt basque cheesecake.
Ox Club, 19a The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.
Eat Your Greens
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With its wonderful organic focus, Eat Your Greens is one of the coolest places to eat in Leeds. In a quaint corner on the edge of the city centre, they take locally-sourced seasonal produce and turn it into all manner of tasty European-inspired dishes. Think slow-braised venison ragu with fresh pappardelle pasta, and mushroom & miso risotto, served with pangrattato and salsa verde. The desserts are not to be sniffed at either, including a vegan pecan pie topped with cardamom custard. The natural wine selection and greengrocers on the side keeps the coolness rising and rising.
Eat Your Greens, 42 New York Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DY.
The Swine Bistro
A new home for the former The Swine That Dines, The Swine Bistro in Headingley is a seriously cool restaurant – it’s set in an unassuming space with a homely feel, but the food that makes its way to your plate is nothing short of incredible. They use seasonal produce, so their offering changes regularly, and they love using an unusual cut of meat. On the menu, you’ve got a petite selection of deliciously refined options – think beef brisket with red wine and olives, or Jerusalem atichoke & ricotta pithivier with a porcini sauce. The chocolate, whiskey & prune torte is a must try!
The Swine Bistro, 77a Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3PS.
Chef Jono at V&V
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If being served by a Masterchef: The Professionals finalist is your idea of cool, then you have to try the tasting menu from Chef Jono at V&V. This is fine dining at its most creative – think seasonal, local produce cooked with passion and presented with elegance. The Signature Tasting Menu features the likes of Yorkshire parkin with chilli, tomato and goats cheese, and an innovative take on a fish pie, while the vegan version makes plants sing on your tongue with dishes like beetroot tartare with apple, grape and wasabi. You can even chat with the chef himself about the inspiration behind his dishes.
Chef Jono at V & V, 68 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6NU.
House of Fu
House of Fu has to be one of the coolest restaurants in Leeds. Aesthetically, it mixes Tokyo and LA vibes with decor and art sourced by Leeds creatives (you’ll recognise the hand-painted murals as Bobbi Rae from the Bearcubs collective). The neon signs, bespoke tableware and terrazzo planters are all locally sourced too. The food? Well, it’s banging. Slurp your way through the delicious ramen, gobble up the gyoza (they have weekly specials) and scoff the healthy Super Bowls – you won’t regret a single bite. Afterwards, sing your heart out at the karaoke upstairs!
House of Fu, 15-19 The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.
Tattu
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Tattu is the perfect place for date night. The interior has real wow-factor – a cherry blossom tree fills the ceiling, illuminated with purple light, and intricate lines inspired by modern tattoo art adorn the walls. The menu is equally thoughtful. It’s a selection of traditional Chinese dishes, brought up to date with a modern twist. Spring rolls stuffed with aromatic duck and cherry hoisin, white miso salmon with pickled ginger and cucumber salad, and caramel soy aged steak are ready and waiting to be snaffled. The inventive cocktails are as tasty as they are pretty too.
Tattu, 29 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5PS.
The Empire Cafe
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Hidden away down a side street is where you’ll find one of the coolest places to eat in Leeds – The Empire Cafe. An eatery that marries old school values with new wave cookery, it’s rich with 180 years of history – and in 2022, it was reclaimed with the original signage reinstated. But let’s not forget about the food, especially their chicken which spins all day long on a ‘wall of flame’ rotisserie. Choose your lather – the Gochujang and ginger is delicious – and tuck in with a side of chicken schmaltz potatoes. Their lunch menu changes daily, but has featured delights like pickled apple and tahini remoulade.
The Empire Cafe, 6 Fish Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DB.
Blue Pavilion
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Merrion Centre’s Blue Pavilion is a spectacle of a restaurant, where culinary artistry and cultural heritage unite to create an unforgettable experience. Walk down the blue tunnel into the dining room, complete with a marble bar, cherry blossom and lanterns. The main attraction, though, is the food – get ready to journey into East Asia on this culinary experience. Start with wagyu beef dumplings or crispy salt & pepper squid, but make sure to follow with the magnificent Peking duck and pancakes (just remember to pre-order it at least one day in advance). Other highlights include Japanese Shioyaki Wagyu and empire fried rice with mushrooms, crab meat and dried scallops – is your mouth watering yet?
Blue Pavilion, 90 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8LW.
Stuzzi
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Looking for a cool Italian restaurant in Leeds? Look no further than Stuzzi. They do Italian-style small plates expertly, with an ever-changing menu inspired by local and specially imported ingredients. You can tuck into their delicious fare in their striking light, continental interior, under a beautifully arched ceiling – but what will you go for? Their pasta is made-in-house, the arancini delightfully crispy, but their homemade sourdough crostini takes the biscuit. The slow-braised beef cheek is served in a rich red wine & truffle jus with caramelised parsnip puree, before being topped with parsnip crisps.
Stuzzi, Grand Arcade, 7 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PQ.
Wen’s
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Wen’s may not be the most modern of restaurants, but that doesn’t mean it’s not one of the coolest places to eat in Leeds. It’s a family-run restaurant on the outskirts of the city centre, serving up home-cooked Chinese plates in an unassuming, cosy space that feels more like you’re dining at someone’s house. This is a menu where kung po chicken meets slow-cooked beef brisket in curry sauce, with sweet and spicy braised aubergine sitting alongside crispy deep-fried sea bass with sweet vinegar sauce. One item’s a non-negotiable, though, and that’s the homemade dumplings by Mrs Wen herself.
Wen’s Restaurant, 72-74 North Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7PN.
Northern Market
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Looking for a cool Leeds restaurant with a twist? A trip to Northern Market is in order. This is a subterranean beer hall and food market with a real old-school feel – just look to the hand-painted signs across the inside, with gilded golden signs on the windows. As well as 10 taps of beer, and a selection of wines, spirits and frozen cocktails, there’s four food stalls just begging to be tried, with headliners The Falafel Guys bringing glorious Middle Eastern food. But that’s not all – head to Big Buns for smash burgers or Six Slice for pizza goodness, with plenty of veggie and vegan options keeping everyone happy.
The Northern Market, 12 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3ED.
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