10 of the best places for coffee and cake in Leeds

Whether it's a lazy Sunday brunch or a pre-work caffeine hit, Leeds has a coffee shop for every occasion. These independent cafe venues are the perfect place to stop off for a coffee and cake.

Mrs Atha's

This family-run cafe is right in the heart of the city, on Central Road. It’s immensely popular, so you may have to wait for a table at peak times, but the coffee and cake is worth it.

The delicious selection of cakes and an exposed brick setting give Mrs Atha's a really vintage feel.

A selection of worldwide blends and locally sourced teas make it a perfect pit stop, where you can watch hustle and bustle of the city centre in comfort.

Visit: Central Road, LS1 6DE

Laynes Espresso

Perfectly located close to the train station, Laynes has gained a reputation as the place for a morning coffee in Leeds.

Knowledgeable baristas and a variety of European roasts give this espresso house a decidedly continental feel.

Reasonably priced at around £3 and under for drinks, Laynes also boasts a great cake menu, including cardamon buns and mixed berry bakewells.

Visit: 16 New Station Street, LS1 5DL

Just Grand! Vintage Tearoom

Set in the Victorian-era Grand Arcade, Just Grand! handles British afternoon tea with aplomb.

A vast variety of coffee and teas are matched with delightful cakes, sandwich triangles and the classic scones with cream.

The mismatched decor and quaint china tea sets give the place a wonderfully nostalgic feel.

If tea and coffee isn't your thing, you can grab a local beer and a pork pie at their Gentleman's Afternoon Tea sessions.

Visit: 8-9 Grand Arcade, New Briggate, LS1 6PG

Café 164

Part cafe, part art gallery, Café 164 offers some of the best locally sourced roasts in Leeds.

This independent joint offers proper Northern coffee and Italian-style sandwiches, baked at sister shop Bakery 164.

Close to the bus station, Café 164 doubles up as an exhibition space, showcasing a variety of ever-changing works from the world of art and photography.

Visit: Munro House, Duke Street, LS9 8AG

Casa Colombiana

Another shop enjoying the historic setting of the Grand Arcade, this little café is the perfect blend of Latin spice and fresh Leeds coffee.

One of the only local shops to produce its own signature roast on site, Casa Colombiana offers a selection of iconic South American dishes and treats, ranging from fried plantain to more traditional chilli con carne.

Visit: 6 Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane, LS1 6PG

Sociable Folk

A self-professed 'Jack of all Trades' style place, Sociable Folk is a weekday cafe located in Leeds' bustling business hub.

Another cafe brewing the locally sourced North Star coffee blend, this little commuter joint offers a great lunch and cake selection for your working break.

There's even a barbecue for especially sunny weather.

Visit: 10 Wellington Place, LS1 4JP

La Bottega Milanese

A proper Italian style espresso bar, La Bottega Milanese actually has two homes in Leeds - one on the popular Headrow, and a more traditional sit-down shop located at Bond Court.

Paninis and patisseries galore add to the truly continental experience here.

With Yorkshire-roasted coffee available, as well as a selection of monthly blend specials, there is plenty on offer here to keep the most seasoned of coffee aficionados content.

Visit: 11a The Headrow, LS1 8TL

Kronos Coffee

Brand new on the scene, having only opened within the last 12 months, Kronos Coffee is a cafe with a difference. You're not charged by the cup here, but by the clock.

Help yourself to snacks, unlimited coffee and a wide selection of other beverages as you work, chat or simply relax.

There are also plenty of board games and a PS4 to keep you entertained. At 10p a minute you can't really go wrong.

Visit: 61 Great George Street, LS1 3BB

North Star Coffee & Roasters

Close to the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds' own North Star Roasters have their very own little shop and café.

Brews don't come much fresher than this, as the cafe shares its premises with the roastery itself.

Visit: Unit 33, The Boulevard, Leeds Dock, LS10 1PZ

Opposite Café

Another coffee shop with two Leeds sites, Opposite Café originally sprung up to feed the university crowd with a shop opposite campus.

They now also boast premises in the popular Victoria Quarter, focussed at the coffee connoisseur crowd.

Student priced grub and mouth-watering brownies make Opposite worth the walk out from the centre.

Visit: 26 Blenheim Terrace, LS2 9HD