Nestled in the Corn Exchange you will find Bruschetta - a delightful coffee shop and eatery serving up the most innovative brunch dishes in the city.
The Corn Exchange on Call Lane is home to some brilliant independent cafes and boutiques which showcase the creativity and fantastic community spirit of Leeds. Cosy coffee shop and cafe ‘Bruschetta’ is no exception.
Nestled in the magnificence of the Corn Exchange’s gothic interior, the atmosphere is light and airy, making it the perfect spot for a brunch with friends or mid-week meeting.
French and Algerian roots run through their menu at Bruschetta, so you'd be challenged to find anything like it in the city.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Their new summer menu is jam-packed with affordable plates that are perfect for any time of day and the cake cabinet is filled with delicious sweet treats from local bakeries.
Complete with speciality coffee and freshly squeezed juices - Bruschetta do it all and they do it well.
All of the dishes are made with local ingredients and you can really tell. We started with two freshly pressed juices from their daily juice menu - the Turmeric, Orange and Carrot juice was a definite highlight, it was perfectly balanced with sweet and tangy flavours and was exceptionally fresh.
The juices can also be served as a takeaway making it the perfect healthy breakfast on-the-go (obviously alongside one of their delicious croissants), but of course we do recommend you enjoy it whilst taking in the breathtaking views of the Corn Exchange.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Of course the coffee was exceptional but Bruschetta are known for their wonderful caffeinated offering.
The beans are sourced and roasted from a local company in Sheffield and are then left to breathe for 14 days before serving. The magic formula for the perfect cup of joe is then decided on each morning, depending on the specific conditions and climate on that day.
Now onto the food. We were told the Margherita Toastie was a firm menu favourite and we can easily see why - gooey cheddar cheese, fresh rocket, homemade margherita sauce and a balsamic glaze sandwiched between two brioche slices and grilled to perfection. We don't want to eat a normal cheese toastie ever again.
The La Rue Des Rosiers featured a toasted brioche bagel filled with delicious pastrami, gherkins and a glorious mustard and harissa aioli. Served with a seasonal side salad, this is the perfect lunch option.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
And finally we tried The Breakfast Croissant - a glistening buttery croissant filled with homemade scrambled eggs, lime-infused smashed avocado and chilli flakes.
This was extremely tasty, the croissant was flakey and perfectly toasted and the zingy lime really cut through the richness of the pastry.
If you haven't been to Bruschetta then we urge you to do so, they're open seven days a week and do not take bookings.
To find out more, take a look at their social media page.
A list of the UK's best independent coffee shops for 2026 has been released, and one in Leeds has come up trumps.
The coffee shop in question may come as no surprise to some of you, as some would say that after 15 years in the city it's become somewhat of an institution.
Of course it's none other than Laynes.
Founded in 2011 by Dave Olejnik, Laynes began life on New Station Street and quickly became one of the first venues in Leeds to focus on carefully sourced and roasted coffee beans, helping lead the way for the city's now-thriving independent coffee scene.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's a proper Leeds staple at this point, sat proudly with its glowing yellow exterior and queues out the door full of punters looking for their morning caffeine fix.
But it's not just us who think it's flipping fantastic, as a new study has revealed the top 10 most popular independent coffee shops in the country and Laynes comes in at a very respectable number 8.
The list, made by Capital on Tap, analysed coffee across the UK looking at Google reviews, monthly searches and social media success.
Laynes was in some pretty good company including Idle Hands in Manchester and Kaf Coffee in Glasgow. But most importantly, none of the top 10 were in London - make of that what you will.
The top 10 most popular independent coffee shops for 2026:
Neighbourhood Café, Belfast
Colonna & Small’s, Bath
Established Coffee, Belfast
Hard Lines Coffee, Cardiff
Rough Handmade, Liverpool
Idle Hands Coffee, Manchester
Full Court Press, Bristol
Laynes Espresso, Leeds
Kaf Coffee, Glasgow
Dom’s Coffee, Cambridge
Bravo Laynes, a well earned accolade for one of our favourite spots in the city.
A bakery serving giant NYC-style cookies and fluffy cinnamon buns has just opened in Leeds
Clementine Hall
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
Clementine Hall -
19th May 2023 
