When half a million tonnes of food goes to waste every single year in hospitality eateries alone, we know there’s a serious problem.

In the wake of COP meeting promises and an out-of-control carbon crisis, the UK is clearly still getting to grips with the way that our current lifestyle choices affect the planet’s long-term health.

It might seem impossible – but in the ongoing war on global warming and unnecessary waste, choosing an ethical or sustainable cafe is one way that you can help to reduce your own carbon footprint and live a greener lifestyle.

Whether it’s switching to greener fuels, preventing food waste, or investing in plant-based menus, some of our favourite cafes and restaurants in Leeds are well ahead of the curb on this.

We’ve chosen our favourite places for a sustainable meal so that you can feel good about your environmental contribution next time you choose to dine out and about in the city.

Bavette

Town Street, Horsforth | Open Wednesday – Sunday

Bavette hasn’t been open in Leeds long, but it already embodies cosy intimate feel that Horsforth does so effortlessly, with long wooden accents and a food menu that focuses on seasonality and quality, all with tried-and-tested ingredients inspired by French bistro menus throughout.

Bavette promises to source its ingredients ‘from the very best small-time growers and sustainable suppliers to serving wines that excite the most novice and well-heeled wine-lovers, Bavette will offer a warm, guest-centred approach to dining, creating a community restaurant for locals and visitors alike to return to again and again.’

Find out more here.

Chunk Cookies

406 Burley Road, Burley | Open from 9am

From baking inside her student shared house to opening her very first bakery, the last few years have been a whirlwind for owner Amy Bennett- and there’s really no stopping her now.

The Chunk Cookies website explains that “running a vegan and sustainable business is not without its challenges! It can be difficult to balance sustainability with profitability- vegan and sustainable ingredients/packaging are usually more expensive, but we still need to keep our prices low so that people buy from us, AND make a tiny profit so we can stay open!”

“We try to balance affordability with sustainability, and aim to provide amazing cookies, that are great value and kind to the planet” and the bakery has taken steps like no same day deliveries; using EcoFlo to pack out boxes, reducing waste wherever possible and switching flour supply to Shipton Mill 100% organic British grown flour, this year to continue on its green mission.

Find out more here.

Hern

Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton | Open Wednesday – Saturday

Hern is one of those ‘if you know, you know’ restaurants. Set in the leafy inner city suburbs of Chapel Allerton, the Good Food Guide recommended small bar and kitchen operates with an ever changing menu using seasonal produce.

Highlights on the menu can include king oyster mushrooms; Cauliflower stem fritters; mutton with king cabbage, celeriac and anchovy, as well as home cooked favourites like pumpkin soup and baked apple.

And there’s no shortage of different menu alternatives the Set Menu is available from Thursday – Saturday whilst the bar menu takes centre stage on Wednesdays and a set lunch on Saturdays fills the weekend with treats that keep locals coming back every week.

Find out more here.

Eat Your Greens

New York Street, Leeds City Centre | Open Wednesday – Saturday from 12pm

Eat Your Greens use the very best, local produce wherever possible to create a seasonally changing menu that focuses on no fuss farm to fork goodness.

Why? Because it’s good for the planet, good for you and good for the farmers that grow it.

And it’s the perfect spot for any occasion too. Stop by for lunch to enjoy a fish finger sarnie or their eggs of the week with a coffee, or enjoy a dinner amongst friends with their evening menu made for sharing whilst sampling their impressive selection of natural wine.

Find out more here.

The Cheesy Living Co.

Roundhay Road, Oakwood | Open from 10am

Think cheesemongers meets ‘posh off licence’, with fresh coffee in the daytime, fondue in the afternoon and cosy nights with a bottle of sustainable wine from Sustainable Wine Solutions.

The wine company has a strong focus on ‘organic, vegan and biodynamic wines’, and works with wine makers from around the world to reduce waste and practice sustainable grape growing.

But it’s not just the wine here that’s part of the solution, The Cheesy Living Co. stocks just about everything from your deli dreams from local indie suppliers.

Find out more here.

Libations Rum

Armley Nano Park, Armley | Open every Saturday

Everything is created in house, right down to the labelling and bottling, and all the products brought in are from just a few miles away.

Owners Chloe and Miles are passionate about being carbon avoidant rather than having to offset emissions afterwards – even taking care to use up all their fruits used in their rum and offer out the leftovers to local restaurants like Liz Cottam’s The Owl to minimise waste wherever possible.

Find out how these guys are paving the way for a truly revolutionary distillery on a rum tour here.

North Star

Leeds Dock / Sovereign Street | Open from 8/9am

North Star, we have to say, is somewhat of a Leeds institution. A fair-trade coffee company at its core, these guys are serious about sourcing the very best coffee and protecting the supply chain that it embarks upon.

You’ve most likely sipped a delicious cup of their coffee or bought a bag of their ground beans from an independent stockist, but it’s their flagship cafe on Leeds Dock that we are shouting about here.

Find out more here.

Bottle Chop

Weetwood Lane, Far Headingley | Open from 11am / 12pm

The guys at Bottle Chop are paving the way in sustainable, ethical booze by reducing their carbon footprint with less packaging and waste. With rotating wines and beer on tap, you can pay for your bottle the first time you go and refill it time and time again with the tipple of your choice.

You can also pop by and enjoy a delicious charcuterie board alongside your drinks, or perhaps delve into some tinned fish which they will lovingly serve up alongside some freshly baked crusty bread and other perfect pairings.

After all, it would be rude not to.

Find out more here.

Fat Annie’s

Leeds Kirkgate Market | Open from 9am

Whether you want to go fully vegan or just dip into the occasional meat-free dish, cutting down on meat and meat products can positively benefit the environment. Producing some of the finest vegan food around, Fat Annie’s knows a thing or two about creating flavour without animals.

The Kirkgate Market stall is currently one year into its meat-free journey. The owner gave up meat in 2019 after reading the UN Climate Report and made the decision to risk ‘financial suicide’ to back their beliefs and switch to meat-free dishes.

Find out more here.

Bundobust

Mill Hill, Leeds City Centre | Open from 12pm

According to B&M Waste Services, Bundobust sites divert over 9500kg of waste from landfill each week, and two thirds of food waste is used to generate renewable energy and organic fertiliser- and that’s just the beginning.

The company only sells vegetarian items, with a sizeable vegan portion and despite expanding since opening in 2014, the brand continues to work with smaller businesses or partnering with brands like Meatless Farm to show how alternative products can be tasty.

Find out more here.

FINT

Great George Street, Leeds City Centre | Open from 11am

Using seasonal produce to make up the ever-changing menu, expect dishes like eggs benedict cooked to perfection with unusual earthy combinations that put the usual sourdough and hollandaise to shame. The ingredients here used taste fresh and by using seasonal ingredients, food milage will be limited, as well as bringing an authentic flavour to the Leeds leafy corner.

Find out more here.

Leeds Kirkgate Market

Vicar Lane, Leeds City Centre | Open from 8am

Kirkgate Market has partnered with the online shopping platform Good Sixty, so that LS1-9, 13,16,17, and 28 postcodes can now shop online and have their market goodies delivered right to their doorstep. Essentially, it’s the same as ordering from any other website: you place an order with Good Sixty, then the market traders organise their individual packages before passing them on for delivery.

Find out more here.

Kino

New Briggate, Leeds City Centre | Open from 5pm

Kino has been one of the most exciting new openings in Leeds. The bar and restaurant has been championing independents near and far, all whilst keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum. Running on renewable energy created from solar panels and from the grid, Kino promises to put sustainability in everything it does- and we can’t wait to see the restaurant in action later this summer.

Find out more here.

Brewdog North Street

North Street, Leeds City Centre | Open from 12pm

Brewdog loves to shout about being a carbon negative pub chain (it’s even their wifi password), but the sustainability pledge goes far further than the beer that’s brewed offsite. There’s eco-friendly dog biscuits made from leftover beer in every bar ( the biscuits contain no hops or alcohol, so they’re perfectly safe for your dog to eat, plus they’re full of nutrition) and you can even take their leftover drinks at a lower price to reduce waste- all you need to do is grab one of their TooGoodToGo bags.

Find out more here.

Green Room

Wellington Street, Leeds City Centre | Open from 10am

Founders Will Habergham and Kirk Allen have ensured the venue is championing existing Leeds businesses that focus on recycling, sustainability, and a healthier lifestyle. 

Find out more here.

Rainbow Junktion

24 Regent Terrace, Burley | Open from 11.30am

This independent pay-as-you-feel cafe is the epitome of an ethical eatery. The cafe intercepts food from other supermarkets and restaurants that would have otherwise gone to waste and they turn it into healthy, nutritional meals.

Accessible to everyone, Rainbow Junktion asks people to pay-as-they-feel and run through a combination of donations and volunteers. Grab a meal from 12 – 2.30 pm every Monday and Thursday from their setup at All Hallows’ Church in Headingley.

Out of this World

New Market Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 9am

If you’re in need of an ethical on-the-go treat, Out of this World is your one-stop-shop. Locally known as ‘Yorkshire’s favourite health food shop’, they stock all things eco-friendly. They are one of the few shops in Leeds that offer reusable zero-waste packaging on some products: instead, you bring your own containers to refill.

Not everything can be packaging-free, but the Out of this World staff go out of their way to make sure they’re keeping up with the latest sustainable ingredients and recipes so you can get an ethical version of whatever food or drink you desire.

Cha Lounge

Dock Street, The Calls | Open from 8am

Zero-waste, independent, and sustainable are the only three words we need to convince you at Cha Lounge are serious about going green. They have the largest range of ethical lead teas in Leeds too if you needed any more proof.

From an incredible zero-waste brunch menu to their weekly Indian curry night using family recipes and fairtrade wines. Cha Lounge can cater to any guests ready to take food waste seriously. They also cater for events, sell fresh grocery boxes and dine-at-home curry boxes so you never run out of their delicious cuisine.

Find out more here.

Feature Image- Leeds City Council / The Hoot Leeds (FINT / Brewdog)