For some fun, community and creativity, check out these eclectic places that we’ve had the pleasure of visiting during our time in Leeds. Each has something special about them, but also serve some epic food and drinks! Check them out:

Mr Tea – okay, so this isn’t a coffee house as such, but we treat bubble tea kind of like coffee, so here it is! It’s our favourite bubble tea place in Leeds (and we’ve tried them all), there are just so many options and all the combinations (that we’ve tried) are incredible. I love that you can choose your drink’s sugar level and that there are vegan friendly versions too. The décor with its modern yet homely vibes upstairs are just perfect too. I should also mention that they do some pretty incredible Taiwanese meals and snacks too! Find Mr Tea at 21 Albion Place, Leeds LS1 6JS.

Wapentake – part coffee shop, part pub-restaurant, part craft beer bar, this little place is special in all the best ways. With homely décor, a piano, walls pasted with craft beer mats and even some antique guns, Wapentake is a place where you enter and feel like you’ve found a hidden treasure, all to yourself. They also had the best-tasting cake of any place on this entire list (probably the least good-looking though – presentation is not their forte!). Find Wapentake at 92 Kirkgate, Leeds LS2 7DJ.

Vinyl Whistle – vinyl heaven accompanied by a decent coffee (or a beer)! Some of the Google reviews are less than stellar because the owner was a football ref apparently and some (childish) people disagreed with his decisions and decided to review bomb the business. Ignore them and check this place out, especially if you’re a music fan. It also has small gigs on – check on their website. Find Vinyl Whistle at 12 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AD.

Humbl Coffee – a newish (2022), crowdsourced café with awesome coffee and cake (very vegan-friendly), a community book swap, all while being exceptionally dog friendly. There’s lots of local artwork on display and the garden deck is particularly lovely in the sunshine! This place is also a pretty friendly place to whip out your laptop for a little bit of that unfortunate screen-based labour we all have to do. We love that this Leeds café also has a cute little roving coffee van. Find Humbl Coffee at 38 Monk Bridge Rd, Meanwood, Leeds LS6 4ER.

Flamingos Coffee House – this super-welcoming, city-centre, LGBTQ+ friendly café is a peaceful haven for alternative folks and allies, with gender-neutral facilities, queer event promotions and late-night community spaces. Better still, they give proceeds from products to queer charities. You can’t go wrong with a slice of rainbow cake accompanied by a cracking coffee. This Leeds café is fantastic from a price-point perspective too! Find Flamingos at 10 Central Arcade, Leeds LS1 6DX.

Left Bank Leeds – a brilliant multi-purpose community space located inside a former church, with a big garden out the front with lots of seating. This place is a little different – it’s been used for poetry readings, gigs, beer and cider festivals and even as a wedding venue. It is the heart of the community where I live! On a casual day, it’s an outstanding choice to pick up a coffee and do some work or read a book, especially in the summer on the front lawn. Pair a trip here with the retro community Hyde Park Picture House just around the corner – the oldest gaslit cinema in the world, showing classic and new films daily. Find Left Bank at Cardigan Road, Burley, Leeds LS6 1LJ.