Luxury Leeds hotel Dakota is launching a new weekend brunch on its stunning terrace next month - and offering guests free fizz when they make a booking to celebrate.
The new brunch will be hosted at the hotel's destination bar and terrace Salon Privé, which has its own private entrance and a terrace overlooking the city’s electric Greek Street.
Served between 1030 am and 1230 pm Friday to Sunday starting from 6 August; classic dish options will include the likes of Argyll smoked salmon and scrambled egg with toasted walnut bread, and eggs benedict and fried duck egg with Yorkshire chorizo and wild mushrooms.
Dakota's destination bar and terrace Salon Privé has its own separate entrance / Image: Dakota
That said, there ere are some more out-there new brunch choices on the menu too for the more adventurous foodie. We rather like the look of the burrata on grilled sourdough with Jamon Serrano and heirloom tomatoes, although the freshly baked pastries and fruit preserves could equally have us sold.
You can't go wrong with steak and eggs, or for those carnivores who love a classic German hot dog, Salon Privé has its own twist; combining Lishmans of Ilkley bratwurst sausages with mustard, ketchup, gherkin and sweet caramelised onion.
And for sweet tooths there'll also be big chunky stacks of pancakes, loaded with either your choice of streaky bacon and maple syrup or sliced, fresh banana and scoops of chocolatey Nutella.
The new eggs benedict brunch dish at Dakota Leeds / Image: Dakota
Drinks choices, meanwhile, range from classic brunch cocktails like bellinis, rose sangrias and bloody marys to a huge range of gins from a menu that spans over 180 different gin styles and pairings.
Mark Spanton, Hotel Manager at Dakota Leeds says: “From our glamourous heated terrace to our impressive gin and cocktail menu, Salon Privé is an unmissable destination in the city.
“Whether you’re looking for a chic weekend brunch with friends and fizz or a relaxed afternoon with family sharing stories and small plates, our new summer menus have been created with all occasions in mind.
There will be a free glass of fizz on arrival for the first 100 to make their booking / Image: Dakota
“This is the summer to enjoy catch-ups with friends old and new, and what better way to enjoy a cocktail or two in the sunshine, than on Salon Privé’s terrace, as you enjoy delicious food and overlook one of the city’s most vibrant streets.”
Bookings for the new brunch open from 2 August, with first sittings starting at 1030am on Friday 6 August.
Complimentary glasses of fizz will be given to the first 100 guests to book a brunch. Terms and conditions apply.
Feature image - Dakota.
Eats
Grade-II listed city centre bar to open East Asian-inspired street food kitchen
Howard Assembly Room to launch new bar with permanent kitchen from Yuzu Street Food.
HAR bar, the intimate Grade II-listed space beneath Leeds City Centre's multi-disciplinary venue, the Howard Assembly Room,will now open five days a week with a brand new permanent food partner.
If you're not familiar York’s Yuzu Street Food, then allow us to fill you in.
First established in York following an enlightening culinary trip to Asia in 2019, Yuzu Street Food is now recognised as one of the north’s finest street food vendors.
Image: Supplied
Serving up contemporary takes on bao buns, fried chicken, ramen, katsu curry and much more; Yuzu are set to be the perfect addition to the Howard Assembly Room and its new bar HAR.
First launched in February, a programme of improvements saw the space previously occupied by the restaurant Kino transformed into the HAR bar.
An intimate venue in the cultural heart of the city, HAR bar guests can now enjoy fresh coffee, quality cocktails and a rotation of beers from breweries including Leeds institution Kirkstall Brewery throughout the week.
Image: Supplied Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yuzu Street Food will open at HAR on Friday 15 May.
Michael Wilkinson, Director of Strategy and Commercial, said: “We are very excited to be welcoming Yuzu to HAR bar, with their Asian-inspired street food providing the perfect accompaniment to our range of drinks and firmly establishing HAR bar as one of Leeds’ leading spots to meet and eat.
"We want everyone in the city to feel that this is their space, where great music, a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional service combine to create a truly special place that embodies the city’s creativity while also supporting Opera North’s outreach work across the north.
Chris Hargroves, Yuzu Founder & CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be back in Leeds city centre! Leeds has always shown us incredible support and energy and returning really feels like coming home. We’re excited to reconnect with the community, welcome familiar faces and introduce our new menu items to the new ones. Working with such a prestigious venue as the Howard Assembly Room is something we’re absolutely buzzing about and we can’t wait to fire up the woks!”
Popular beer festival showcasing over 35 indie breweries is returning to Leeds this month
Clementine Hall
Hop City, the long-running beer festival from award-winning Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk, returns this month for its ninth year.
Beer lovers, this one's for you.
Bringing over 35 of the best independent breweries from the UK, Europe and North America together to The Old Flax Store, Hop City will have approximately 250 different world-class beers for guests to try across one weekend of festivities.
The best part? Every pour across the weekend is included in the price of the ticket alongside a Hop City branded glass to enjoy them in, so don't worry about having to continuously reach for your wallet.
Images: Supplied
Joining Northern Monk this year are UK breweries including Brighton’s Beak, Deya from Cheltenham, Manchester-based Track and Edinburgh’s Newbarns who will be pouring next to the likes of US breweries Trillium, Root + Branch, Finback and everywhere; Canadian’s Messorem and Third Moon, and a selection of Europe’s finest indie brewers.
Seriously, this is a beer lover's paradise.
And it's not just about the booze, as joining Hop City 2026 will be joined by Leeds’ own Bundobust who will be bringing their Indian street food alongside Bonehead Fried Chicken and Hermanos Caliente, courtesy of Niko’s Comfort Kitchen.
Images: Supplied
Not a beer fan? Don't fret as natural wine bar Rinse will be pouring all weekend whilst Below Stairs will be providing the cocktails.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk, said: “What started out as an idea to host some of our favourite breweries in Leeds has grown into something bigger than we could have imagined. From the beginning, the ambition was clear - to champion the best hop-forward breweries in the world and to create the first beer festival in Europe dedicated to celebrating hoppy beers and IPAs.
"Today, it’s about bringing some of the greatest breweries from across the globe together under one roof, creating something genuinely special for people who love beer as much as we do. Heading into our ninth year with a line-up of this calibre is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s not just about the beer, but the community, collaboration, and spirit behind it.”
Hop City 2026 will take place from Friday 15 to Saturday 16 of May, and you can buy your tickets here.