This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Leeds chapter.

Great places to eat and drink in Leeds that cater for special dietary requirements

Do you have a gluten, wheat, dairy or any other kind of food intolerance? When I was diagnosed with wheat and dairy intolerance last year – during my year abroad, of all times – I was at a bit of a loss. What was I going to do without bread and cheese?! Little did I know, there’s a LOT more to it than that. It took quite a bit of research and sifting through many allergy and intolerance sheets in restaurants to work out what I could have and/or adapt to my new dietary requirements.

This article mainly focuses on places that cater well for those with gluten, wheat and dairy intolerances/allergies, as that is naturally what I have investigated most due to my personal requirements. Many of these cafés and restaurants were very friendly and flexible and do offer options or can tweak things for people with other dietary preferences and needs.

I am still relatively new to all of this, but in my experience, the thing that annoys me the most about my dietary requirements is there being little to no options when going out to eat or drink, hence this article! This is by no means a definitive list, but reflects the fruits of my personal experience and some web research. I hope you will find it interesting and that it might help you find some cool gluten and dairy-free places to go that you might not have otherwise come into contact with! Enjoy!

Miro

This sweet little café nestled at the bottom of some steps opposite the Parkinson Building is one of my favourite finds in Leeds! Most of the food is freshly made on site, it’s affordable, and staff are very friendly and will go out of their way to cater to your needs as much as they can. Some of my favourites include the vegetable broth and falafel salad, accompanied by an almond latte or a cheeky coconut hot chocolate!

2 Oxford Place

The clue is in the name! You will discover this retro, cosy restaurant on 2 Oxford Place, the road bordering the left side of Leeds Town Hall. With an 100% gluten free kitchen and a menu full of dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options too, this place offers an unusually wide choice for people with special dietary requirements. And the food is delicious! My personal recommendations would be the Chorizo Beans on Toast and Warm Chocolate Cake with dairy free ice cream.

Turtle Bay

I tested this Caribbean restaurant out for my 22nd birthday in December last year and was not disappointed! I contacted them in advance with my requirements while booking a table and was given a detailed list of the allergens in their dishes. And when asked if certain dishes could be tweaked (e.g. changing sauces/omissions of ingredients), the staff were happy to oblige. I had not previously tried Caribbean food before, but I would certainly recommend it, as would my friends and boyfriend who were also trying it for the first time. There is a good range for a multitude of tastes at a high quality. The deco is really cool too!

Cielo Blanco

A close friend of mine sought this out as a me-friendly venue for her birthday meal. If you are looking for a relaxed and particularly sociable evening, this is the place for you. You can order a mix of Mexican street food dishes either for yourself or to share with friends. Cielo Blanco boasts a menu dedicated to gluten free options, and should you have further requirements, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable of what dishes will be suitable or adaptable to particular dietary needs. I would personally recommend trying the Al pastor pork tacos and the quinoa and black bean salad (without feta for me of course!).

Above is simply a taster of some of the best places I have found to eat and drink in Leeds that cater for special dietary requirements. Other places with a reputation for their handling of different allergies, intolerances and preferences include The Alchemist, Fazenda, Filmore & Union and Revolucion de Cuba.

Thankfully we are in an age where particular dietary needs are increasingly recognised and catered for, whether eating out or getting the weekly shop. I don’t know whether this is due to a heightened awareness or a growing trend for all things gluten, dairy and meat free but that’s a debate for another day.

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Great places to eat and drink in Leeds that cater for special dietary requirements

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