If there's one thing Leeds locals love, it's a wine bar.
Okay wine lovers, this article is well and truly dedicated to you and your wine-sipping needs.
If you're sick and tired of being served an average wine in a horrible shaped glass at a pub, then we're here to save the day and get you to where you deserve to be.
Over the last couple of years there's been an influx of new wine bars touching down in the city, and we're not mad about it whatsoever.
So whether you fancy an earthy glass of natural orange wine or a smooth chilled red, we're pretty certain there's a wine bar for you.
Keep reading and get ready to get really, really thirsty...
Bottle Chop
Weetwood Lane, Headingley
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
This one comes as literally no surprise. The absolute OGs of natural wine, this pastel pink oasis over in Headingley is a firm favourite amongst city dwellers and those settled in the suburbs.
Stop by for an epic cheese and charcuterie boards and let the wonderful staff guide you to your perfect glass of wine. You're welcome.
Rinse
Call Lane
Image: The Hoot LeedsImage: The Hoot Leeds
And if we're going to shoutout Bottle Chop, then the next logical answer is of course Rinse.
Their city centre sibling opened up just a few months ago and it's just as brilliant and just as busy, obviously. You can get all of the above here at Rinse but you're slap bang in the city centre, the perfect mid-shopping pick me up or pre-dinner glass pitstop.
Friends of Ham
New Station Street, Leeds and Wells Road, Ilkley
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This fabulous spot not only serves great wine and lashing of beer but they also sell lots of...ham.
These guys take a lot of pride in their charcuterie and cheese boards and you probably won't find better in the city. Using only the best quality ingredients, each board is carefully curated and they'll help you choose a wine to match. Their small plates change seasonally but they're all always delicious, trust us.
NoNo Wine Bar
Granary Wharf
Images: The Hoot Leeds
New to the city, NoNo Wine Bar offers a lovely cosy setting right next to the train station, perfect whether you're coming or going to the city.
Nestled underneath the railway arch you'll find walls of wine of every colour on offer by glass or by the bottle.
Veeno
Wellington Place
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This spot is well known amongst city workers as a great spot to sink a glass of wine or two. It's an Italian wine bar and kitchen where you'll find great deals as well as overflowing charcuterie boards and glasses to match.
Eat Your Greens
New York Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Okay, technically not just a wine bar, Eat Your Greens is still a fabulous space to enjoy a glass of wine that you might not have tried before.
They're all about using the very best seasonal ingredients, so here you'll find a rotating selection of wines which are all guaranteed to be very, very delicious. And obviously whilst you're there it would be rude not to dig into their fantastic dishes, in a jiffy this will be your new favourite spot in the city.
Latitude
The Calls
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We have a feeling you'll already know about this one, having served the people of Leeds since 2008 they recently moved into a bigger space on The Calls where you can not only buy their wine but you can sit in and drink it as well.
Their mission is very simple, to provide customers with stellar service and exceptional wine. And they do that in abundance.
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.
Five of the best new openings in Leeds recently – from ice bath cafes to listening bars
Clementine Hall
It's been a brilliant couple of months for new openings in Leeds.
We don't know about you, but we think our city is really thriving with all it has to offer at the moment.
There's been a flurry of new spots opening up, and if you haven't visited them then we urge you to check them out.
But first, allow us to tell you all about them...
Domo
Tower works, 2 Globe Rd, Holbeck, LS11 5QG
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing Domo, an independent restaurant born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities that aren't often seen outside the island, all made entirely in-house.
Located right on the water's edge, we've got a feeling this is going to be our go-to spot this summer for long lunches fuelled by spritzes.
Also born in Sheffield, this one's for the matcha lovers and we know there's a lot of you. Think iced banana bread matcha, superfood smoothies and refreshing acai bowls served in a super cool setting.
Kontrast
84-86 Railway Street, Saxton Gardens, LS9 8HB
Images: The Hoot Leeds
After already making a big name for themselves over in Manchester, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath cafe concept over to Leeds. Located under the railway arches, Kontrast features two traditional saunas, one infrared sauna, and four ice baths, each varying in temperature between three and 13 degrees. It's the perfect space to enjoy solo or with a group of like-minded wellness-loving people.
Scott and his partner have opened the coolest, 70's inspired record bar that is full of his massive record collection alongside a carefully curated cocktail menu with a twist. With the best view of Sunny Bank Mills, Pardon Me is just the most chilled out place to watch the world go by whilst sipping on a coffee or a glass of wine whilst hearing everything from hip hop and soul to deep house, and disco. We loved our visit and we know you will too.
We all know and bloody love Silver's Deli over in Bramley, but now they’ve branched out to Farsley and opened the wonderful their very own bakery which is already a sell-out.
The all-new neighbourhood bakehouse is slinging out the likes of homemade focaccia, buttermilk brownies, sausage rolls, cookies, tiramisu and, of course, the ever-so-famous sandos but this time in homemade, fluffy focaccia.