There's a good reason for Hyde Park is known across the UK...
As a student favourite, Hyde Park is full of bustling cafes and bars open until the early hours, but there's so much more than just the uni lifestyle to embrace here.
There's historic parks steeped in nostalgia from generations gone by, a gorgeous cinema that's moving into the 21st century and beyond whilst undergoing huge renovations- and that's before we've begun to talk about the quaint cafes that attract queues down the street or live music venues that are known as a right of passage for any up-and-coming indie band.
With so many things to do, we've narrowed down our top ten to give you the best possible chance of finding the best in Hyde Park in a single weekend...
Hyde Park Book Club has become a true centre for the arts in Hyde Park. Having opened eight years ago on the site of a former petrol station, the cafe is open for breakfast and remote working by day before hosting DJ sets and exhibitions upstairs and intimate gigs in the basement when the sun goes down.
Hyde Park Picture House has recently undergoing mass renovations to restore the Grade II listed building to introduce modern amenities that bring the building into the 21st century, whilst preserving and protecting its history for generations to come to appreciate.
Refurbishments include repairs to it’s façade and external lamppost, the restoration of it’s beautiful original terrazzo flooring and the refurbishment of it’s iconic nine gas lights which will be lit during every screening.
Coffee and cake from one of Leeds' favourite caffeine spots is a must when visiting Hyde Park. Championed as a student favourite, even though they sport a 'no laptop zone inside' Coffee on the Crescent is popular with all ages for good reason.
Inside the light, airy space is far more than their award-winning North Star coffee. Visitors can purchase beautiful house plants, artwork from independent up-and-coming creatives, and that's before you've ventured over to the counter to inspect the sweet treats on offer.
Cronuts, brownies, croissants and other carefully selected sweet and savoury pastries have made it on to the ever-changing menu and drive queues down the road every Saturday morning.
For those soley interested in shopping for second-hand treasures, Vintage Boutique is an unmissable stop. Located right in the heart of studentsville spaces between Hyde Park and Headingley, this vintage store has plenty of hidden diamonds in the rough, just waiting to be uncovered. Expect a huge array of 70s and 80s bangers, as well as contemporary house mixes amongst old football scarves, retro Nikes and an impressive collection of classic novels.
Access through Hyde Park Corner, The Crescent and Woodhouse Lane.
Image: Wikicommons
Perhaps another student favourite hangout spot, Woodhouse Moor (often known as the Hyde Park park) is a one mile green space with plenty to do. There's basketball courts to shoot hoops, visit no less than four significant statues (many of which seem to be the centre of pranks and from time-to-time are subject to traffic cones on their heads) or just laze around on the grass with a picnic.
Millions of people walk through the park each year without realising its full community value over time. Named after Hyde Park in London for its attract public speaking, over the course of the past hundred years, the park has hosted everything from Black Lives Matter protests to Princess Royal Mary (the aunt of Queen Elizabeth II), as well as purpose built air raid shelters, allotments and even a World War One tank.
Nowadays, your more likely to find skateboarders and a park run- but there's hints of the park's history around each corner.
The East Village is one of those Hyde Park hidden gems where the booze is so strong, some cocktails are limited to two per person. The ‘Candy Hour’ selection offers tropical mixes like Pina-Can-Lada with coconut rum, Lilt and coconuts, as well as classic cocktails like the Spiced Mule and Mango Bellinis.
If you want to start or end your night out in style, the 2-for-1 deal lasts all night long to make sure you can get your value drinks at whatever hour you need them the most.
All Hallows Church, 24 Regent Terrace, Burley (although we'd argue it's pretty much Hyde Park).
Image: Rainbow Junction, Trip Advisor
Hidden in Hyde Park is one of the most generous community schemes in Leeds. Aiming to reduce food waste and food poverty, Rainbow Junktion offers a delicious range of fresh produce and warm meals on a pay-as-you-feel basis.
With a prestigious five stars glowing on their TripAdvisor, Rainbow Junktion are a firm favourite with Hyde Park residents and it’s their ongoing events and hospitable staff that keep the pop-up restaurant alive and fresh.
The way it works is the non-profit intercept food that’s about to be wasted and saves it from going in the bin. Their hashtag ‘#FeedBelliesNotBins’ emphasises their belief that food is not distributed equally and this is a real cause of food poverty in the UK.
Watch live bands at the historic Brudenell Social Club
33 Queen's Road, Burley (we couldn't believe it either, it's basically Hyde Park though)
Image: Brudenell Social Club
Surprisingly, the Brudenell Social Club falls under the brackets of Burley, though we would argue it’s just as much a Hyde Park staple- and we're sure we're not the only ones that think that way. An iconic Leeds venue that offers so much more than meets the eye.Packing out two intimate, cosy venues almost every night, Brudenell Social Club is a rite-of-passage for students and up-and-coming artists alike.
With a small capacity of just 400 (in both the main room and the community room), the umbrella of musical artists that play here folds no restrictions.
It is a true rite of passage to any students who find themselves in Leeds during their studies and a firm favourite for societies and clubs from the various student unions across the city.
Starting at Woodies, the route takes you through fourteen boozers from Far Headingley, into Headingley itself, then towards Hyde Park before heading right into the centre of town – if you get that far.
Officially the route hosts the first eight pubs in Far Headingley and Headingley: Woodies, The Three Horseshoes, New Inn, Headingley Taps, Manahatta, The Box, Skyrack, The Original Oak before runners move onto Hyde Park pubs like The Hyde Park pub, The Library, Pack Horse, The Eldon and The Fenton before arriving at the final pub: The Dry Dock in the city.
Best known as number nine on the Otley Run, expect a full array of alcoholic options like Prosecco, Gordon’s pink gin fizz, draught pints of Amstel and Peroni and soft drinks as well as sweet-tasting cocktails like Passionfruit Bellinis, Aperol Spritz, Virgin Mojitos and Espresso Martinis. The food options are just as exciting with a choice of either a: brekkie, burger or pizza on offer.
All this comes to just £25 per person and we can’t think of a better way to kick off the weekend without the hangover of the Otley Run. Just make sure you don’t sleep in, this one’s only available until 1pm on the weekends.
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026
Clementine Hall
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Sophie Smith -
21st September 2023 
