Bibis Restaurant

The menu at Bibis draws on traditional Italian cooking across a well-structured a la carte spanning antipasti, pasta, mains, and desserts. A set menu offers two or three courses for a more streamlined experience, with a children’s menu and a dedicated gluten-free menu also available.

Antipasti open with lighter starters — carpaccio of fresh fruit drizzled with acacia honey, bruschetta topped with plum tomato, sautéed spinach and poached quail egg — alongside richer plates like seared scallops, garlic prawns, and clam chowder finished with roasted garlic and minted olive oil. Shredded duck spring rolls with plum sauce bring a crisp contrast, while burrata, calamari, and classic caprese keep things firmly Italian.

The pasta section features linguine with sea bass, cherry tomatoes, and white wine, penne tossed with spicy pepperoni sausage, and a traditional carbonara. Beyond pasta, mains range across spatchcock chicken, lamb chops with roasted garlic and minted olive oil, duck, venison, and salmon — a kitchen comfortable with both land and sea. Pizza Fiorentina anchors the more casual end of the menu. Scallops, duck, and pizza are among the dishes most frequently praised by diners, and the kitchen’s commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients with local sourcing runs through every section.

Desserts stay true to the Italian playbook. The tiramisu layers espresso-soaked Savoiardi biscuits with Marsala, Amaretti crumbs, mascarpone cream, and grated chocolate. Profiteroles and crème brûlée round out the selection.

Vegetarian and vegan options feature throughout the menu, and the dedicated gluten-free menu treats dietary requirements as a standard part of the offering rather than an afterthought.

Bibis holds an award-winning cocktail bar where every drink is handcrafted from scratch — homemade syrups, house-made garnishes, and bespoke infusions of spirits and liqueurs. There is no fixed cocktail list; the bartenders build drinks tailored to individual tastes, making each visit to the bar a different experience.

The wine list is extensive and predominantly Italian, drawing from regions across Italy with additional selections from further afield. A spirit range covering whiskies, gins, rums, and Italian aperitifs complements the wines, while Menabrea — an Italian lager — is available by the pint for something more straightforward. Champagne rounds out the celebratory end of the drinks offering.

Soft drinks and coffee are available for those after something non-alcoholic.

The dining room at Bibis channels 1920s glamour through a striking Art Deco interior. An ornate tiered chandelier dominates the space — a fan-shaped decorative crown at its peak with cascading crystal layers below, visible from every table in the room.

Dark upholstered high-back chairs surround round tables, each lit by its own small lamp that casts warm amber light against dark panelled walls. Architectural columns rise to a high ceiling fitted with recessed spotlights, and the overall palette is dark, warm, and theatrical — a room that comes into its own after sundown. Table settings match the ambition: white plates with gold and black rims, multiple wine glasses per cover. At the bar, backlit spirit shelving glows behind staff in black waistcoats, white shirts, and black ties.

What sets Bibis apart is the dedicated performance stage. On Showtime nights, blue wash uplighting transforms the dining room and a disco ball drops — the same space that hosted a candlelit Italian dinner becomes a live venue for tribute acts, cabaret evenings, and Speakeasy jazz.

Outside, a large illuminated neon sign spelling “BIBIS ITALIANISSIMO” in white tube letters marks the entrance on Sovereign Street, with olive trees in planters flanking the door. The warm glow through large glass windows gives the building a dramatic street presence, particularly after dark.

Sovereign Street sits on the southern edge of Leeds city centre, where the commercial core meets the River Aire. Bibis occupies a prominent position here, directly adjacent to Sovereign Square park, with The Calls — the city’s riverside dining and drinking quarter — a short walk northeast. Leeds railway station is within easy reach on foot.

There are 3 car parks within 1 mile of here.

Q-Park Sovereign Square

Google Map Directions

Pre-book a space here

Q-Park Sovereign Square is 0 meters away. It has 493 parking spaces. This is a pay-display car park. The height restriction is 2 meters. There are 12 blue badge spaces available. 13 electric charging points are available. The car park features include lifts, cctv, covered, lighting. Payment can be made by card, app.

Hunslet Lane

Google Map Directions

Hunslet Lane is 483 meters away. It has 35 parking spaces. This is a pay-display car park. The weight restriction is 3 tons. There are null blue badge spaces available. The car park features include single-level. Payment can be made by cash, app.

Crown Street Car Park

Google Map Directions

Pre-book a space here

Crown Street Car Park is about half a mile away. It has 60 parking spaces. This is a pay-display car park. The car park features include patrolled, single-level, cctv, lighting.

Bibis has wheelchair accessible entry.

Azotea occupies the 12th floor of the neighbouring Hyatt Place hotel — a Latin American rooftop bar with panoramic city views and a natural spot for a post-dinner cocktail. For something more relaxed, Sovereign Square park is directly outside the door for an evening stroll. Head a little further northeast along the river to The Calls, where Aire Bar offers riverside drinks in a laid-back setting.