We tried it and we want to go back already!
Leeds has no shortage of fabulous places to eat, but every so often somewhere opens that feels like it’s offering something genuinely different. Moods is one of those places.
Housed inside the beautifully restored First White Cloth Hall, Moods is a brand-new all-day dining and drinking concept and possibly as chic as it gets. You’ll be just as happy sipping your morning coffee here as you will be a late-night cocktail. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cake, wine, cocktails – you name it; it’s all here and quite frankly, all delicious.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, there’s even a resident tattoo artist upstairs. Just because.
In summary, Moods is an eclectic mix that somehow makes perfect sense.
The menu centres around small plates, although this isn’t your typical small plates restaurant. Instead of encouraging endless ordering, the dishes feel substantial enough to mix and match however you like, making it just as suitable for a relaxed lunch as an evening spent sharing bounteous food with friends.
We sampled a handful of dishes, and there wasn’t a weak link among them.
I’ll start with the crumpet – and I adore the fact that the humble crumpet seems to be having a fancy resurgence in bistros across Britain – this particular crumpet, then, arrived topped with aged Old Winchester cheese, smothered with creamy mushrooms and finished with just the perfect amount of truffle honey, balancing rich savoury flavours with just enough sweetness to keep you going back for another bite.
The standout dish, though, was the mead-glazed smoked pancetta served with perfectly crisp mini potato röstis and deeply savoury, delightful blobs of mushroom ketchup. Crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, the rösti stole the show and quickly became our favourite thing on the table.
The fried chicken, served piled on top of a buttery brioche slab with elderflower and pickled cucumber, was another surprise. The floral sweetness of the elderflower paired brilliantly with the crisp chicken, while the pickled cucumber cut through the richness well. It’s one of those combinations that sounds unusual on paper but in practice – it hits the spot.
Of course, no Leeds lunch is complete without something to drink. Moods absolutely delivers here, too.
We began with the iced tiramisu coffee, which was an instant favourite – creamy, indulgent and tasting every bit like the classic Italian dessert, but somehow still refreshing enough to drink on a warm afternoon. For the matcha fans among you, Moods also offer a bright and zesty passionfruit iced matcha which was fruity and vibrant on the tongue and just sweet enough so that the matcha was still detectable.
If you’re after something a little stronger, don’t skip the limoncello sorbet cocktail. Tangy, citrusy and incredibly refreshing, it’s the sort of drink that disappears far quicker than you’d intended.
While the food is reason enough to visit, the setting deserves just as much attention.
Moods occupies the Grade-II listed First White Cloth Hall, a remarkable building dating back to 1711 that originally served as Leeds’ first covered market. Today, the historic brickwork, exposed beams and beautiful floors have all been carefully preserved, creating a space jam-packed with character.
The original courtyard has also been transformed thanks to a striking modern glass roof and frontage, turning what was once an open market yard into a bright, elegant space that’s ideal for long lunches, coffee catch-ups or evening drinks. It’s a thoughtful blend of old and new that feels distinctly Leeds.
Whether you’re stopping in for breakfast, settling down for lunch, grabbing cocktails after work or simply looking for somewhere beautiful to enjoy coffee and a slice of cake (or two; no judgements here), Moods feels like one of those venues you’ll find, yourself returning to for completely different reasons, each and every time.
After one visit, we most certainly will be.
Photography by Amy Mortin.
