Lento Cafe & Bar

The daytime menu centres on hearty breakfast plates and freshly made lunch options. The full English uses Yorkshire-sourced sausages and free-range eggs — a combination that has earned Lento a spot among Headingley’s most popular breakfast cafés. Sunny-side-up eggs with house sausage offer a lighter morning option, while a hot roast beef sandwich comes with homemade gravy and homemade coleslaw for something more substantial.

Lighter choices include a goats cheese omelette, fish finger sandwich, and poached eggs on avocado with salad. Baked potatoes with tuna are a long-standing customer favourite, and the soup of the day — such as roasted red pepper, tomato and basil, served with a warm crusty roll — changes regularly. Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is a standout from the bakery counter, and cakes more broadly are one of the most frequently praised items across reviews.

Come evening, the kitchen pivots to East Asian cooking with a Vietnamese and Chinese focus. Wonton noodle soup arrives with fresh wontons, coriander, spring onions, and chilli oil — a Hong Kong-inspired bowl built from scratch. Vietnamese pork BBQ and seafood dishes round out the evening offering, with the menu capable of handling large group dinners as comfortably as a solo meal at the counter.

Coffee is the daytime constant at Lento, served alongside iced coffee and hot chocolate. The bar stocks beer and wine — a 19 Crimes bottle is a visible fixture behind the counter — though the alcoholic range is modest rather than extensive, in keeping with the venue’s café-first identity.

On live music evenings, a cold beer or a glass of wine pairs naturally with the acoustic and jazz sets that fill the room.

The interior is unpretentious and warm. Dark wood tables run through the main room, paired with dark ceramic plates and saucers that give the café a cohesive, earthy palette. Behind the counter, navy cobalt-blue subway tiles line the wall, and a vintage yellow rotary telephone sits on the surface — an eclectic accent that captures Lento’s personality-led character. A chalkboard on a wooden stand advertises the day’s specials, and scatter cushions and books for browsing add to the homely, lived-in feel.

Large glass shopfront windows flood the space with natural daylight during café hours, making it bright and open from the street side. Folding wooden bistro chairs and small tables on the pavement provide outdoor seating when the weather allows. By evening, the same room takes on a more intimate quality as live acoustic, folk, and jazz sets fill the space — the owner is known to chat jazz with regulars between songs.

Lento sits on North Lane, the main strip running through Headingley in north-west Leeds. The area has a strong independent café and bar culture, and the venue is a short walk from Headingley cricket ground — making it a natural pre-match or post-match stop during the season. Burley Park station is nearby for rail connections into the city centre.

There are 3 car parks within 322 meters of here.

Headingley Taps

Google Map Directions

Headingley Taps is 161 meters away. It has 50 parking spaces. This is a pay-display car park. There are 3 blue badge spaces available. The car park features include single-level, cctv, lighting. Payment can be made by card, cash. Headingley Taps car park is managed by Euro Car Parks.

North Lane

Google Map Directions

North Lane is 161 meters away. It has 9 parking spaces. This is a free car park. The car park features include single-level. On road parking opposite Headingley Taps pub

St Michael’s Road

Google Map Directions

St Michael’s Road is 322 meters away. It has 8 parking spaces. This is a free-timed car park. The car park features include single-level. 2 hours free parking. Tends to be busy, but good access to Headingley high street.

Lento has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and step-free access to the seating area.

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM