Eats

The best independent coffee shops to open in Leeds in 2021

All the best places to get your caffeine fix in Leeds.

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 27th December 2021

All the best places to get your caffeine fix in Leeds.

It's no secret at Leeds is fuelled by caffeine, especially given there are no less than 110 different coffee stores and within a short walk from the city centre. 2021 brought the closure of some of our favourite coffee spots, but plenty more reopened to revive the caffeine scene.

Here are our favourite openings of the year so far.

Nam Song Caphe, Merrion Street

Image: Nam Song Caphe

What was formerly Rum and Reason on Merrion Street was taken over by Nam Song Caphe back in June. The new cafe and restaurant has since been serving up authentic Vietnamese coffees, bahn mi baguettes, bowls of pho and more. On the drinks front, there’s some proper Vietnamese coffee to be enjoyed here. Ca phe trung – a Hanoi speciality made with condensed milk and egg yolk mix – is a house favourite, but can also be taken without for those who don’t like the sound of egg in their coffee.

Find out more here.

Soph Makes Cakes, Pudsey

Image: Soph Makes Cakes

A new cake shop opened inside an industrial mill unit in Stanningley, Leeds  back in late May. Called Soph’s Cakes Leeds, it’s the brainchild of ex-professional dancer Sophie O’Connell – who’s had the unit for over a year but has only just been able to open now. Customers can enjoy a good range of sweet treats like cupcakes and full-size creations, alongside coffees and savoury pastries from 2-6pm Monday to Wednesday, and 9.30am-2pm on Saturdays.

Find out more here.

Better Days Cafe, Grand Arcade

Image: Better Days Bar

A new wellbeing cafe with a focus on improving people’s mental health opened in Leeds earlier this year. Called Better Days, it’s located inside the Grand Arcade and sets itself apart from other bars and cafes in the area by offering dedicated (and free) classes in improving wellbeing. Better Days offers free support to everyone who visits and, according to owner Vicky Fytche, is the only place of its kind in Leeds- and we're so excited to see something so important pop up in our city.

Find out more here.

Presto Coffee, Headingley

Image: Presto Coffee

The small Headingley coffee shop opened earlier this year and the little shop really is the epitome of independent coffee. There’s a new selection of cakes and baked goods each day and the store stocks whatever seems right. There’s always variation: whether it’s the morning choice of bagels or the ever-changing choice of hot chocolates, you’re guaranteed to be greeted with a smile and good vibes, which is all we can really ask from our local coffee shop.

Find out more here.

Fint, Great George Street

Formerly Fettle. / Image: Fint

After some serious rebranding, the team behind Fettle opened, Fint. Housed in the same space as its predecessor on Leeds’ leafy Great George street, the owners have rebranded following a period of closure – and we were really excited to see them back, albeit in a new guise. Fettle was known and loved for its understated, laid-back cafe-meets-restaurant vibe, and whilst the space has reemerged with a new name it seems that its overall aesthetic still holds up. The difference? There’s now more of a restaurant focus- but that shouldn't stop you popping in for a great cup of coffee.

Find out more here.

Read More: Nespresso announce new boutique in Trinity Leeds to open in 2022

Mister Coffee, Thorpe Park

coffee van on grass
Image: Mister Coffee

A sweet lockdown success story and delicious coffee shop on wheels, Mister Coffee started serving locals just two months ago. There's fresh hot coffee made from an arabica and robusta blend, and Mister Coffee is also has pastries, sandwiches, pies and more on board. There is even fresh cannoli to snack on and brownies from locally-renowned bakery Brown and Blond.

Find out more here.

Feature Image- Presto Coffee

Eats

Leeds pizza shop hailed ‘exceptional’ and ‘best in the UK’ by major reviewer

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.

Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.

Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.

And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.

The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.

In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.

Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".

As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.

And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."

We will absolutely take that.

Read more: A slice of New York has arrived in Leeds – and the pizzas are 18 inches wide

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.

It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.

Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.

For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.

Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.

But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.

We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.

This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.

All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?

Read more: Yorkshire-set Christmas film by Leeds director starring Richard E. Grant set to hit UK cinemas next month

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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