Jenessa Williams

When it comes to dining out, don’t sleep on Leeds: the food scene here is one of the most eclectic and exciting in the UK with thriving independent restaurants. And while we’ve seen some pretty sad, and surprising closures in the city recently (including the city’s only Michelin-star restaurant), long-time favourites continue to thrive, and new eateries seem to be opening up every week. So whether you fancy a romantic dinner at an award-winning French bistro, a steaming bowl of ramen and karaoke, or a hot honey smothered rotisserie chicken in the basement of an old greasy spoon, here’s our round up of the very best restaurants in Leeds right now. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Leeds🍸 The best bars in Leeds🖼️ The best art galleries in Leeds🌳 The best things to do in the UK This guide was recently updated by freelance food and drink editor Vicky Chandler, based in Yorkshire. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

With its leafy parks and countryside and plentiful offerings for eating, drinking, and partying, this city is criminally underrated in my opinion. I might not be a Leeds native (in fact I'm pretty firmly a southerner…), but as a uni student here this place has provided me with everything I could ever want – most importantly, a ton of cheap, lively, absolutely killer pubs.  Whether you’re a student looking for a post-lecture pint, a long-time local looking for a new haunt or just looking to kickstart your night out on the town, you’re spoiled for choice in Leeds. We’ve got it all on our list; old-school boozers, student-friendly prices, industrial-style taprooms for the craft beer heads and a whole lot more. Here are the best pubs in Leeds right now. Abi Burnham RECOMMENDED:🍝 The best restaurants in Leeds📍 The things to do in Leeds🍸 The best bars in Leeds🏙️ The UK’s most underrated city breaks This guide was last updated by Abi Burnham, who is currently based in Leeds for university. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Leeds is a city that sure likes to party, and so it’s fortunate that there’s no shortage of lively, atmospheric bars to kick back and let loose in. With its easily walkable centre, this is the perfect place for a bar crawl with mates, covering significant ground without racking up an excessive taxi bill.  Even if your idea of a good night out isn’t one that’s liable to end up with a 4am kebab, there are plenty more intimate bars, too: places where craft beer or multisensory mixology takes on a sophisticated, almost reverential quality. Whether yours is an ice-cold pint, fruity mocktail or niche concoction that only certain bartenders seem to know how to make, this city is good with a shaker and definitely isn’t afraid to prove it. Feeling thirsty? Here are the best bars in Leeds according to us. RECOMMENDED: The 24 best restaurants in Leeds you need to try