A Foodie’s Weekend in Leeds: The Best Spots For Food & Drink

I celebrated my birthday back in August and treated myself to a rare – but incredibly fun – weekend in Leeds city centre. For my Northern girlies, it is a must visit if you haven’t been before! Besides the fun nightlife, beautiful docks, and even better shopping, it is a hidden gem for all things food and drink. Here’s everywhere we visited:

 

Friday

Sarto

Friday was a day of mooching around the city centre, with plenty of delicious stops along the way. We started by treating ourselves to a light lunch from the most incredible (but still affordable!!) pasta place – Sarto. We had their delicious lunch deal, which was just £16.50 for a pasta and snacky dish. Their caramelised onion arancini with whipped goats cheese and the confit duck leg ragu rigatoni were to die for… 

Harvey Nichols – Fourth Floor Bar

If you love an afternoon glass of wine (firstly, let’s be friends!), then a stop at Harvey Nics comes highly recommended on my list. Their fourth floor bar offers a fantastic selection of wines and fizz, as well as gorgeous cocktails. A mooch around the Harvey Nics food hall is essential – we brought home a selection of posh teas, jams, and a few bottles of wine (which they gift wrap for you without you even asking – I love anything extra!). Plus, it’s located in Victoria Quarter (now known as Victoria Leeds), which is a great place to spend the rest of your afternoon shopping.

Little Bao Boy / North Brewing Co

We headed out for a few drinks as the evening drew in and stumbled across the North Brewing Co – an independent brewery on Sovereign Street. And tucked away in the corner, was Little Bao Boy. If you don’t know me, you’ll know I’m quite obsessed with bao buns, so this was a perfect place to grab a drink & bite at the same time! I shared (rather reluctantly with my other half) char siu pulled pork bao and their OG KFB (Korean fried chicken) bao. Washed down with cider and chips – delish!

Saturday

Olive & Rye

Saturday started slowly with a wholesome breakfast at the lovely Olive & Rye, tucked away in Queens Arcade in the city centre. Not only did they make amazing coffee, but their breakfast menu is definitely something i’ll be eyeing up again next time I’m in the city! We enjoyed their chorizo scrambled egg, as well as their garlic mushrooms on toast – yum. 

Mommy Thai

For lunch, we popped into Mommy Thai. It’s a little gem for Southeast Asian flavours without breaking the bank. Their lunch menu is brilliant – everything under £11, and it includes a starter and a main. I went for the fragrant green curry with tender chicken, and my other half devoured the pad Thai, which came with the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy. The portions are generous, the flavours are punchy, and the vibe is super relaxed – perfect for a casual lunch before more mooching around the city.

Shears Yard

For dinner on Saturday evening, we headed to Shears Yard on Wharf Street. The venue was gorgeous – an industrial, 18th-century building which is filled with a fantastic atmosphere on a Saturday evening. We enjoyed their seasonal à la Carte menu which currently includes some incredible Autumnal dishes like tandoori marinated lamb rump, ale braised ox cheek, and scallop tartare with yuzu pickled pear. My mouth is watering just writing about our visit. 

Rinse Natural Wine

Saturday night drinks took us to Rinse Natural Wine, a stone’s throw away from the Corn Exchange. If you’re into natural and funky wines (and you should be, trust me), this is the place to be. The staff are insanely knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the menu – I ended up trying a gorgeous pét-nat that I wouldn’t have picked myself. The space is small but cosy, and the atmosphere is lively without being loud. A perfect spot to sip, chat, and get a bit merry.

 

Sunday

Dakota Hotel

We woke up earlier than planned on Sunday, so we treated ourselves to a coffee stop at the stunning Dakota Hotel. If you’ve never stayed in a Dakota Hotel, I highly recommend it. It offers an elegant, moody vibe, and their cafe is a great place to stop and catch up on emails. We enjoyed tea and hot chocolate with marshmallows, but they also offer delicious breakfast options should you fancy it.

Doh’hut

Sunday morning calls for a sweet treat, and Doh’hut is the ultimate pit stop. Think doughnuts, but elevated to next-level Instagram-worthy. I was super intrigued by the cereal-milk-flavour doughnut, and it did NOT disappoint! Jordan went for the classic lemon meringue flavour, which was equally delish. I don’t usually have much of a sweet tooth, but I’ll be popping back!

Ox Club

Okay, you can’t possibly end your weekend without a roast dinner, can you?! Ox Club came in clutch with their Michelin-guide roast dinners, which were definitely worth the hype. I tucked into the ‘nduja & sausage porchetta, finished with smoked trotter and fennel gravy, whilst Jordan ordered the roast rump cap of beef, served with bone marrow and shallot gravy. We shared a burnt basque cheesecake to finish. One of my favorite spots of the weekend – a must visit if you visit Leeds!

 

If you’re after a more traditional roast dinner vibe, at a cosy pub, Midnight Bell also deserves a shoutout. It is one of the oldest pubs in Leeds, and is perfect for dinner after a cold autumnal walk. 

 

Find More Delicious Food Recommendations On Savery Grazing

And that wraps up my guide to all things food and drinks in the wonderful city of Leeds! If you’re planning your own trip, I hope this gives you some delicious inspo – whether you’re after street food, cocktails, or somewhere a little more special.

 

Have you eaten at any of these spots? Or have a Leeds recommendation I need to try next time? Drop me an email or DM. Don’t forget to check out my blog for more foodie recommendations, recipes, and more!

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