Black Cat Club

You'll walk past this Park Row spot three times before you spot the discreet entrance – which is exactly how they like it. Inside, it's all dark wood, burgundy velvet, and the kind of lighting that makes everyone look like they're plotting something interesting. The bartenders know their way around a proper cocktail, mixing classics with enough flair to keep things interesting without resorting to theatrical nonsense. The crowd skews older and more sophisticated than your typical Leeds bar scene, especially midweek when you can actually hear yourself think. Come Thursday through Saturday and it gets properly buzzy, but never rowdy. It's the sort of place where you start with one drink after work and suddenly realise you've been there four hours discussing life with strangers.