Leeds is bursting with great restaurants, but Riva Blu really stands out for the authenticity and the feeling you get after a visit.
Right in the middle of Park Row you can’t help but notice the iconic blue interiors when you’re walking past, and we recommend you visit them as we had a fabulous time.
We were seated in a cosy booth at the back of the restaurant, surrounded by stunning images of Italy in big frames on the walls. The music was great and the mood lighting gave us that really intimate dining feel which made us feel at ease from the get go.
Inside Riva Blu. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Our server, Jimmy, came over to introduce himself and to match the authenticity of the restaurant he told us he was from Sicily. He explained the menu and went through all of his recommendations which was really helpful. He told us about the differences and tastes between the dishes, helping to make our choice easier.
The menu itself is huge with seven sections of pizzas, pastas, meats, antipasti and more. We didn’t get a chance to try the pizza this time, but we saw them coming out for other people and they did look really good.
To start we had the Yellow fin tuna tartare, truffle arancini and the crispy aubergine fritters. The stand out here was definitely the fritters, with smoked provola and served with San Marzano sauce, I really could have eaten plates and plates.
Aubergine fritters. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
The tuna was really fresh, it was served with a crispy Sardinian flat bread and a gorgeous olive tapenade which just paired perfectly with it. Truffle and arancini really go hand in hand, so crispy and flavorful, the combination of the three dishes were a great way to start the meal and all recommended by the lovely Jimmy.
Next we tried the pasta and you are absolutely spoilt for choice for again we asked for recommendations. We had the ‘Ravioli Granchio’ which was Devonshire crab, chilli, lemon, basil, shellfish butter & fresh tomato.
Linguine Frutti Di Mare. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
We also had the Linguine Frutti Di Mare’ which had wild red king prawn, mussels, clams and calamari - all accompanied with a white wine, tomato & chilli sauce. As seafood pastas go, there were no complaints with this, so generous with the portion and all the fish tasted like it had jumped straight out of the sea onto the plate.
Crab-filled ravioli pieces. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
I have to say, sat in that cosy corner booth eating pasta with a white wine with a candle on the table, it really felt like we’d hopped on a plane to Siciliy.
Even though by this point we were very full, Jimmy recommended we also try the ‘Orata Al Forna’ which was a whole roasted sea bream, vine-ripened tomatoes, Leccino olives, garlic & rosemary potatoes.
This is dinner and a show, as the fish is filet at the table in front of you, which Jimmy did a marvelous job at. It really had that straight off the BBQ taste, giving you that nostalgic feeling back to sunnier days. The tomatoes we’re just devine, I don’t really know how else to describe them apart from really tomato-ey.
Orata Al Forna. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Throughout all of the food Jimmy was bringing over accompanying wines which was just dreamy. We also tried a couple of the cocktails and they were really tasty too but a bit sweet for me, I’m more of a wine girl.
By this point we thought we couldn’t eat another thing but Gio, the host, said we must try the Baba Napoletano, a traditional dessert from his home town of Naples. The rum soaked sponge cake with Chantilly cream and raspberries was delectable. Not too boozy but enough to pack a punch, the perfect way to finish off our meal.
Baba Napoletano. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
For a special occasion or a date night, this spot on Park Row is a great experience and you won’t leave hungry.
To find out more and to book your table, take a look at their website.
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
The Hoot -
5th June 2023 
