As soon as there’s an opportunity to head up to a rooftop terrace or grab an ice cream, it doesn’t matter what city you’re in, everyone’s clearing their plans to make the most of those rays of sunshine (because, let’s face it, we’re in Britain and it never lasts long).
The truth is there's seemingly unlimited spaces to spend our days basking in the sunshine in Leeds, if you know where to look.
The city and its suburbs are packed with natural beauty, but regardless of whether you’re just visiting or a long-time Leeds local, it can feel overwhelming choosing a space to soak up the sunshine.
That's where our handy guide comes in. We've rounded up some of the best places in the city to hang out whatever your day looks like. From beer gardens and rooftop terraces to parks and ice cream shops, keep reading to find our top picks for the summer in Leeds…
Rooftop Terraces
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
Rooftop bars are something Leeds does best - how many other cities (well, cities of our size) can say that they host live DJ sets, frozen cocktails and all with skyline views of the city all around the centre?
Naturally Headrow House and Belgrave are an easy go-to.Always recommended to our team by locals and packed with daytime drinkers looking for a cocktail offer at Headrow and a side of loaded fries to share over wine at Belgrave, it's a must try for newbies on a day trip to Leeds.
Having been open for 10 and 8 years respectively, the rooftop bars are sharing our city's love for drinks in the sky with the likes of Green Room hidden on Wellington Street. Having been open for just over a year, this place has already been named as one of the best rooftops in Europe - and with beautiful greenery intertwined between long benches and a bar stocked with local draught pints.Plus, there's also the newly opened IF... Rooftop bringing frozen margaritas and BBQ classics to the masses, having taken over the former East Parade Social site just a few short months ago.
Parks
When it comes to green spaces, Leeds welcomes plenty of benches to nip out for an alfresco morning meeting or spend the afternoon playing around with the whole family alike.
Naturally, Roundhay Park is often a popular choice. As one of the biggest city parks in Europe, spanning a whopping 800 acres, Roundhay has welcomed guests to its children’s play area, woodland walks or riverside strolls for just over 200 years. Av
Park Square is the metropolitan hangout for office workers seeking sunshine on their lunch hour and is often packed out with deck chairs and picnic blankets - grab yourself a sarnie or salad from indie Italian kitchen La Piola just on the corner and truly transport yourself to the Mediterranean without leaving Leeds.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Festival goers might recognise Temple Newsam as home of Live At Leeds: In The Park and Slam Dunk North festival, but there's plenty of walking routes to explore through the estate too. The 4.7km walk around the perimeter offers strolls through peaceful fields, all just five miles from the city centre.
Leeds Dock isn't just for boats and walking around the Royal Armouries, if you head over to Knight's Way Bridge you'll find a little spot of grass between where the River Aire and canalside that's a little picnic point - just be careful since it's near the water's edge.
Beer Gardens
These days it feels as if you can't walk two steps without finding a pub on the corner - but how do you strike the perfect balance of a friendly but bustling atmosphere without picking a space too cramped?
Waterlane Boat House on Granary Wharf has been recognised as one of the best beer gardens in England, according to Big 7 Travel - and with plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the canalside, it's no wonder it's one of the busiest watering holes in the city on a summer day.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those familiar with the Netflix smash hit movie Bank of Dave might recognise the Duck and Drake on Kirkgate as one of the city's favourite beer gardens. Between quirky details like old maps of Leeds and shaded corners to seek refuge from the sunlight, it's everything you'd want from a good old fashioned pub.
Over in the suburbs you're not short of big beer gardens either - famous for its cricket viewings and as an Otley Run stop on the weekends, the Original Oak in Headingley as well as The Mustard Pot in Chapel Allerton are both perfect for whiling the afternoon away in sun drenched settings.
And who could forget about the plethora of breweries with huge outdoor spaces, welcoming punters with open arms over the summer months? North Brewing Co's Springwell is perfect for soaking up the sunshine over in Sheepscar whilst Kirkstall is home to (you guessed it) Kirkstall Brewery, which boasts plenty of outdoor seating - and it's only a breezy 15 minute walk from the city centre.
Ice Cream Shops
Who doesn't love an ice cream in the sunshine? With much-loved the Mr Whippy van now departed from Roundhay Park, we've been on the hunt for a new ice cream regular - but luckily we're not short of places to visit in Leeds.
Kult Gelato serves bright purple ube ice cream, either as soft serve or by the scoop on the cone or even inside a brioche bun to make a 'doughlato'.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Inside Leeds Kirkgate Market, you'll find Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato where a whole host of different seasonal flavours of gelato are created every day. Combining the best produce from Yorkshire and Tuscany, there's not just gelato here but coffee, sarnies and even ice cream for four legged friends.
And for those looking for a truly Insta-worthy ice cream, Amorino creates gorgeous ice cream cones in the shape of flowers. Choose from unique flavours like organic blood orange, amaretti biscuit, tiramisu and bergamot, or even get your ice cream fix inside a cake, crepe or macaron.
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026
Clementine Hall
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Sophie Smith -
20th July 2023 
