Leeds is fast becoming one of the UK’s most exciting cities when it comes to food. In fact, with new, trendy spots popping up all over the city the whole time, we’d go as far as to say it’s becoming somewhat of a foodie destination. One of the greatest things about Leeds’ food scene is how varied it is. Not only are a wide range of different cuisines represented, but at all different levels too. This means that Leeds is home to everything from top Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants to incredible casual cafés and diners. One of the things that Leeds is best at though, is brunch.
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Brunch has enjoyed a rise in popularity over recent years, no longer just belonging to the realm of lazy weekend late breakfasts. Brunch has also become a weekday favourite as an alternative to lunch, and Leeds has a number of delicious brunch options to match. The city’s brunch scene is incredibly diverse both in terms of price range and style, with everything on offer from beautifully presented brunches with a view, to independent cafés serving crowd-pleasing classics. This means that whether you’re looking for a casual brunch spot where you can pop in on a whim with friends, or somewhere a bit more special for a celebration, you’ll be sure to find the perfect place in Leeds.
With such a range of different brunch restaurants and cafés to choose from in Leeds, we wouldn’t blame you for feeling a bit overwhelmed when trying to decide which to pick. That’s why we’ve put together a guide below to the best brunch in Leeds, to give you a hand. So next time you’re looking for a full English breakfast, an extra special eggs Benedict or a stack of bacon-topped American pancakes in Leeds, make sure to check out these places.
If... Up North
What: Based right in Leeds city centre If...Call Lane is a charming but trendy dine-in café which serves a pretty mean brunch. Not only does its menu feature all the classics like porridge, eggs Benedict and a full English, but there are also a few more unusual brunch dishes on offer. We suggest trying the brunch burrito which comes filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and spring onions.
Where: 43 Call Lane, LS1 7BT
Book now: If... Up North
The Ivy Victoria Quarter
What: For a brunch that never fails to feel a little bit special, you can never go wrong with the Ivy. Leeds' outpost is found in the city's Victoria Quarter and features all the traditional Ivy touches, including brightly coloured décor and modern art aplenty. The weekend brunch menu doesn't just cover the standards such as eggs royale, but also drifts into more lunchy territory too with things like fish and chips.
Where: Vicar Lane, LS1 6BB
Book now: The Ivy
The Restaurant Bar & Grill
What: As the name might suggest, The Restaurant Bar & Grill is more of a refined affair than some of the laid-back cafés in our guide. Set in an impressive building which used to be a post office, this is certainly a grand setting for a weekend brunch. Expect classic dishes such as Highland scrambled and avocado on toast, as well as healthy options like coconut yoghurt with fruit. An added bonus here is that for £25 you can add bottomless Prosecco to your brunch for two hours, to turn things into a bit more of a party.
Where: 3 City Square, LS1 2AN
Book now: The Restaurant Bar and Grill
Cosy Club
What: With branches now open all over the UK, Cosy Club continues to offer up crowd-pleasing brasserie-style food in theatrically decorated rooms and this is exactly what you get at the Leeds outpost. The brunch menu is available all the way until 4pm and includes ham hock hash served with a fried egg and breakfast gravy, and a delicious take on a shakshuka.
Where: 53 Albion Street, LS1 5AA
Book now: Cosy Club
Olive & Rye
What: This independent café in Leeds' wonderful Queens Arcade is bursting full of charm and is great place to get cosy for a few hours while tucking into a big old brunch. Olive & Rye's menu is one of those where you'll feel like you're missing out unless you order everything. Popular choices include chorizo baked beans, Wensleydale cheddar and paprika on sourdough toast, and waffles with salted caramel, vanilla cream and a macadamia nut brittle.
Where: 18-20 Briggate, LS1 6LF
Book now: Olive & Rye
Laynes Espresso
What: This is a particularly great choice for brunch for any coffee lovers out there, as Laynes Espresso bar's primary focus is serving top quality cuppas. The spacious café's delicious brunch menu is somewhat of a bonus and features treats such as buckwheat pancakes topped with streaky bacon and maple honey butter, and Turkish-style eggs topped with garlic yoghurt and sage and chipotle sauce.
Where: 16 New Station Street, LS1 5DL
Book now: Laynes Espresso
Neighbourhood
What: Bringing a bit of New York glitz to Leeds, Neighbourhood is an incredibly fun place to brunch thanks to its ultra-extra décor which features pink bulbs everywhere you look and graffiti murals designed by Triston Eaton on the walls. In terms of the brunch menu, depending on how hungry you're feeling you can opt for anything from avocado toast, to the HBHD burger which comes with hot salted fries. This is also a spot where you can add in bottomless drinks for £38.
Where: 5 Greek Street, LS1 5RW
Book now: Neighbourhood
House of Koko
What: This cosy cafe is the perfect spot away from the city centre to grab a bite to eat. House of Koko has an extensive menu of brunch foods. If you are looking for perfectly cooked smoked salmon, delicious buttermilk pancakes and a range of toppings on toast, this is the spot for you. Enjoy your brunch with one of the many drinks available: there's a selection of coffees (available with alternative milks), teas, and hot chocolates, as well as an array of cold drinks to choose from.
Where: 62 Harrogate Road, LS7 4LA
Book now: House of Koko
Fint
What: Prevously known as Fettle, Fint has taken its place serving delicious Scandinavian cuisine. Here you'll find a selection of mouth-watering dishes including lemon and cardamon buckwheat porridge, poached eggs on sourdough toast and salmon gravlax crumpet Benedict, alongside the Fint breakfast with vegetarian and vegan options available. Fint offers new flavours of brunch food and is the perfect spot for a relaxed bite to eat to fill the void between breakfast and lunch.
Where: 73 Great George Street, LS1 3BR
Book now: Fint
Moose Coffee
What: Bringing American Canadian breakfast and brunch to Leeds, Moose Coffee provides an array of American style brunch foods. Try New York Moose, also known as eggs Benedict and the 'cabouse' (homemade cheese pancakes served with bacon and free range eggs). For those with a sweet tooth, try the homemade buttermilk pancakes, French toast or waffles with maple syrup. Enjoy your food with a beverage, Moose has a selection of coffees, teas, natural juices and moose shakes to choose from.
Where: Bond Street, LS1 2JZ
Book now: Moose Coffee
Tattu Leeds
What: Tattu is known for its high-end Chinese lunch and dinners, and probably better still for its ultra-instagrammable interiors - the Leeds outpost features the franchise’s signature mass of purple blossom from the ceiling - but did you know they also do brunch? Their bottomless brunch, served on Saturdays between 12-3.45pm, offers a high-end alternative to the usual eggs and bacon. Arriving in waves, wave one of brunch involves short rib spring roll and pork dumplings, while wave two offers the ‘wok fired angry bird’ - chicken with roasted chilli pepper, and balsamic teriyaki salmon. Drinks from Tattu’s famously inventive cocktail list flow freely for 90 minutes.
Where: 29 East Parade, Minerva House, LS1 5PS
Book now: Tattu
Cha Lounge
What: Cha Lounge is an independent, sustainably-minded cafe tucked away in a side street near the city centre. This Zero Waste cafe sources their brunch from local farms, and prides itself on hosting the largest range of ethical leaf teas in Leeds, also serving North Star coffee. Brunch offerings involve a restorative full English, Sumac roasted tomatoes with sriracha on toast, and a build your own breakfast sandwich with a choice of fillings from across the menu.
Where: 24 Dock Street, LS10 IJF
Book now: Cha Lounge
Wolfox
What: Wolfox has posts across the UK, with each of their cafes serving coffee roasted in-house, and a fantastic brunch array made with locally-sourced ingredients, or from their Sussex farm. The menu is a mix of Scandinavian and British classic brunch items: expect smoothie bowls, wild mushrooms on sourdough and sweet and savoury danishes. This is also probably one of the most conveniently located cafes in Leeds, a few minutes’ walk from the train station and right by the city centre.
Where: 66 Wellington Street, LS1 2EE
Book now: WOLFOX Leeds
Wapentake
What: Named after the word for the administrative subdivisions of the ridings of Yorkshire, Wapentake is an all-day love letter to Yorkshire. Heading up the brunch menu is the almighty Yorkshire breakfast, involving all the trimmings of a full English - and some, alongside a breakfast hash of fried potatoes, chorizo and fried eggs, and a breakfast Yorkshire pudding, which comes with baked eggs, crispy bacon and Henderson’s relish. Come armed with an ample appetite - you can also opt for the ‘Viking breakfast’, which doubles the size of any of the Yorkshire breakfasts.
Where: 92 Kirkgate, LS2 7DJ
Book now: Wapentake
Prefer to eat later in the day? How about exploring our selection of the best afternoon teas in Leeds.