Miro

This pleasant little café is another addition to the array of little eateries just opposite the Parkinson steps of Leeds University. They offer a range of slightly more exotic sandwich choices, certainly compared to the standard, such as Leerdammer and Chorizo baguettes, amongst others. All appear to be hand made on the premises, which suggests they are that little bit fresher than the standard choice, and range from around £2 in price.
Although seating is a little cramped, on my visit I squeezed in at a table near the door to enjoy my extremely cheap latte — £1.30 no less! The space is freshly decorated and the atmosphere was fairly pleasant and buzzing whilst I was there. The service was swift and friendly and little pleasures, such as soya milk being offered as an alternative, make this thoughtful café a decent place to visit. All in all I was pretty impressed with the ensemble and will certainly be re-​visiting for more than just a coffee sometime soon.

From the outside I wasn’t convinced that this establishment would be anything special as it sits half under the pavement line opposite Leeds University’s Parkinson Building along with a host of other lunch time options. Having over-​visited every other café in this neck of the woods during my time as a student I opted for Miro by default and was pleasantly surprised! I approached the sign stating they did ‘real’ coffee with cynicism but they really do. Inside it is spacious and light with no frills but is clean and welcoming. They bake fresh bread every day for their sandwiches, which must be made fresh every day as well.

If you are starving and in the area, Miro is a perfect place to pick up a bite to eat or a coffee, at good value for money. They sell a huge selection of ‘not your average’ baguettes, focaccia and ciabatta sandwiches, pastas, salads and paninis (all freshly made that morning) and also do very good coffees. No such thing as nescafe in here! The prices are very competitive at between £1 — £2.50 per food item. They also sell the BEST chocolate cake I have eaten in a very long time, and trust me, I have eaten a lot.
Situated just opposite the University steps of The Parkinson Building, it does get hoards of students and local professionals through the doors at peak times. It is also quite small so sitting in can be a problem in peak times. It is unfortunately non-​wheelchair friendly as it is down a small flight of steps, with no lift.
Great for when you’re on the move and you want something real to eat at a good price (as opposed to plastic muffins or soggy sarnies). But if you can, avoid the lunch rush hour.