Opposite – University

Nice little place for a coffee. Can be a little busy and cramped early on weekends.
Its paper cups only but the coffee and food is quite good.

Handy little place when meeting people after uni. Not too busy after work hours which is nice.
No real cups always paper which is funny but the coffee in them is tasty so worth a visit.
Sample cakes were very flavoursome too :)

Delicious hearty vegetable and bean stew with homemade bread and a large cup of some of the best coffee I’ve had for awhile. Comforting folky music playing in the background. Friendly people. Right next to the uni. This is fabulous for students at Leeds.

Really good coffee, usually full of students, nice sandwiches/​some salads on offer– even a couple of vegan options. They are comfortable accepting my Keep Cup which I’m pleased about– they even offer a 10p discount, and it means I save a cup from being wasted too so we all win! They are now serving brunch on the weekends from 10 – 2 (I think) — the main interesting options are the apple pancakes and the croque monsieur. Both are worth getting, and together with a good coffee makes a Sunday morning more enjoyable! They definitely need to get a few more interesting options on the menu though. I would love to see American style pancakes, or waffles! Plus a vegan option for breakfast would be good too– something other than porridge (assuming they could make that with soya milk).

I might not get the opportunity to visit Opposite all that often, but when I do it’s always a pleasure. For starters, it’s a really friendly space, and despite not being back here for months I even recognised a few faces. So they keep their regulars, which is always reassuring. Secondly, the place is pretty trendy. With awesomely quirky graffiti on the front bar and mini herb gardens, yes herb gardens, out the front it’s just ruddy cool. I spotted rosemary, sage and more and was instantly jealous. (I’m trying to grow herbs!)
Lastly, of course, the coffee is aces. I got a lovely vanilla latte, which was a little colder than I’d like, but the coffee is divine. Just the job to make me feel spritely enough to face town and pick up some last minute bits before going away. The perfect spot for students with laptops, dreamers with notebooks and mini meet ups for a decent bit of caffeine.

Opposite café kept me going during lectures. Their coffee drinks are immensely satisfying and perfect for afternoon sleepiness. Sandwiches are great but boy, their sweets are wicked. Their cookies, cakes and brownies are amazing.
The café is always jam-​packed with students and even professors. Nevertheless, the baristas and cashiers have a way to keep the spirit high. Great place to meet up with friends to study, brain-​storm ideas or just chilling out.

Great place to stop in on a cold day if you’re going to or from the university. I like to grab a cup of coffee to go to keep me warm, and I normally don’t even drink coffee. It can get really crowded midday but the workers seem to keep the line moving quickly. The ready to go sandwiches are all pretty tasty, mainly due to the amazingly good multigrain bread they’re made with.

Right from Day 1, Opposite have had a good thing going. Still ranked as one a real favourite on-​campus independent coffee shops, right ‘Opposite’ The Parkinson steps of Leeds University, you can spill out of the Brotherton and run accross even if you only want a coffee. I’m giving it 3 stars due to the fact that as with many coffee shops, it is overpriced. Despite selling very lovely coffee, and sarnies that appear wholesome and fresh, (though upon tasting can be a bit bland) surely they don’t have to cost the earth! If you are going in for lunch, don’t expect to pay much less than a fiver. Marks and Sparks can even compete with that! It is forever crowded and rushed in Opposite and despite it being lovely to sit outside in their outdoor seating in front in the summer, it would be cheaper to bask with a cup of reasonably stuff from elsewhere on the ‘Parky steps’.
I don’t find it the friendliest of places. Whereas some student haunts can have a cheerful upbeat vibe, I find Opposite to be a very public place for people to sit and have private chats, that they clearly don’t want to be heard from the next table. The staff are really friendly, so i guess that it’s not their fault, but maybe it is the brand of student they seem to attract that I find a bit off-​putting. Fair? Maybe not, but hey, even I can admit that every once in a while it makes a change from your thermosflask and a 99p sarnie from the union.
On the upside, they do show artwork around the café walls, selling prints and things from local and student artists.

The daddy of all the off-​campus student cafes, Opposite has been going for years and isn’t showing any sign of stopping any time soon. Their winning combination of expansive outdoor seating, OK food and amazing coffee — they recently came second in the UK barista championships, as they can’t resist telling you again and again — ensures a regular stream of visitors whatever the time of day, and the artsy vibe created by exhibiting local artists’ work makes it feel more like an extension of the university than a business in its own right. Prices are more expensive than they should be but about average for this sort of venture, and there are the obligatory comfy sofas scattered around, though you’ll have to fight to get one. There’s also a nicely varied selection of reading material, though I’m going to keep hoping a regular leaves the Daily Mail there every day — the thought that they might buy it themselves would put me off my sandwich.

The name tells you everything you need to know about this place — it’s opposite the university, quite literally, meaning that it’s an absolute haven for students and lecturers alike.
Every lunchtime, and even at non-​peak times, this place has people spilling out of every doorway and onto the main road — it gets seriously busy.
Obviously, this is a good sign, but it can get frustrating when you queue up for what seems like an age, and then struggle to find anywhere to sit once you finally have your sandwich and coffee.
If you can find somewhere to sit, then it’s a glorious experience — inside they have cushty couches and loads of art work on the walls from local talent. Outside the little chairs provide a nice place for you to people watch while you munch on what will undoubtedly be a tasty sandwich and drink the city’s best espresso.
If there were more places to sit, it would most definitely get five stars.

A little expensive, but well worth it. Sandwiches, great selection of drinks, though can get very busy throughout the day (may be necessary to queue for a while) — well worth the wait, though! Outdoor and indoor seating.

Opposite is a funky little place to pop in for a sarnie or a cup of homemade soup. I’ve never yet managed to get a seat, however. I’m not sure how one does. Perhaps it requires loitering at the entrance at opening time, I don’t know. Anyhoo, the soup is delicious and comes with a roll, and the coffee is definitely very coffee-​like (I’m no connoisseur of coffee, it either makes me wake up or it doesn’t).
The cakes are extra super lovely too. Like lemon drizzle cake and huge double chocolate chip muffins. Mmmmm.

Opposite Café is a bit more than a café really, not only does it make really nice, deep-​filled sandwiches on good bread for a £2.30 a piece, it also showcases art, has really comfy sofas and a clean, efficient and yet homely effect on the senses. Like it sells slices of homemade cakes and pastries, fresh fruits and orange juice, and really good lattes. In fact, I think it just won a Barista award for its services to coffee. Also, it lets every local magazine or promoter put its publication in the store, which makes for very varied reading material when in there — from The Daily Mail to VICE Magazine.