Best Restaurants in Leeds

When it comes to Italian restaurants in Leeds city centre, Gusto is coming up trumps for its enchanting decor and hearty bowls. The Greek Street kitchen is preparing all the favourites, with alternatives available for plant-based diners too.

When it comes to the best places to eat in Leeds with friends, Bar Soba should be on your radar. Not only does the Greek Street hotspot offer potent cocktails and vibrant decor, but it's also got a delectable menu of Asian food and a brilliant bottomless brunch.

Ideally located in Trinity, Comptoir Libanais have got you sorted for mid-shopping refuels. Whether you fancy a light bite or something more substantial, you'll find it all here in their menu of mezze, tagines, wraps and burgers.

Housed within an impressive two-storey building, Banyan is serving up top-notch cocktails and international dishes seven days a week. Grab a table inside or on its expansive outdoor terrace and tuck into a midweek meal, Saturday brunch or Sunday roast.

Housed within a historic building, Iberica is one of the most romantic restaurants in Leeds. Start your night at the basement wine bar, La Bodega, before moving upstairs for a feast of authentic tapas and giant sharing paellas.  

Rosa's Thai is bringing a taste of Bangkok to Leeds. Nestled in Trinity, the kitchen is whipping up fragrant noodle dishes, authentic curries and hearty bowls to diners inside its restaurant and out on the rooftop terrace.

Purveyors of flame-cooked meats and craft pints, Reds True BBQ are cooking up summertime vibes all year long. Enjoy a hefty spread of beef brisket burgers, crispy jackfruit wings and smoked pork crackling, washed down with old fashioneds.

Championing all things chicken, Absurd Bird is your one-stop shop for wings, waffles and tenders. Perfect for a speedy lunchtime bite or a wallet-friendly meal with mates, this crowd-pleasing Leeds restaurant also caters for vegans.

For gorgeous riverside views, tasty burgers and pizzas and a whole lotta craft beer, head over to Water Lane Boathouse. Perched on the edge of Leeds' Canal Wharf, this relaxed spot is a guaranteed winner for summertime lunches and after-work drinks.

With a whole host of popular sites across the country, Slug and Lettuce are clearly onto a winning formula. The stylish interiors, happy hour cocktails and crowd-pleasing menus all help to give the Park Row beauty, and its Boar Lane sister, that edge.

Step back in time with an evening at The Lost & Found, a whimsical Victorian-themed bar and restaurant. On the menu? Beautiful botanical cocktails, a selection of brunch classics, European-inspired plates and a knockout Sunday roast.

Chaophraya is offering up meaty, vegan and veggie Thai food alongside snazzy interiors. Settle into their plush booths or hire out their sunken seated private dining room and sup on an exciting menu of fragrant fare.

When the weekend rolls around, East 59th becomes inundated with daytime revellers getting their fix of free-flowing fizz and brekkie dishes. But it's not just the bottomless brunch that attracts the masses. The rooftop gem also touts citywide vistas that are sure to wow.

Chicken is king at Yard & Coop. The relaxed restaurant is bringing you burgers, wings and brunch offerings, along with a build-it-yourself section and a range of regular events, if you should fancy some tableside entertainment.

A sleek upstairs restaurant with a slinky cocktail bar below; Vice & Virtue is a venue of two faces. Indulge in a tasting menu of British dishes, paired expertly with drinks, before moving downstairs into the debaucherous den for wickedly great libations.

If a Michelin star isn't evidence enough that The Man Behind The Curtain is one of the best restaurants in Leeds, then we don't know what is. Sup on a regularly-changing set menu of innovative plates in a seriously sleek setting.

Tacos, tostadas, enchiladas and burritos are all up for grabs at Neon Cactus. Situated on Call Lane, the vibrant Mexican bar and restaurant is keeping you watered and fed on classic bites and tequila cocktails.

Bulgogi Grill is putting you in the driving seat at its DIY-style abode. Hands down one of the quirkiest places to eat in Leeds, this Korean joint is providing you with a central grill along with locally-sourced meats and seafood that has been marinated in traditional native seasonings.

The fittingly named Stew & Oyster is a great riverside gastropub offering diners a diverse range of surf and turf. Sit beside the water for a mellow feast of beef and ale casseroles, plant-based gnocchi and fish curry, as well as fine wines and beers. 

Home to some of the world's best slices, Rudy's is your one-stop shop for pizza in Leeds. Spend an evening chomping on classic Neopolitan-style bites at this New Station Road haunt, made using 24-hour fermented dough.

Add a little theatre to your meals out with a trip to Teppanyaki. The Japanese restaurant is preparing your food right in front of your eyes, with chefs juggling, flipping and setting fire to a whole array of seafood and meat.

You probably know Angelica best as a gorgeous rooftop cocktail bar, but you'd be missing out if you didn't check out some of the edible delights that are on offer here. Gaze over the city as you enjoy Josper-grilled steaks, decadent burgers, whole lobsters and more.

When you've got a Masterchef finalist at the helm, you know you're in for a treat. Expect an ever-changing eight to ten-course set menu of reimagined British favourites, all with a fine dining touch, of course, available from Wednesday through to Sunday.

Cool and contemporary, Shears Yard is a favourite in the city thanks to its charming interiors and delicious food. The all-day eatery retains industrial elements from its past life as a rope and canvas manufacturer, creating a modern space to hang out in.

Tharavadu is a multi-award-winning Indian restaurant in Leeds, making it a no-brainer for your curry fix. Feast on a selection of authentic Keralan dishes - chilli paneer, marinated sea bass and masala dosas - and you'll see why it's gained such acclaim.

Bangkok street signs, upcycled light features and delicious dishes... Zaap is embracing all things Thai, complete with provincial classics - think minced pork omlettes and steamed squid soups - native pop and rock tunes and themed cocktails.

Without a doubt the most stunning of all the restaurants in Leeds city centre, Tattu is dishing up modern Chinese cuisine in a swoon-worthy setting. Perfect for date nights with your beau, this one is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Fat Hippo is the name and gut-busting burgers are the game. The patty slingers are whipping up all things comfort food, with an extensive and quirky selection of chicken, beef and vegan chows, alongside boozy slushies and shakes.

Serving up Chinese food in a cool environment, Mans Market is kitted out with a chic wooden bar, oriental lanterns and a wacky shipping container. As for the food, you'll be treated to a range of mouthwatering dim sum, bao and noodle bowls.

Want your dinner with a view? Issho is the place for you. The sophisticated rooftop haunt is located along Victoria Gate and delivering the finest in contemporary Japanese cuisine - we're talking gourmet sushi, gyozas and more.