The 23 best restaurants in Leeds right now

What is it? A neighbourhood French bistro serving relaxed, but show-stopping cooking.

Why go? This small but mighty French bistro in the leafy Horsforth suburbs is already considered a destination spot in Leeds for great dining. The Gallic eatery was named the UK’s Best Local Restaurant 2024 by the Good Food Guide and received a Bib Gourmand in this year’s Michelin guide. It’s easy to see why Bavette has become such a stalwart of Leeds’s dining scene, with classic French dishes cooked to perfection by head chef Sandy Jarvis, who co-owns the place with his husband, and French native, Clément Cousin. 

Time Out tip: Be sure to try Cuvée Bavette, a wine exclusively blended for the bistro from Cousin’s family vineyard in the Loire Vally. 

What is it? A historic café turned uber-cool restaurant focused around open-fire and rotisserie cooking. 

Why go? Sam Pullan and Nicole Deighton are doing mega things within the walls of this historic building which is a far cry from its greasy spoon origins. Dishes at Empire Café are always changing with the seasons but expect creations like BBQ pork ribeye with Yorkshire rhubarb char siu ketchup and Reblochon pastel de nata. And it’s not just the food, the vibes and the cocktails stand up to the kitchen creations.

Time Out tip: Go hungry and order a whole rotisserie chicken which will be undoubtedly slathered in something exceptional like smoked garlic and hot honey. 

What is it? A classy-looking restaurant at Headrow House specialising in high-quality cooking over some serious flames.

Why go? The food at Ox Club is how cavemen wish they’d eaten. The focus is on wood-fired cooking, with more than half of the dishes here given a lick of flame (and then some) from a very fancy bit of kit from US barbecue experts, Grillworks. But it’s not just big, boisterous flavours – they do delicate damn well, too. Make sure you save room for the exquisite desserts...

Time Out tip: Don’t scrimp on the sides; beautiful potatoes and buttery green veg complement those meaty steaks.

What is it? An intimate sushi bar owned by chef Kaoru Nakamura.

Why go? Be transported to Japan at Chef Nakamura’s intimate omakase dining experience Sushi Nakamura, where guests pay £150 per head for a dining experience using seasonal ingredients. Nakamura rose to fame at his intimate, unassuming  restaurant HanaMatsuri in Meanwood, but now dazzles sushi lovers at a newer Leeds city centre location.

Time Out tip: Not in the mood for sushi? Nakamura’s original, tiny Meanwood location HanaMatsuri is now an intimate izakaya (neighbourhood restaurant), offering Japanese fare beyond sushi and sashimi. 

What is it? Indian street food and craft beer. 

Why go? The original Leeds location has proven so popular that Bundobust has expanded into Manchester and Liverpool. It’s a relaxed setting, 100 percent vegetarian (brilliant for vegans), and the small-dishes approach means you can sample a variety of flavourful bites alongside an excellent range of local and imported beers.

Time Out tip: Go with some friends and order the Bundo Combo, i.e every dish on the menu.

What is it? A regularly changing small plates restaurant by Masterchef: The Professionals’s Matt Healy.

Why go? Matt is a great chef, and the small plates served up at his Horsforth restaurant Forde are ace, running alongside a very well-crafted drinks list. The menu is ‘Mediterranean inspired’, but these aren’t your average small plates – dishes include roasted cod with chip shop curry sauce, cheesy truffled potatoes with confit onion and poached pears with Yorkshire blue cheese and honey. 

Time Out tip: In the mood for a lunch time visit? The grazing lunch board is great, including baked Camembert, hasselback potatoes, picanha steak and Lyonnaise onions.

What is it? A small, relaxed dining room dishing out modern British plates by the Leeds’ canalside. 

Why go? Whether you want brunch, a Sunday roast, or a high-end tasting menu, this upscale dining room situated in a picturesque location looking out over the Leeds lockside does it all. The brainchild of chefs Liz Cottam (who also owns Home) and Mark Owens, every plate that lands on the minimal tables at the Owl, a light, breezy spot looks like a work of art and uses the best seasonal ingredients to achieve the effect. 

Time Out tip: Check out their regular array of events, including a ‘guinea pig’ night, an evening where diners can try brand new dishes the kitchen is trying out. 

What is it? Vibes-heavy karaoke and noodle bar. 

Why Go? Next door to Ox Club and Headrow House, House of Fu is a much-loved ramen joint where the food is just as good as the influencer-friendly aesthetics. Expect rich, comforting bowls of simmered stock, noodles and tender meat (or veg), with a revolving menu of culture-melding gyozas on the side. If you’re wanting to make a night of it, head upstairs after for karaoke and a stylish late-night cocktail bar.

Time Out Tip: The frozen yuzu margarita or desert ice cream sandwiches are the perfect sensory contrast to a bowl of warm soup.

What is it? A neighbourhood eatery out on the outskirts of the city centre from the team behind beloved pub The Brunswick.

Why go? If you’re after a great menu whether you go for brunch, dinner or Sunday lunch, Woodside is a great option. Start the day off strong with punchy brunch options like fried chicken with waffles and honey or steak and eggs on sourdough. A few more options are added on at dinner, like Alabama smoked half chicken with house slaw, and Sunday roast options include smoked porchetta with burnt apple mustard and smoked celeriac dauphinoise pie.

Time Out tip: Their weekday meal day, available Monday-Wednesday 5pm-9pm is a pretty great offering. For £9.95 you get a smash patty cheeseburger, crispy waffle fries and an ice-cold beer. 

What is it? Home-cooked Chinese cuisine with plenty of surprises on the menu. 

Why go? When Hansa’s, a much-loved Indian restaurant, closed in 2019 after three decades, whoever took over the site had huge shoes to fill. Luckily, Wen’s is more than up to the task and continues the tradition of family-led, homemade cooking. You’ll find delicious authentic dishes seldom seen on Anglicised-Chinese menus: the shredded potatoes with homemade chilli oil, marinated jellyfish and dry-fried sweet corn with pine nuts. The silky dumplings and Xiao Long Bao are homemade by Mrs Wen. 

Time Out tip: The crispy lean pork in sweet and sour sauce is surely among Leeds’s most addictive starters, as is the cubed beef soup.