From quirky, colourful and cosy venues offering beautiful cappuccinos and cakes, to more upmarket establishments serving sumptuous snacks and lunches, Leeds is home to a great variety of coffee shops and cafés. From quirky, colourful and cosy venues offering beautiful cappuccinos and cakes, to more upmarket establishments serving sumptuous snacks and lunches, Leeds is home to a great variety of coffee shops and cafés. October 1 is International Coffee Day so why not visit one or let us know your favourite. Claire Schofield picks out three of the very best. Café Lento This kooky little café offers more than just your average dining experience. It’s small and cosy, decorated with wooden furnishings, which brings a charming rustic feel to it. Serving a very reasonably priced selection of hot and cold sandwiches, jacket potatoes, soups and a glorious full English breakfast, amongst other nibbles, Café Lento is the perfect lunch time stop. The staff are exceptionally friendly and the service always excellent, and if the quirky décor – including some delightfully eccentric lightbulb shaped salt and pepper holders – isn’t enough to entice you in, then the expansive array of books, puzzles and games adorning the walls sure will. Who said you had to be bored whilst waiting for your food? 21a North Lane, Headingley, LS6 3HW (07988 660 768, cafelento.co.uk) Patisserie Valerie The very sight of all the cakes and pastries is enough to lure you through the door of this sweet little café. The cakes on offer are a little more fancy than your average coffee shop, with the likes of warm Belgian chocolate desserts, pancakes, éclairs, gateauxs and profiteroles on offer. It’s slightly pricy, but the substantial selection of food and cakes available does make up for this. Plus, it is nice to indulge every once in a while. As well as the traditional snacks, like sandwiches and toasties, there are also some more generous meals if you’re feeling a bit more peckish, including lasagne, spaghetti and quiches. The food is of high quality and with the added addition of speciality cakes available to order, Patisserie Valerie takes indulgence that one step further. 50a Albion Street, LS1 6AD (0113 242 4739) Unit 2 Ground Floor, 8 St Pauls Street, LS1 2LE Opposite Cafe Located opposite the Leeds University’s Parkinson building, this rather aptly named establishment is easy to find. It’s a regular haunt for students being so conveniently located for the campus, but don’t let the hordes of student clientele put you off visiting – as you could always take a trip to their new café located in the Victoria Quarter. Serving freshly homemade food, including sandwiches, Paninis and hot soups, the café also serves a selection of delicious cakes, including their famous chocolate brownies. To wash it all down, a range of Fairtrade coffees, teas and hot chocolate is available, including the rather rarer white hot chocolate for those with an exceptionally sweet tooth. 26 Blenheim Terrace, Opposite Leeds University, LS2 9HD (0113 243 1321, www.oppositecafe.co.uk) Victoria Quarter, Queen Victoria Street, LS1 6AZ (07818 433 082, www.oppositecafe.co.uk) Article courtesy of WOW257 About The AuthorYorkshire Food & Drink Yorkshire's only dedicated food and drink website from Yorkshire Post Newspapers and its sister titles in the region. Showcasing everything Yorkshire has to offer from the fruits of the sea to the fields of the moors and beyond. It includes unbiased restaurant reviews by renowned food critics, recipes and 'how to' videos from some of Yorkshire's finest chefs and latest food and drink news and blogs from around our amazing county. And you can have your say either on the site or via our Facebook and Twitter accounts. Let us know what you think comments
