Lovely cocktail/wine bar. Relaxing and chilled over 2 levels. Helpful and friendly staff. Great…read moredecor

Being a single diner on business, it is a bit of a hard time finding good places to eat once…read morelanding in the city. I saw the postiive reviews here and thought it would be good for dinner. I managed to book through open table and got a seating. On top of the Harvey 'Nics' store, you'll find a busy scene... someone said its where the WAGs sit and I totally see it. The overflow of cleavage and skin tight jeans with lots of make up... I was clearly a fish out of water here in my business casual attire. The other thing was the noise level... this is a place that has loud music and louder patrons. I would never be able to have a conversation here! Not sure how anyone else does! I think the server saw that as well... I was mostly ignore in my painful 1 hour dinner here. I was sure it could have been more like 30 minutes if they even glanced in my direction. I got the tuna salad ... which was more like a large loin of seared tuna with a few thin slices of cucumber. This is a salad?? Positive thing... it was at least good tuna. Overall, food wasn't bad but the service wasnt good. Perhaps if I was a WAG, it would be perfect. For the rest of us mortals, another time another place.

My mum and I came here for an Earl Grey pick-me-up mid shop and yes...it is expensive but I really…read moreenjoyed it. It's not something I'd do every day, or even every week. Or every month come to think of it. But every now and then a little luxury is well spent. I can't say it's the best cafe ive ever been to as it isn't, but the fact that it's in Harvey Nics does add to the excitement factor. I wouldn't recommend eating here if you want to afford to eat back home, but do pop in for a spot of tea....

If you want a little bit of that New York glitz and glamour in Leeds I think I've found your venue…read more By some great fortune I discovered that Epernay were putting on a free Champagne tasting the other night and so, having not been along before, I popped along with a friend to sample the delights of their fizz. Oh my goodness. It must be some kind of crime that I've not visited this heavenly venue before. As you enter through the glass doors to the indoor-outdoor courtyard great glass windows depicting waxen champagne bottles, candles and rustically beautiful décor promise of the decadence to pop forth. As my friend and I wandered in we were greeted warmly and immediately offered to discard our coats and replace them with a glass of the Henriot Brut. (Forgive me if I've misnamed this, we tried several!) The staff were all incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their fayre, which only made the bubbles seem sweeter, and we took a seat to chat and indulge in some high class Champagne. In all I think we sampled about three from the Henriot range, including a 100% Chardonnay number and a rosé, all of which were sweet, palatable and incredibly moreish. I'm told they have a range that changes monthly, I believe, which you can purchase by the glass. This is excellent as it's not every day that you can afford to go a whole bottle, whereas a treat of a glass or two is rather more affordable. Mind you, when the bubbles go to your head you'd be sorely tempted to sip some more as the range is simply delightful. We chose to stay for one more night-cap after the event and decided it would rude not to try out some of the champagne cocktails. I'm not much of a cocktail drinker, nor a champagne drinker, but this was no problem as the staff were simply fantastic at suggesting which ones to try. The passion each of them has for their craft is evident and a million miles away from your standard bar. Having several staff suggest the London 1875 and the Elderbubble we went for those. As they were being crafted we had a wonderful chat with the staff, again cementing the quality of the service as friendly, welcoming and efficient. At £6.50 per drink it's certainly not somewhere I can envisage affording all night long (Lionel Richie, now playing in my mind!) but for a few seriously special drinks it seems there is no other venue. Now, for the cocktails. Oh my goodness me. Trying to articulate the delicious flavour is going to be a feat - all I can say is that they infuse the Beefeater gin on site with Earl Grey tea (one of the staff's concoctions I'm told) and it was utterly delicious. The delicacy of the Elderbubble was equally as delightful, both being sweet, soft and subtle on the palate. Both are a drink that you will want to indulge in again and again and again. I'm certain 'll be back, I just need some kind of excuse - perhaps my birthday can come once a month rather than once a year. Quite simply a true delight in Leeds and if you've not yet been I urge you to visit. You'll find all the decadence, delight and divinity of a fantastic Champagne bar, with not a sniff of the pretense. Glorious!

I associate Epernay with achievement, as it is frequently the venue I have visited to commemorate a…read morespecial occasion. Whether it has been a personal triumph or educational success, Epernay has provided a fantastic celebratory atmosphere. Whilst I am not a connoisseur of champagne, I do appreciate sampling its different varieties and learning the individual characteristics of each. I commend the bar staff at Epernay for offering their expertise on numerous occasions without patronising me, in what can be an industry steeped in pretentiousness. With champagne from more than 21 houses, the amount of varieties is staggering. Epernay have decorated the venue to be fairly understated, yet stunningly beautiful. The exposed brickwork and contemporary furniture contrast magnificently with the more traditional appearance of dripping candles in champagne bottles. A covered balcony in the attractively developed Electric Press building, provides the atmosphere of drinking al fresco, without having to rely on the temperament of the British weather. This charming little haven offers a selection of antipasti style nibbles, their flavoursome olives are a regular favourite. I do find the venue a little unpalatable on evenings during the weekend, with significantly more punters out to impress, but I think that is the reality in many city centre bars. I will always consider Epernay to be a superior venue to celebrate, congratulate and generally appreciate good champagne.

The location of Lazy Lounge ensures that the crowd is a young and vibrant one. Situated on the…read moreground floor of a fairly new apartment block, the surrounding area is a hotbed of redevelopment, and is already taking shape as an exciting area of Leeds city centre. Although I do love tasting wine and experimenting with new varieties, I generally despise the atmosphere of wine bars. In my experience, the pretentiousness of them seems to be overwhelming. I think Lazy Lounge avoids this pitfall admirably. Their passion for wine is evident not only due to the extensive menu, but also through wine tasting events they offer at the venue. The evenings exhibit various tipples from one particular country and with Australia and Spain on the horizon, I feel a visit is imminent. The food I have sampled at Lazy Lounge has been perfectly pleasant. Full meals are on offer, although I have mainly tried the bar snacks and sharing platters - ideal for social grazing. I used to live in close proximity to Lazy Lounge and it often proved to be a convenient and enjoyable meeting place for friends. The slate flooring, contemporary furniture and sweeping staircase creates a relaxing and intimate atmosphere.

I've been meaning to go to Lazy Lounge for ages but never got around to going. When I saw a deal…read morefor a winetasting for 2 with cheeseboard I figured it was time to make my move! Lazy Lounge is a few minutes walk from the back of the train station and is underneath an apartment block. This is a lovely bar / lounge and is a great place for young (& not so young) professionals and anyone who likes great food, great wine, great cocktails, great music, great service and a great atmosphere. My friend and I had a really good winetasting last week. Our sommelier was knowledgeable, fun and just happened to be one of the joint owners / managers. We tasted 3 whites and 3 reds including one of the nicest malbecs i've had. The cheeseboard was also lovely and I tried (and loved) brie for the first time. Now to the food. I could go on about the food here for the longest time, but I won't. Let me just say that last week I had the lazy gourmet burget and my friend and I went back AGAIN this week and took someone else with us. We all had the lazy gourmet burger. This is burger heaven - seriously. It had meat, bacon, cheese, onion rings, salad (i think) and came served with homemade chips, yes CHIPS - WHOOP!, coleslaw, and some caramelised red onion. This is seriously good food. We were too full to move for a while but that didnlt stop us getting jealous when we saw the table next to us having the fish and chips!! There is nothing negative that I can say about Lazy Lounge but for those who find it hard to believe a review unless it has something negative, let me say that the cheese sauce (served seperately to accompany the burger) wasnt necessary. That's all. Needless to say i'll be going back. Just hope I can hold out until next week!

High time I added my opinion to Veeno, since I visited not so long ago. First off, the staff have…read moregot banter. If you're following my reviews in any capacity, you'll be aware this is a priority for me -- courteous is one thing, bantz is another! I do like a fun bit of chat, and these guys have got it. It makes the place feel even more fun, if wine and tapas isn't enough for your jollies. Here's what else: lots of wine and tapas. I've not tried the bites (I will soon now that I've remembered) but the wines are great. I'm so far from being a connoisseur that I won't even begin to try and explain, just rest assured that this is the place to un-wine-d aprés work. I like how they've managed to make the place feel European, despite being on Duncan Street. (Just don't look out the window or the dream will be shattered.) I need to get back here for a more in depth investigation of the scene.

It's a pretty high review for one visit but it left a very good impression…read more I went for lunch and the sandwiches were just delicious. The staff were friendly and if you call in advance they accept the taste card for 50% off. We sat upstairs which has a low ceiling and great relaxed atmosphere. I will be going back to sample the Italian wines.

Listen, the main reason this place has got three stars is because of the daiquiri. Let's get to…read morethat in a minute. I'll be honest, this place isn't really me. Remember Gatecrasher? It's impossible to think of how this place was that, now that it's had a re-fit. My mate and I were trying to suss it out and, although I like a lot of the elements, it's a bit disjointed -- there's beautiful tiling at the entrance matched with quaint al fresco style cafe tables and chairs, placed next to diner-ish booths, with a big open hall of a space by the bar, replete with Victorian boxer images on the walls. It's all lovely, but I'm not sure it matches. We decided it might be a sports bar for hipsters. There are TVs everywhere and lots of advertisements for the upcoming games they're showing. I don't know much about footie, but there is lots being shown, so I guess it'd be the whole season. Or what ever you call it. I didn't dig the "commandments" that pop up on the screens -- the cult thing is too force fed for my tastes. I didn't like it about Reds and I'm not a fan here. I wasn't sure I liked content of the messages, either. Speaking of Reds, that's pretty much how I'd describe the branding vibe here, only they're preaching footie and boxing and other sports over ribs. What did I like? The bar staff -- these guys were really solid and good fun. Hard working, fair at the bar (I hate it when they don't serve in order), and made a damned fine drink. Before even getting started, he asked how I like my daiquiris: nice. I said a teensy touch on the sweeter side, but not crazy. He let me try it before serving -- also impressive -- and it was way up there in my top daiquiri times. Appleton White was the go-to: good call. To established cocktail folk, I guess that doesn't sound amazing. However, you'd be surprised how hard it actually is to get a decent one -- even though they should always be a basic balance -- so for that I was really chuffed. Clientele weren't my scene, but it was Friday night? Anyway. If you want a good cocktail, seems like they've that covered... which feels a bit strange when surrounded by spray tanned ex-Gatecrashers (I'm guessing?) next to Liverpool vs Arsenal (the first teams I could think of) but perhaps this quirky mix is part of the charm. Or part of finding their feet. Check 'em out. They also serve pie, I think!

I have been thinking of going here for an age but keep not bothering because it just didn't entice…read moreme in. HOW WRONG I WAS! The bar staff are fab and offer cocktails not on the menu, such as espresso martinis (my fave). We had some fun trying different versions and they were goood. FYI Tia Maria can work instead of Kahlua. They have created an outdoor area for the summertime which as a location has much to be desired (right next to a very busy road) but is still nice enough to be in the sun. The bar itself inside is nothing to write home about and is a little dark for my taste but they do have a pool table and a table football (not many have these too and I enjoy it a lot). I will be going back here, especially as it is dangerously on my walk home from work.

Random little spot which is as named located behind the town hall. Even with these clear…read moreinstructions it is easily over looked. It's been open for three years and it's German owner knows his stuff. After a little chat about what I liked he gave me two wines to sample. Both were spot on for my taste even with my vague directions. Ended up having a bottle of the chosen beverage in a relaxed environment. With some nibbles to accompany the wine we whiled away 2 hours without even realising the time. There are even a few instruments for customer use if you are lucky enough to be able to play. Definitely go try this place. Perfect for a quiet drink with high quality low priced wine.

Now, I was not in Leeds to get my groove on but when in...well, you know…read more After earlier drinks my mate and I snuck off and stumbled onto this place. Well, well the music was so good we came in dancing and quickly claimed a spot on the dancefloor. Although this is most definitely a bar, they actually have dancefloor areas in here (London bars, you listening?) So we danced for quite a while (cause the DJ was kickin' it & he takes requests) but did stop to get more drinks. Yummy! We didn't actually notice people here as we were enjoying ourselves but I must say I did see some Take Me Out styled gals here as noted in another review. Although they didn't stick around long. Hard to actually dance in clear heels I guess. Of the chaps we noticed, I have to say this again...Milk does a body good but just how much are the men in Leeds drinking? Woo to the hoo!! The people we did encounter/dance with were friendly and the look of this bar is nice, yeah really nice...although the entrance looked a bit tired so a bit misleading. A really fun place that I would definitely visit again.

Norman, where did it all go wrong?…read more This place used to be a bit of a joke at the weekend as it filled with call centre middle managers trying to convince each other they contributed something to society, but by day it filled the hole of somewhere chilled and friendly that you get could get something hot and flavoursome for lunch that didn't cost the earth. The menu is mainly oriental fusion offering a range of noodly things ranging from dryish with meat to full-on soups, but they also do East Asian influenced curries and a few classics like fish and chips. Their meal deals, especially any dish and a bottle of beer for a fiver each Monday, take some beating. However, although I'm sure nothing has changed in regards to its white-trash-bad-coke-try-hard clientèle come Saturday night, the day staff are now making it abundantly clear they neither want your custom or can even be bothered with it. Avoid.

Although Sedgwick Avenue has only been open for a month, it's atmosphere brings a feeling that it's…read morebeen a part of Leeds for a long time. It is very homely, great for a night out with friends or work friends. It has a vast supply of imported beers and sprits it's also perfect for a party, especially a hen do. The beer garden is a must for a smoker like me; it had an amazing view into Leeds Grand Theatre. I think my favourite part of this bar is its music, it has old school hip hop and rap which is easy to relax or dance to. I had great time and will be returning very soon.

I came here for drinks with my boyfriend because it was suggested by his friends (and we love…read morecocktails cos who doesn't!) and we wanted to try something new. Took us a while to find it actually! But when we got there it was worth it!! They have so many drinks on offer and they make them sooo well. The staff are friendly and it has a great atmosphere (tip: they have board games in the corner, such a great idea! Drunk connect 4 went down a treat!) My favourite cocktail was something to do with strawberries (it was the last one I had... Can you tell?!) the lychee mojito was insane as well! It's a kitschy, edgy and cosy place all at the same time and we had an amazing evening. Plus the cocktails are relatively inexpensive! Winners all round :)

From the owner: The East Village specialises in high end drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. Transporting you straight…read moreacross the pond to the Lower East Side of Manhattan.