Eats

10 of the best new openings we’ve welcomed to Leeds during 2025

What a year it's been.

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 17th December 2025

It's been an incredible year for new openings in and around Leeds, with plenty of independent restaurants, pubs and bars springing up all over the place.

As we come to the end of the year, it's always nice to reflect on the fabulous places that have opened in our city.

What's set this year apart is the sheer amount of independent businesses that have opened their doors to a resoundingly positive reception of punters looking to show their support.

From bakeries and pubs to rooftop bars and shops, we've been ever so lucky to welcome so many great businesses to Leeds.

We've highlighted 10 spots that have made the most impact on our community and got the city talking.

So, without further ado...

BAKE

Mustard Wharf, Lockside, Holbeck, LS1 4EY

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Completing the all-things-dough trilogy alongside Things In Bread and Doh'hut was BAKE - a nostalgic British bakery that captured the hearts of pastry lovers across the city when it opened back in January.

From outrageously cheesy cheese twists to sticky, cinnamon bun focaccia slices - everything here is so good that it sells out before finish.

Federal

34 Boar Lane, LS1 5DA

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Famed over in Manchester, Federal is an Aussie-inspired cafe bringing a slice of sunshine to Boar Lane.

French toast, steak and eggs, matcha in a can, fabulously friendly service, the list as to why we love this place could truly go on and on.

Read more: An Aussie-inspired brunch spot made famous in Manchester has just opened in Leeds

Rinse

9 Call Ln, LS1 7DH

Images: The Hoot Leeds

We already love Bottle Chop over in Headingley, and this year it gained a city centre sibling called Rinse.

Here you'll find enough natural wine to sink a ship alongside charcuterie and sandwiches to go with it. Just perfect.

The Victoria & Commercial

28 Great George St, LS1 3DL

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Technically this isn't a brand-new opening as The Victoria first opened in 1865, but it's a re-opening. And a very good one at that.

Leeds beer powerhouses Whitelock's and Kirkstall Brewery joined forces to bring The Victoria back to life and we're so glad they did, it's a pub that oozes charm with maybe the cosiest interior we've ever seen.

Read more: Inside The Victoria – the legendary Leeds pub that has been reborn just in time for Christmas

Brewery Wharf Tavern

3 Brewery Place, LS10 1NE

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Another newbie from Whitelock's is the Brewery Wharf Tavern, the new dockside pub with killer views of the canal. Think trendy 70s inspired interiors, a huge beer garden and a brilliant drinks list to make your way through.

Azotea

2 Sovereign St, LS1 4DA

Images: The Hoot Leeds

If you're looking to feel like you're on Love Island in Leeds, then get yourself to Azotea. This new rooftop bar is probably the biggest and most boujie in the city, and they're serving up Mexican-inspired food and drink as well to really make you feel like you're on holiday.

Mondego

The Tank Room, Roundhouse Business Park, LS12 1AH

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Homeware lovers nearly lost their marbles when this Portuguese ceramics shop opened up just outside of the city centre. Here you pay by the weight of your items, and you can grab some absolute bargains from ramen bowls for a couple of quid to jugs for under a fiver,

Crowded House

70 Boar Ln, LS1 6HW

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Taking over the top spot that Angelica used to have above Trinity was Crowded House, an all-day dining and drinking destination from the team behind Three's A Crowd.

Here you'll find stellar views of the city alongside a menu full of elevated classics.

Vinyl Grounds

30 Central Road, LS1 6DE

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Now we think this one is a little bit special. Vinyl Grounds is a coffee, wine and vinyl bar that's opened on Central Road and to be honest we could spend all day in here.

It's got a really chilled atmosphere where you can transition seamlessly from day to night, we'll leave it up to you on when to swap the coffee for a glass of vino.

The Savvy Baker

27 Albion St, LS1 5AT

Images: The Hoot Leeds

We all know and love The Savvy Baker, but this year Sav and the team opened up their very first city centre cafe and we couldn't be happier for them. This one not only has all her signature bakes on sale, but there's also a dedicated matcha bar and an onsite bakery where you can watch all the magic happening.

Read more: Inside the new Savvy Baker cafe complete with an on-site bakery and dedicated matcha bar

Featured images - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

Beloved Leeds takeaway Souvlaki Corner to open new restaurant in Morley next month

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

A new Souvlaki Corner is set to open in south Leeds.

If you're a Leeds local who loves food, then you'll have most likely heard and dined at Souvlaki Corner.

It's an absolute gem of a restaurant and takeaway, situated in Wortley selling fabulous authentic Greek food at a great price.

And now they're opening a new site in the nearby town of Morley which is going to be even bigger and better. Get in.

The new site will feature a bigger space with more seating, offering both dine-in and takeaway options, as well as a brand-new bar.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Now you're talking our language.

Souvlaki Corner told The Hoot: "We’re excited to confirm that Souvlaki Corner will be opening a new site in Morley, Leeds. Our targeted opening is in around four weeks, although we don’t have an exact opening date yet and will confirm this closer to the launch.

"One of the highlights of the new restaurant will be a traditional Greek spit where we will cook whole lamb in the proper Greek way. It will be cooked over charcoal to give the authentic Greek flavour that people would experience in Greece.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

"Our chefs are Greek, bringing authentic knowledge and experience from Greece. The interior design will also reflect the style of the Greek islands, so when people visit they will feel like they are stepping into a little part of Greece."

They continued: "Souvlaki Corner was created to bring authentic Greek street food to Leeds, focusing on freshly grilled souvlaki, gyros, and traditional flavours served quickly and affordably. Since launching our first location, the response from customers has been fantastic, and Morley felt like the natural next step as we continue to grow."

Read more: Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Eats

Neighbourhood Leeds bistro hailed as ‘a bit horny’ and ‘brilliant’ by national critic Camilla Long

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.

Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.

It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.

The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.

So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".

Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."

It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.

"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."

The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.

It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.

Read the full review here.

Read more: Neighbourhood Leeds restaurant hailed as ‘charming’ and ‘delightful’ by national critic Jay Rayner

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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