Lunch in Leeds

Neon Cactus, 35 Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BT - Visit now

The go-to place in Leeds when it comes to vibrant Mexican food and tequila-based cocktails and special one-off menus. It’s inspired by the traditional canteen and old town street vendors of Mexico.

Bundobust Leeds, 6 Mill Hill, Leeds, LS1 5DQ - Visit now

Wildly popular and top-quality Indian street food at the original location in Leeds. Expect to find an impressive array of affordable small plates (and bowls), all vegetarian and quite often vegan.

Trinity Kitchen, 27 Albion St, Leeds, LS1 5ER - Visit now

Trinity Kitchen is the much-loved food hall of the Trinity Shopping Centre, except unlike the usual food hall you’ll find a bright buzzing atmosphere with bespoke and special food places like Tortilla, Chip + Fish, and Tikki’s Thai Kitchen.

Sheaf Street Cafeteria, 3 Sheaf Street, Leeds, LS10 1HD - Visit now

Part of the effortlessly cool Duke Studios, Sheaf Street offers all kinds of interesting food and drink plus events and resident DJs. Try out the buckwheat pancakes and the huevos pobre.

Hepworth’s Deli, 21, Thorntons Arcade, Lands Ln, Leeds, LS1 6LQ - Visit now

Based in the beautiful Victorian-era Thornton’s Arcade, complete with glass roof, this is a smart modern deli with a great range of lunch offers. We heartily recommend the sharing platters, but the sandwiches are delicious also.

The Cross Keys, 107 Water Ln, Leeds, LS11 5WD - Visit now

Lunch doesn’t get much better than this. The multiple-award-winning Cross Keys pub boasts an ever-changing seasonal lunch menu, in a classic British pub space that dates back to the early 19th century.

Olive & Rye, Queens Arcade, 18-20 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6LF - Visit now

The humble sandwich is a lunchtime staple but forget about those boring meal deals, for the true sandwich experience head to Olive & Rye in the stunning Queen’s Arcade. And if you want to make your own at home, this superb deli is packed with meats, cheeses and chutneys.

Hive, HIVE, 1 Whitehall, Riverside,, Leeds, LS1 4BN - Visit now

Hive offer up some of the better healthy lunch options in the city, with salads and soups dominating the menu. No limp lettuce or dreary minestrone here, however, think Indian spiced cauliflower soup and Vietnamese pulled chicken salad.

Zaap, 16-17 Grand Arcade, Leeds, LS1 6PG - Visit now

If Thai street food takes your fancy, you’ll want to take your midday snack at Zaap. It’s a fascinating little space, that uses tuktuks reinvented into tables, and a lip-smacking menu of dim sum, Thai curries and noodle dishes.