The Ultimate Guide to Going Out on Greek Street & Its Neighbours

Greek Street is at the top of its game right now, with a host of bars and restaurants ready to make your next night out one you’ll never forget.

It doesn’t matter if it’s your first night out in Leeds or your hundredth, Greek Street never disappoints. Over the past few years, it’s seen its reputation grow as a series of eclectic new openings complement the rich offering of trusty old favourites. And it doesn’t stop on Greek Street – there are plenty of amazing bars and restaurants just around the corner to help extend your revelry just that little bit longer.

Greek Street

The Greek Street strip is always a buzzing nightlife spot in the heart of Leeds city centre – check out where you can go for tasty eats and delicious drinks on your next visit.

Bar Soba

Delectable Asian eats by day, DJ-led revelry by night, Bar Soba is one of the most popular bars on Greek Street. Graffiti and neon lights adorn the walls around this Leeds bar, from which they serve up all kinds of flamboyant cocktails – their Drumstick Caipirovska is iconic. The food is just as much of a pull in their upstairs restaurant, with a menu of pan-Asian delights. From Japanese katsu to Malaysian nasi goreng, you can go on a country-hopping culinary adventure – just don’t forget about their epic bottomless brunch.

Bar Soba, 6 Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5RW.

The Lost & Found

If you’re looking for the perfect combination of drinking and dining on your next night out in Leeds, this Victorian-style drinking den is a must-visit. Themed around the fictional botanist Virginia K. Stevenson, The Lost & Found on Greek Street is full of leafy plants, patterned walls and fancy furniture. It’s the perfect place to sup unusual, creative cocktails like The Tangled Teapot, a gin-ful illusion. Hungry? Pasta and burgers sit alongside hand-stretched pizzas, but they come into their own for bottomless brunch and afternoon tea.

The Lost & Found, 12 Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5PT.

Neighbourhood

The hype train has designated Neighbourhood as first class and it’s not wrong. This is a buzzing New York-inspired bar where the wacky meets the boujee – we’re talking Insta-worthy cocktails, sparklers in your champagne and DJs playing bangers into the early hours. May we recommend the 52nd Street – a fruity treat with strawberry foam and a sweet cherry gummy. For all its fun and frivolity, Neighbourhood is a chilled place to eat during the day – brunch is brill, but you can also tuck into dishes like popcorn chicken, Szechuan seabass and tomahawk steak.

Neighbourhood, 5 Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5RW.

Gusto

One of the best restaurants on Greek Street, Gusto’s Italian fare is among the tastiest in Leeds. You’ve got a tantalising menu of morsels to pore over – will you go for their three-meat lasagne, a pepperoni-topped Salsiccia pizza or the signature honey-glazed duck and balsamic? Either way, you’re bound to find a menu so full of tasty dishes, you’ll be planning repeat visits. Topped off with a hand-picked wine list, you can enjoy it all in a sumptuous restaurant that’s all fairy lights, indoor trees and stylish fixtures and fittings.

Gusto, 10 Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5RU.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist’s second Leeds venue is one of Greek Street’s finest and the name gives a lot away when it comes to the food and drink – expect the unexpected. Why? Because they take a playful, almost scientific approach to their menus. Cocktails are full of molecular magic, like their effervescent Foam Alone or the luminous Piña Colava Lamp. The internationally-influenced food menu is equally tempting, whether you plump for the French-dip steak sandwich or the tempura prawn lollipops.

The Alchemist, Yorkshire House, Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5SH.

Manahatta

Good for all seasons and all times of day, Manahatta is one of the more versatile spots on Greek Street. Leather booths, neon lights and a soundtrack of cool tunes make this New York-inspired joint a joy whether you’re in for a leisurely lunch or evening drinks. Craft and global beers aplenty adorn the bar, but their cocktails steal the show, especially their trademark gin-based Manahatta Spritz. Hungry? You can line your stomach with anything from pancakes for brunch to crispy chicken bao buns later in the day.

Manahatta, Minerva House, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5PS.

Dakota & Salon Privé

If you’re looking for a touch of elegance on your next night out on Greek Street, you’ll find it at Dakota. This isn’t just one of the finest hotels in Leeds, it’s also a spectacular grill restaurant and a duo of luxurious bars. First, the food – crispy oyster, slow cooked pork belly, Wagyu Ribeye, you get local provenance sprinkled with culinary magic. As for the tipples, the Dakota Bar serves signature cocktails like the long, crisp Watermelon Sugar High with lime, while the secret Salon Privé bar is a gin nirvana with a heated terrace and live jazz.

Dakota & Salon Privé, 8 Russell Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5RN.

Be At One

Be At One is a cocktail drinker’s paradise. The menu is huge – with over 100 drinks broken down by the leading spirit. Gin lovers can enjoy it Tanqueray whipped up into a Clover Club with vermouth, raspberry, cranberry and egg white, while rum fans can Jump Ship with an epic mix of Sailor Jerry spiced rum, overproof rum, mixed berries, almond and a twist of lime. And if they don’t float your boat, you can bet something else will because if there’s one thing Be At One has going for it, it’s choice.

Be At One, 5-7 Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 5RW.

Nearby

Just yards away from Greek Street, you’ll find an abundance of incredible bars and restaurants just waiting for you to make the short trip over.

The Decanter

Dark walls and mahogany furnishings make The Decanter a feast for the eyes, but it’s got just as much substance as it does style. It’s one of the few independents in this part of town, which has given it the flexibility to evolve over the years. Originally a wine bar, it still holds a fine reputation for its carefully curated, often hard-to-find bottles of vino, but it’s just as good if you fancy local craft beers or creative cocktails. Fancy a bite to eat? They have a hefty menu of delectable cheese and charcuterie for you to pair with your tipples.

The Decanter, 17 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5JQ.

Thewlis

The Decanter’s sister bar sits just next door and Thewlis is paradise for cocktail lovers. Take a seat in one of their luxurious booths below the muted lighting, panelled walls and imposing back bar full of quality spirits, before you set about an always impressive menu. They focus on doing the classics spectacularly, from the ever-popular Espresso Martini to the oft-maligned Daiquiri – it also means it’s a menu perfect for the uninitiated. You don’t have to worry about going hungry either, since they serve a menu of pizza too.

Thewlis, 18 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5JA.

The Head of Steam

First things first, The Head of Steam is the best bar near Greek Street for craft beer lovers. They have an absolutely ginormous selection, from cask corkers made in Leeds to international keg quaffage and bottled Belgian brilliance, so grab a favourite and try something new. You can then make your way to one of the many comfy booths or make the most of their playfulness. They have top quality shuffleboard tables you can show off on for free, alongside pinball and arcade machines. Winner, winner, there’s also burgers for dinner.

The Head of Steam, 6-7 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5HN.

Indian Tiffin Room

Vindaloos have been vanquished, tikkas have been trounced, because there’s nothing bog standard about Indian Tiffin Room’s delights. Their menu offers authentic street food classics inspired by all 26 states, which means there’s an abundance of variety and plenty of things you won’t find anywhere else in Leeds. From the Keralan fish curry to the Rajastani Laal Maas, it’s culinary globetrotting of the tastiest order, but if you want to try multiple dishes at once, dive into one of their tiffins. They’re so good, they named the place after them.


Indian Tiffin Room, 31-32 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5JD.

El Gato Negro

This is tapas, but not as you’ve always known it. Chef Simon Shaw likes to add a touch of pizzazz to the usual tapas fare, creating a blissful marriage between Spanish and British cuisine. Order up the Mini Catalan chorizo with Aspall cider, pair it with the salt cod croquetas and indulge with the harissa, roasted butternut squash. Wine is a big thing here too, with hand-picked bottles from across Spain, but you won’t struggle for beer or cocktails. And you get to enjoy it all in a two-floor bank-turned-restaurant with a grand, rustic feel.

El Gato Negro, 35 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5JL.

Gaucho

Steak, steak and just a little bit more steak. If that’s your idea of stomach-lining heaven before pootling over to Greek Street for a night out, then get to Gaucho. Chandeliers, cowhide upholstery and monochrome furnishings set the vibe for the meal to come. Meats are sourced from Argentinian ranches before they present you with an eye-bulging selection to choose from – there are four main cuts, cuadril (rump), ancho (ribeye), chorizo (sirloin) and limo (fillet), but you can push the boat out with a slow grilled Chateaubriand or a succulent Galician T-bone.

Gaucho, 21-22 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5JF.

Sukhothai

If you want tasty Thai food while you’re out around Greek Street, make Sukhothai a priority. The buzzing, opulent restaurant is one of Leeds’ finest, covered in extravagant Thai statues and trinkets. As much as it’s a feast for the eyes, your palate is in for an almighty treat too. You can find all the classics, from pad Thai to green curry, done spectacularly well, but why not take the chance to try something new? The famous and fiery Thai pork sausage is the perfect starter, followed by a lamb shank drizzled with massaman curry.

Sukhothai, 15 South Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5QS.

Below Stairs

Head underground on South Parade, just a stone’s throw from Greek Street, and you’ll come across one of the coolest bars in Leeds. Below Stairs is a subterranean hidden gem full of cool. Find one of their cosy nooks, watch the world pass by above you through the high windows and set about the menu. Their game-changing cocktails have been carefully designed to both tell a story and taste exceptional at once. Take the Apple Blossom, a nature-inspired libation that brings together vodka, wildflower honey, Granny Smith apple and jasmine soda.

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

San Carlo

If it’s high-quality Italian cuisine you’re looking for, the kind that you’d find overlooking a Roman piazza but right here in Leeds, then make San Carlo your next meal. Their stylish yet laid-back dining room is the perfect setting for their menu of culinary classics. You can’t go wrong starting with deep-fried calamari or black truffle-topped burrata, but make sure you save room for their incredible mains. Neapolitan-style pizza is always a winner, but there’s also a hefty pasta menu and refined dishes like salt-baked sea bass and bone-in ribeye.

San Carlo, 6-7 South Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5QX.

Ibérica & La Bodega

An impressive setting for an impressive restaurant, the old Hepper House auctioneers now houses Ibèrica and it’s a truly special dining room. Original features are matched by fancy wallpaper and soft velvet furnishings to set the scene for a night of Spanish fine dining. Your visit will be richly rewarded with small plates like charred aubergine, pita chicken rice and twice-cooked lamb. But if that doesn’t satisfy your appetite, it’s also home to La Bodega, an underground bar serving Spanish wine and beer with classic tapas plates.

Ibérica, Hepper House, East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2BH.

Flight Club

How do you make darts cool? Ask Flight Club. They’ve dragged this classic pub game kicking and screaming into the 21st century with their ‘social darts’ concept. You don’t need to be Michael van Gerwen to come out on top here, their electronic games are foolproof for everyone, even if you’ve never played before. There’s a trio of oche lengths and electronic scoring to match their interactive competitions. When you’re done throwing arrows, you can enjoy a circus-themed, steampunky bar, with craft beers, cocktails and pizza.

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

Electric Shuffle

You’ll find Electric Shuffle in the same building as its sibling, Flight Club, and you’ll find it’s breathing new life into shuffleboard as its neighbour has done for darts. Four immersive games can be played across their nine tech-infused tables – can you slide your way to glory against your pals? Of course you can! Before, during and after your competitive sides come out, you can enjoy craft beer, wine and cocktails, with a menu of brunch dishes, small plates and pizza paddles to share as you toast your victor.

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

SALT

Shipley’s SALT Beer Factory has its very own Leeds taproom just around the corner from Greek Street and it’s one of the best craft beer bars in this part of town. This stylish industrial-chic watering hole boasts exposed brickwork, leather booths and a copper-topped bar where you can try their wares. You can work your way through 14 keg taps, seven of which pour their own brews as fresh as you’ll find them in Leeds, with the other seven showcasing other local breweries. There are four cask taps too, and plenty of UK-made gin.

SALT, 26 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5BW.

If… Rooftop

It gets the sun from every angle and is blessed with incredible views over towards Leeds Town Hall, so If… Rooftop (formerly The Rooftop at East Parade) is an absolute must-visit – when it’s open, that is. It’s a seasonal bar, welcoming sunseekers and thirsty folk all through the summer onto its paved and astroturfed roof deck. Setttle down on one of the picnic tables, benches or garden tables, enjoy the sounds spun by a rotating line-up of DJs and get stuck into an almighty drinks offering. Local craft beer gems sit alongside cocktails like Aperol Spritz and Sangria.

The Rooftop at East Parade, 10-12 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2BH.

Tattu

There’s no Chinese restaurant quite like Tattu. It sets the scene from the moment you walk in and glimpse at the dark, atmospheric dining room populated with cherry blossom trees, delicate flowers and body art-inspired wall decorations. As good as it looks, the food is where they take it to the next level, taking classic Chinese flavours and giving them a modern twist. Wagyu dumplings and chicken truffle shumai will warm you up for game-changing Oriental goodness like green pepper lobster and wok-fried angry bird.

Tattu, Minerva House, 29 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5PS.

Blackhouse Grill on the Square

If you’re in the market for carnivorous feasting, then Blackhouse offers one of the most sumptuous settings in Leeds. You’ve got a pair of fairy-lit terraces either side of a dining room filled with chunky wood tables and leather booths to choose from. But the more pressing decision stems from their menu of meaty deities. Choose from four classic steak cuts, but a visit to Blackhouse calls for something all the more premium – treat yourself to sirloin, fillet or t-bone, or flex your sharing muscles with a juicy tomahawk or hefty Chateaubriand.

Blackhouse Grill on the Square, 31-33 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5PS.

BOX

If you’re looking for somewhere to watch the big game near Greek Street, head to BOX. It’s one of the best sports bars in Leeds, so you never have to miss a minute of the action whether it’s football, rugby, cricket or the big American sports. But what’s on the box isn’t the only reason to visit BOX. In between games, you can beat your mates on the shuffleboard table, stock up on tank-fresh Budvar or work through the epic cocktail list. If you need a bite to eat, since when can you go wrong with stone baked pizza and juicy burgers? Exactly.

BOX, East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2JD.

Dirty Martini

Dirty Martini is all glamorous interiors, art deco furnishings and cosy booths – the perfect spot for a night out. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of bespoke cocktails and signature drinks, but Martinis are their speciality. If you’re after something with a kick, try for the Mango & Chilli Martini, made with Absolut Mango vodka, Briottet liqueur de mangue, citrus, mango and fiery chilli. Or why not split the Angel Wings Tree Sharer between friends and enjoy eight Martinis served on neon angel wings?

Dirty Martini, 31 King St, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2HL.