The coffee you don’t have to question
The city of Leeds is such a gem of the north, and couldn’t be any better of a place to be the home of so many iconic spots. Whether you’re looking for a spot of brunch or want to delve into the after-dark with some cocktails, Leeds is the place to go. Call Lane, especially! What a perfect place for If Up North to be, if you ask me.
The coffee
If Up North prides itself on serving good coffee. Their signature espresso blend has those perfect tasting notes of cherry, hazelnut and coffee, and you can definitely taste these! Maybe it’s just the cortado I chose (like always, I know) but these notes really came through together with that powerful coffee flavour. Don’t worry if you don’t want your socks blown off though. There’s a coffee to suit everyone!
If you love the coffee enough, you can always buy some too. Whether that be within the café itself or on their online shop, there’s plenty to choose from. Of course, you can choose from many of their blends! I’ve always loved how coffee shops such as If Up North are so proud of the coffee they serve by selling their own beans. I don’t think I’m the only one either – If’s coffee is so popular that the If roastery is coming soon. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for that!
The food
Speaking of keeping an eye out, you won’t want to miss the food from here! If Up North provides a mash-up menu to die for. You may be a hoe for the aesthetic, like me, or you may be like my friends who are just looking for some good grub. This coffee shop, though, has both those boxes checked. As you can see from my table, the pancakes are such a popular choice. Sweet (Fudgy Peanut Butter & Blueberries) or Savoury (Nutty Maple Bacon). On the other side though, If Up North still provide those brunch classics we all know and love at such a top tier. I mean, the queue outside is all the proof you need of that.
If you are looking for that extra sweetness in your life, grab yourself a home-baked cake or pastry to take away with you. On my visit, there were so many to choose from. I still think about how those blissfully light pains au chocolat tried to entice me, and I think I regret not buying one as a souvenir. I must go back and get one of those bakes!
The vibe
As well as the bakes, the atmosphere also entices me to return. If Up North’s vibe lives up to the street on which it calls home, get it? Call Lane is so full of life and is home to unique eateries, and If just fits right in. Maybe it’s the floor-to-ceiling windows that let the light just stream in, but you never feel like you’re cooped up in a small corner café. The light and sun is welcomed in just as much as the customers. Oh, and don’t worry if you miss the sun. The pops of yellow and the cleanest of tiles is such a lovely replacement on a dull day.
The verdict
Now, let’s cut to the chase. If Up North is Call Lane‘s answer for anyone looking for a brunch hotspot. With a powerhouse of coffee blends and flavourful foods to match, you are sure to feel as sunny as this coffee shop’s vibe. So, what are you waiting for? Get in that queue and grab a pew as soon as you can!
Looking for other Leeds coffee conquests, check them out here!
