We are truly spoilt for choice for fantastic restaurants in Leeds. But if you're looking to treat yourself to something special, the Michelin Guide is a good place to start.
At the end of last year, Michelin announced its new guide for 2023.
A somewhat bible for foodies across the globe, the Michelin Guide is a well-established and highly reliable source to find some of the best restaurants around.
This year 10 restaurants have made it onto the list, from city centre hot spots to suburban secrets. Keep reading to find out where your next meal out ought to be according to Michelin.
The Man Behind the Curtain
Where: 68-78 Vicar Lane Lower Ground Floor Flannels, Leeds
Price: ££££
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What the guide says: “If you’re looking for the unconventional, you’ve come to the right place. Michael O’Hare is a chef who does things his own way and his idiosyncratic basement restaurant matches his cooking style perfectly. The original, very creative and artfully presented dishes – many of which come with assorted Asian influences or feature the colour black – start arriving with your drink and you’ll never know quite what to expect next.
“Thanks to the music and interior design, which includes everything from skateboard decks and graffiti to a surfboard and a motorbike, you’ll find you don’t need to feed off other customers to create your own atmosphere. Furthermore, the disorientating mirrors lend an ethereal quality to proceedings and make you feel cocooned in your own bubble.”
Crafthouse
Where: Trinity Leeds, 70 Boar Lane, Leeds
Price: ££
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What the guide says: “A bright, chic restaurant in Trinity shopping centre, with great rooftop views and a wraparound terrace. The open kitchen and marble counter take centre stage, and the refined, confidently prepared dishes focus on natural flavours; some are cooked on the Josper grill. Start with cocktails in Angelica.”
Ox Club
Where: Bramleys Yard, The Headrow, Leeds
Price: ££
Image: The Hoot Leeds
What the guide says: “A former mill houses this multi-floor venue comprising a beer hall, cocktail bar, event space and restaurant. The latter boasts a wood-fired grill imported from the USA; rustic, smoky-flavoured dishes showcase Yorkshire ingredients.”
HOME
Where: 3 Brewery Place, Leeds
Price: ££££
Image: HOME
What the guide says: “Set alongside the River Aire, this spacious ground floor restaurant is filled with natural light. The enthusiastic team serve pre-paid, set price menus and cooking shows imagination, creativity and a playful edge. For the optimum experience, go for the 10 course menu with wine pairings to match.”
HanaMatsuri
Where: 580 Meanwood Road, Leeds
Price: ££££
Image: HanaMatsuri
What the guide says: “Suburban Leeds is home to this very intimate restaurant, which seats just 7 guests and must be booked at least 24hrs in advance. Japanese memorabilia and shelves of sake fill the room. The chef-owner serves a wide range of sushi and sashimi crafted from good quality imported ingredients.”
Dakota Grill
Where: 8 Russell Street, Leeds
Price: ££
Image: Dakota Hotel Leeds
What the guide says: “Make your way to the Dakota hotel’s elegant cocktail bar before heading down to the moody basement restaurant. The room is divided into a series of spaces, which adds to the intimacy. Appealing, carefully thought-out menus keep Yorkshire provenance at their heart and dishes have a playful element.”
Forde
Where: 7 Town Street, Horsforth
Price: £
Image: Forde
What the guide says: "Experienced chef Matt Healy – a onetime 'MasterChef: The Professionals' contestant – has come home to Horsforth to open this rustic bistro and wine bar. His appealing menu features appetising small plates with Mediterranean influences; two or three per person works well, and there are some well-chosen wines, craft beers and cocktails too."
Prashad
Where: 137 Whitehall Road, Drighlington
Price: ££
Image: Prashad
What the guide says: "Set over two floors of a former pub, this colourfully decorated, family-run restaurant offers interesting, original Indian vegetarian cooking inspired by the owners Gujarati heritage. Dishes are substantial in both size and flavour and spicing is well-judged; the dosas are popular."
CORA
Where: 162 High Street, Boston Spa
Price: £££
Image: CORA
What the guide says: "Be sure to arrive early if you want the full pick of daily made breads, cakes and pastries on offer at this bakehouse and dining room. It’s a stylishly understated place which offers something for everyone: from brunch through to dinner and from single dishes to multi-course tasting menus."
Horto
Where: Rudding Lane, Harrogate
Price: £££
Image: Rudding Park Hotel
What the guide says: "This smart restaurant in Rudding Park’s spa has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the hotel grounds. Inspired by the surroundings and, in particular, what's at its peak in the kitchen garden, dishes are proudly seasonal and full of natural flavours. Service is bright and breezy."
Domo is ready to open its doors and sun-drenched terrace this Friday.
Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Opening this Friday 5 June, we had a peek inside and let us tell you, it's even better than we imagined.
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
First off, the interior is just drop dead gorgeous.
From the moment you step inside you feel as though you've been whisked away to an Italian island, the walls are lined with hundreds of booze bottles and on each table you'll find beautifully hand-painted plates ready to be adorned with delicious food.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Every corner is dotted with antique trinkets, and we already know the stretching terrace will be the place to be when the sun comes out.
Now, onto the food.
From small plates made for sharing to hearty bowls of seafood pasta, everything is made with the freshest ingredients and made entirely in-house.
You could do a lot worse than plonking yourself on the terrace with mates, ordering a selection of their cocktails and tucking into a heaping plate of fried calamari and prawns or a carefully curated plate of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses.
They also serve pizzas and salads, all accompanied by a brilliant wine and cocktail list. Whether you're after a long lunch, celebrating an occasion with a slap up meal or fancy a few nibbles - Domo can cater to all.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Domo co-founder, Sarah Elliott-Busceddu, said: “We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors and welcome people into Domo Leeds. From day one, our vision has been to create a space where everyone feels welcome and somewhere that brings people together in the true spirit of Sardinian hospitality.
“Whether it’s an evening out with friends, a relaxed catch-up over drinks after work, or a big family celebration, we’ve designed Domo to feel warm, inclusive and full of life. We can’t wait for people in Leeds to experience not just the food and drinks, but the atmosphere and sense of community that sits at the heart of everything we do.”
Here’s 10 of the best places to visit in Farsley at the weekend
Clementine Hall
Farsley is one of Leeds' most beloved suburbs, and it's not hard to see why.
Drenched in history and industrial heritage, Farsley has a lot to say for itself and is overflowing with things to see and do.
It has a real community feel to it which you can feel almost instantly, and it's filled with loads of independent businesses which makes Farsley the perfect spot to explore at the weekend.
Here are our top picks of what to do in this this up-and-coming suburb of Leeds this weekend.
Westroyd Park is a beautiful green gem situated in the heart of Farsley. A sprawling expanse of greenery featuring free tennis courts and colourful gardens with the lovely West Royd House at its centre.
Thanks to the brass band that play every weekend, the park really comes alive throughout the summer making it the perfect place to bring a picnic, relax and take in the stunning scenery.
Sunny Bank Mills
Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, Pudsey, LS28 5UJ
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Sunny Bank Mills is an inspirational commercial and cultural destination in the heart of the local community of Farsley. Founded in 1829, these beautifully restored mills are now home to a range of independent organisations both large and small.
Visit their 3,000 square foot art gallery and view the work of local artists, designers and makers. You can buy many of the pieces on display or have a go yourself at one of their many workshops and creative courses.
Grumpy's
2 Old Combing, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5UJ
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Tucked away inside Sunny Bank Mills, Grumpy’s has built a huge reputation for its incredible wood-fired pizzas, laid-back atmosphere, that more or less has a proper community feel at the forefront.
Created by sisters Alex and Cassie, the family-run restaurant was even named after their dad, 'Grumpy' himself, and that personal touch runs through everything they do.
'Community, friendship and good beer' are Amity's ethos. Opening in December 2020 they have quickly become a Farsley favourite. Located in the Sunny Bank Mills, the brewpub serves limited batch beer on-site to their local community, focusing on modernised takes on classic beer styles.
La Grassa
Inside Amity Brew Co.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
La Grassa is a new concept from Stuzzi Leeds co-founders Jimbob Phillips and Brett Lee, that just a few weeks ago opened up inside Amity Brew Co.
La Grassa is a new Italian-American ‘Paninoteca’ and diner concept, where you can get your hands on paninos filled with house-made meats, cheeses and glossy sauces. But be warned, your hands may get a bit messy whilst doing so.
Silver's Bakehouse
62 Town St, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5LF
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Just when you thought Leeds’ favourite sandwich spot couldn't get any better, they go and open a bakery.
Silver's Bakehouse has opened its beautiful pastel green doors today over in Farsley to queues of excited fans eager to get their first taste. Expect focaccia sandwiches, gooey brownies, chewy cookies and loads more.
Pardon Me
Unit 12, The Twisting, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, LS28 5UJ
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Tucked away in the beautiful Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is a record bar built around 'music, atmosphere, and detail'.
It's been launched by Scott Rapson, who grew up in the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with music around the time of the arrival of hip hop in the early 80s. Bartenders here create a small but perfectly formed menu of cocktails and pour natural wines from Wayward Wines in front of a wall of vinyl, while a collection of Scott's records play as a soundtrack to your evening.
Cargo Wines
Sunny Bank Mills
Images: The Hoot Leeds
If you're after a proper nice wine bar then this is the spot for you. They've got a wine for everyone in a gorgeous, chilled out atmosphere. If you need us, we're probably here.
St Jude's
69 Town St, Farsley, Pudsey LS28 5HX
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're after some lovely brunch and a cup of coffee, then look no further than St Jude's. This fabulous all-day dining spot serve up a really varied menu so everything that can get something they fancy.
Clementine Hall -
4th January 2023 
