Opposite Cafe Chapel Allerton

The kitchen runs a concise daytime menu of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes, with homemade baked goods sharing equal billing with the savoury side. Smoked salmon on thick-cut sourdough toast with cream cheese is a popular order — a simple combination done well, with the sourdough baked in-house. Polenta also features among the savoury options, adding a less expected dimension to a cafe menu that leans towards well-executed comfort food rather than anything overly ambitious.

Baked goods are where Opposite Cafe really comes into its own, and the counter display is worth lingering over. Golden almond croissants with a flaky, buttery shell sit alongside dense, chewy cinnamon buns and rich brownies that draw regular praise from Chapel Allerton locals. Thick slices of carrot cake have become a firm favourite, and the baking output rotates with the seasons — a Jammie Dodger blondie appeared as a Valentine’s special, and limited-run treats are a recurring feature throughout the year. House-baked sourdough bread is available to take home for those who want to extend the experience beyond the cafe.

Vegan options are available across both the savoury and sweet sides of the menu, and gluten-free choices can be accommodated on request, making Opposite a flexible stop for groups with mixed dietary needs.

Speciality coffee sits at the core of what Opposite Cafe does. The espresso bar pulls shots from beans roasted by North Star Coffee Roasters and Echelon Coffee, with rotating guest coffees keeping the single-origin offering fresh. Flat whites are a clear favourite — regularly praised as among the best in the area — and you can take bags of retail coffee home, ground to your preferred brewing method.

Beyond espresso, the drinks list covers matcha lattes, loose leaf teas, and real hot chocolate. In summer, homemade iced teas appear in flavours like lemon and mint or Earl Grey and blackcurrant, made in-house at both locations. Oat milk is available as standard for any drink on the menu.

Opposite Cafe is a daytime-only operation with no alcohol on the regular menu. Premium soft drinks complete the non-alcoholic lineup.

The shopfront on Stainbeck Lane makes an impression before you step inside — a dark charcoal-painted facade with large plate glass windows that span most of the frontage, letting natural light flood the interior and giving a clear view of the counter from the street. An etched “OPPOSITE” logo on the glass door and a chalkboard A-board mark the entrance, with a small potted olive tree and a wooden slatted bench adding a quiet pavement presence.

Inside, a light plywood-clad counter anchors the space, set against dark forest green walls softened by trailing pothos-style plants and botanical details. Retail coffee bags line a black shelving unit behind the counter, while dark grey ceramic plates and white cups reinforce the pared-back, speciality-coffee aesthetic. The atmosphere is bright and unhurried — a neighbourhood cafe built for lingering over a flat white with a book, not rushing through.

Out the back, a spacious courtyard offers outdoor seating at glass-topped tables with sage-green folding bistro chairs, bordered by planters and raised beds — a proper suntrap when the weather cooperates.

Stainbeck Lane sits in the heart of Chapel Allerton, one of north Leeds’ most characterful neighbourhoods. The LS7 postcode area is known for its concentration of independent cafes, bars, and shops, and Opposite Cafe fits right into that community-driven identity. The Co-Op Chapel Allerton Car Park on Stainbeck Lane (LS7 3PJ) is the nearest dedicated parking, open 24 hours, with street parking also available on surrounding roads.

There are 2 car parks within 322 meters of here.

Harrogate Road

Google Map Directions

Harrogate Road is 161 meters away. It has 80 parking spaces. This is a free-timed car park. On road parking along Harrogate Road

Town Street

Google Map Directions

Town Street is 322 meters away. It has 6 parking spaces. This is a free-timed car park. On road parking along-side the old fire station.

Opposite Cafe has a wheelchair-accessible entrance at street level, with step-free entry from the pavement.

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

After your coffee, take a stroll along Stainbeck Lane to [The Woods](https://api.discoverleeds.co.uk/things-to-see-and-do/food-and-drink/the-woods-leeds/), a multi-floor neighbourhood bar and kitchen just moments away — a natural step from a daytime flat white into an evening drink.