Smokestack

You'll find this basement bar tucked beneath Lower Briggate's cobbles, where exposed brick walls and leather booth seating create the perfect backdrop for serious cocktail consumption. The drinks menu leans classic with clever twists, and the bartenders actually know what they're doing – a rarity in Leeds' sometimes hit-and-miss cocktail scene. What sets Smokestack apart is its split personality. Early evening brings a sophisticated crowd nursing well-made Old Fashioneds and Negronis. But stick around past 10pm and the Latin and funk beats kick in, transforming the space into one of the city's better club nights. It's proper dancing too – not just drunken shuffling.