One of the UK’s most cherished restaurants is making its long-awaited opening in Leeds this August, bringing the warmth, bustle, and spirit of Bombay’s old Irani cafés to the heart of the city.
Dishoom will first welcome guests to its highly anticipated Leeds café from 3rd August, with diners able to enjoy a 50% discount on food during an initial soft-opening period. The official grand opening will follow shortly after on 14th August. Taking residence on 68-78 Vicar Lane, positioned between the Victoria Gate and Victoria Quarter shopping centres, the new café marks the brand’s long-awaited arrival in the city.
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This particular venue takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944. The wartime disaster sent gold bars flying across the city, with local legend suggesting some of the missing gold was never recovered – instead remaining embedded in walls, melted into bangles, or hidden away in drawers by lucky citizens. Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from these gold bars, incorporating subtle references to glamorous mid-century details and playful nods to Bombay’s golden age throughout its interiors and artwork.
Offering all-day dining from morning until late, the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls, and family kitchens. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, chai, and late-night tipples will all be available daily.
Treasured guests can expect to dive into established Dishoom favourites, including the famed Bacon Naan Roll, the melt-in-mouth Chicken Ruby curry, and House Black Daal. Generously sized feasts made for sharing among groups of 10 or more will also be on offer, featuring dishes such as Keema Pau, Chicken Berry Britannia, Roomali Roti, and Pistachio Kulfi.
Alongside the food menu is an extensive drinks list, ranging from Dishoom’s classic India Gimlet, crafted with London Dry Gin, Rose’s lime, celery bitters, and fresh dill, to the Kohinoor Mojito, which offers a bright twist using Takamaka Seychelles Rum Blanc, dry white vermouth, and house-made mojito cordial. Beyond cocktails, further options include orange wine, crisp Kingfisher beer, and piping hot glasses of Dishoom’s house chai.
The opening continues Dishoom’s longstanding commitment to breaking down barriers and bringing people together over food, much like the original Irani cafés that once sat on nearly every corner of Bombay, welcoming people from all walks of life.
“Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us,” said Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom.
“The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
Dishoom operates primarily as a walk-in café to encourage a more spontaneous way of dining, with tables set aside each day so guests can swing by and be seated swiftly. Reservations will be available for breakfast and lunch, alongside limited evening bookings from 6pm.
