With a raft of new independent bars, pubs and restaurants opening over the last few years, there is now so much variety across the city – from Wetherby to Morley. One of the suburbs that has seen an influx in new openings over the last 18 months is Oakwood.
Located minutes away from Roundhay Park, the suburb’s bustling high street has become a hotspot for new businesses, adding new competition for the well-established favourites of Roundhay Road.
Here’s my ultimate guide to a night out in Oakwood – with 14 places to eat and drink to choose from. Venues are listed in a geographical loop from up one side of Roundhay Road and back down the other.
Here’s my ultimate guide to a night out in Oakwood – with 14 places to eat and drink to choose from. Venues are listed in a geographical loop from up one side of Roundhay Road and back down the other.
![Next door is the long-standing branch of Bengal Brasserie, one of the best-rated Indian restaurants in Leeds on Tripadvisor. The vast menu includes curry house favourites, including balti and tandoori dishes, as well as more traditional house specials including the naga chilli chicken and Bengal patil curry with chicken or lamb.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYyOTRkYmY4LThlNTctNDU5ZC1iNGFlLTBhZWNkMWFkYWNkODo3MWRjZTY3OS1mZDZjLTRmMDYtYjQ1NS0xNzMwNTIyN2ZmMGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Bengal Brasserie
Next door is the long-standing branch of Bengal Brasserie, one of the best-rated Indian restaurants in Leeds on Tripadvisor. The vast menu includes curry house favourites, including balti and tandoori dishes, as well as more traditional house specials including the naga chilli chicken and Bengal patil curry with chicken or lamb.Photo: James Hardisty
![We've reached the north end of Roundhay Road, and the next step is Tobias - an independent bar serving fine beverages, charcuterie and cheese boards. The bar boasts outdoor seating for sunnier evenings in Oakwood, as well as serving coffee by day and a selection of cakes and sweet treats.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmE2ZTYwYTU5LTcxOTYtNDgwZS1iNmNkLTUxN2I5MTNlNjAzOToyODc1NGNlNC00ZjYwLTRiNjAtYTMzNi0zYjdlYTY3ZmQ5OWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Tobias
We've reached the north end of Roundhay Road, and the next step is Tobias - an independent bar serving fine beverages, charcuterie and cheese boards. The bar boasts outdoor seating for sunnier evenings in Oakwood, as well as serving coffee by day and a selection of cakes and sweet treats.Photo: James Hardisty
![We've reached the north end of Roundhay Road and crossed over, and our first stop on this side of the loop is Bab Tooma, named after the gateway to one of the world's oldest cities - Damascas in Syria. The restaurant serves authentic food from The Levantine, the historical name given to the Eastern Mediterranean, including hot and cold mezze, grills and Arabic desserts. Bab Tooma boasts an outdoor seating area, too.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY0NjJiMTA5LWVhMmYtNGQxNy05M2VhLTM3MWVmYzNkYTc5ZTowNWM2ZjdjYy1lNzU0LTQ2YWEtYmY1ZS01ZTExMzYwZmQ5ZDg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
9. Bab Tooma
We've reached the north end of Roundhay Road and crossed over, and our first stop on this side of the loop is Bab Tooma, named after the gateway to one of the world's oldest cities - Damascas in Syria. The restaurant serves authentic food from The Levantine, the historical name given to the Eastern Mediterranean, including hot and cold mezze, grills and Arabic desserts. Bab Tooma boasts an outdoor seating area, too.Photo: James Hardisty
![If you're in the mood for a chippy, Oakwood Fisheries offers indoor and outdoor seating - and opens until 8pm every day except Sunday. The traditional, family-run fish and chip shop was first opened in 1934 - making it the suburb's longest-standing restaurant.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYyZDJlMmJhLTM5NjgtNGQ0OC1hYzMwLTY4MzA5M2Q1YzNjMDpkMzk5ZGRjZi04ZmM0LTRlZjktOGVjNi1iODM5MDQ3OGUxZTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
10. Oakwood Fisheries
If you're in the mood for a chippy, Oakwood Fisheries offers indoor and outdoor seating - and opens until 8pm every day except Sunday. The traditional, family-run fish and chip shop was first opened in 1934 - making it the suburb's longest-standing restaurant.Photo: James Hardisty
![Award-winning brewery and bar chain SALT is opened its first venue in Oakwood last autumn. Located in the site of the former Stew and Oyster, the bar serves craft beer and cocktails on tap, plus burgers from Big Buns.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQyMjlhNWM2LTRmMjQtNDFhNy1iMzYyLTk0OTU4ZGY1OTUwZDozNGQxNDUxMy0wODVmLTQ3YzMtYTMwYy1hODg1YjNkOWZmODg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
11. SALT Oakwood
Award-winning brewery and bar chain SALT is opened its first venue in Oakwood last autumn. Located in the site of the former Stew and Oyster, the bar serves craft beer and cocktails on tap, plus burgers from Big Buns.Photo: James Hardisty
![This wood-fired pizzeria specialises in Neapolitan-style pizza and generously-stuffed panuozzi. Pizza Loco won the Sustainability Award at the YEP's Oliver Awards 2023, demonstrating a fantastic commitment to reducing its imprint on the environment, including swapping Italian-imported flour for UK grown and milled, regeneratively farmed flour and using organic Yorkshire tomatoes.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjk5MzBhYTM0LTQwZjYtNGI1NS04MzIyLTIyNmIxOGU0NTljMToyOTc0MGVjYi1mZTFmLTRmNzgtODg5ZC1hYTM2YjliMGNjMzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
12. Pizza Loco
This wood-fired pizzeria specialises in Neapolitan-style pizza and generously-stuffed panuozzi. Pizza Loco won the Sustainability Award at the YEP's Oliver Awards 2023, demonstrating a fantastic commitment to reducing its imprint on the environment, including swapping Italian-imported flour for UK grown and milled, regeneratively farmed flour and using organic Yorkshire tomatoes.Photo: James Hardisty