10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Leeds

Beyond the grand stone archways and its imposing Edwardian façade, Kirkgate Market is home to more than 600 stalls, making it the largest covered market in Europe. Here, among the bakers, fishmongers, butchers, and delis, you’ll discover the true taste of Leeds.

Try locally grown produce, fresh seafood, wild game, and cuisines from all around the world. From Yorkshire pudding wraps to homemade Turkish bread and baklava, you can sample some of the best foods the city has to offer at Kirkgate Market. 

The Man Behind the Curtain is a fine-dining escape without the rigidity of most high-end restaurants. Run by former Noma chef Michael O’Hare, its menu is dizzyingly ambitious, unbound by geographical locations and trends.

Each dish that comes out of the kitchen is a work of art, painstakingly plated by talented chefs. They serve fun and highly original dishes, including ox cheek Rossini, foie gras doughnuts, and crab lasagne. The Man Behind the Curtain also has an interesting array of desserts and cocktails.

Bengal Brasserie is a chain of restaurants in Leeds that serves Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. No matter which restaurant you dine in, you can choose from a wide range of filling dishes, all bursting with flavour.

Some of its specialities include Kandhari, a hearty minced meat dish in a thick spicy sauce, and Achar, a mouth-watering braised meat recipe with mango chutney and pickle sauce. If you can’t handle spicy food, you can tell the chef how mild you want it and they’ll adjust accordingly.

Myrtle Tavern is an under-the-radar gem where you can indulge in British comfort food classics and a cold beer. Its menu consists of quintessential English desserts, satisfying pies, savoury meats, and more. You can also enjoy a decent selection of wines, best paired with a variety of cheeses.

If you’re looking for a relaxing spot for the entire family, Myrtle Tavern is worth visiting. Along with wendy houses and a rabbit garden, its beer garden has a play area where kids of all ages can have fun.

Known for its all-day menu, Bill’s Leeds serves an eclectic mix of guilty pleasures and modern British dishes, complete with everything from crispy calamari and beetroot wellingtons to chicken and sesame dumplings. This is where you go if you’re after seasonal goods, fresh herbs, veggies, meats, and seafood.

It has extensive breakfast/brunch offerings – from buttermilk pancakes and smoothies to toast and oats, it’s easily one of the top brunch spots in the city. Bill’s Leeds also serves plant-based alternatives for vegan and vegetarian eaters.

A trip to Leeds wouldn’t be complete without a visit to The Botanist, a one-of-a-kind gastropub and wine bar that offers grilled meats, savoury pies, great desserts, and deli boards. However, its main draws are the hanging kebabs, plated with seasoned chips.

If you’re looking for a place to dine, drink and listen to live music, this is your spot. Plus, The Botanist has an extensive ale, wine, and cocktail selection that will surely keep you occupied all night long.

Aagrah is a family-run chain of high-end Indian restaurants in Yorkshire that’s been delivering first-rate and award-winning dishes since 1977. It brings a diverse range of regional cuisines under 1 roof. Staples include tikka masala and bhaji, but other items in their menu include biryani and vindaloo, as well as Punjabi, Kashmiri, and Dopiaza dishes.

The space is beautiful and refined, with a modern look despite its traditional dishes. Whether you're keen to try Indian food that’s familiar or something new, you can start at this Aagrah.