There’s nothing better than a good filling between two fluffy slices of bread, and we’re here to tell you the best places to find them in Leeds.
From hot roast sarnies and hefty subs as long as your arm, to solid breakfast butties and fluffy focaccias, if you’re a sandwich lover in Leeds then you’re well catered for.
Keep reading to find some of the best places to get a butty in Leeds and beyond.
Loosen your belts a little, folks.
Cheesy Living Co.
The Corn Exchange, LS1 7BR
If you're working in the city and fancy something special for your lunch, then popping into The Corn Exchange to pay a visit to the legends at Cheesy Living Co. is just the thing.
Their fluffy focaccia is baked fresh every day and packed with their delicious cheeses, cured meats, local chutneys and topped with tangy pickles to take the edge of. Have in or takeaway, it's completely up to you.
Alfonso's
Grand Arcade
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Relatively new on the sandwich scene, Alfonso's Deli in the Grand Arcade is serving up ultimate toasted Cuban sandwiches as well as stacked subs. They're also dishing out unreal breakfast bagels which are the perfect hangover cure if you've had a couple the night before.
Silver's Deli
268 Stanningley Rd, Bramley, Leeds LS13 3BS
Fancy a big fat hoagie as long as your arm? Then get yourself to Bramley as soon as possible.
The moment Silver's touched down on the Leeds food scene it's truly been the talk of the town ever since, with people flocking from far and wide to queue for their ridiculously delicious subs.
Stacked breakfast buns good enough to cure any hangover and New York-style hoagies all made using the very best, quality ingredients.
Things In Bread
15 Boar Lane, LS1 6EN
Things In Bread is now a proper Leeds classic, and their concept is perfectly simple. Classic sandwiches which you might find in your average meal deal but elevated to the next level.
The bread is specially created to make the best ever sandwich, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, perfectly square and baked fresh on the daily.
With a cracking selection of seasonal specials, you'll constantly be coming back for more to have a taste of what's new.
Brød Sandwich Bar
31 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BB
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Brod sandwich bar is an institution. This family-run independent sandwich shop has been serving us hungry lot for 20 years now, filling our lunch hour with the tastiest, freshest sarnies that you can get your hands on.
Fully customisable with a HUGE range of ingredients, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and all at really affordable prices too.
Friends of Ham
4 - 8 New Station Street, LS1 5DL
Friends of Ham don't just serve up banging charcuterie boards, but they're really good at serving unreal toasties too.
The sourdough is perfectly buttery and jam packed with layers of meat and salty, melted cheese. And of course served with a pile of pickles on the side for good measure.
Eat Your Greens
42 New York Street, LS2 7DY
Image: The Hoot Leeds
There's no denying we love this special spot that champion the very best local produce in everything they do, but their sandwiches are also seriously something to shout about.
Grab to go or savour every mouthful in their light drenched space. The flavours rotate with the season but if you have chance to sample the pork mince sandwich with black pudding, house smoked bacon and bunt apple ketchup then it'll be the best decision you have ever made.
Morty's Focacceria
White Cloth Hall
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inside Leeds' newest food hall you'll find Morty's, a dough haven serving up Sicilian style slices and of course, sarnies.
These bad boys are made with freshly-made panuozzo bread that is baked on-site every single day, filled with two big stacks of fried mortadella and topped with melted provolone, mustard mayo, pickles and a drizzle of garlic oil.
You'll need a nap after, but it'll be worth it.
Shokupan
27 Wellington Street, LS1 4EA
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This absolute gem on Wellington Street are serving up delicious, Japanese katso sandos that you'll want to fit into your weekly routine.
Husband and wife team, Alan and Alison, took inspiration from trips around the world to bring Leeds a menu of delicious Japanese-inspired sandos on Shokupan- a Japanese milk bread known for its light, fluffy texture, golden crust and a subtly sweet flavour.
Get a side of the crispy karaage chicken on the side too, you won't regret it.
Livett's Coffee Shop
6 St. Peters Square, LS98AH
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're round that side of town, then grabbing a sarnie from Livett's is a no brainer.
There’s a flavour combo for everyone to get their chops around, from fresh Caprese, Falafel and Houmous, and a packed out Italian Deli sub. But keep your eyes pealed because these flavours are always changing. All served on a satisfyingly soft demi baguette from the best of the best, Balzersen Bakery, and made fresh daily, you already know these bad boys will blow your bog standard meal deal out of the water.
Bluebird Bakery, a firm favourite for freshly-baked loaves and cakes in Leeds, has announced it's opening a brand new cafe.
The much-loved local business has been trading out of Kirkgate Market for almost a decade, selling hand-crafted loaves and loads of other beautiful bakes.
Bluebird Bakery already has locations dotted all around Yorkshire, including in York (where founders Al and Nicky Kippax launched the business from their kitchen table), Beverley, and Holmfirth.
And now they've announced big plans for a second location here in Leeds, setting their sights on Chapel Allerton.
The Bluebird Bakery team said they hope the 'West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb'.
They're taking over a site on Stainbeck Lane, where we'll all be able to tuck into bread, cakes and pastries, plus coffees from Roost Coffee.
And there'll even be outside seating at the new Bluebird Cafe too.
Bluebird Bakery is expanding with another Leeds cafeBluebird Bakery currently operates from Kirkgate Market in Leeds
Sharing the news on Instagram, they wrote: "Big news. We are thrilled to announce that we are opening a shop and cafe in Chapel Allerton this summer.
"We love our Leeds Kirkgate Market shop and we hope the West Yorkshire appetite for our loaves and cakes will continue into this vibrant suburb, which is full of independent businesses like ours.
"We’ll be based on Stainbeck Lane where there’ll be both inside & outside seating, brilliant @roost_coffee and all the bread, cakes and pastries Chapel Allerton can eat!
"We’re recruiting soon - so do keep an eye on our socials if you’re a brilliant barista, an experienced cafe assistant or a hands-on supervisor.
A Leeds icon has been reborn as The Smithfield opens in former The Reliance site
Daisy Jackson
The Smithfield is finally here - and we're pleased to report that it's every bit as special as you were hoping.
This newcomer to Leeds has taken over the site that was home to The Reliance for more than two decades.
The team's transformation of the site started with a paint job - probably the most-talked-about paint job in the city - taking the site's exterior back to its memorable dark red.
That move immediately won over fans of The Reliance, with one person writing: "Seems the team here held the Relly in high regard and rightly so! Hopefully they can recapture some of its magic."
But the efforts to recapture the essence of the iconic old venue go way beyond that.
The Smithfield, a collaboration between Crooked Brewing and Chef James Donovan, is setting out to mix up relaxed hospitality with simple dining.
It's all about connection - to seasonal food, to the heritage of the building, and to the community that will make connections here.
Co-founder Steve Dawson outside The SmithfieldThe Reliance has been reborn as The SmithfieldWayward WinesThe dining room
If you're wondering what sort of things will be on the table, allow us to enlighten you.
There are sharing plates like grilled leeks on romesco, pigs head croquettes (a must-order), and whipped cods roe with radishes, all served on charming mismatched plates.
The bigger dishes include a comically massive pie for sharing, packed with chicken, leek, and tarragon. It's a mighty thing, especially paired with their crispy-edged chips.
You can also order a whole wild Cornish seabass for a real feast, or a fantastic beef sirloin with wild garlic butter.
There's a fantastic selection of natural wines from Wayward Wines, as well as (unsurprisingly) great beers.
Steak, pie, and charred leeksA spread of the plates at The SmithfieldSticky toffee puddingThe Smithfield has taken over the old The ReliancePigs head croquettes with gribicheThe chicken and tarragon sharing pieA sharing pie and chips at The SmithfieldBeef sirloin with wild garlic butter, and purple sprouting broccoli with ricotta and mintWild Cornish seabass with kohlrabi, fennel, and chervil - plus an orange wine from Wayward WinesThe Smithfield is now open
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, and his business partner chef James Donovan, were drawn to the old The Reliance site and are seizing the opportunity to contribute to the area's dining legacy.
While Steve's focus is on creating a social meeting point, James will focus on the casual, social dining, taking inspiration from the building's reputation as a cutting-edge gastro pub.
They'll be sourcing seasonally and locally, with menus that will change with the seasons.
The space itself inside is still familiar - those huge windows are the stars of the show, with the bar still standing centrally, while the dining room at the back is stripped-back and simple overlooking the open kitchen.
It's very early days for The Smithfield - they're just out of their soft launch period and gearing up for their first 'proper' weekend.
On their soft launch period, they wrote: "We were so grateful to welcome friends, neighbours, and the Leeds hospitality community to The Smithfield. Seeing the bar and dining room full after weeks of cleaning, painting, and graft has truly made it all worth it.
"A huge thank you to everyone who came along, showed their support, and has made this journey possible. Not least the Kitchen and bar teams, whose incredible service has kept the plates coming and the drinks flowing."
We feel pretty confident in saying Leeds will be very proud to have The Smithfield in our city.
Clementine Hall -
3rd November 2025 
