Empire Café

Combining ‘old school values’ with careful cookery, this chic little Leeds eatery is much more than your run of the mill Yorkshire cafe: offering a short but exciting list of regularly changing small and large plates and a hearty morning offering. Serving breakfast, dinners and teas from Wednesday to Sunday, the kitchen is best known for its ‘wall of flame’ rotisserie chicken and open fire cooking, and boasts a strong cocktail and natural wine list to boot.

Located on Fish Street, a few rows back from the main hustle and bustle of Leeds’ busy shopping district, The Empire Café was first opened by Sam Pullan and his partner Nicole Deighton in 2022 and has become a staple of the city’s dining scene. Taking over the former La Strega Café, a once-beloved local greasy spoon, whilst you’ll still always be able to get a bacon butty here come later in the day things definitely go up a notch.

Sam and the team are cooking over wood, fire and charcoal, with a rotisserie dripping glistening chicken fat directly onto sizzling potatoes beneath. The menu changes regularly to reflect the best seasonal produce, but staples include the famous house rotisserie chicken (also available to take away from the kitchen hatch) and the steak, served pink, already sliced and with plenty of jus. 

There are also inventive small plates to explore here, artfully playing with ingredients to put fun twists on classics. Think cod baklava with blood orange hollandaise and carrot syrup, and Bahn Mi duck eclairs with liver parfait, duck ham, pickled veg, and a zesty Gochujang glaze. With dishes switching up regularly, there’s no menu online but a peek at their Instagram usually gives you a bit of insight into what’s new. 

Split across two floors, upstairs is a small bar and dining area overlooking the open kitchen, whilst downstairs has a more intimate feel: accessed via a spiral iron staircase. During warmer months, The Empire Café also opens up its glass bifold doors and fills its patio terrace with tables draped in black and white checkered cloths.

Not to be missed, there is a reason The Empire Café has become such a staple for locals and a regular haunt of local industry leaders. Just as good for casual drinks and snacks with friends as for a romantic date night, it ticks all the boxes.