Making Any Occasion Special with the Best Restaurants in Leeds
I have many interests, but these days, I’ve really taken on the habit of dining out. It’s just so much fun to hunt for intriguing restaurants and try out their dishes. Bonus points if I’m celebrating with loved ones for whatever reason!
Thankfully, Leeds is teeming with amazing dining spots serving different cuisines or unique fusions. From local delights to the best of cuisines from other nations, I’ll always find a gem no matter what.
In the mood for a culinary journey? Here are the best restaurants in Leeds.
How much does a restaurant meal cost in Leeds?
Most restaurant meals in Leeds cost around £30 to £50 per person. For fine dining spots, this ballpark can exceed £100 per person, but this price already includes multiple courses most of the time.
La Piola
Address: 2 Park Square E
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—12 pm to 2 pm, 5 pm to 11 pm
- Friday—12 pm to 2 pm, 4 pm to 11 pm
- Saturday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +447809126111
Confession: I used to think that Italian cuisine wasn’t for me, but that was before I discovered La Piola. This spot totally made me change my mind, and thank goodness for that!
This restaurant is technically centrally located in the city, but since it’s in the basement, it can be pretty hard to find for newcomers. Still, its secluded location makes for a cosy atmosphere, which I love.
Of course, the service makes everything even better. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, so whenever I dine here, I feel at home, like I’m dining with old friends.
What I like most about this restaurant is that you can truly taste the freshness in the ingredients. I love ordering the tagliatelle gamberoni e asparagi, and the noodles are springy every time. The sauce also balances sweet and tangy flavours well, and the subtle addition of spice is a nice welcome.
The prices aren’t too bad either. I tend to spend between £20 and £30 here every time, and I feel full and satisfied afterwards.
Since this place is pretty cosy, it can get booked and busy in no time. So, I definitely recommend booking a reservation ahead of time.
Customer Reviews
Fresh and high-quality ingredients
“We had a super meal at La Piola for our anniversary. We spend a lot of time in Italy and finding really authentic pasta dishes in Leeds is a challenge, but La Piola have it nailed. Super fresh, high-quality ingredients cooked to perfection, superb friendly service and great value – we will definitely be back!”
- AmyLouShack, Google Review
Immaculate service
“This vibrant little restaurant in the middle of Leeds was just perfect after a long work day. Greeted by the owner and luckily, there was a table. Everything was immaculate. The pasta dishes was just perfect. Service superb. Thank you Fabio.”
- Jesper Tana, Google Review
Tattu
Address: 29 E Parade
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 10:30 pm
Contact Number: +441132451080
Looking for a date idea in Leeds? Why not head to Tattu? With its dark and moody atmosphere, punctuated by florals and pretty lights, this restaurant is brimming with romantic energy.
The food here combines Chinese and Japanese cuisines made through modern cooking techniques.
I’d personally like to highlight the Wagyu beef dumplings. The flavours are rich and bursting with umami, while the heat from the sriracha and kimchi cuts through all that with a flourish.
The extra sauces, like the chilli oil, are worth noting, too. The extra punch of spice improves the dish every time, so I’m not surprised that people end up buying jars of these sauces.
I also really like that they offer great vegetarian options. This is good news for my plant-based foodies!
The service is amazing as well. Whenever we dine here, we always start with the mixologist, who is welcoming. The servers are just as attentive and accommodating; we truly feel well-cared for here.
However, the prices are definitely on the expensive side. Set menus go beyond £100, and even the drinks cost a pretty penny. In other words, this place is something you have to visit once in a while.
Customer Reviews
Friendly and attentive servers
“Our favourite restaurant in Leeds. Our ‘go to’ for special occasion/celebration meals. The food, service and surroundings are all amazing. We have eaten here multiple times, and have never had any complaints. Our server tonight, Ryan, deserves a shout-out. Ryan was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable of the menu and most importantly, kept our glasses topped up all evening.”
- Aaron Bentley-Rhodes, Google Review
Good food and lovely servers
“Tattu is the place me and my partner book for special occasions and we last went on the 6th December for my birthday. The food was just as good as it always is, if not better than we remember from last time. Our server, Deriel, was so lovely. Very attentive and friendly, cracking jokes with us and just making sure we had everything we needed to have a fab birthday dinner so big thanks to him!”
- Brooke Crabtree, Google Review
Brasserie Blanc
Address: 4, Victoria Mill, The Embankment, Sovereign St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—12 pm to 11 pm
- Saturday—11:30 am to 11 pm
- Sunday—11:30 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +441132206060
For my French cuisine lovers out there, Brasserie Blanc is a must-visit. There’s simply a good variety of dishes here. You have your classic French fare, as well as options for vegan and vegetarian foodies.
Steaks are the bestsellers here, but personally, I prefer the roast beef. The beef is 21-day matured, and you can taste that richness in its meat! The cauliflower cheese complements the richness with its slight saltiness, which is why I smother my meat with it.
Another thing I like about this restaurant is the location. It’s right by the River Aire, and the interior features wood furniture and dark accents. Because of this, the vibe is very chic and even romantic.
I find the prices to be reasonable as well. Most of the food options are under £30, except for the steaks.
This place even offers discounts and special promos from time to time, so you can save money!
The one downside is that this is a popular spot, so it can feel crowded during peak hours. Plus, it means that servers will be overwhelmed, so your order might be served late.
Customer Reviews
Perfect ambience, friendly servers
“We had a beautiful 3 course lunch here today. I tried foods I would never normally eat (duck leg and chorizo cassoulet for example) and loved it all. The waitress was so friendly and knowledgeable, the ambience was perfect, my husband and I could not have picked a better place.”
- Zoe Spilsbury, Google Review
Amazing experience
“We have dined a few times in Brasserie Blanc in Cheltenham and this was our first visit to Leeds branch. Thought we would see in the new year with family and why not Leeds. Not disappointed with our choice and heartily recommend dining here. It is noisy when very busy, due to low ceiling in an old industrial building.”
- Alex Nimmo, Google Review
MyLahore
Address: Cavendish St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—12 pm to 12 am
- Saturday—1 pm to 1 am
- Sunday—1 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +441132444441
I have to say that MyLahore won me over with its vibe. The whole place is so charming, with its entry hall full of suitcase props and all the framed pictures on the wall. Plus, it’s pretty quiet, too, so you can converse with your companion with no problem.
As for the food, the options are aplenty. You can find the iconic Pakistani staples like curry, biryani, samosas, and chaat, but there are also some Western dishes like pasta dishes and burgers.
You’d be remiss not to get any of the kebab options. My personal favourite is the flaming chops, which are grilled mutton chops. The flavours are bold; earthy and spicy are the most dominant, but there’s a lovely charred undertone as well.
The food can also be explosive, considering that they don’t skimp on the spice. Some people might wish that the restaurant allowed for milder heat, but personally, I like it.
That said, I’ve noticed that the service here tends to be slow. There have been moments when we waited too long for our order, and when it was served, it was already cold. Fortunately, the servers were accommodating, so they gave us new dishes.
Customer Reviews
Excellent service
“We had a great dining experience here today. The food was delicious, well presented, and perfect for sharing — everything arrived fresh and full of flavour. Special thanks to ALMAS for the excellent service. He was very friendly, attentive, and professional throughout our visit, making sure everything was taken care of and that we felt welcome. His service really made our evening even more enjoyable. Highly recommend this place, and we’ll definitely be coming back!”
- Zhengyezi Wang, Google Review
Rich beautiful flavors
“First time here last night and the food was absolutely amazing. Everything was really tasty, really fresh and rich beautiful flavours. The amount of meat in the curries was also exceptional. Staff also really nice, great place and a great setting.”
- Daniel Tyson, Google Review
Olive Tree Brasserie
Address: 8 S Parade
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 10:30 pm
Contact Number: +441135133452
Every time I go inside Olive Tree Brasserie, I forget that I’m in a city. This restaurant features wooden furniture, a muted earthy colour palette, and patches of greenery mixed in. It’s like I’ve been transported to a forest!
Though I do find the interior design to be soothing and relaxing, the atmosphere is anything but. It’s actually lively here, which I find quite nice, to be honest.
I’m impressed with the food offerings here. Aside from the main menu full of comfort dishes like fish and chips and kebabs, this restaurant has a separate menu for Sunday roast and bottomless brunch. There’s even a gluten-free menu, too!
Since this restaurant specialises in Greek cuisine, bright and savoury flavours are the main highlight. You can taste this particular flavour profile in their fish and chips; the tzatziki has that nice zing from the lemon!
But they also have dishes that are more on the rich, aromatic side. One example is the beef stifado; the earthy spices and the rich tomato sauce go so well together. Oh, and the beef is super tender, too!
The portion sizes can be small, though, especially considering the price, so keep that in mind.
Customer Reviews
Fresh food and amazing servers
“We came for bottomless brunch and it exceeded our expectations! The food was fresh and came so quickly despite us being a table of 10! Feeling drunk and full which is a win for bottomless brunch! Erin was the best waitress too and was always checking that we needed extra drinks!”
- Serena Di Stefano, Google Review
Pretty and comfortable atmosphere
“Oliv Really friendly and the food is amazing. Staff are really friendly and helpful and no problem with swapping certain items on a meal. Tap water was offered and served lovely and cold. The restaurant is so pretty and very comfortable with air con. A mixture of ages which is great, fabulous for a group of friends or couples. Charlie was just the best server at Tree Brasserie Leeds.”
- Donna McFetridge, Google Review