Tabula Rasa is serving up unique colour-changing cocktails in a beautifully decorated bar, hidden the heart of Leeds.
Inspired by the roaring 20s, this sophisticated cocktail bar focuses on aperitivo and cocktails, as well as speciality coffee with a modern art-deco design and some of the most irresistible cocktails around.
Amongst the unique combinations on the menu is an incredible, colour-changing cocktail inspired by legendary artist, Pablo Picasso.
Starting off as a pale crystal-like blue colour, this magical cocktail transforms into shades of lilac, before becoming a violet-coloured drink using The Botanic Request spirits and pink sugars. Now how many cocktails can do that?
Other options include the 'Anna Kerina' cocktail, made using Finlandia vodka and a dash of absinthe. Tabula Rasa describe this one as "beautiful, fierce, and mysterious just as the woman who dared to challenge the Russian aristocracy in her path to self actuation. Is “Anna Karenina” a great love story or a warning against the myth and cult of love?! Some dashes of absinthe always reveal the truth…".
Like the other cocktails on the Tabula Rasa menu, they're all named after influential or historical figures- great for those awkward first dates if you have nothing to talk about.
The concept comes from owner Filippos Filippopoulos' years of hospitality experience and passion for fine tuning flavours. Long time Leeds residents may recognise Filippos from the Watermark Bar on Belgrave Street as the former co-owner.
Now located on 8 East Gate, Filippos focuses on an authentic aperitivo experience in the evening, whilst daytime is served for early drinkers and the perfect coffee.
Filippos Filippopoulos shaking a cocktail inside his former home of The Watermark Bar. / Image: The Watermark Bar
We love a local that champions other independents and that's exactly what we can expect from Tabula Rasas. In the mornings, grab a coffee with a slice or two brownie from the Savvy Baker or snack your way through the afternoon and evening with bruschettas from The Cheesy Living Co's selection of charcuterie and cheeses.
Open 6 days a week, Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00am, the bar also serves an exclusive coffee blend made just for Tabula Rasa.
Charcuterie sharers from The Cheesy Living Co. / Image: Tabula Rasa
For more information, including a sneak peak at the cocktail menu awaiting you, you can visit the bar's Instagram page or head over to 8 East Parade in Leeds city centre from 10am on weekdays until and as late as 2am between Thursday and Saturday.
The Good Food Guide has released its annual list of the top bakeries across the UK – and one in Leeds has made the cut.
The prestigious guide has been travelling across the nation testing out the joy of British bakeries, from pastries to loaves to croissants to biscuits. What a tough job.
The Good Food Guide has said that the nation is going through something of a ‘modern baking boom’ and selected one spot locally that are doing it better than anyone else.
And that bakery is the fabulous Nova Bakehouse that is co-owned by sisters Sarah Lemanski and Hannah Mather.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Located on Leeds Dock, Nova Bakehouse is a beautiful sun drenched spot that serve up irresistible morning buns, chewy cookies and speciality loaves.
They focus on 'flavour forward baking' using seasonal ingredients to create monthly specials that'll have you going back time and time again.
It was the only Leeds spot to feature on the list, for the second year running might we add, but elsewhere in Yorkshire Haxby Bakehouse in York and Baker’s Yard Bakery in Sheffield are included.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Editor of The Good Food Guide, Chloë Hamilton, said: “Choosing just 50 winners was an almost impossible task given how diverse and highly skilled the British baking scene has become.
“From wood-fired sourdough in Perthshire to a central London café peddling pains au chocolat that take you straight to the streets of Paris, one thing uniting them all is sheer unadulterated deliciousness."
All of a sudden we're feeling pretty peckish for a croissant...what's your favourite bakery in Leeds?
Viral brunch cafe Acai and the Tribe is coming to Leeds city centre this spring
Clementine Hall
Leeds health nuts assemble, because acai bowls and superfood smoothies are coming to a city near you.
Incase you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you may not be clued up on the whole acai bowl trend that has been sweeping up the nation.
Acai is a super berry grown and harvested in the Amazon rainforest, and not only is it absolutely delicious but it has a myriad of health benefits.
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Images: The Manc Group
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, Acai and the Tribe said: "You asked, we listened. LEEDS… your new lifestyle arrives soon."
They will be opening on 88 Vicar Lane as part of the Vicar Lane regeneration scheme, which has already scene some great new restaurants being announced such as Sticks'n'Sushi and Dishoom.
It seems like this part of town is suddenly going to be the place to be, and we're very happy to see it.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more but for now, you can find out more about Acai and the Tribe here.
Sophie Smith -
13th January 2022 
