The city of Leeds is well known for its world-class restaurants but you may be surprised by the excellent lunch spots that can be found in some of West Yorkshire’s smaller towns. If you’re planning to visit Holmfirth, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Shipley, Saltaire or Bradford, we’ve put together this guide featuring some of the best cafes and restaurants to try while you’re there.

Catch Seafood, Holmfirth

Located 50 miles from the coast, the pretty West Yorkshire town of Holmfirth might not be somewhere you’d usually associate with great seafood but family-run restaurant Catch has put it firmly on the map for fish lovers. The restaurant’s founder, Lee Roberts, hails from a long line of fishmongers and set out to create a ‘refined seafood dining experience with a difference.’ The Catch menu features a range of starters and shellfish, including mussels or Lindisfarne oysters, while for mains you can enjoy a portion of double-fried fish and chips or splash out on a delicious lobster in thermidor sauce. If you don’t like seafood, never fear. Catch serves a wonderful sirloin steak and there are plenty of vegetarian options to choose from. The restaurant also offers a carefully-curated children’s menu with smaller versions of grown up favourites and two delicious desserts to choose from.

Opening times: Monday-Thursday & Sunday: 12pm-8pm / Friday & Saturday: 12pm-9:30pm

Sid’s Cafe, Holmfirth

You really can’t visit Holmfirth without stopping for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake at Sid’s Cafe. Known for its appearances in the BBC sitcom ‘Last Of The Summer Wine’, this is the epitome of a traditional Yorkshire cafe, situated in a picture-postcard courtyard and decorated inside with gingham curtains and matching tablecloths. On the menu, you’ll find freshly prepared toasties and sandwiches, including one filled with hot roast beef and rich onion gravy. You can also enjoy a jacket potato here, or a bowl of delicious soup. For afters, there are scones with cream and jam or you can take your pick from a constantly-changing selection of homemade cakes and bakes.

Opening times: Open every day from 9:30am-4pm

Bloc Cafe in Holmfirth

The place to go for brunch in Holmfirth, Bloc Cafe specialises in toast. Sit down to thick, golden slices topped with scrambled egg, crispy bacon or a generous serving of avocado. This friendly and down-to-earth cafe serves a great cup of fresh coffee, along with decadent cakes made by Home Sweet Holmfirth – try their tempting brownies or blondies, topped with cream, sprinkles and other sweet goodies. On a warm day, you can soak up the sun on Bloc’s outdoor terrace. Dogs are welcome here, so you can bring your four-legged friends along too.

Opening times: Closed on Tuesdays, open all other days from 9am-3pm

The Deli in The Piece Hall, Halifax

The country’s only surviving 18th century cloth hall, Piece Hall in Halifax is now home to an impressive range of independent shops, making it a great day out for those who love shopping. The Deli provides a showcase for producers from across West Yorkshire. Browse their range of locally-made jams, chutneys, oils, crisps, craft beers, wines or stop for a sandwich or lunch. By dining here you’re helping to support a good cause – The Deli is run by The Piece Hall Trust and money from every purchase is used to maintain the building and preserve its history.

Opening times: Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm / Saturday & Sunday: 10am-5:30pm

Ricci’s Place, Halifax

Situated in the centre of Halifax, Ricci’s Place is a Mediterranean fusion restaurant serving a varied menu of dishes made with seasonal and fresh ingredients. The starters here include such delights as hand-carved Iberico ham with tomato bread, padron peppers and Ibizan salt, or ‘Ossobuco Milanese Arancini’ – braised veal and saffron risotto balls served with parsley aioli. Move on to the main course and you’ll be able to sample the old Italian favourite Aubergine Parmigiana, or try something new with a courgette and Taleggio schnitzel. If you still have room afterwards, their homemade cannoli is well worth a try.

Opening times: Monday-Thursday: 9am-11pm / Friday & Saturday: 9am-12am / Sunday: closed

Seoul Food Kitchen, Halifax

Located on Carrier Street, Seoul Food Kitchen describes itself as a restaurant with a ‘small menu with endless flavours’. This seems modest as there’s quite a lot of dishes to choose from here. Enjoy a bowl of authentic Korean ramen, crispy fried chicken or bibimbap – a rice bowl topped with individually flavoured carrot, mushroom, cucumber and boiled egg with your choice of meat or tofu. You’ll find plenty of great vegetarian sides to share between the table and the cucumber salad is highly-recommended. If you prefer milder flavours, or have a sweet tooth, you’ll also find wonderful sweet and savoury crepes for sale here.

Opening times: Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm / Friday & Saturday: 10am-8pm / Sunday: closed

Mooch, Hebden Bridge

Boasting a colourful interior and a laid back atmosphere, Mooch in Hebden Bridge serves nourishing lunches that will appeal to all of the family. Their breakfast menu is served until noon and features comforting favourites like dippy egg and soldiers and toasted fruit teacakes. Later on, you can enjoy soups, bagels and hot ciabattas with fillings such as smoked tofu, rocket and hummus, or goats’ cheese and caramelised onion. Mooch is dog friendly and there’s a beautifully-decorated courtyard garden where you can eat al fresco. You can also purchase food from here to take away, so you can celebrate a special occasion at home or just enjoy a night without having to cook.

Opening times: Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm / Saturday: 10am-8pm / Sunday: 10am-7pm

Squeeze, Hebden Bridge

Squeeze is a warm and welcoming cafe and deli selling produce from some of the owner’s very favourite brands. Located on Crown Street, not far from the Hebden Bridge Picture House and the town’s famous Trades Club, Squeeze sells a range of liqueurs and spirits, sweets, savoury cheeses and chutneys, with hampers available for special occasions like Christmas. When you dine in, the lunch options include some popular Mexican dishes as well as their yummy grilled cheese sandwiches, which are made on Saker Baker sourdough with mature cheddar and your choice of fillings. To drink, you could try a cold brew coffee or ice cream shake, or unwind here after a long day with a glass of wine.

Opening times: Monday-Saturday: 8:30am-4pm

Tambourine Coffee, Shipley

Situated on Bingley Road, Tambourine Coffee has now been providing the people of Shipley with freshly ground coffee and pastries for the last seven years. The cafe is well equipped to cater to families, with books for the little ones as well as high chairs and baby changing facilities. Tambourine’s interior has a modern, urban feel making it a great location to catch up with friends over beer and pizza. You’ll also find tasty natural soft drinks from the Steep Soda co. on sale here.

Opening times: Monday-Saturday: 8am-5pm / Sunday 9am-4pm

Edward St Bakery, Saltaire

Located in the trendy town of Saltaire, Edward St Bakery is the place to go to start the weekend right with a celebratory Friday lunch. Their mouthwatering sandwiches ooze with fillings and flavour – you’ll want to call in each week to try all of their guest specials. Their past inventions include a ‘Meatball Sub’ – filled with meatball marinara, mozzarella, crispy potatoes, basil, pickles and crunchy onion – and the ‘Shrimp Katsu Sando’, featuring panko shrimps, tonkatsu sauce, kewpie mayo and shredded cabbage on a soft Japanese loaf. You can also pick up frozen pizzas from award-winning Yorkshire-based pizza chef MozzaFella here to take home and heat.

Opening times: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, open all other days from 9am-3:30pm

Bread + Roses, Bradford

A cafe with a difference, Bradford’s Bread + Roses is housed within a creative co-working space. You can relax in the cafe here, admiring the artwork on display as you sip a hot drink or kombucha and enjoy a light lunch. Alternatively, if you’re tired of working from home, you can make this your new office from as little as £15 per month. You’ll find everything you need to work in comfort and style, benefitting from perks like use of the community roof garden and printing facilities. You might even meet some like minded new friends to collaborate with here.

Opening times: Monday-Friday: 9:30am-4pm / Saturday: 10am-4pm / Sunday: closed

Photos: Seoul Kitchen, Sids Cafe, Bloc Cafe