We were impressed 🍸

We have two of Britain’s best cocktail bars right here in Leeds - and I put one to the test.

Tabula Rasa, which opened on Eastgate in 2021, sits alongside Below Stairs in the Morning Advertiser’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list for 2026.

I’ve frequented the latter many times, but this was my first visit to Tabula Rasa, an independent all-day venue just outside the Victoria Gate shopping centre. The bar is praised by Top 50 judges as an “elevated cafe” that focuses on “high-quality spirits”.

Our reviewer tried Tabula Rasa | Tabula Rasa

placeholder image — Our reviewer tried Tabula Rasa | Tabula Rasa

We booked in advance - which is highly recommended on a Saturday - and were shown to our table by friendly staff, who soon brought over table water, as well as complimentary wasabi snack mix and salted caramel popcorn to nibble on. A nice touch.

The bar’s position makes it an ideal spot for a fancy drink after some shopping in Leeds’ fanciest stores, and the decor matches up to its location.

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The small corner bar is awash with a decadent royal green, with art deco gold accents and nods to New York’s prohibition era, a theme which carries through into the menu.

As well as serving coffee throughout the day, the menu includes signature cocktails, aperitivo, ‘coffee-injected’ cocktails and a large range of spirits and a decent beer selection behind the bar.

I opted for a classic negroni, which was the perfect balance of bitter, sweet and botanical, with plenty of ice and a slice of lemon.

The negroni and jolly roger cocktails, and salted caramel popcorn | YEP

My friends both went for a rum cocktail. The ‘cocktails and dreams’ was smooth, fruity and refreshing - white rum with coconut syrup, coconut water, lime juice, Franklin & Sons almond and pineapple soda.

The ‘jolly roger’ was a punchy, short cocktail with dark rum, Falernum, Amaretto, maple syrup and walnut bitters. And, to my friend’s delight, it was served with a little gooey chocolate brownie.

The bar was full, but the service was exemplary - two bartenders expertly shaking and pouring while conversing with guests sat at the bar, while two extra members of staff took table orders.

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With most cocktails priced between £13-15, it’s not cheap - but with excellent service, delicious and beautifully presented drinks and bar snacks included, it felt worth the extra pennies.

This is a little gem of a cocktail bar and well deserving of its title as one of Britain’s best.