The Best of The Calls
April 2026
The Calls
The Calls is a beautiful area of Leeds by the River Aire with a breadth of independent cafes, a buzzing nightlife, amazing restaurants and a wonderful history. Whether you choose to travel by Water Taxi or stroll down the docks, you’ll never be at a loss for how to spend the afternoon in and around The Calls.
Brunch & Coffee
IF… Up North
IF… Up North have three gorgeous locations across Leeds but it’s safe to say their spot on Call Lane is the perfect way to spend the morning. They serve the Leeds famous local coffee from North Star Coffee Roasters as well as classic cocktails and healthy smoothies. All of your classic brunch options are on offer including full English breakfasts (with amazing veggie and vegan options,) pancakes, a classic avocado toast with feta, delicious breakfast rolls and filling breakfast burritos. The list keeps going so you’ll have to keep coming back.
- 43 Call Lane, LS1 7BT
Credit: Instagram, ifupnorth
Kapow Coffee
Kapow is a lovely little coffee shop nestled on the edge of the River Aire serving a punchy coffee to get your day kicked off right. This cosy café serves a wide range of delicious sandwiches and homemade cakes and brownies with lots of vegan and veggie-friendly options. It’s the ideal place to swing by on your way to work to grab a coffee on the go, or nestle yourself in a corner with a book and a brew.
- 46 Call Lane, LS1 7BT
Credit: Instagram - kapowcoffee
Bruschetta
Tucked away inside one of Leeds’ most beautiful spots, Bruschetta is the indie coffee, cake and breakfast spot you absolutely need to try: hangover or no hangover. Known for their Full Algerian Breakfasts and stacks of fluffy pancakes, the unique flavour and spice combinations set Bruschetta apart from your regular brunch spot. The menu is small and concise but well thought through, every flavour matches perfectly and you’ll be left wanting more. The coffee is a whole other conversation, the Yorkshire sourced beans are left to breathe for 14 days to make for the perfect cup of Joe
- The Concourse, Leeds Corn Exchange Leeds, LS1 7BR
Credit: Instagram - bruschetta_leeds
Eating Out
Ambiente
Picture this; you’ve just ordered an assortment of delicious tapas, you’re sipping on an Aperol Spritz watching over the River Aire as the barge boats come past. Sounds ideal doesn’t it? Ambiente gives the feeling of going on a small holiday, the independent Spanish restaurant is famous for a wide variety of sherry and the best patatas bravas in the city. The gorgeous venue sits inside a Grade II listed building and has retained its bare brick walls, stripped floors and exposed steelwork. The balcony overlooking the river is a perfect suntrap in the summer months while the interior is ideal for a cosy winters night.
- 36-38 The Calls, LS2 7EW
Credit: Instagram - ambientetapas
Shears Yard
Shears Yard is an independent kitchen and bar well known in Leeds for their chilled-out modern European menu. While they can describe themselves as fine-dining due to the fresh locally sourced ingredients, the relaxed environment welcomes anybody. It’s a great spot for celebrating with friends or taking someone special on a date, your purse strings will be happy too as it’s very affordable – especially for how nice of a venue it is!
- 11-15 Wharf St LS2 7EH
Credit: Instagram - shearsyard
Power, Corruption & Lies
Eat all day, party all night. Power, Corruption and Lies serve the city’s best Pan Asian small plates, each with a spicy element and a wow factor. You’ll find staple dishes like brioche prawn toast drenched in Yuzu aiolo with nuoc cham and fresh herbs; Pork with kimchi and honey gochujang Kimchi salt: so much to choose from. But they’re not just known for the food, the cocktails take the limelight all on their own, this spot has a love affair between late night disco & Eastern eats
- 36 Call Lane, LS1 6DT
Credit: instagram - pclbarleeds
Cocktails
SALT Calls Landing
What’s better than cocktails? Cocktails on tap. The newly opened SALT features 20 different tequilas and their famous cocktails ‘On Tap’, with 8 different options to choose from. Picture everything from the timeless Pornstar Martini to a modern twist on a classic Blood Orange Margarita, we can guarantee these cocktails live up to the real deal and saves all that waiting at the bar. True to the distinctive SALT brand, the bar features 4 cask ales, and 7 craft beers, including the popular Jute- Session IPA, new refreshing pale ale – Loom and Ossett Brewery’s crisp YON Lager.
- 36-38 The Calls LS2 7EW
Credit: Instagram - saltcallslanding
The Maven
Behind the doors and up the stairs at No.1 Call Lane you’ll find Leeds’ original speakeasy and the city’s best-loved Prohibition-style party. The city’s award-winning and best cocktail mixologists will make you a drink that feels special to you and always exactly what you need. A remarkable hidden gem that transports you back to the 1920’s, we guarantee you’ll end up popping in for one but staying all night.
- 1 Call Lane, LS1 7DH
Credit: instagram - themavenbar
Roland's
The venue is an understated bar, with relaxed vibes, exposed brickwork, their very own hidden roof terrace and strong wooden bar, boasting great music and good times all around.
Enjoy a selection of local, national and international draught and bottled beer & ciders. There’s also a top menu of wines, spirits and cocktails, along with pop-ups from all your favourite local eateries.
- 39 Call Lane, LS1 7DH
Credit: Facebook - Roland's
Landmarks
YOU&ME&ME&YOU
This project began in 2019, but the message resonated with the people of Leeds during the 2020 pandemic and has become an iconic vision on the historic canal-side building. Anthony Burrill studied graphic design in Leeds and says the people and the place left a massive impact on him. The mural is well worth a visit and there’s plenty more to learn about it’s meaning and history.
Credit: https://anthonyburrill.com/showcase/you-me-me-you/
The Corn Exchange
Leeds Corn Exchange is an absolutely iconic Grade 1* listed building and shopping centre based in the heart of Leeds. You’ll find not just shopkeepers, but creatives, collectors, cooks and craftspeople – a family fuelled by independence. Home to a collection of vendors who do things their own way, and a community of customers who love a personal touch. You could spend the whole day strolling around this absolutely stunning venue and having a mooch around the indie shops.
Credit: Unsplash - korng_sok
Shopping
The Great Yorkshire Shop
The Great Yorkshire Shop brings together everything we are proud of, and we’re proud of being from the reyt good Yorkshire! Specialising in selling a variety of quality, hand picked goods from the independents of Yorkshire including cards, gifts, foods, art, homeware, beauty and men’s products. You can find the perfect gift for a fellow proud Yorkshireman!
- Leeds Corn Exchange, LS1 7BR
Credit: Instagram - thegreatyorkshireshop
Latitude Wine & Liquor Merchant
Latitude Wine & Liquor Merchants is Leeds’s only city centre independent wine and spirit retailer and your best bet at picking up a delicious natural wine to take home and enjoy. With over 17 years experience, the owner Chris Hill is famous in Leeds and always happy to help you find the perfect take home tipple.
- Cherry Tree Walk, LS2 7EB
Credit: Instagram - latitudewine
The Plant Point
A jungle in the heart of Leeds, specialising in stunning and unique indoor plants, succulents and cacti to name just a few. They also stock a wide range of cute ceramic pots and other house gardening accessories as well as extremely rare plants. If you love covering your home in greenery as much as we do, The Plant Point will have what you need, that’s for sure.
- Leeds Corn Exchange, LS1 7BR
