- HarryFossettsHat
- (11)
-
Simply the best Thai restaurant in Leeds. Tucked away behind the impressive Town Hall (or City Hall, I always get them mixed up, basically the massive hall on Headrow).
Cheap with mains at less than a fiver and starters about £2. Friendly staff and a convivial atmosphere when it's full. Keeps funny opening hours though, its open through the day but closes at 10pm.
Worth popping into the Victoria Hotel just along the road afterwards for a swift one.
39 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3BB, Tel: 0113 245 9224
What is it? A bar that serves food and fantastic cocktails and also has an internet cafe and a shop selling all the booze you've just drank in the bar. But that doesn't do it justice.
It's simply the best bar I think I have been in for a very long time (besides one in Prague and I'm not telling you where that is because it's mine. ALL MINE. OK?).
Spread over 3 floors, the ground floor is home to the shop, internet lounge and the bar itself. To describe it as 'a bar' is an understatement on a parallel with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon being merely a garden. This place is a mecca to booze. I counted 17 seperate types of Absinthe on the wall. 17!
The first floor is home to another room, decked out with comfy seating where you can spread out and lounge around, also a couple of raised bed/seats with curtains and a shedload of fabric in general, along a Thai type theme.
The third floor has yet another room with large sofas and chairs, and as an added bonus it's non-smoking. You do feel a bit detached from the rest of the bar but get enough of your crowd in there and it's more or less all yours.
Food, although I haven't tried it, looked tasty (spying on the plates as they came out) and entirely Thai.
It's worth taking a stool at the bar and watching the lads behind it create cocktails from the mammoth list.
In a word: quality.
42 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS 01904 640 002
Punjabi Indian restaurant a little way out of town (about 1.5 miles) but worth making the effort for.
Staffed by possibly the smiliest gents I have ever seen or met. Not massive portions by some standards, its all about the flavours, which are consistently a notch above other curry houses around and about. Still a proper good feed though, and all at a belting price.
Raja's has almost a permanent place in the Leeds Good Food Guide.
There are many many other ethnic eateries along the same road (Roundhay Road) so it's worth a look if you're not bothered about Raja's, but there are no bars in the area (except for a well dodgy Irish bar).
If you crave booze give me a knock, theres always beer and wine in the fridge, and I live just round the corner from Raja's.
186 Roundhay Road
Leeds
LS8 5PL
0113 248 0411
A really rather lovely bar, just out of town, but definitely worth the little walk. A relaxed atmosphere with massive battered sofas to fall into, and a mix n' match attitude to the rest of the furniture. Usually has a bit of an exhibition on the walls too. Definitely worth eating there too. Small but perfectly formed menu which never fails to taste absolutely gorgeous (lamb shank being my particular favourite at the moment), which can be eaten in the informal restaurant bit in the back of the bar whilst watching the chefs do their thing in the open kitchen.
Reasonably priced too. Separate daytime and evening menus.
Another excellent place to either start a night or just to have a few quiet bevvies in.
76-78 North St, Leeds, LS2 7PN 0113 295 6060
Cafe bar by day, thronging bar by night. Another excellent bar with an excellent music policy (bearing in mind my bias towards indie/rock).
Does do food but I haven't indulged yet as it's always been rammed to the gills when I've been, usually late in the night.
20 New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 1AJ 0113 305 0372
A dark and cosy bar in the week, gets louder towards the weekend. In my eyes the best music policy in town (indie/rock) and superior to Mojos (next door) as it doesn't get so bloody rammed, and you can actually get a pint and usually a seat.
Well recommended cocktails too. Open until 4am.
12-14 Merrion St, Leeds, LS1 6PQ 0113 244 4080
Its a right after the Grand Theatre and Arcade and the chavtastic hellhole that is Gatecrasher. next door to Mojos.
Couple of decent curry houses on the same street, of which the Elephant Cfae is probably the better.
A cellar bar on New Briggate, sandwiched between and under North and Franks. A nice little bar with a lovely atmosphere and a good taste in music, usually along jazz/blues lines but branches out now and again.
As can be expected, busy on a weekend, but good for a quiet drink and a light snack when you're knackered from shopping on a Saturday.
Usually has live acts on in the week.
20 New Briggate
Leeds
LS16NU
If you pass North you've also just gone past the entrance to Sela, turn around and look for the red door!
Far and away the cheapest pint in town (it's a Samuel Smith's establishment), squirrelled away up an alleyway off Briggate.
Always guaranteed an 'eclectic' mix of clientele due to the prices (read: winos, students, alternative types, office workers, a proper cross-section), but that also guarantees a cracking laugh.
No jukebox, no tellybox, you actually have to talk to your mates. One night when I was in one room descended into an informal football trivia quiz, with about 20 people all nattering away and throwing in questions.
Does do food, cheap, but I've not had the pleasure yet.
Angel Inn Yard, Leeds, LS1 6LN - 0113 245 1428
(basically go up the alleyway next to Music Zone, opposite Harvey Nicks, on Briggate)
An excellent wee bar close to the Corn Exchange. Pricier than most but worth it with a laidback, friendly atmosphere and a quality mix of music varying every night of the week, including live sets from local talent. Also worth checking out Wire, the club next door.
10-12 Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 6DN - 0113 245 7101
A bar/pool hall/diner/club thing all rolled into one. Part of a small chain. Good for dropping in on for the food (which, when it eventually comes, comes in rather mountainous portions), and for watching the footy.
64 Call Lane (1st & 2nd floor)
Leeds
LS1 6DT
Tel: 0113 245 7011
Fax: 0113 245 7022
A cracking boozer near the Tetley's Brewery. Not particularly cheap, but not extortionate either.
Original Victorian fixtures and fittings. Food is of a good standard and there are a myriad of rooms to get yourself lost in. A quality place to start a night, or for a quiet(ish) drink if you don't fancy having a massive bender.
Corner of Hunslet Road and Dock Street.
1-5 Hunslet Rd, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1JQ.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
has posted 11 tips
last submitted a tip on 30 January 2007
first submitted a tip on 29 January 2007
has not yet had any tips rated
has written tips about
has used tags
