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.
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.
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.
Gail's has finally set its sights on Yorkshire for the first time, with a new bakery set to open this year.
It's one of the UK's most famous bakeries, launching in London in the early 1990s to supply restaurants, before opening its first retail site and cafe in Hampstead in 2005.
Gail's founders set out on a mission to bake bread as it used to be baked: by hand, using quality ingredients and time-worn artisanal methods.
While Gail's has expanded aggressively into the north, opening around a dozen bakeries in Greater Manchester and its surrounds, it hasn't made the journey across to Yorkshire just yet.
All that looks set to change, with job ads now listed for roles within a brand-new Yorkshire branch of Gail's.
Based on the job advert, Gail's is heading straight to the spa town of Harrogate - which is a fairly predictable move.
It looks like Gail's is heading for HarrogateGail's will make its Yorkshire debut
It had previously been reported that Gail's would be going to Knaresborough, but the job posting appears to hint that Harrogate will be the first Yorkshire location.
When it does open, you'll find loaf choices including classic white and brown sourdough, Gail’s ‘wasteless’ loaves (made using a specially-created recipe designed to incorporate unsold bread crumbs), alongside seeded varieties, baguettes and batons.
Must-tries include Gail’s famous cinnamon buns, still-warm cheese and ham croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and – given the weather we’re having this week – iced coffees, all day long preferably please.
But given the number of fantastic local bakeries all over Yorkshire, the question is, does anyone want Gail's?
Kirkstall Brewery and Little Bao Boy unveil new Leeds taproom
Daisy Jackson
You know the venue, and you know the operators behind it, but things are looking a little different over on Sovereign Street.
Leeds' very own Kirkstall Brewery has teamed up with street food legends Little Bao Boy to totally reinvent the city centre taproom formerly known as North Taproom.
At the all-new The City Taproom, you'll find a way cosier space alongside their sun-soaked terrace, as they aim to reimagine a traditional city centre pub.
Across 16 tap lines there are loads of Kirkstall Brewery classics, like Kirkstall Pilsner, Virtuous and Judicious, plus a rotating selection of guest beers from top British breweries - and Guinness, of course.
The City Taproom will also feature two new cask lines: one serving Three Swords as a staple, and the other on rotation starting this month with Golden Hour.
There's a bigger kitchen for Little Bao Boy too, which means an even larger menu of bao and Asian street food, like loaded fries, noodles, and rice bowls.
Little Bao Boy was founded 10 years ago by James Ooi, specialising in home-made bao buns and traditional Asian street food with a contemporary western twist.
Kirkstall have injected the huge space with the traditional essence of a proper Kirkstall establishment, with that kind of cosy atmosphere you know them for at the brewery's other sites.
Little Bao Boy at City TaproomKirkstall Brewery pints and cocktails
This is yet another of the local brewery's openings in the city centre, joining their recent renovation of The Victoria & Commercial in partnership with Whitelocks, plus their stewardship of the historic Tetley brewery building.
James Ooi, founder of Little Bao Boy said: "We have been part of this venue since day one, through COVID, outside seating, and new owners, and we are so excited for this refurb.
"On the food side, expect more collaborations, faster service, and a better overall customer experience. We are extremely grateful Kirkstall saw the value in this refurb and can't wait to get back open."
Steve Holt, founder of Kirkstall Brewery, said: "We're delighted to unveil a new presentation for the Taproom on Sovereign Street.
"It has been named The City Taproom after a famous but long-gone Leeds pub known as ‘The City’, which was situated where the statue of the Dortmund Brewer now stands. Images of the original City pub are a feature in the new look City Taproom, which can best be described as a 're-imagination' of a traditional city-centre pub.
"The City Taproom celebrates Leeds and its rich pub and brewing heritage. We hope that it will become a popular addition to the amazing and diverse venues that make Leeds such a vibrant City for hospitality and entertainment."
It's all the bits you loved before, just a little bigger and a whole lot better.
The City Taproom opens at 3 Sovereign Street on Thursday 23 April.
Clementine Hall -
17th December 2025 
