I tried the much-hyped Leeds bar crowned the best in the city - three years in a row
It’s a jewel of the city’s bar scene ⭐
Named the best bar in Leeds for the third year running, Green Room has built quite the reputation.
With three separate panels of judges at our Oliver Awards crowning it the city’s top spot, we decided to pay a visit.
The Wellington Street bar opened in 2022 and has gone from strength to strength since. Such was its success that, around a year ago, the owners expanded into the building next door - opening up the main room, adding larger toilets and introducing a new basement floor with live music.
In winter, the terrace is a cosy covered garden with heaters and blankets. We visited over the Easter weekend and the covers had just come off - unfortunately, in typical British fashion, the weather hadn’t got the memo and it was still very chilly.
We braved it for our first round, grabbing a spot on one of the benches outside. The communal seating adds to the atmosphere, and community is a big part of the Green Room ethos - their weekly run club has built something of a cult following.
That shows throughout the menu, too, which is packed full of local suppliers, from Kirkstall Brewery and North Brewing Co pints to North Star coffee and Roland’s gin.
The menu changes with the seasons, and we opted for two chilli and mango margaritas from the new summer selection. They had a proper kick with a fresh chilli garnish, and the mango added a light, summery sweetness. As a marg-a-holic, the Green Room margs are by far my favourite in Leeds - and worth the slightly pricey £12.50.
Once we could no longer feel our hands, we admitted defeat and headed inside. The decor is effortless but full of character - exposed brickwork, a tiled centrepiece seating area and a much larger bar than pre-refurb, which made the service swift.
For our second round, we went for a 0% Peroni and a white wine spritzer with the house white, Kleinkloof Chenin Blanc, which was crisp and refreshing.
Open until the early hours, Green Room is a little like having three bars in one: sunny drinks on the terrace, live music downstairs and a lively dancefloor upstairs. You could easily spend hours here (and we did).
Social, down-to-earth, and without any gimmicks - Green Room is distinctly Leeds, and that’s what’s made it the crowning jewel of the city’s bar scene.
Factfile
Address: 36 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2DE
Opening hours: Sun-Weds, 11am-midnight; Thurs, 11am-1am; Fri, 10am-2am; Sat, 10am-3am
Website: green-room.com
Scores
Drinks: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Atmosphere: 10/10
Service: 9/10