Brunch – the best bits of breakfast and lunch combined, with the added bonus of a lie in. Here’s where to go…
Cereal isn’t going to cut it here. When it comes to the best brunch places in Leeds, we’re talking eggs wearing a dripping robe of hollandaise, pancakes stacked so high they’re toppling over and wondrous waffles covered in things that aren’t strictly good for you. Whether you’re dining solo, with your other half or with friends, brunch is all about decadence, and Leeds has it in spades.
Looking to step things up a notch? Check out our list of the best bottomless brunches in Leeds.
The Suburbs
Looking to start your day off right but don’t want to stray too far from home? We’ve rounded up our favourite suburban brunch spots, full of tasty treats and good coffee.
Nesso
Credit: Nesso
With venues in Morley and Leeds city centre, Nesso is a restaurant and café bar that leans into Italian-inspired comfort food with a few unexpected twists. The menu goes big on flavour, from a pork meatball breakfast hash baked in marinara with crispy rösti, baked egg and hollandaise, to a tandoori chicken hash that delivers a welcome spicy kick.
There’s a solid mix across the brunch menu. In the mood for savoury? Shakshuka eggs, mortadella Benedict and BBQ beef chilli Benedict are all great options. Fancy something lighter? Smoked salmon and avocado toast is a classic for a reason.
It’s the sweeter side that really stands out though. There’s pannetone French toast, stacked high with maple syrup, berries, cream and Biscoff crumb, while the Dubai chocolate pancakes are unapologetically indulgent. The best bit? Brunch is served all day, so there’s no need to set your alarm early.
Nesso, 42 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JG & 87 Queen Street, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS27 8DX.
Fika North
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With more than a hint of the Scandi about it, Fika North is the Headingley home of cracking coffee, cakes, pastries and, yes, brunch. Bagels are the speciality here, laden with the likes of pastrami and Emmental cheese, avocado with pink pickles or the timeless smoked salmon and dill cream cheese. For a hit of North African spicing, go for the rose harissa chickpea bagel.
Elsewhere you can get into the patisserie selection, with an ever-changing roster that might include cruffins, cronuts, lemon and poppy seed mini loaf cakes or toasted banana and chocolate loaf.
Fika North, 94 Otley Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 4BA.
The Greenhouse
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This vegan bakery and kitchen is renowned for its cakes – it supplies vegan weddings all around the country – but it also conjures up a mean brunch. It’s not just plant-based, it also has plenty of gluten-free choice for coeliacs. Perfectly airy pancakes are served with granola, maple syrup, yogurt, berry compote and fresh berries, while a quad of bowls deliver lots of fresh vegetables and superfoods.
At the indulgent end of the scale, the unique chocolate drizzle waffle is a true one-off. It’s loaded with vanilla ice cream and Love Raw wafers, marshmallows and melted chocolate. Turns out brunch heaven is in Leeds.
The Greenhouse, Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS18 5LJ.
House of Koko
This cool, independent cafe in Chapel Allerton has brunch in its bones. Eggs Benedict with Sykes House Farm smoked streaky bacon and in-house hollandaise? That’ll be a big yes. They also do oak-smoked salmon and a veggie bennie – the latter topped with confit garlic and thyme chestnut mushrooms.
Their sourdough toast dishes are generously topped, pancakes come in DIY sweet and savoury ways or, if you go for the Bacon & Biscoff option, both at once. The toasties are a testament to taste – the Hot Honey Hash dreamy with triple-cooked Gochujang potatoes, slaw and a fried egg.
House of Koko, 62 Harrogate Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 4LA & 464 Roundhay Road, Roundhay, Oakwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2HU.
The Mill Kitchen & Bakery
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This quaint little Farsley spot is a big hit with the locals – and it’s not hard to see why. Set in Sunny Bank Mills, it’s a laidback space with wooden tables and floods of natural light. And they take their craft seriously here, serving up fresh pastries, expertly brewed coffee and even making their own homemade baked beans.
Their brunch menu spans the lot, from the classic smashed avocado to deliciously sweet banoffee pancakes and a fiery Mexican breakfast, where avo, beans and eggs are given a kick with salsa and hot sauce. Wash it all down with a Bloody Mary and you’re onto a winner!
The Mill Kitchen & Bakery, Unit 1 Old Combing, Sunny Bank Mills, 83-85 Town Street, Farsley, Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS28 5UJ.
Nesso
Credit: Nesso
It’s well worth a trip to the suburbs to find Nesso, a local hidden gem and a delightful destination for brunch in Leeds. Step inside and you’ll find a chic, minimalist decor, kitted out with greenery and soft lighting. They certainly know their coffee – be sure to try the Speziato, their signature spiced brew – while their brunch offering is small but modest.
The Nesso Benedict offers a unique twist on a classic, with a baked poached egg, ricotta and marinara sauce thrown into the mix. But if you have a sweet tooth, you can’t ignore the French toast, topped with Biscoff crumb, maple syrup and soft serve ice cream. Bliss.
Nesso, 87 Queen Street, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS27 8DX.
The City Centre
Leeds city centre has a vibrant brunch scene, so whether you want a hearty full English or a syrupy pancake stack, you’ll find it all at these spots. Check them out.
White Cloth Hall
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Rock up to the chic and stylish White Cloth Hall on the weekend and be prepared to indulge in an all-time brilliant brunch experience. Between 10am to 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, all four of the resident kitchens mix things up, slinging out some seriously delightful dishes.
Will it be Morty’s stacked sandwiches, Salma’s hash and egg sensations or some classic brunch fare from Lupton’s Chop House. For those with a sweet tooth, put your order in with Kuala Lumpur Cafe for their Kaya French Toast, frizzled in golden syrup and condensed milk. Pair it with a £5 Mimosa from the bar for brunchtime bliss.
White Cloth Hall, 27 Crown Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DA.
WOLFØX
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Slow down the pace with a leisurely brunch filled with sumptuous food and strong brews at WOLFØX. This charming little spot can be found on Britannia Street, just a stone’s throw from Leeds station, slinging out all the classics in a warm, inviting interior. Organic coffee is roasted fresh in-house – and it goes perfectly with an almond croissant.
Prefer something hot? They’ve got you covered. The menu is filled with everything from an array of Benedicts – including salmon, bacon and wild mushrooms – to fluffy pancakes and brioche French toast. There’s even organic acai and fruit bowls, overnight oats and fruit-packed smoothies to satisfy all brunchtime cravings.
WOLFØX, 2-4 Brittannia Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2DZ.
HYGGE
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A Sheffield staple, HYGGE recently flung open their doors in Leeds, dishing up delightful brunches from their Scandi-inspired cafe. There’s sarnies, salads and toasties on the menu, with timeless dishes given new twists – take the Croissant Benedict, for example, which serves poached eggs, hollandaise and tomatoes between a flakey croissant.
Other must-try menu items include the Berry French Toast, where golden French toast is slathered generously with berry compote and creamy yoghurt before being drizzled with honey. For true indulgence, though, we recommend ordering the Banana Loaf – a wonderfully warm banana loaf with chocolate, caramelised bananas and Greek yoghurt. 10/10!
HYGGE, 42-44 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8LX.
Green Room
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The Bastards Bistro menu at Green Room offers all kinds of brunchy delights. The raw, industrial yet plant-filled surroundings makes for the perfect setting to dig into an array of belly-filling eats. The loaded hash browns and brunch tacos with crispy pork belly, bacon and egg are day-starting favourites, alongside mid-morning staples like the toasted sourdough with arvo and poached eggs.
Want to take it up a notch? The Korean fried chicken pancakes come loaded with crispy chicken, spring onions and special Bastards KFC sauce. Sweet tooth? Cherry Bakewell pancakes and coffee cream French toast serves up a difficult decision.
Green Room, 36 Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2DE.
The Ivy
The brunch menu at The Ivy kicks off at 11am on weekends and bank holidays and it’s a delicious proposition. There are stacks of options which push all the right brunching buttons. Glasses of fizz, Bloody Marys and Martinis set the tone before you have the tricky task of choosing from an extensive menu full of established classics. So what will it be?
The fish & chips and truffle chicken Milanese are ready to dig into from morning onwards, but the eggs Benedict is the real standout, with thick-cut, glistening chips made for dunking in both yolk and hollandaise. There’s an avocado version too, as well as fabulous buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries and yoghurt.
The Ivy, Victoria Quarter, Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6BB.
Manahatta
Brunch at Manahatta is served until 4pm – now that’s what we call a lie-in. This all-day approach to dining is only to be applauded, so you can rock up in the arvo for avocado and poached eggs – make it vegan with plant-based feta. The waffles and tried are tested, warmed up Belgian beauties with strawberry and Nutella or, alternatively, fried chicken, bacon and maple syrup.
Bagels come in a choice of two – the classic NY Club or the meat-free You Had Me at Halloumi – while they also have a trio of grilled cheese specials. The Beef Melt is spectacular. There truly is something for everyone at this Big Apple-loving joint.
Manahatta, Minerva House, 29 East Parade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5PS.
If Bar
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Head down to Call Lane or East Parade for one of the best brunches in Leeds, available all day long. If… are well known for their brunch brilliance, and their menu won’t give you any qualms about backing that up. Their Yorkshire spin on a full English is well accounted for, while vegetarian and vegan versions never fail to hit the spot, with all the classic elements present and in order.
Keeping it traditional? Take your pick from four types of eggs Benedict, four styles of stacked pancakes or the classic smashed avocado on sourdough. You can also mix it up – how does chorizo or halloumi shakshuka, Turkish eggs and generously stuffed breakfast burritos? Delicious, if you ask us.
If Bar, 42 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BT & 18 York Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2EX.
Browns
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Brunch is served seven days a week at Browns, from 10am to 12pm in the week, and from 9am on Saturday and Sunday. With that two-hour window, it pays to get a fast start – maybe with the classic Bellini or the Bloody Mary? Both great options to wash down a very good traditional breakfast with sourdough toast, or brunch staples like smashed avocado and feta on toast.
The sweet and savoury pancakes could make the heart sing and the omelettes are fluffy and generous. Want to push the boat out? The Browns Lobster Benedict features Thermidor sauce and hen eggs to offer a touch of class to your morning.
Browns, The Light, 70-72 The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 8EQ.
Fleur
Former MasterChef: The Professionals contestant Bobby Geetha is the man at the helm of Fleur, perhaps the most photogenic entry on the list. It has a breathtakingly beautiful interior, but the proof of the brunch is in the munching, as said by no-one. Happily, the food here is up to the job, served from 11am during the week and on weekends.
Biscoff French toast and smashed avocado and salmon toast are staples on any menu, but the latter gets some pizzazz courtesy of Arneika herring caviar. Fleur’s English breakfast is fab, or you can add more spice to your life with BBQ beef brisket on toast.
Fleur, 8 The Light, The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 8TL.
Laynes
Credit: Tom Martin
Laynes is now over a decade old and this much-loved indie just gets better by the year. Firstly, the coffee is sensational – this is an espresso bar that has graduated to offering fine food and is arguably the best brunch spot near Leeds Station. Sweet tooth? Try the choc chip bread and butter pudding or the almond pain au chocolat with salt choc chip cookie crumble.
Staying savoury? Their Turkish eggs is a garlicky delight, while the sweetcorn fritters punch well above their weight. The best of all, though, has to be the croque madame, where Yorkshire truffled ham marry with melty smoked cheddar, fried egg and bechamel sauce for a flavour sensation.
Laynes, 16 New Station Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DL.
Olive & Rye
Credit: Maisie Slater
The perfect pitstop in the eye-catching surrounds of Queens Arcade, Olive & Rye is an independent with an enticing window display that pretty much forces you to ask for a table. Coffee and tea is all present and correct, but you might be tempted by the brunch smoothies or cocktails – is it ever too early for an Espresso Martini?
The even better news is that brunch is served all day, so there’s no time limit on eggs Benedict, hot smoked salmon draped over an English muffin or garlic and thyme mushrooms adorning toasted sourdough. The pancakes with berries, roasted peach and walnut crumb are divine too.
Olive & Rye, 18-20 Queens Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LF.
Neighbourhood
Sometimes, the perfect brunch is all about classics done well. And at lively Greek Street bar-cum-restaurant Neighbourhood, the eggs Benedict is done very well indeed. Smoked streaky bacon, hollandaise sauce, a toasted English muffin and eggs poached just so, revealing the liquid sunset of their yolks at the slightest prompting.
Vegetarian? The Florentine is a great choice, switching the bacon for buttered spinach with added notes of dill and capers. Vegan? A Moving Mountains vegan burger with salted fries or a poke bowl with a plethora of veggies and silken tofu is yours for the taking.
Neighbourhood, 5 Greek Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5RW.
Banyan
Whether you’re seated inside or you’ve chosen to dine al fresco in the heated, covered area outside, a breakfast-cum-brunch at Banyan is a very good thing. The Full English delivers a vast platter of fried delights and you can gild the lily by adding black pudding. Poached eggs and hollandaise come with your choice of halloumi, smoked salmon or hand-carved ham.
One thing’s for sure – if there’s an avocado, these guys are going to smash it. Kids in tow? They’ll be drawn to the Belgian waffles like bees to honey. Topped with fresh mixed berries, mascarpone and served with a dipping pot of maple syrup, it’s a guaranteed delight.
Banyan, The Old Post Office, 2 City Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2ES.
Moose Coffee
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Let’s be fair to our American and Canadian cousins – while our breakfasts are way better than theirs, they invented brunch. The influence of their dishes is all over British menus, and Moose Coffee is a celebration of that. It’s like a dream diner from Toronto dropped into the heart of Leeds, dishing up a dazzling array of all-day breakfasts, Benedicts, waffles and more.
The buttermilk pancakes topped with Canadian maple syrup and drizzled with hazelnut spread or topped with blueberries or smoked streaky bacon are the perfect dirty breakfast, while the Manolito is a spicy take on huevos rancheros, with fried eggs, salsa, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo.
Moose Coffee, Bond Court, Wine Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2JZ.
North Star
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North Star are known for their incredible coffee – it’s available across the country – but this cafe is its spiritual home. Here you can drink brilliant brews while indulging in seriously good food. It’s one of the highest-quality brunches in Leeds in terms of produce alone, with bacon and sausages from the much-garlanded Lishman’s of Ilkley.
What’s more, the bread comes from independent micro-brewery Cellar Door. All of this means that their breakfast butties and cheese toasties are a cut above the norm. If you want to be kind to yourself, order the Yorkshire rhubarb pancakes with mascarpone, honey and crunchy almond brittle.
The North Star Coffee Shop & General Store, The Boulevard, Leeds Dock, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1PZ.
Cover image credit: JMA Photography
