If you're looking for a refreshing brekkie to start the day- we've found plenty of acai and smoothie bowls that are packed with vitamins and punchy flavour.
Acai bowls are one of the most aesthetic breakfasts around and perfect for vegans wanting to get their five a day in whilst posting their meal on to their socials. Not just that, but they contain a whole lot of fruit and grains, so it can be a great source of nutrients.
Here's our favourite spots to grab an açai bowl in and around Leeds.
Wolføx Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The organic açai bowl from Wolfox is made from a smoothie base, topped with granola, fresh fruit and coconut flakes- so selections can vary from day to day, but we’re convinced they’re all just as tasty as each other- they were simply beautiful. We can fully understand how they get through 70kg of bananas a week.
Wolfox is a gorgeous cafe space right in the heart of Leeds that's perfect for working remotely or grabbing some Saturday brunch- it's definitely our number one spot for Instagrammable açai bowls for sure.
In Leeds 'most Instagrammable' cafe, it makes sense for an aesthetic açai bowl to be front and centre of the menu. The #BreakfastBowl is a berry smoothie bowl with banana, nutty granola, Soy yoghurt and Chia seeds is picture perfect, and nutritious too. Best of all, it's 100% vegan friendly, so you can rely on this tasty brekkie if you have a plant-based diet.
It's even available as a bottomless option too, with cocktails, mocktails or Prosecco (each priced differently), the boozy brunch offer stretches across most of the day, broken into two sessions: the first running from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm, the second from 4 – 8 pm.
Right in the heart of Leeds, between Briggate and Trinity, you'll find Bascos- serving up açai and granola bowls, amongst other tasty treats every single day. The açai bowl comes with granola, bananas, strawberries and coconut flakes, but if you fancy something a little more exotic, try the Pina Colada Oatmeal with coconut milk oats, yogurt, fresh pineapple chunks, toasted coconut flakes, maraschino cherry.
Sticking with the theme of healthy but refreshing breakfasts, the Chocolate Quinoa is an unexpected dish to see on the menu, but one that is no doubt well received by those with a sweet tooth. It's almond and coconut milk quinoa, vegan chocolate chunks, berries, banana, chia seeds and sounds delish.
Located in Kirkgate market, Bonito Acai is the takeaway made to transport you to your exotic summer holiday location. The market stall embodies sunshine all year round with its bright decor and offers acai bowls to take away in small bowls. There's plenty of flavours to choose from, including a Nutella bowl and a Green Goddess flavour.
The Leeds Kirkgate Market is full of independent traders that bring us new, innovative flavours years before we see them in mainstream foodie spots, so it's a great place to go and check out the latest trending flavours- as well as grabbing some tasty grub at a reasonable price.
If you’re heading over the M621 and need a drive-thru breakfast that will suit your vegan needs, or just want a drink with a difference, look no further than the UK’s first drive-thru Leon restaurant in Gildersome. Of course, if you’re in Leeds city centre, the train station store offer the same range of delicious plant-based treats, including breakfasts, wraps and the best oat milk lattes in the station.
To complement your order, their Açai Smoothie is worth adding on. Five berries, blended. Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cherries and acai berries, mixed with apple and banana, it really is as fresh as it gets. Even though it's not a bowl, we're big fans of this one nonetheless.
If you find yourself on a daytrip to Sheffield, there's plenty of açai options for you there too. Our favourite cafe to visit is Pom's Kitchen, a veggie and vegan eatery that looks like it's been tipped in neon hundreds and thousands before being rolled in fairy dust (in a good way). You'll want to take photos of everything here, including their smoothies and açai bowls.
The flavours will vary day-to-day as the kitchen run on a limited menu, but there will no doubt be plenty to choose from upon each visit. Our latest favourite is their Emily in Paris inspired hot chocolate and their neon vegan hot dogs.
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason it seems.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June in a vacant railway arch at Fourth Court on Bridge Road in Leeds' Holbeck area.
It won't be your average pizza shop though, you'll have to preorder for now but trust us - it's worth it.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Edges said: "WE FINALLY HAVE an opening date, Thursday 18th June! All pizzas are pre-ordered like we have always done, and are slightly limited for now (still looking for helping hands!!!). The pre-orders will open the day before at 12pm via our Storekit link.
"We’ll be then opening Wednesday to Friday, 4-9pm and Saturday & Sunday 3-9pm. If there are still remaining slots left on the day, you can order up to an hour before the collection time. We have limited seating, for those who travel and would like to eat in. There is plenty of car parking space, to pick up your pizza, too.
"We can’t wait to see you all soon & more importantly, we can’t wait to start making some good food for you again."
We can't wait to get our hands on a coveted Edges pizza slice again, so you best believe we'll be there at the opening with bells on.
The 80-year-old Wakefield butchers that won Jane McDonald’s heart
Declan Kelly
When Wakefield's queen of the cruise ships recommends a pork pie in Yorkshire, you listen.
TV presenter, singer and national treasure Jane McDonald has never hidden her love for her hometown. While her career has taken her around the world, from luxury ocean liners to sold-out theatre tours, Wakefield has always remained close to her heart. And among the many things she proudly champions from her hometown, one local institution receives more praise than most: Allums Butchers.
In fact, Jane has often joked that one of the reasons she still lives in Yorkshire is because of their famous pork pies. Most recently, Jane was once again singing their praises during her album launch at HMV when we interviewed her. She has also recently spoken fondly about the butcher's legendary pies on Alan Carr's podcast.
Hearing her enthusiasm sparked our curiosity, so we decided to make the trip to Wakefield and discover for ourselves what makes these pork pies so special.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located on Brook Street, Allums Butchers is more than just a place to pick up your Sunday roast. It's a business woven into the fabric of Wakefield's history, with a story stretching back more than 80 years.
The journey began in 1945 when Albert Allum started trading from Wakefield Market.
At a time when local communities depended on independent traders, Albert Allum built a reputation for quality produce, expert craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. Those values helped establish a loyal customer base and laid the foundations for a business that would stand the test of time.
More than eight decades later, the same principles continue to guide the company.
Today, Allums remains proudly family-owned and is run by third-generation butcher Jonathan Allum. While much has changed since Albert's early days on the market stall, the commitment to quality remains exactly the same. The business has grown into one of Yorkshire's most respected independent butchers, yet it continues to place traditional butchery, carefully sourced produce and customer service at the heart of everything it does.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Speaking to us about his relationship with Jane McDonald, Jonathan shared memories that stretch back decades. The pair first met as teenagers when Jane would visit the market alongside her mother. Like many local families, they regularly stopped by the Allum stall and, more often than not, left with one of the butcher's famous pork pies.
Jonathan remembers chatting with Jane as she collected her order.
"I'd often say, 'See you next week,'" he recalled. "And every so often she'd reply, 'No, you won't - I’m off cruising.'"
Jane has gone on to become one of Britain's most recognisable entertainers, known by millions for her television programmes and her successful career at sea and most recently her iconic Mighty Hoopla performance . Yet despite the fame, she never forgot her Wakefield roots. To this day, she remains one of Allums' most loyal supporters and regularly speaks about the business with genuine affection.
Allums' pork pies have become something of a Yorkshire institution in their own right. Handmade using a traditional recipe that has been refined over generations, each pie is crafted using seasoned pork, rich savoury jelly and a perfectly baked hot-water crust pastry. There are no modern gimmicks, just a commitment to making a classic product exceptionally well.
Naturally, we couldn't leave without trying the pork pies ourselves.
Sometimes the best food stories aren't about reinvention or chasing the latest trend. They're about preserving traditions, maintaining standards and doing one thing exceptionally well for generations.
More than 80 years after Albert Allum first opened for business in Wakefield Market, Allums Butchers continues to embody exactly that philosophy. And after finally experiencing their famous pork pies for ourselves, we can confidently say that Jane McDonald might just be right.
Sophie Smith -
19th January 2022 
