By far my favourite cafe in Leeds is Popina’s. It is the smallest most student filled cafe I have ever come across, yet the food is the tastiest and I believe the most value for money. With a large breakfast coming to only £4.60 and a large sandwich of your choice being £2.70, there is something for everyone. Popina’s is in the center of Hyde Park so there is no surprise that it is filled with students every day, however the service is prompt and there is never much wait for a table. With indoor and outdoor seating, the cafe is suitable for the off chance that it’s a sunny day, or whenever a breath of fresh air is needed with your bacon bap.
Oranaise Cafe is a beautiful place also situated on Headingley Lane. The decor is magical with patterned rugs and lamps, and the music creates a very chilled vibe, especially as it is not very busy in the day. With the Mediterranean style food, it may not be suitable for everyone, but I found the mix of salads delicious. There is also a restaurant upstairs which I have not year been to but I assume it will be just as nice as cafe beneath it.
La Cafetiere is another cafe that I have only been to once. I went in for a drink with my friends one morning before walking into town. It is situated on Headingley Lane and does not exactly stick out amongst the other cafe’s and shops around it. The cafe was pleasant enough and offered a range of food and drinks, however, I had no desire to go back there after I had been once and I believe that there are other cafes in the area that are more appealing.
If anyone suddenly develops a sweet tooth, I would direct them to the Love Rouge Bakery in Headingley. It is perhaps the sweetest little place, I have ever been in with a huge range of cakes and treats to choose from, no one can resist. With the average cupcake coming to under £2.50, the price is very affordable and the shop is also situated in a very accessible area for anyone living in the center of Leeds.
Cafe Centro is a place that I used to visit in my first year of University as it was on my walk home. The cafe is very quaint and quiet, yet offers lovely food at a good price. A full english breakfast with tea or coffee comes to only £4.50 and there are a range of other foods on the menu, the majority of which are under £5. Centro also offers a student breakfast, making the most of its location and the constant stream of students walking past it. This is a cafe I would recommend to anyone wanting a little treat on the way to uni in the morning.
The San co. co cafe, is in the center of town next door to Primark, so is great for anybody shopping who wants a little coffee break. I have only been in there once when looking for cafe’s for this review, however I was pleasantly surprised by the warm, cosy inside. I was also very happy with the price as a bought a sandwich meal deal for only £3.99 (which was delicious) and my friend chose a muffin from the range of cakes and treats they offer. I will definitely be going in here again the next time I’m in town.
The Clockhouse cafe is somewhere I have been to on a number of occasions as it is close to where I live and not too expensive. It is just opposite Hyde Park pub on Headingley Lane. A large breakfast and a drink comes to just over £5, with 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 eggs, 1 hash brown, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast. It is definitely worth the money. However, I find myself not going too often due to the service being quite slow, and the cafe being very small and usually cramped. I would recommend the Clockhouse cafe to people, as long as it’s not on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
Another lovely cafe I have been to whilst living in Leeds is the Sunshine Bakery. I happened to cross it by chance on the way back from a friend’s house and I’m glad I did. There were the sweetest cupcakes that I have ever seen as well as sandwiches and soup to choose from for a proper lunch. Again, this cafe was quite prices and quite out of the way from the center of Leeds, however, if you’re ever passing by then it is definitely worth going in for a treat.
Pickles and Potter Deli cafe is situated in the Queens Arcade in the center of Leeds, and it makes one of the finest sandwiches I have ever tasted. The Piri Piri chicken favorite comes bursting with flavour as does the roast beef option. Also on the menu is a variety of salads, cakes and drinks to choose from. The only thing that lets this cafe down is the fact that it is quite pricey and you have to pay extra if you want to eat inside. A roast ham sandwich is £3.70, yet it is $4.60 if you would like to eat in. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit of cash and want a delicious lunch, head to Pickles and Potter.
Peach and Pear Cafe, is a halal cafe on the edge of Hyde Park. It is very reasonably priced and offers a wide range of food, from beans on toast to halal beef burgers and chips. Peach and Pear also overs a full breakfast with a turkey substitute for bacon for £4.50. I find the best aspect about this cafe is that the service always comes with a smile and the people who work at Peach and Pear always try to cater for everybody’s needs.
The morning after 