There's a winter terrace, unreal cocktails and some of the tastiest food around available- all with panoramic city views.
Combining traditional Japanese cuisine with contemporary decor and a sophisticated flair, Issho is the only place you'll want to lost track of time by wining and dining away the afternoon in the city centre.
Issho – meaning ‘together’ in Japanese – is conveniently located on the third floor of Victoria Gate overlooks the city, and at twilight captures Leeds in all of its glory. Think lilac skies fading into a midnight blue, whilst sat on cosy blanketed seats, sipping cocktails without a care.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The twinkle of the nights sky truly captures the essence of the bar and restaurant here. Calm, quiet but full of surprises- and that's before you've set foot indoors.
Inside guests are welcomed by a roaring fire so that even if it's snowing outside on the high street, the lobby and indoor seating remains warm and cosy.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Offering a contemporary twist on traditional Izakaya dining, the bar staff are ready to offer just about any cocktail imaginable- all beautifully decorated with dried fruit and herbs.
If you're doing Dry January, there's even refreshing non-alcoholic mocktails available that taste similar to their boozy predecessors.
The Shisho Smash from Issho is made from Seedlip Spice 94, an alcohol-free spirit distilled in the same way as an other spirit: just without the boozy bit. It’s a sophisticated blend of Allspice berries and Cardamom, mixed in with lime juice, sugar syrup, elderflower cordial and topped with Shisho leaves.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
But for those not partaking in Dry Jan, The Ki No Bi cocktail menu is full of delicious flavours that are unparalleled to any of the cocktail bars nearby.
The Ki No Shokan comprises of Ki No Bi Dry with Mancino Sakura Vermouth and homemade lemon and thyme syrup. Sweet, with a moorish after taste, you won't want to waste a drop of this one. Unless you've had chance to try Akuma City, a Ki No Bi cocktail with Ki No Bi Dry, Akashi-Tai Plum Sake, Lillet Blanc, homemade Japanese pepper syrup and Angostura bitter.
The Hana Sensei is the crown jewels of the menu and should be treated as such. Shaken to perfection and derived from a combination of Ki No Sei, Dom Benedictine, violette liquor and cardamom bitters, it tastes exactly like parma violets- and no, we don't mean the Wetherspoons parma violet gin.
This sophisticated cocktail has truly embodied the flavour of those sugary snacks, right down to the fizz on your tongue; it's truly something special, and more than justifies the £13.50 price tag.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Yuki Sapporo cocktail menu is paired with a selection of seasonal dishes that bring the best of Japanese fine-dining to the third floor of Victoria Gate.
Three small plates and a range of dipping sauces are served, including Tiger Prawn and chilli butter, Chicken Karaage, wasabi mayo, Yasai Tempura, seasonal vegetables and tempura sauce.
If melt in your mouth chicken is your craving on a cold winter's afternoon: you're in for a real treat, especially if you use the wasabi mayo as a dipping sauce.
The Chicken Karaage, followed by a bite of the Yasai Tempura, that's a combination of asparagus and prawn tempura, will leave you with a sensory sensation very rarely found in Leeds-Japanese foodie scene: it's not just the taste that delights, but the texture and visual appeal too.
It's not just afternoon small plates and winter warmers that Issho specialise in, their bottomless afternoon tea is renowned in Leeds as one of the best around. Offering ninety minutes of free-flowing prosecco alongside its Japanese-style afternoon tea, for £47.50.
As part of the experience, you’ll enjoy unlimited prosecco as you tuck into a host of delicate Japanese finger-food treats. The selection here is split into three: spanning sushi, savoury and sweet, and also includes a selection of fine Japanese and English teas.
If you're looking for somewhere for a special occasion that requires a zen atmosphere to unwind and treat yourself, we really can't think of anywhere better.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Eats
Horsforth Brewery to takeover and save beloved Ilkley tap house
A renowned brewery have announced that they will be taking over the reigns of a popular craft beer bottle shop in Ilkley.
Fuggle & Golding opened in 2015 on Leeds road in Ilkley and quickly grew a loyal following with locals and visitors alike.
Sadly they announced last month that their last day of trading would be Saturday 28 February, news which was met with huge disappointment.
However this is no longer the case, as Horsforth Brewery is set to reopen the venue on Wednesday. Hooray!
Announcing the welcomed news to Instagram, Horsforth Brewery wrote: "When we saw they were going to close we were determined to not lose another great venue from the local beer scene.
"We owe a massive thank you to George and the landlord for getting a deal across the line in quick order.
"We’re going to take a few days to put our stamp on the place and then we will be open on Wednesday!"
"Obviously we will be stocking our beers here but as anyone who knows will know, we love the beer scene so we will continue to have a good amount of guest beer on as well. We’ll even been joining in with the biggest beer launches from around the country.
"Want to know the best news? We’re doing this solo. No outside interests, no investors, no debt. In the current climate being able to organically grow like this is so so hard and it’s thanks to all our team that we’ve been able to do this.
"We’ve always been determined to grow our business in a healthy and sustainable way; it may have (absolutely has) been tough over the years but we’ve got ourselves in a position to take us to the next level in a sustainable way."
British Pie Week 2026 – all the best places to find a pie in and around Leeds
Clementine Hall
Sweet, savoury, filled or plain: pies are a staple in the British diet.
It's the best week of the year...it's British Pie Week, not that we need much of an excuse to celebrate that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, but we're taking all the excuses we can this week to embrace all things pie related.
We've rounded up al our favourite spots to grab a pie, as a lunchtime snack or on the go in the city centre - so take your pick, whatever the occasion.
Dave's Pies and Ales
Kirkstall Road, Burley | Open from 5pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dave's Pies and Ales is locally known as the smallest pub in Leeds - and whilst the menu and seating area might be teeny, what it does do, it does well.
Choose from a range of pies and peas with classic ales on tap to choose from inside this micropub 12-11pm every day of the week.
Whitelocks Ale House
Turk's Head Yard, just off Briggate | Kitchen open from 12pm
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Whitelocks is known in Leeds for its Sunday Roasts, warm fire and homely pub ambience- but their pies are the unsung heroes on the menu.
The beef and ale pie is made from Yorkshire Meat Co. beef, a Wetherby-based supplier that brings beef from the likes of Tancred Grange Farm in Richmond to Leeds. This one is served with chunky chips and sautéed seasonal veg, seat by the fireplace optional.
Pieminister
Duncan Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Available as a Sunday roast, bottomless brunch or just a plain old (but beautifully presented) pie and mash, Pieminister is famous for its pies for all the right reasons. On the shelves in your local supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran on Boar Lane, Pieminister is a place where pies are guaranteed to make up the majority of the menu options.
Finer Pleasures
Multiple locations
If you don't know about Josh at Finer Pleasures, then you're seriously missing out. Josh is somewhat of a pie-oneer (sorry), and is the master of creating weird and wonderful pie creations from lasagna pies to gammon, egg and pineapple pork pies.
You can find him over in Crossgates most Wednesdays, but you're best bet is to keep an eye on his socials for the best chance on bagging one of his pies. Trust us, they're like gold dust.
Wilsons Butchers
Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates | Open from 7.30am
Image: Wilsons Butchers
Located in Armley, Morley and Pontfract - Wilsons Pies and Pasties is a small indie chain from Wilsons Butchers and crowned champions of the Yorkshire Small Pork Pie Championships.
At lunch time, the shops offer a true Yorkshire delicacy of pie and mushy pies with optional (but essential) mint sauce. All Wilsons pies and pasties are made using locally sourced produce in Garforth, so these a true Leeds pies, and well worth sampling.
Sophie Smith -
7th January 2022 
