8 Best Cafes In Leeds, Ideal For Students
Calling all students in Leeds, if you’re searching for the best cafes to go to for a study session or to grab a coffee and a bite to eat after a busy day at uni, you need to take a read of our guide.
Here’s 8 popular coffee shops you should visit in the West Yorkshire city, with a mix of menu’s from speciality coffees to lovely cakes to seasonal filter coffees to freshly made sandwiches!
Carry on reading to find out which Leeds coffee shop to become a regular at.
1. Mrs Atha’s
First up within our guide of the best cafes in Leeds for students to visit is Mrs Atha’s. You’ll find this independent coffee shop on Central Road, just a 2-minute walk from the Trinity Shopping Centre.
If the ideal central location wasn’t enough to get you to take a visit, we’re sure their great menu will entice you.
In terms of their drinks, choose from a simple yet fuelling Cappuccino or go for a White Jasmine Tea, if that doesn’t tickle your fancy how about a hot chocolate? They also serve some tasty food like stacks of pancakes and full English breakfasts.
They’re open Monday to Saturday from 9am-5pm and 10am-5pm on Sunday’s so if you want to treat yourself after a busy morning head here.
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Address: 18 Central Rd, Leeds LS1 6DE
2. Laynes Espresso
Laynes Espresso simply must be featured within our guide of the best cafes in Leeds.
This popular coffee shop is situated on New Station Street right by, yep you guessed it, Leeds train station.
If you’re looking for a nice place to have a coffee with a friend or grab some nice breakfast whilst waiting for your afternoon lectures, this place is ideal. They’re even open 7.30am-3:00pm on weekdays!
We’d recommend the breakfast brioche roll with a sausage patty, bacon, folded egg and cheese. In terms of drinks, it’s gotta be the Macchiato with oat milk.
Although their menu is full of tasty foods and drinks that you should try.
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Address: 16 New Station St, Leeds LS1 5DL
3. Flamingos Coffee House
Flamingo’s Coffee House is an LGBQTI+ friendly coffee bar situated in Central Arcade in Leeds City Centre.
This place is a MUST visit if you love a late study session in the evening with a coffee and a treat or two!
They’re open 6 days a week until 7pm and 5pm on Sundays.
They serve a range of hot and cold drinks including iced coffee, organic teas and their seasonal drinks for autumn include a pumpkin spiced latte – mmm how nice does that sound?
If you fancy something to eat, they serve a variety of home-made cakes, sandwiches, salads and hot plates like their thick cut bacon sandwich on fresh sourdough bread.
There’s also speed dating evenings for the LGBQTI+ community hosted here. The vibe in this place is super wholesome and the wonderful service is unmatched, we’re sure you’ll love it.
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Address: Central Arcade, Leeds LS1 6DX
4. IF… Up North
Next up on our list of the best cafes in Leeds is If… Up North. They have three locations on Call Lane, Vicar Lane and York Place so no matter where you’re living, we’re sure there’s one close to you.
If you’re searching for somewhere to study and get some uni tasks done with a lovely modern décor, any of their café locations are a great option but we’ve heard York Place has the best laptop space.
You can sip on some great tasting brew’s from their impressive coffee menu, sourced from North Star Coffee Roasters.
There are even some great deals to make the most of like their coffee and cake for £4.50 – you won’t hear us complaining!
We urge you to try their Yorkshire breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, plum tomato, hash brown, beans, mushrooms and sourdough toast. Sound’s yummy right?!
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Address: 43 Call Ln, Leeds LS1 7BT
14 Vicar Ln, Leeds LS2 7JF
18 York Pl, Leeds LS1 2EX
5. Stage Espresso & Brewbar
If you’re a student passionate about good tasting coffee, you’ve really got to take a trip to Stage Espresso and Brewbar.
Located on Great George Street, this modern coffee shop is located only a short walk away from multiple of the university campuses within the city centre.
So, if you’ve just finished uni for the day and fancy having a chill, take a trip here.
They offer a changing menu of speciality coffees from a range of top coffee roasters. Including their batch brew, simple, quick, delicious drip coffee.
If you’re hungry, they do serve some delicious food, despite the menu not being too extensive, you can enjoy the likes of a breakfast sandwich or eggs benedict.
We’re sure you won’t be disappointed!
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Address: 41 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3BB
6. Out of the Woods
When it comes to cosy and cute coffeeshops for students in Leeds, Out of the Woods has to be up there.
There are two locations to choose from with one café in Granary Wharf and the other on Water Lane.
They offer some healthy but scrumptious food such as layered granola, spicy hummus wraps or fresh pastries.
If speciality coffees are what you’re after, this place serves great coffee from Dark Woods Roasters. We suggest trying their Blend smith mocha!
The staff here are super friendly, and the atmosphere provides a great place to crack on with studying or get your head into a book.
Don’t just listen to us, go see what you make of it!
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Address: Waterman’s Place, 2, Leeds LS1 4GL
113 Water Ln, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 5WD
7. 92 Degrees
92 Degrees is a superb independent coffeeshop located in the city centre, just a few minutes from Leeds Beckett University City Campus and The City Museum.
The vibe of this place is an industrial raw aesthetic, with couches, wooden benches and tables to perch yourself on with your laptop.
The service is very friendly, and they even offer a student discount, which you obviously must make the most out of.
A great selling point of this place is that they’re open from 8:30am until 6:00pm during the week ensuring you have tons of time to head over and get some work done.
They even sell their own coffee beans so you can make some of their great tasting drinks at home with freshly roasted beans.
We recommend their iced latte, it’s such a good coffee that you’ve gotta try. Sometimes, simple is best!
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Address: 100 Clay Pit Ln, Leeds LS2 8EU
8. Kapow Coffee
Finally, within our guide of the best coffee shops in Leeds for students is Kapow Coffee.
There are two cafes to choose from with one in Thorton’s Arcade and the other on The Calls, but the quality coffee and the fantastic atmosphere is the same in both.
Within these urban cafes, you can choose from a full range of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and other sweet treats.
We urge you to try their flat white with a lemon and blueberry mini loave to accompany.
If you’re going to become a regular customer, why not make the most of their loyalty card? You’ll save some pennies!
We’re sure you will be, considering they’re also dog friendly – who can say no to some four-legged friends AND coffee.
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Address: 15 Thorntons Arcade, Leeds LS1 6LQ
46 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7EW
So, there you have it the best cafes to go to in Leeds to study, or to do whatever you like! If you fancy a brew and a chill after your lectures, go for it.
The best part is, if you don’t fancy studying in a café, you can put your head down and get some work done in your student accommodation in Leeds!
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