Leeds is bursting at the seams with new openings, and we’re here to tell you all about them.
We can't quite believe it, but 2025 is almost drawing to a close and the past few months have seen some fabulous new openings touch down in the city.
From a new local pub to a specialist Portuguese ceramic shop, Leeds is well and truly flourishing and we love to see it.
If you're struggling to decide where to visit next, allow us to fill you in on our top five picks to make your life that little bit easier.
Mondego
Wellington Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It’s not often we see queues down the street for new openings in Leeds, but it seems that everyone is going mad for Mondego – a Portuguese ceramic outlet where you pay by weight.
Hailing from Cheshire, this beautiful store has everything you could need to host a stylish dinner soirée with friends and loved ones, or to give your kitchen a little bit of glam.
There’s a new tavern in town and it’s celebrating all things Leeds.
Introducing the Brewery Wharf Tavern, a new riverside pub from the absolute masterminds behind Whitelock’s Ale House, The Meanwood Tavern and White Cloth Hall.
Overlooking the River Aire taking over the spot previously occupied by Home on Brewery Place, the Brewery Wharf Tavern boasts an absolutely banging beer garden with fantastic views of the river.
But the inside is just as great, with a striking mural by Nicolas Dixon wrapping around the interior and plush maroon booths and 70s-inspired seating filling the space.
Say hello to HYGGE, the new Scandinavian-inspired cafe that’s just touched down in Leeds. After taking Sheffield by storm, HYGGE is now bringing its speciality coffee and Scandi comfort food to Leeds for us all to enjoy and we’re absolutely buzzing about it.
Located in the Merrion Centre on Woodhouse Lane, this all-new cosy cafe chain is serving up some of the best Danish delicacies in town with an equally inviting interior.
Crowded House
Trinity Shopping Centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From the team behind Three’s A Crowd comes Crowded House, a swanky new rooftop bar and restaurant that has taken the coveted spot where Angelica’s and Crafthouse used to stand.
Think incredible panoramic views of the city, great cocktails and a well curated all-day dining menu for every occasion.
There's' a new vendor inside White Cloth Hall, and it's bringing bold East Asian cuisine to the centre of Leeds. From the masterminds behind Ox Club and Galleria comes RAKKU, serving up a menu full of stuffed bao, stacked sandwiches, gyoza and more.
Featured images - The Hoot Leeds
Feature
Global pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo says she ‘really wants to go to Leeds’ in 2026
American pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo has outlined her ambitions for 2026 - and one of them involves a trip to Leeds.
It's safe to say the concept of Olivia Rodrigo taking a stroll down Briggate or waiting for a train at Platform 16 is one we're struggling to get our heads around, but we're absolutely not mad about it.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is known for her love of the UK, having been spotted spending chunks of time in both Manchester and London over recent years.
But in a recent interview with Hits Radio UK, Olivia Rodrigo stated she wanted to explore more of the UK. And the city at the top of her list? Leeds.
When asked if she has a favourite area of the UK, she said: "I spent some time in Manchester which was really nice. Very inspiring, so many great bands from there.
"I spent some time in Wales too, which was fun. I've been around but I need to go and see more things. I really want to go to Leeds this year. I think that'll be fun. Just like as a spectator, I think that'll be cool."
You know what Olivia, it absolutely will.
Interviewer Will Best then suggests she attends a Leeds match to which she responds "yes" enthusiastically.
So next time we're at Elland Road we'll definitely be keeping a firm eye out for Miss Rodrigo who we've no doubt will look exceptional in a Leeds United jersey.
The Leeds bakery serving up fresh pastries straight from their backyard
Thomas Melia
In case you missed it, a bakery in Bramley has received lots of attention recently after people have sampled some of its impressive bread and pastries before raving about it online.
Since then, Ruth, the mastermind behind it all, has generated queues from her summer house-turned bakehouse with people coming from far and wide to sample her flaky favourites and doughy delights.
Baking for more than 10 years and opening The Fat Pigeon just outside of Leeds city centre three years ago, there's no denying that the pastries and more produced here are some of the best.
This micro-bakery has a mighty menu and although Ruth's personal tastes might lean more savoury, the menu heavily favours sugary baked goods.
Anyone who loves a good sweet treat will be glad to know there's croissants, traybakes, cinnamon buns and the star-studded kouign-amann, a French-originating buttery pastry that covers all bases as it's sugary, sweet and slightly salty - heaven in baked form.
Ruth posing with a pigeon statue alongside some of her delicious golden creations / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
There's plenty more dough-based delights that cater to the savoury palate too. Think sourdough loaves, baguettes and focaccia that's oozing with perfectly paired herbs and generous amounts of oil.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that not only the products being created and consumed made by a Leeds local, most if not all of the offerings are made using Yorkshire produce.
Ruth has made sure to keep local produce at the heart of all her bakes with Met's in Farsley who providing cheese, Whiteley's contributing fresh vegetables like parsley and rhubarb, flour from East Yorkshire's own Stringers and The Organic Dales for any dairy items - it really doesn't get more Yorkshire than this.
Enough from us, social media user's are singing this bakery's praises too as one commented "Delicious. Delicious. Delicious" and another going as far to say, "Beats every pastry I had in Copenhagen".
The sourdough loaves and bloomers at The Fat Pigeon are homemade and look as good as they taste / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
Hopefully you're reading this on a Friday or early Saturday morning, otherwise all I can do is apologise for tempting you with all this bakery's homemade golden goodness so far in advance.
The Fat Pigeon is open from 9am to 12pm every Saturday meaning you can stock up on some of Leeds' best bread and pastries to tie you over until the next weekend, depending on your will power.
Clementine Hall -
6th November 2025 
