Opposite – Victoria Quarter

Thanks to Rowena H for recommending this tiny coffee outlet to me. With Square Mile beans being used, the quality of the espresso was of no surprise. However, the care and attention that was paid to each cup was impressive. Opposite does not feel like a production line — your coffee is looked after from start to finish.
The only really downside is its open air shopping arcade location which makes things a little chilly — certainly not somewhere to linger. However, the coffee itself is up there with Leeds’ best.

Delightful experts
Brewing high-​quality drinks.
Alas! Few tables.

I’d only ever heard good things about Opposite, especially their pour overs. So today when I met up with my equally coffee geeky friend, we headed for Opposite. I’d never been before and I was really excited to try it out and see what all the fuss was about. Put simply, it was amazing. I, originally wanting one of the Costa Rica coffees, was talked into having the Kenya and I’m glad they did talk me into it! It was delicious, not too acidic and very fruity. My friend went for the Bolivia, which was quite the opposite — pretty acidic and had a sherberty taste to it. Lovely.
The staff were so friendly and it was nice to talk coffee with people who don’t judge you the minute you say ‘I work for Starbucks’ — instead it was met with ‘oh so you’ll know a bit about coffee anyway!’ The amount of knowledge they have is incredible and we found ourselves stood there for ages talking coffee (and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them making lattes and cappuccinos and finishing the foam with beautiful patterns!) and then again once we’d finished and my friend was waiting for her pour over Sumatra. We also took the opportunity to have a sniff of all the various teas they had out on display — the jasmine one was beautiful and the Earl Grey was nothing like either of us had smelt before!
Absolutely 100% will go back for more visits.

The passion and the knowledge they have for their coffee here is wonderful. ‘Notes of bergamot, lime flower, …’; well I mean they don’t tell you that sort of thing down Café NEuROsis do they.
And you really can taste the difference. Skcubrats (backwards) coffee tastes like hot water with a bitter taste that someone has scraped sink-​water-​washing-​up-​foam onto. Coffee here makes your tongue lick the roof of your mouth a few times afterwards just to reassure yourself it really did taste that amazing.
And then there’s the billionaire shortbreads. OH MY GOD. Appropriately named. Fun game is to look at how HUGE they are and then go and laugh at the pitiful anorexic attempt they have the sheer gall to call something similar in other cafes.
Finally — make sure you order a mozarella, pesto, and aubergine sandwhich from them. Your mouth might not yet be accustomed to this many amazing flavours in one day but fear not, you can visit them as many times as you like to build up your tolerance.

This delightful coffee shop is bound to please the more discerning caffeine drinker. I stopped by for a coffee here recently and was delighted by the delicious roast. Sadly there was no option for a dabble of vanilla flavoured syrup, as there is in the café by the uni, but nonetheless if you’re looking for a decent coffee whilst on the browse in town this place is a sure-​fire winner. I am probably doing terrible things by sweetening my coffee in that fashion, to most hardcore caffeine lovers anyway!
The chap who served me was swift and friendly, which always helps, and the ambient, gorgeous setting inside the Victoria Quarter is certainly a lovely place to take pause. Whether it takes your fancy to sit in and peruse the décor and passers by, or simply have one to go as you mooch about town the caffeine hit is both fulfilling and delicious — exactly as it should be.

Definitely the best coffee in Leeds.
I really appreciate a good coffee — and I’ve found that good coffees are very few and far between in the UK.
If you’re in Leeds and you understand how good coffees should be, make sure you grab one from Opposite!

A cute little stall within a visually stunning arcade, I stumbled across Opposite by accident. But what a happy one at that. I was aware of the main Opposite café from my student days, often providing a welcome distraction when procrastinating during dissertation season. During a chat with the barista, I realised it was their smaller, centrally located sibling.
Whilst the original Opposite is a totally relaxing place to while away a few hours; this one is more of a place to refuel with gorgeous, fairly traded coffee and a refreshing range of teas to choose from.
I enjoyed visiting Opposite in the Victoria Quarter, reminiscing about the carefree hedonism that was student life! I had to get one of their chocolate brownies, just to check that they were as good as I remembered them to be. They were.

I’ve come to the conclusion that my priorities in life are beginning to change. That’s not to say I’ve suddenly disregarded shopping, eating out and wine. That would be stupid. What I mean is that my love of caffeine has taken an elevated climb towards the top of my tree. I love a fine bean and at Opposite that is exactly what you get.
Slap bang in the middle of the Victorian Quarter, its location couldn’t really be better for that mid shopping lull kick start. Oh and what a kick start you’ll get. A little piece of heaven in a cup.
It may not have the size of its sister stores but this little vending gem has some of the finest coffee you’ll find in Leeds. Well that is a bold statement, and I’ve yet to drink my way through Leeds, but it can’t be far off.
I plump for some serious stuff, some hardcore addicts filter coffee. You know as it’s lovingly prepared that they are really spoiling you, as the ambassador would say. Prepared in its own time with fresh beans that smell divine and a delightfully chatty and knowledgeable vender to boot. Award winning brews from Brazil to complex tastes from Rwanda, if it’s high end coffee you want, that is just what you’ll get.
The selection of fresh teas and mouth watering cakes also impress and they’ve even got a selection of foccacia sandwiches and treats to help line your stomach after some heavy induced caffeine splurging.
This is how a hot beverage should be treated so it’d be rude not to keep on quaffing away. Simply delicious.

Opposite had their first site opening ‘opposite’ the Parkinson building at Leeds University and due to its success they opened another in the Victoria Quarter. They were named as one of the top ten coffee shops in the UK by the Daily Mail so you know they’re doing something great! The describe themselves as being a Boutique Espresso Bar but they also have a selection of fresh, healthy food. Alongside the homemade brownies…
Seen as though they primarily set out to attract students, they aim to have affordable, tasty, healthy, food… check, check and check!
Pop over to the stand and try them out!

I’m a coffee fanatic and rate this as THE best coffee in Leeds!
It’s a tiny little pod, but the coffee is amazing and the brownie’s not bad either!
I’ve so far tasted their summer blend and their autumn offering — and as I’m an espresso drinker the subtleties of both shone through.
These people are truly passionate about coffee — support them!