Dining in Leeds

Gastronomes could head straight for either of the city's two Michelin-starred restaurants; Pool Court at 42 or Rascasse. Other fine dining establishments include Leodis, Harvey Nichols Fourth Floor, Sous Le Nez en Ville and Brasserie 44 (neighbour to Pool Court at 42).

A wealth of outstanding, slightly less formal restaurants are scattered across the city. Delicious Mediterranean/British food can be had in and around the Exchange Quarter at Brigg Shots, Calls Grill, Shear's Yard, Art's Café, Oporto and Velvet. According to The Sunday Times, The Cactus Lounge, next to the West Yorkshire Playhouse, is one of the country's top four Mexican restaurants. For fine French food and wine, visit the subterranean La Grillade. Quality Italian food is served at The Italian Job and the long running Bibi's. Shabab and Darbar both serve good Indian cuisine. Chinese, Thai and Japanese restaurants are mainly clustered around the Grand Theatre and at the top of Vicar Lane. Try Canton Flavour, off The Headrow, for lunch with a difference.

Excellent cafe-bars are to be found all over Leeds. Try Moderno, Metz, Cuban Heels, The Elbow Room, Revolution, Milo or Norman--all in and around the Exchange Quarter. Chain outlets, such as All Bar One, Bar 38, Henry's and Parisa are clustered around The Headrow and in the financial quarter. Soul Kitchen, also in the financial quarter, deserves a special mention. Café Rouge, Est, Est, Est have branches in the city. There are two branches of Pizza Express. Unlicensed eateries, such as Roots and Fruits and Kada's are of excellent quality.

In the outlying areas of Leeds, visit Citrus Café in Headingley or Grove Café in Hyde Park, both unlicensed. The Ferret Hall Bistro in Headingley serves quality English food. On the city's outskirts, close to the BBC and the University, Strawberry Fields serves delicious wholesome food and has a good choice for vegetarians. For Italian, The Flying Pizza in Roundhay and Salvo's in Headingley are both popular, long-running establishments well worth a visit. Leaving the city via Kirkstall Road, you will find TGI Friday's, Frankie & Benny's and Quincey's. Tariq's and Nafee's serve up the customary curries in student land.

Drinking
Bar life in Leeds is booming. There are distinct areas to the city and if you follow this guide, you can't go far wrong:

The area around the Corn Exchange, known as the Exchange Quarter, is filled with great bars. Choose from Metz, Milo, The Townhouse, Po Na Na, Pitcher and Piano, Fudge, Cuban Heels, Oporto, Velvet, Norman, Moderno, Art's Café, Revolution, Café Junction, The Elbow Room, Hakuna Matata, Break for the Border and Dimitri's. Call Lane should form the backbone of your bar crawl. Several bars now have late licenses - Revolution, Norman and The Townhouse. Clubbers should head for Think Tank, Po Na Na or The Elbow Room. Many of these places are chameleon-like changing from sedate cafe-bars, to thriving evening quality drinking establishments.

Travel away from the Exchange Quarter up Boar Lane. Bars like Yates' Wine Lodge, Square on the Lane, Observatory and Bar Censsa line the route. After this, you can head up to Majestyk or Jumpin' Jacks for a dance, a kebab and an early morning fight for a cab. Head up Park Row away from City Square and you're deep in the financial district. There are bars and restaurants here that will keep you amused enough. Parisa, The Firehouse, The Old Monk, All Bar One and O'Neill's are all on or around Park Row or East Parade. In The Headrow area, try Empire, LS One, Bar 38, or The Slug and Lettuce. There are more pubs and bars clustered around the Civic Hall and library.

Go down The Headrow, towards Eastgate, turning off at the Odeon cinema. Lovers of quality independent bars, you're back on safe ground now. Try North, the fantastic Mojo, Le Beatrute, The Atrium--another bar with late license and club. The Mint Club (home of Basics on Saturday night) is on Harrison Street and Club Heaven and Hell is opposite The Atrium. So, there's plenty of quality dining, drinking and dancing to be done in the city. Head for the area that most suits your taste. There are other hidden gems around the city like The Wardrobe, Whitelocks and Joseph's Well.