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Eats
Where to find the best secret and hidden bars in Leeds
From speakeasies behind tailor shops and barbers, to members-only bars selling craft beer and ale, there are so many different hidden bars to discover in Leeds
Leeds is hardly short of great places for a drink, in fact, the city's absolutely teeming with them. From cosy pubs with roaring fires to swanky cocktail bars that ooze glitz and glamour, there are some great places to head for a drink in the city.
But if you're looking for something a little different, somewhere with that je ne sais quoi, then give one of Leeds secret and hidden bars a look-in for an extra-special night of drinking.
From members-only bars to speakeasies sequestered behind working tailors and barber shops, Leeds has some brilliant secret sipping spots well worth seeking out.
Keep reading to discover some of the best-hidden bars in Leeds.
Hidden beneath a barbershop in the Grand Arcade, you need to walk straight through Lords Barbering and down the back stairs to discover secret Leeds bar The Domino. Cosy booths abound, and there's often live jazz music on the stage - which is known for hosting some seriously talented musicians.
Alongside an extensive wine and beer list, you'll also find some top-notch cocktails on the drinks list here. Head down for a combination of timeless classics, re-works of favourites, and signature mixes like oat milk white Russians, strawberry and watermelon Ambratos, and a Riesling cobbler made with riesling wine, peach, lemon and soda.
Find it at 7 Grand Arcade, Leeds LS1 6PG.
Image: Tailors
Tailors
Determined to revive the 1920s American prohibition era, this gin bar is the city's ultimate speakeasy destination. Hidden inside a working tailor's shop at Grand Arcade, by day you can book fittings and choose from Yorkshire-made fabrics, linings, and finishes.
But from 6 pm on a Thursday night throughout the weekend, this quintessentially British bespoke tailor shop becomes a prohibition-inspired gin lounge - serving iconic cocktails from the era alongside its own house gin, aptly named Tailors.
Promising visitors a night of Gatsby-esque glamour, you're invited to rummage in the vintage costume racks for the perfect tailcoat, top hat, or flapper dress, before plonking down at one of the up-cycled sewing tables for a few cocktails or perfect serve g&t.
The Maven might just be the worst kept secret in Leeds, but that doesn't mean it's not a great cocktail bar. The first secret bar of its kind to open in the city, its black, unmarked door remains nondescript to this day whilst the bar itself sits up a flight of stairs above Call Lane.
The main menu focuses mostly on gin and rum, with a handful of vodka and whiskey drinks alongside. On top of this, The Maven also has a 6-flight cocktail tasting menu and an aperitivo menu packed with negronis and Campari sodas, dedicated to the Italian drinking culture.
There's also two private rooms here, a secret bar within the secret bar sponsored by Monkey 47, and a second-floor party room known as the Green Room.
Find it at 1 Call Ln, Leeds LS1 7DH.
Image: Blind Tyger
Blind Tyger
Owned by the team behind Smokestack, Blind Tyger sits above sister site Sandinista on Cross Belgrave Street. The candle lit bar, accessed via an unmarked door at street level, is all dark wood and sumptuous leather seats and boasts a strong selection of spirits on its back bar.
Homemade ingredients are also a big part of the menu, which draws inspiration from far-flung corners of the world as well as from Yorkshire's doorstep. Must-tries include the 'God's own cocktail', made with Wyborowa vodka, rhubarb, pomegranate, and pineapple, it's described as an 'easy-going number with added Yorkshire'.
Elsewhere, you'll find juleps, highballs, and Blind Tyger's twist on Britain's favourite cocktail - the espresso martini. Called the 'Wake and Bake', it's made with banana bread-infused Doorly’s 5-year old rum, muscovado sugar, Pedro Ximénez, and espresso.
Find it at 5 Cross Belgrave St, Leeds LS2 8JP.
Image: Wharf Chambers
Wharf Chambers
This members-only club offers some top-drawer craft ales and beers and is run entirely by its own members. With joining fees set at a very reasonable £2 a year (or £15 for a lifetime), it's well worth the money - getting you access not just to the bar but also to the gigs and other events that take place here.
The worker-run co-op bar, venue, and community space is run exclusively for members - with gigs, film nights/ afternoons, art and craft events, writers' workshops, and more all programmed throughout the week. Membership takes 48 hours to take effect, so make sure to sign up well in advance of heading down.
Find it at 23-25 Wharf St, Leeds LS2 7EQ.
Image: Smokestack
Smokestack
Not strictly secret, but you definitely need to know that it's there - the music on the stairs at Smokestack is a good sign that you're in the right place. Inspired by New Orleans cocktails and music, the bar itself is filled with retro booze posters that hark back to a different era.
The drinks list, meanwhile, features a mix of frequently-changing new cocktails (termed 'floor fillers') and back catalogue favourites ('re-issues). For iconic twists on classics like the negroni, old fashioned, white lady and more - plus reinvented takes on the likes of Aperol Spritz, Zombies and French martinis, look no further.
Find it at 159A Lower Briggate, Leeds LS1 6LY.
Image: Tiki HIdeaway
Tiki Hideaway
Tucked above Call Lane Social, this not-to-secret hideaway boasts a tropical menu of 1950s-inspired Polynesian cocktails. Head down for lots of rum, fire, sugar and citrus - the four pillars of Tiki, essentially.
Alongside classics like Mai Tais and Dark and Stormys, you'll also find a decent selection of house signatures like the 'green coco cumber', a refreshing mix of gin, muddled cucumber, pineapple, Quaglia bergamotto and lime; and the 'Don Mixo', which combines Don Q Anejo dark rum and bergamot-infused Italicus liqueur with almonds, lime, and a pineapple-ring garnish.
If you're looking for a fun bar that doesn't take itself too seriously, Tiki Hideaway is the one. You should get a good dance in here, too.
38 Call Ln, Leeds LS1 6DT.
Image: Pixel Bar
Pixel Bar
This video game bar is tucked away on Great George street. A bit out of the way, it's definitely a destination bar - popular with those in the know for its video game-themed cocktails, which include the likes of the ‘Jigglypuff’, ‘Princess Perch’ and the ‘Yoshi’s Island Iced Tea.’
Pixel Bar's fully-themed cocktail menu also features a signature Pokemon-inspired drink, called 'Who's that pokemon?'’ – a combination of vodka, lemon juice, soda and your choice of flavoured syrup. Garnished with a Pokemon card for ultimate gamer touch, it comes in flavours strawberry, blue curacao, green apple, bubblegum, pineapple, blackcurrant or elderflower.
You can also get your hands on potion shots promising 'stamina' and 'full health', not to mention play games on a mix of new consoles, retro arcade games and high-spec PCs.
Feature image - The Domino Leeds
Eats
10 brilliant new bars, restaurants and cafes that have opened in Leeds recently
Leeds has welcomed a whole host of new places to eat and drink recently, and there’s a lot to get excited about.
We all love our food and drink, and it's safe to say we love writing about it.
So please, allow us to indulge by telling you all about our top 10 favourite new openings that have popped up in and around Leeds over the past few months.
But fair warning, continuing to read on may cause extreme hunger...
Rotisserie Club
22 Wellington Street, LS1 4EA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
A new rotisserie chicken spot has landed in the city centre, serving everything from full and half roasted birds all served with their crispy house dripping roasties, as well as viral chicken Caesar wraps and rice bowls.
Dip or drench your chicken in their range of sauces and you’ve got yourself something worth licking your fingers over.
From the team behind Domino Club and Roland's comes Paper Plane, your newest cocktail bar that is a love letter to an analogue time where everything was made by hand.
The interior is inspired by 1970s Hollywood and Japanese listening bars complete with music played exclusively on vinyl to match, and the menu is perfectly curated, coming alongside its own martini menu served straight from the freezer.
After multiple pop-ups around the city, Acai Social Club has finally found a permanent home in Leeds, meaning getting your acai bowl fix is about to get a whole lot easier.
And the best bit? Unlimited toppings. There's also matcha, coffee and smoothies on the menu, plus new toppings dropping every week to keep things interesting.
Tahin
10 Kirkgate, LS1 6BY
Images: The Hoot Leeds
One of the city’s favourite Turkish takeaways is back in the city and we couldn’t be happier for their return.
Formerly located in The Core, Tahiis a family-run takeaway that is whipping up the freshest dishes for you to eat on-the-go. Even at 4pm they’ve got queues out the door for authentic Turkish flatbreads Pide, Za’atar, Shawarma and more.
With fresh chicken and lamb ready to be shaved, warm, welcoming faces to greet you and prices you just can’t turn down because most dishes are under a tenner.
Alfonso's Deli
New Road Side, Horsforth, LS18 4QD
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Famed for its toasted Cuban sandwiches, coffee and stacked deli subs, Alfonso's Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches in the city.
And now they’ve opened a second site in the suburbs with Horsforth providing all the good stuff we know and love it for, plus fresh bakes which they’re making downstairs - oh, and you can also get yourself a cigar.
If you don’t know about Burgerism then get to know. The cult burger brand is famed over in the North West for their juicy, crunchy-around-the-edges smash burgers and now they’ve brought them to Meanwood.
Rizia's Bottega
114 Bolling Rd, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley LS29 8PN
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Rizia's Bottega, on Bolling Road on the outskirts of Ilkley, officially opened at the end of August following a soft launch, serving authentic schiacciata sandwiches, colourful salads, and light Sicilian breakfasts.
The new neighbourhood spot comes from the team behind Ilkley favourite Emporio Italia and has been created as somewhere locals can pop in for their morning coffee, sit down for a bite to eat, or pick up some high-quality Italian treats to enjoy at home.
One of Manchester’s most popular brunch spots, which always has queues down the street, has made its way across to Leeds at last.
Bruncho has opened on The Headrow, bringing its hit products like French toasts, Middle Eastern brunches, and iced matchas, to Leeds city centre.
Bruncho has also made a name for itself with its viral creations, including Labubu Dubai pistachio French toast (how many 2025 buzzwords can you get in one menu item?) and its collection of drinks served at -86°C. We're sure that their weird and wonderful creations will go down just as well here in Leeds.
Vietnamese powerhouse Pho opened a permanent spot on Boar Lane and it's serving up the likes of beef brisket pho, crispy spring rolls, three meat combo rice bowls, and chicken curries - yum.
Mandy's Barbecue
3 Sheaf St, Leeds LS10 1HD
Images: The Hoot Leeds
A new Yorkshire barbecue spot has taken over the kitchen at The Attic near Aire Park serving up sourdough sarnies by day, with fillings cooked over fire. Expect your lunchtime to be levelled up with BBQ rump steak, Korean chicken and plenty of other local produce on the menu. Then, come evening, things switch up with small plates - including jerk mackerel, BBQ sirloin with kimchi, and lamb neck.
Featured images - The Hoot Leeds
Eats
Leeds has welcomed a brand-new spot dedicated to rotisserie chicken
Clementine Hall
If you're a fan of all-things chicken, then this is the spot for you.
Introducing The Rotisserie Club, that's doing exactly what it says on the tin...rotisserie chicken.
Taking over the former Shokupan site at 27 Wellington Street, the new restaurant aims to bring a new go-to lunch spot to that area of town.
And we've got a very strong feeling it's going to go down an absolute storm amongst gym bunnies and office dwellers alike.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Brought to the city by Norman of Spuds n Bros fame and Luigi from Habitum and La Bottega Milanese, you just know you're in good hands.
The idea is to split the day between the two businesses, with Habitum taking care of the morning coffee crowd before The Rotisserie Club takes over from lunchtime. Sounds like a match made in heaven if you ask us.
That means early birds can get their caffeine fix before the focus shifts to a menu centred around rotisserie-cooked chicken.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Expect chicken-filled Caesar wraps, bowls, salads, wings and stuffed pittas, as well as half and whole chickens served with their signature house dripping potatoes.
You can dip or drench your chicken in their range of sauces, and then you’ve got yourself something worth licking your fingers over.
Not only that, but in the future they'll be opening in the evenings so you can have your chicken fix alongside a tipple or two.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's great to see two independent businesses team together to create something completely new in the city, and we can't wait to see how well it's received by food lovers in the city centre.
Move over Nando's, The Rotisserie Club is officially in town.
Georgina Pellant -
17th November 2021 
