Call Lane bars and restaurants: The ultimate guide to a night in the Leeds street from Jake's Bar to Oporto

Is it really a night out in Leeds if you don’t end up on Call Lane?

By Abbey Maclure

Published 11th Mar 2023, 16:30 BST

Updated 21st Mar 2023, 17:53 BST

From Mexican grub and cocktails at Neon Cactus to fighting to get to the bar at Call Lane Social and dancing the night away in Jake’s Bar, the street boasts some of the best bars in the city – and I inevitably end up there at least once a month. It’s Leeds’ best party street (IMHO) and despite the knockbacks of Covid, the venues are thriving.

Here is my ultimate guide to a night out on Call Lane, with 20 bars and restaurants to choose from – and I’ve been to them all.

Here are 20 brilliant bars and restaurants to choose from

1. Ultimate guide to Call Lane

Here are 20 brilliant bars and restaurants to choose from Photo: National World

We're starting at the bottom of Call Lane at Revolución de Cuba, a huge Latin-American style bar split over two floors. They do everything - lunch, dinner, bottomless brunch, live music, DJs and even cocktail masterclasses. The signature rum cocktails are so good, particularly the mojitos which are hands-down my favourite in Leeds - they don't hold back with the rum.

2. Revolución de Cuba

We're starting at the bottom of Call Lane at Revolución de Cuba, a huge Latin-American style bar split over two floors. They do everything - lunch, dinner, bottomless brunch, live music, DJs and even cocktail masterclasses. The signature rum cocktails are so good, particularly the mojitos which are hands-down my favourite in Leeds - they don't hold back with the rum. Photo: Steve Riding

A wander down the road and we're into Baracoa Luxe Bar - it's very boujee here with plush furnishings, large chandeliers, private booths and bottle service. A hidden gem is the bar's sheltered rooftop terrace, where you can watch the Call Lane mayhem unfold below you while sipping on a cocktail.

3. Baracoa

A wander down the road and we're into Baracoa Luxe Bar - it's very boujee here with plush furnishings, large chandeliers, private booths and bottle service. A hidden gem is the bar's sheltered rooftop terrace, where you can watch the Call Lane mayhem unfold below you while sipping on a cocktail. Photo: Steve Riding

If you want music you can actually dance to, Backroom is the place to be - and I spent many a night out on The Backroom's two dancefloors as a student. The Friday Fiesta events are my favourite, with a soundtrack of Latin and Reggaetón in the downstairs room and R&B, hip-hop and garage upstairs. Meanwhile Saturday nights showcase the best DJ talent of the north.

4. The Backroom

If you want music you can actually dance to, Backroom is the place to be - and I spent many a night out on The Backroom's two dancefloors as a student. The Friday Fiesta events are my favourite, with a soundtrack of Latin and Reggaetón in the downstairs room and R&B, hip-hop and garage upstairs. Meanwhile Saturday nights showcase the best DJ talent of the north. Photo: Steve Riding

New York-inspired Brooklyn bar is worth a visit for the food alone, the current kitchen residents are The Badboy Bagel Co serving succulent smash patties, bagels and sharing platters. There's a range of hip-hop inspired cocktails - like the 99 problems (but the drink ain't one) and the White Iverson (you gon' think about this cocktail when it's gone). They also screen the best in live sports from both sides of the Atlantic.

5. Brooklyn

New York-inspired Brooklyn bar is worth a visit for the food alone, the current kitchen residents are The Badboy Bagel Co serving succulent smash patties, bagels and sharing platters. There's a range of hip-hop inspired cocktails - like the 99 problems (but the drink ain't one) and the White Iverson (you gon' think about this cocktail when it's gone). They also screen the best in live sports from both sides of the Atlantic. Photo: Steve Riding

Revolution (or Bottom Revs, to avoid confusion with its Millennium Square sister bar) is a guaranteed good time - and where I inevitably end up at 4am in the morning for the last boogie before hometime. They have themed bottomless brunches once a month too, coming up this month is the Independent Ladies brunch with two hours of 'independent women hits'. I'm there.

6. Revolution

Revolution (or Bottom Revs, to avoid confusion with its Millennium Square sister bar) is a guaranteed good time - and where I inevitably end up at 4am in the morning for the last boogie before hometime. They have themed bottomless brunches once a month too, coming up this month is the Independent Ladies brunch with two hours of 'independent women hits'. I'm there. Photo: Steve Riding