Headingley cafe guide

For students making the move from that first year city accommodation, to the more secluded student area of Headingley, it can be tough to acclimatise to life outside of the bustling city. Despite not offering the same abundance of shops, restaurants and cafes as the city, Headingley does the areas strong student population a strong cafe culture. Whether you’re looking for somewhere convenient to grab a quick breakfast, or somewhere with more ambiance to get a relaxing kick of caffine to start your morning. 

Here is our guide to the cafe culture of Leeds students’ favourite suburb 

Café Lento 

Café Lento is located in the centre of Headingley and prides itself on its high quality coffee and freshly made food that is made with seasonal and Fairtrade ingredients. The name, ‘Lento’, which means slow in Italian, refers to the atmosphere within the café. The owners invite customers to sit back and relax; to enjoy their time at Lento. The café caters to everyone’s needs, offering non-gluten, vegetarian and vegan produce, with the friendly staff always willing to help. The menu consists of sandwiches, breakfast options and lighter dishes such as omelettes and salads. If this doesn’t excite you, Lento also have local bands performing weekly and are always promoting new events that take place within the café. 

Sebby’s Café Deli 

Sebby’s is a quaint little café situated on Otley Road and is well-known for its award-winning coffee and homemade cakes. The owners, Helen and Robert, have a passion for food, music and travelling and tried to incorporate these three elements into their menu and décor. They are truly dedicated to their business; welcoming new food ideas and providing efficient and friendly service to customers. The menu consists of freshly made sandwiches (try the Jerk chicken), a deli selection, tasty piegatas (pitta bread style pockets) and of course their delicious cakes; all very reasonably priced. 

LS6 Café 

The LS6 Café, also known as the Clock Café, is an eccentric place based on Hyde Park Corner, filled with retro furniture and tasty food. The décor is possibly the café’s most unique quality; consisting of numerous mirrors, clocks and unusual ornaments. The place is well-known for its extensive breakfast menu (served until 4pm), their large portion sizes and wide range of drinks – from smoothies and milkshakes to beers and fine wines. As runners up in the Observer Food Monthly Awards, the Clock maintains a good reputation within Leeds and provide cheap food offers such as a coffee and croissant for £2.00. 

Dare Café 

Dare Café, based in the heart of Headingley, has been around for years and is well-loved by young and old. The most appealing characteristic is its versatility; serving as a café, restaurant and bar. Typically, food is served with a Mexican and Italian focus, however, options such as jacket potatoes and sandwiches are also available. There’s also plenty of meal deal and happy hour offers each day. 

Image credit: commons.wikimedia.org