Looking for the best bagels in Leeds? Look no further.
In honour of National Bagel Day, we've chosen five of our favourite cafes, shops and bodegas to get our hands on a delicious bagel.
Thought of as an iconic New York food, the big apple has done wonders for the reputation of this chewy, boiled breakfast snack - and it's even come over to Leeds, where there are plenty of bakers turning their hand to the humble bagel.
Whether you like yours slathered in cream cheese and loaded with smoked salmon, or kept simple with a lick of butter, keep reading to discover some of our top picks for the best bagels in Leeds.
Slow Rise Bakery
2a Sunnybank Ave, Horsforth, LS18 4LZ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
In the bagel game since 2014, where they learnt their trade assisting Berlin's formidable Fine Bagels, Slow Rise knows what they're doing when it comes to boiling bagels. Whilst they already supply wholesale to quite a few different places in Leeds, you can also find their famous bagels at their own cafe in Horsforth.
Served freshly toasted and stuffed with your choice of hummus, turkey, salt beef, pastrami; or salmon, or simply slathered in the likes of butter, cream cheese, or avocado, there are over twenty different ways to enjoy a bagel here. These are some of the best bagels in Leeds, no doubt about it.
Streetlane Bakery
Caretakers House, 399 Street Ln, Moortown, LS17 6HQ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This community bakehouse seemingly does it all, bagels included. These can be bought individually or in packs of six and are made fresh daily to a classic Jewish recipe, with flavours including plain, onion and poppy seed. Filling choices are quite limited if you're eating in, with options including Nutella and smoked salmon.
Fika North
94 Otley Rd, Headingley, LS6 4BA
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Situated in the leafy suburb of Far Headingley, this speciality coffee shop also knows a thing or two about bagels. Served from 9 am - 3 pm daily, there are nine different options to choose from including nduja and avocado, rose harissa chickpeas with pink pickles and pea shoots, peanut butter and banana.
Alfonso's Deli
Grand Arcade, LS1 6PG
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you've got a hankering for a proper New York-style breakfast bagel, then the Grand Arcade is where you should be heading.
Relatively new to Leeds, Alfonso's breakfast bagels are the perfect hangover cure - loaded with hash browns, perfectly cooked eggs and dripping in melted cheese.
The Cheesy Living Co.
Oakwood and Pudsey
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You already know by now that everything that Jake and team at Cheesy Living Co. does is absolutley stellar, and their bagels are no exception.
Baked and boiled at their own bakery in town, they're then filled with whatever your heart desires and served with a coffee of your choice for just a tenner.
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.
Clementine Hall -
14th January 2026 
