distrikt

Distrikt was introduced to me a few years back by my sister, who is a regular on the Leeds bar scene and knows her way around town like the back of her hand. Therefore I totally trusted her when she said «I’m taking you to this dark place down a small, slightly dodgy-​looking alleyway».
And I’m very glad I did! We first went here one lunch time on a rainy Saturday in autumn so finding somewhere cosy but cool in which to kick back and enjoy something alcoholic after some hardcore shopping was top priority.
Once inside the dark (but not dingy) below-​street-​level bar, I took an instant liking to the arched, bare brick walls and eye-​popping artwork covering them, as well as the candle lit tables and booths (if you’ve read any of my other bar/​restaurant reviews you’ll know how much I hate bright lighting/​generally being seen in public).
Distrikt managed to score even more brownie points when I discovered they sell Liefman’s Kriek (Belgian cherry beer) IN A VERY TALL GLASS. OK, it’s still technically a pint in terms of the measure but damn, those glasses are sexy! And it’s reasonably priced too — much cheaper than anywhere I’ve had it in Manchester (sorry Mancunian friends).
The rest of the beer menu is pretty impressive, with lots of foreign beers, but being a bit of a design junkie I was even more enamoured with the menu’s high quality paper, excellent use of typography and beautifully illustrated pages, which compliment the artwork on the walls perfectly.
So the beer pleased me muchly but to be honest, it was just nice to be somewhere that played Stone Roses in the middle of the day. At the time, I was living in southern Spain, where hearing such legendary sounds in a public place is something of a rarity, so to be humming along to one of my all time favourite bands AND holding a glass of Leifman’s in my hand was as close to heaven as I’d been in a long, long time.
I have visited Distrikt more recently, just for a quick cherry beer and was glad to see that the place hadn’t changed too much. My only criticism is that they were playing hip-​hop, which isn’t really my cup of tea but hey, they can’t please everyone’s ears!
Overall, I’d say this is a top place for a few chilled-​out drinks during the day so stop by and grab a cheap and refreshing fruity lager next time you’re in the Calls/​Briggate end of town!

Let not the (very short) alley of deprivation turn thee away! It’s actually a great bar to go and relax in (surely the purpose of all bars?..) I was only in there for a pint after recovering from shopping with my fiancé, and it fulfilled everything I wanted from a bar (beer, a decent seat and basically deserted. Let me just say that if I had been there when it was as packed as the photos attached say it gets, I would be hating this pub).
I recommend this place to any cherry beer drinkers, as you get a full pint of the stuff rather than some dribble in an overpriced bottle.

This is one of those places that I think has been around for quite a while, but I’d never heard of until recently, but I’m really glad I know about it now!
It’s one of those hard to spot places that’s down a little side road and is hidden away down some stairs (aside from the sign outside which somehow I’d never spotted!). But head down the stairs and you’re greeted with a quality little bar with an excellent selection of drinks. I’ve not tried the food yet as I’ve only ventured here twice on a Friday after work, but I’ve been impressed enough in those 2 visits to merit that lovely shiny fifth star!
There’s an outside area which is a bit small and feels a bit dirty, but I didn’t mind it at all and was just happy to be outside when it’s warm. Some of the staff seem friendly, although some of them also seemed to not want to look at or speak to anyone who wasn’t a really pretty girl, but I won’t let the odd person like that spoil my enjoyment of the place.
And I’ve got to mention the happy hour — I’m not sure what time it starts, but certainly on Fridays it runs until 10pm, meaning there are 2 4 1 drinks, meaning £2 pints! I think this place is gonna be taking quite a bit of my money in the future!

I have been going to Distrikt right from the start and always enjoyed the place. The staff are always pleasent and there always seems to be something happening, whether it be DJs on the weekend or half price cocktails through the week.
At the moment they offer cheap drinks on a Friday evening which has made it my go-​to place in recent months. A G&T for £2.50? It would be rude not to.
Last Friday we decided to indulge in some tapas to accompany our gins. I’ve not eaten there in a while and the food was as good as I remembered. My personal favourite was the smoked duck on the meat platter that we shared — next time I won’t be sharing. The ribs were also outstanding — sticky and delicious and all plates are a very reasonable price.
We sat upstairs (a place many aren’t aware exists) where you can take in the fresh evening air and even enjoy a cigarette if you so wish.
Our waiter was so attentive and friendly we left him with both a tip and a kiss!

I’m sure this is a great bar, but it SHOULDN’T do ticketless (free) big gigs and club nights. It’s like they don’t think how many people will turn up. They should leave big name artists to bars with larger space or bars that keep their advertising low key (so the place doesn’t get seriously rammed and attract wrong crowds).
Open mic nights and local artists — yes. Big international DJs/​artists — no.
I went to see Pete Rock (big US hip-​hop artist for the people who are clueless on hip-​hop) and the place was absolutely rammed. Rammed to the point where i couldn’t move much. I felt sorry for the bar staff. They seemed to be really on their toes. There really isn’t much space in here and the place definitely felt over capacity. I just given up and went home. I seriously don’t think this place was meant for huge ass gigs (especially free big name ones on a Saturday night!). For that stars have to be lost. The patrons seemed really hype though. The place was also hotter than July (sorry lame Stevie Wonder Reference).
I’d like to go when it’s more chilled out (when the weekend warriors with attitude and all the guys who think they’re 10 men have gone) so there’s a better opportunity to appreciate the surroundings and its features. I only got a Red Stripe from the poor bar maid who was incredibly under pressure. Cost me £3.90 which was a bit much, but I suppose it’s expected.
Sorry, but for dancing and clubbing the place isn’t as good as Hi-​Fi. They do have the big names coming through however.

I visited Distrikt last Monday with an old friend for a catch up who isn’t from Leeds. I had a 50% off tapas voucher and I had heard good things about the place so I decided to take her here — a risk as I wanted to show her Leeds, though I had never been here before. I booked the table through Unilocal and it was quick and easy — a great feature on the Unilocal app.
It was really quiet when we arrived at about 8.15pm, but I guess it was Monday. My friend was really impressed by the interior, and we nestled ourselves in to one of the booths.
The waiter/​bartender was really friendly and helpful and was happy to advise on how many plates to get and what was particularly good. Because my friend and I haven’t seen each other for a while of course we were chatting away and completely forgetting to look at the menu! The waiter was really patient with us though.
We ordered crayfish salad, arancini, mushrooms, fries, olives a couple other things and it was all delicious and well presented. it’s not your ‘typical’ tapas, and the difference is quite refreshing. The portions are not huge and if we were paying full price it may have been quite pricey, but probably worth it as the quality and taste were great. Distrikt is more of a bar than a restaurant, but I like that, and the food doesn’t take second priority what so ever. I will be back!

Like many great love affairs, my affinity for Distrikt grew over time. It started out as that painfully hip place my mates would always wind up in on a Thursday night, mainly because of the 2-​for-​1 cocktails they do. Like an aloof love interest, Distrikt seemed to look me up and down and say. «You…you’re not meant to be here.» With each visit however, the edgy façade started to wilt, and I began to see what everyone else could see in this enigmatic little club.
The décor in here is a real selling point with me. There’s a number of unique paintings and sculptures here that really speak of Distrikt’s artistic leanings. It’s beautifully lit in here. It reminds me of a hipster fairy grotto with splashes of violet and emerald green light on every wall.
Like I’ve already said, this was a gradual development, one that like many casual dalliances I could take or leave… until recently.
See, the last Thursday of February was open mic night with an act called Rat on a Roof… oh man. Don’t let the verminous name fool you. It was lovemaking for the ears — Spanish guitar that seemed to writhe and caress its way around Distrikt’s brilliant acoustics as a lothario finds his way around his lover’s every curve.
It finally dawned on me… this place wasn’t just some forgettable hip kid hangout. There was real heart here. Everyone in that club knew it. I could see it in their faces. Every artist, musician, writer and creative person will know what I mean by a moment that hits every human sense, leaving you in a stupor that will linger in your bones long after the guitar falls silent… and this was the moment Distrikt gave to me.
I don’t even need to try the food here to know that this is a great place. I know I can go back to Distrikt and feed my little artsy heart whenever I want.

Great place
Great art
Great food — locally sourced and delightfully presented
The manager is a legend he always pays attention to customers and does his upmost to please. I’d suggest this to anyone looking for a good bit of grub after work and a nice cocktail to wash it down with!

I truly couldn’t be more impressed with this fantastic establishment. It’s been said many a time before, wander along Duncan street, and you’ll spot a bit of hide away signage, some tables and a door that leads you down into the depths within. By rights it should still be classed as a hidden gem, since it’s off the standard track, but there’s a reputation for excellence that now precedes it –and one that holds firm. For all the right reasons.
Let’s get to the taste of it, firstly. Tapas. Not just any tapas, but freshly made to order, with a chef whose passion for seeking out foraged foods, unique flavours and intriguing combinations continues to delight my mouth. I’ve seen a few items on the menu change, but there are still the stalwart choices that remain and so they should– the incredible chicken wings, beautifully breaded, and delectable with the dipping sauce. The humungous mushrooms, the perfectly cooked squid, the amazing chips. My friend took me here recently for their incredibly reasonable half-​priced-​tapas deal, and we ordered a mountain of food. Call me king of climbs, since we polished off the lot, and basically had everything on the menu.
How about atmosphere? During the lighter hours, which make little difference in this spacious, illuminated cavern, you can find a varied range of coffee drinkers, wifi users, diners and other such folk. The staff have never failed to proffer warm welcome, and there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the space –a glance at the walls reflect some of Leeds’ finest local art and design. If you fancy tipples, there’s a fairly fancy cocktail list to get excited over, and deals on appropriate days should you wish to save yet more pennies. The outside courtyard provides a fairy-​lit yard, hidden away from the streets, tucked in behind the backs of several buildingswith miniature New York feel. (Try and catch the staff pulling down the fire escape stairs to the building, and you’ll see what I mean.)
Finally, what about entertainment? If you’ve ever fancied trying your hand at Salsa, you can join in the salsa dance classes from 7pm each Tuesday –beginners are more than welcome, and the class is very accommodating and friendly. It’s easier than you’d think, and actually quite the laugh. No need for friends to accompany you either, since you all end up taking turns to dance with each other as well! But it’s their DJ nights that have brought them the most renown. Effortlessly garnering some of the world’s finest, their eclectic range of DJ events showcase some far ranging and serious talent– and I hope to dance until the wee hours at one of their parties soon. Music, food, and love, with just the right amount of booze thrown in. It’s not just a bar, it’s an emporium of awesome, that makes Leeds a much better place.

We were SO glad when we finally came here! The tapas were a little small, but had a great taste and we weren’t hungry after sharing 3 plates between 2 people. I’m a big fan of the drinks and the drink selection and I absolutely LOVE the music selection every time we’re there! Not to mention that you feel like you know the coolest unknown spot in Leeds with the up-​the-​alley and down-​the-​stairs entrance, awesome art, and cool lights.

I’ve been meaning to eat at Distrikt for a long time, and after venturing there on Friday night, I have really been missing out! After finishing work a little late it was surely a night to eat out and get the weekend kicked off. So I met with a friend and I suggested that we go and grab some food at Distrikt, neither of us had eaten there before.
So we wandered down the staircase and into the bar, we were lucky to get a somewhere to sit, Straight away we were brought food and wine menus and within no time we had ordered and had our wine –Score! and it was a lovely bottle of South African Shiraz Viognier at that… and then just as we were getting into our wine the 1^st of our food came, perfectly timed.
1^st we got a portion of pitta and dips we hadn’t specified any order for the food to be brought in so it shows the guys know what they’re doing when they can get the ball rolling for you –the dips were really good. we also ordered the ribs, sweet sticky and they must have been cooked for hours for them to fall apart like that, i nearly ordered more. Chips cooked to perfection and well seasoned. Calamari and meatballs also cooked to perfectly… This was all rounded off with a selection of 3 cheeses served with oatcakes and a quince paste, perfect for finishing off the wine and just a great selection of cheeses i even liked the blue cheese, which i can have trouble with…
I’m sure it wont be too long till i am back there eating again!
Really top marks, I couldn’t fault a thing, great food and service, and with how busy it was when we walked in i thought we would have had to wait a long time for feeding but not at all!

Located on Duncan Street is the Distrikt Cellar Bar, Leeds most unique and independent gastro bar. Stepping down the staircase from the outdoor courtyard area perfect for alfresco drinking, lies this basement bar. However, stepping through the doors soon allays any fears that this may lead to the dark, dank cellar of previous years. Instead a beautiful space is secreted away. Nods to its previous incarnation remain with a low ceiling but the glamorous touches capture the eye. A decent-​sized bar at the far end of the main room glows from bright lighting behind, capturing the sparkle of the various premium spirits and wines. The ambience is relaxed and welcoming, with its subtly painted walls adorned with local artworks for sale gives it an intimate, homely feel. Comfortable booth-​style seating lines the periphery of the area, and the DJ booth is as hi-​tech as you’d find in a club, rivalling any upmarket West End bar and fulfilling a much-​needed niche in this area.
The proprietors are especially worth a mention, being friendly, helpful and extremely efficient with a level of service usually reserved for hotel bars and top restaurants. The music is a sound track of laid back tunes and chill out house beats completes the ambience of the bar, but are unobtrusive and well levelled so groups and couples can converse without having to shout at each other.
The clientèle is a broad spectrum of all ages brought together with a common love of good food, spirits and music, and tends to attract a more discerning punter. However, where Distrikt Bar really thrives is its unique and individually tailored food menu created by master chef Paul Behnke whom has worked for many international & London Michelin star restaurants and gastro pubs. I spoke to Paul and asked him to explain the all new foraging menu to me, as I had little knowledge of this cuisine.
The Monday foraging menu uses a significant number of our ingredients that cannot be bought from the store or ordered in. They are foraged from the parks, woods and shorelines around, and are locally sourced for freshness and taste. This commitment to a new style of cooking that turns away from the, no tomatoes unless briefly in season, olive oil, foie gras, sun-​dried tomatoes or any other of the key Mediterranean ingredients that have come to dominate haute cuisine in recent decades — to something distinctive and regional, it made sense that a lot of our ingredients should be those we could find, not least because they are so available, that’s the beauty of Yorkshire and its natural surrounding areas.
The foundation of every cuisine is great ingredients. I studied recipe books & nature books, learned about wood sorrel, ground elder and particular kinds of seaweed to be plucked from the shore. We also developed a network of professional foragers. We have one man who has been doing it for decades. He is one of those rare characters, and told me of a forager who supplies him with Kentish truffles whom is a self proclaimed wizard, and has an invisible friend who tells him where to forage! All we know is he finds the best truffles we have ever tasted.
Foraging shapes you as a chef, I know it has shaped me. If you see how a plant grows and you taste it in situ you have a perfect example of how it should taste on the plate. But it’s more than that. When you get close to the raw materials and taste them at the moment they let go of the soil, you learn to respect them. We never alter the raw material to such an extent that, when they reach the plate, they no longer have any connection with their origins.
The restrictions can be frustrating as the produce has to be in season and to a high standard, but this forced us to be more inventive, creating new and exciting recipes daily.
The joy of cooking begins afresh each day creating a recipe around the naturally gathered ingredients. From the customers point of view you are experiencing unique dishes created and crafted from start to finish by a chef with the skills of Heston Bloomfield.
Paul is accredited within his profession as a class leading chef and it will not be long I am sure till he will become a household name.
The evening I attended the Distrikt bar the well priced menu of only £5, skews towards sharing tasting platters with a choice of: —
Rare Yorkshire beef, w/​wood sorrel crème fraiche, braised cherry tomatoes Manchego and home cooked crisps
Crayfish & pickled Kent sea vegetable salad w/​salsa rossa & Rye brea
Parma ham, fresh pear, pickled rock samphire w/​blue Stilton cheese & oat cakes
The portions suffice nicely, whilst (two people could happily chow down through two or three platters) the quality, freshness and presentation is secondary to none and live up to the best restaurants I have frequented. Considering the quality and reasonable price for the food, it is worth making the trip to visit regardless of your location.
Visit:
for directions and a full synopsis of there ethos

I called into Distrikt recently after reading the reviews on Unilocal.I knew I had been before on one of the kind of nights out where you consume so much vodka that you only vaguely remember who you are, let alone where you have been.
My friend and I headed in for some midweek food and were pleasantly surprised (I thought I remembered it as a rubbish Bat-​cave). It’s dark as there’s no natural light coming in and I can imagine having one too many drinks and emerging mole-​like back out into the daylight but we stuck to soft drinks this time. The décor was really cool, didn’t feel at all dingy and the music was laid back and really suited the place. Oddly, partly through our meal the music changed to something a bit louder (annoyingly so) and more dancey.
We were shown a little ‘beer garden’ but it was really a couple of tables in a little alley so we ventured back inside.
The bartender/​waiter was really attentive and friendly, giving us suggestions on what to order but not being too pushy. The menu was lovely but limited and decently priced. I’m a veggie and only had a choice of three tapas plates — so I ordered all of them! The field mushrooms and braised aubergine was gorgeous and my friend loved hers too. I would’ve liked them to be a little larger but then I’m greedy. I don’t know how often I’d be able to go back as I wouldn’t want to order the same food all the time. There was only a choice of two desserts — a plum crumble or balsamic strawberries so we ordered coffee (which was one of the nicest cappuccino’s I’ve had in a really long time) and left to go get dessert elsewhere.
On a last note, on our way out we nipped to the toilet and were surprised to find that they seemed to belong in a scruffy, dingy nightclub rather than this place.
We’ll both be going back, especially to sample the cocktail deals but unless they change the menu regularly (or even better, just add to it) I can’t imagine going back to eat that often.

Don’t believe the hype. Sorry folks, but District was a terrible disappointment.
A group of five of us decided to try this place out on a Wednesday (half price tapas if you’re interested). We ordered just about everything on the tapas menu, plus some claypots and overpriced dips.
Our waiter told us from the outset that the claypots would take a little longer.
‘Well that’s fine,’ I thought, ‘at least they’re freshly made on site’.
The tapas arrived and they were pretty good. I wasn’t blown away by the very hairy chicken wings, but everything else was tasty enough.
An hour and 15 minutes later, we were still waiting on two claypots (one lamb and one veggie).
Finally, after some gentle reminders, they came out. …And they were terribly disappointing.
The vegetable claypot was bland but edible.
The lamb claypot was a disaster. The chunks of meat were dry and chewy. And to top it off, half of the vegetables were stone cold. This one was sent back to the kitchen.
Initially our waiter, who had been good and attentive all night, apologised and took it back.
When he returned, he became belligerent and talked himself out of a tip. He said that in the kitchen he saw another lamb claypot and it was steaming hot with tender meat.
What were we supposed to say to that? ‘Good for whoever ordered that one? Because the one we were served was atrocious and there was no way it was in the oven for an hour?‘
Such a shame. I won’t be back.

So maybe I was skeptical as we hopped down the stairs into this basement venue in the middle of the day but one bite of the homemade dips (so fresh they had to be made to order!) and another of the chorizo and goat cheese sandwich (with chunky chips!) and I barely remembered I was in a windowless space!

A friend took me here the other day before a gig. I live in the city centre and had no idea this place even existed, I’ve never heard anyone talk about it, and I’ve never seen it. It’s just up a little alleyway, which does not make its location very clear. We were here on a Sunday and I expected it to be very quiet, we ventured on it and it seemed to be closed. However, we reached downstairs and were pleasantly surprised to see the most amazing setting.
Its like a cave in here only decorated with incredible interior design. The layout is lovely, with little booths where the cave areas are and small tables on the main floor. The bar is perfectly lighted with subtle oranges and reds. A very nice gentleman who seated us and asked us if we wanted any drinks instantly greeted us. He also brought us a menu and for £7 I chose to have chicken with roast potatoes and spicy bread sauce (it was a Sunday), I wasn’t completely satisfied with the food and the selection on a Sunday was pretty dire. But I would love to try it out during the week, the menu is so exotic!
Another great feature about coming on a Sunday was the live music they had, a girl and a guitar player kept in perfect tone with the chilled out atmosphere in here. I am definitely making this a regular spot, as I was highly impressed.

Rolling up to Distrikt… well it’s a bit ominous to say the least. Located on a side street, dimly lit, it could have the potential to be some dodgy underground typa place. You get this gothic vibe from the building, the blue lit sign, and if it’s a foggy day, that too. Entering Distrikt is a totally different matter, and when you descend the basement stairs into the main club/​bar area it’s a treat of colour and intimacy.
Low level lighting, that could make for a romantic evening, with some delish mediterranean food, seafood mezze to start with followed by one of the cook pot dishes, which can be a side, but I just fancied something hot and savoury. I decided on the lentil stew and chorizo, whilst my counterpart ordered the lentil and butterbean clay pot stew. Piping hot and lovely. AND! after that we caught a glimpse of the deserts, which were interesting, balsamic strawberries, licorice infused figs, their special lemon syrup doughnuts, and a couple of other inexpensive sweet treats, which are great to order one of each if there’s more than two of you. In addition to this the bill didn’t break the bank either, £30 for the two of us including the starter, two mains, two desserts, and three soft drinks.

I’m starting to feel some serious love for this funky little establishment. Not an unhealthy love I hope but some love none the less.
Distrikt is relatively new to the Leeds scene. It opened in October 2009 and is slowly but surely building itself a sturdy reputation. Its main niche is that it combines food with good music. Not unheard of I hear you say, but it does seem to feel fresh and quite original. It’s quality and cheap tapas combining the Middle East and Mediterranean cultures.
Musically, you’ll also find it going hand in hand with some of the Leeds big players such as Back to Basics.
Also launched this year was it’s ‘Acoustic Roasts’ event which takes place every Sunday. This is proving very popular and includes a selection of four very unique dishes and some live music thrown in too, later on the evening. Worth checking out for sure.

Spot on. Once you find it. Great space. Great music. Gonna be popular