Independent cafés in Headingley
There are 11 independent cafés we've checked in Headingley, Leeds. None is part of a chain or franchise.
Open one to see its address, how to get in touch and where each fact came from.
- Updated 8 November 2026
- Next check due March 2027
All 11, alphabetically
The order is not a ranking: nobody can pay to be on this list, or to be higher up it. How we check
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21 Co
Café · Headingley
21 Co is a social enterprise café at Headingley Central on Otley Road, run for and by people with Down's syndrome to provide training, work experience and job opportunities. It is part of Sunshine and Smiles, the Leeds Down Syndrome Network (registered charity no. 1154661), which runs two cafés and a shop in the city, serving food and drinks in a community setting.
Independence checked -
Bowery Visual Arts
Café · Headingley
Bowery Visual Arts, also known as The Bowery, is a café and art gallery at 54 Otley Road in Headingley, Leeds. It serves Allpress coffee, pastries and lunch dishes, while its gallery space shows and sells art and homeware. An upstairs area offers workspace with power sockets, and the venue also runs creative workshops and courses.
Independence checked -
Jinos Thai Cafe
Café · Takeaway · Headingley
Jino's Thai Cafe is an independent Thai restaurant on North Lane in Headingley, Leeds, serving Thai food for eat-in and takeaway. Independent since 2003, it allows customers to bring their own alcohol with no corkage charge, and offers a weekday lunch set menu.
Independence checked -
Kaffa Cafe
Café · Headingley
Independence checked -
Kuala Lumpur Cafe
Café · Headingley
Kuala Lumpur Cafe is an independent Malaysian restaurant at 2-4 Bennett Road in Headingley, Leeds, serving Malaysian dishes such as nasi lemak, curries and wok-fried plates. According to its website it was a finalist in the Yorkshire Evening Post Oliver Awards in 2020, and it also operates a site in Horsforth.
Independence checked -
Lento Cafe And Bar
Café · Bar · Headingley
Lento Cafe & Bar is an independent cafe and bar at 21A North Lane in Headingley, Leeds. It serves espresso-based coffee, all-day brunch and light lunches, along with a selection of natural wine and craft beer.
Independence checked -
Munch Cafe
Café · Headingley
Munch Cafe is a café at 5 The Parade, North Lane, in Headingley, LS6. Its website says it runs two kitchens under one roof: Munch Café English Kitchen, and Munch Café South Indian Kitchen. It was rated 4, good, at its last food hygiene inspection in July 2025.
Independence checked -
Residence Bar Cafe Kitchen
Café · Bar · Headingley
Residence Bar Cafe Kitchen is an all-day cafe and bar on North Lane in Headingley, Leeds, opened in 2023 by the team behind Residence 74 in Ireland Wood. It works as a daytime brunch and coffee spot that becomes a cocktail bar in the evening, and also runs bottomless brunch and dinner service. It is part of a small independent group of Residence venues in the Leeds area.
Independence checked -
Santorini Bar And Grill
Café · Headingley
Santorini Bar and Grill is an independent, family-run restaurant on Otley Road in Headingley, Leeds, serving Greek and Turkish Mediterranean food. The menu includes meze platters and kebabs as well as dishes such as lamb kleftiko and moussaka, with vegetarian and vegan options, available to eat in, collect or for delivery.
Independence checked -
The Vinyl Whistle
Café · Headingley
The Vinyl Whistle is an independent record shop and bar on Otley Road in Headingley, Leeds. First opened in 2019 and moved to its current Otley Road premises in 2020, it sells new and second-hand vinyl across several rooms and also runs a small bar serving beer from Kirkstall Brewery, plus coffee. It hosts live music and open-deck nights and runs its own record label.
Independence checked -
Ugly Mugs Cafe
Café · Headingley
Ugly Mugs Cafe is a cafe on St Michael's Lane in Headingley, Leeds, close to Headingley Stadium.
Independence checked
Looking for something more specific?
The same, elsewhere in Leeds
- Independent cafés across Leeds — all 129 we have checked, area by area.
- Independent cafés in Armley — 8 checked.
- Independent cafés in Beeston — 6 checked.
- Independent cafés in Bramley — 4 checked.
- Independent cafés in Chapel Allerton — 8 checked.
- Independent cafés in Cross Gates — 3 checked.
- Independent cafés in Garforth — 4 checked.
- Independent cafés in Guiseley — 4 checked.
- Independent cafés in Harehills — 20 checked.
- Independent cafés in Horsforth — 11 checked.
- Independent cafés in Kirkstall — 5 checked.
- Independent cafés in Meanwood — 4 checked.
- Independent cafés in Moortown — 3 checked.
- Independent cafés in Morley — 8 checked.
- Independent cafés in Otley — 13 checked.
- Independent cafés in Pudsey — 8 checked.
- Independent cafés in Wetherby — 4 checked.
- Independent cafés in Yeadon — 4 checked.
Other kinds of place in Headingley: see them all.