Tiled Hall Café

Well… After queueing for 20 minutes, the chicken wrap was ok but the chocolate brownie was stale, the waitress assured me that it was fresh that morning however when I highlighted that the cakes were uncovered directly in front of the queue (unhygienic) she was rude and walked off !!
Shame because it’s a beautiful venue… Coffee was only mediocre at best.

Delicious food, beautiful surroundings. I’m a Leeds girl, far from home, living in US but every time I come home there’s something new and The Tiled Café tasted as good as it looked! Had the aubergine & roasted vegetable salad special.

Beautiful interior but the food was mediocre and overpriced. I won’t be going back again. Not a great experience there are many alternative cafes which are so much better all round.

What a stunning venue. I’m perhaps overly zealous about the beauty of Leeds, and have been often told that I err on the positive end of the spectrum, but when alighting the stairs to Leeds Art Gallery and entering this lofty, high ceiling-​ed beauty, I fail to see how anyone doesn’t take a moment. At some point back in time, folks really went all out with their architecture — a far cry from the select few cement blocks that litter our skyline. Leeds is a gorgeous city, and I’m not afraid to say it. And this is truly a gem.
Often, with buildings of historic stature, the cafes and eateries attached sadly offer a lack luster cup of grey tea. (Not earl grey, just grey.) The might attempt at a few cellophane wrapped dry cakes, and of course charge double what you’d expect, but here my friends… Here, they make an effort. An effort worthy of the attractive structure. The afternoon tea was on the agenda, when I met a friend here the other week, and my those scones were generous. Huge thick cakes, obviously freshly baked, and they came with a delectably cute pot of jam and a pot of clotted cream. Butter, even.
The tea was equally impressive. I ordered a Russian Caravan; a smokey dark tea, full of intrigue, and whilst it might not have suited the cake in question, it was delightful. The tea came in a loose leaf tea pot, perfect, and so this place is now on my list of loose leaf spots — something I hope catches on about Leeds. We need a dedicated tea room! The chap serving was lovely, friendly, and for two pots and two scones we treated ourselves like queens for the pauperly sum of a tenner. If you fancy an afternoon indulgence, truly, this is the perfect spot. Even better? You can wander around the gallery before or after, for absolutely nothing.

This Café is taking my review virginity but I feel it deserves it. The Tiled Hall café is absolutely visually stunning and I can never fail to feel relaxed in amongst its grandeur.
With tea, cake scones and fancy sandwiches on offer it’s the sort of place you can always take your mum and you’ll both feel at home. Leeds is full of young, cool bars and cafes but this traditional gem is not one to be overlooked.
Last time I was there I had a pot of tea, with a large scone with ALOT of clotted cream. A wander around the Art Gallery afterwards left me feeling warm (not just because I was out of the freezing temperatures) and cultured inside.
Well worth a visit with a mum anytime (or a granny for that matter!)

Described as ‘one of the splendours of Victorian Leeds’, it is easy to see how the building gained this historic accolade. After years of painstakingly careful restoration, the Tiled Hall Café is an entirely unique setting to enjoy traditional and wholesome fare.
The space is filled with tables and chairs which are uncomplicated in style, the simplicity of them adding the perfect contrast to the ostentatiousness of their surroundings. I had been sitting down for an extended period of time before I noticed them however, such was the captivating presence of the ceiling. The ornate pillars are exquisitely carved, and the mosaic beauty of the ceiling is positively hypnotic.
The café offers a wide range of teas and coffees, soft drinks and alcohol, so there is something to suit every occasion. The menu incorporates regional pride in the choice of ingredients, with smoked salmon from Whitby, Yorkshire feta, locally sourced meats — even the cress hails from Thirsk. These local products are used to create a range of hot and cold sandwiches, soup, pies, jacket potatoes and quiches. Quintessential fare to match such a culturally rich environment.
I was almost amused into trying one of the ‘Daleicious Desserts’ from the menu! So proud of its heritage, even the food categories allude to the area. There’s nothing I like more than a region-​based gag, I’ve always said that.
Instead we opted for the Yorkshire High Tea for two. When it arrived, I was amazed at the selection. It comprised of succulent slices of smoked salmon, ham and roast beef accompanied with local cheese, baked bread and chutney. Two scones partnered with clotted cream and jam provided a sweet and sumptuous conclusion to our afternoon tea. At £6 per person, the quality of the food combined with the grandeur of the café, made the experience extremely reasonably priced.
I would recommend taking friends and relatives from all walks of life to the Tiled Hall Café. Just try not to make the mistake I did of concentrating too intently on the artistry of the ceiling, whilst simultaneously having half of my scone pilfered.

This delightful café is situated in a grand hall in between Leeds City Library and Art Gallery. A recent rediscovery and restoration of the Victorian tiles decorating this space makes it a beautiful setting for a quick cup of tea or lunch and a cut above other gallery cafes and a gem of Leeds.
The food is almost as fancy as the setting, offering more expensive brands of tea, crisps and drinks. I tried the baked potato, which came with a large salad and filling for a not too extortionate price, and had plenty of time to eat it in my lunch hour with their quick service. I think I was lucky, as I have noticed that during lunchtime it can get busy but it’s a large space so you needn’t worry about it being full or feeling cramped. It’s great that it is open until 8 from Monday to Wednesday as it’s a nice, unique place to meet for a coffee or generous sized piece of cake after work. Disappointingly the weekend opening hours are too short, only opening for four hours on a Sunday afternoon!