Grays Coffee Shop & Kitchen in Leicester

A true hidden gem, great service, interesting menu and nicely off beat. Perfect for something a bit different, definitely a place to come back to.

Not the most inspiring of venues and would not even have realised this venue existed but what a find! We had the shakshuka with soda bread toast. Wow! So tasty and eggs cooked to perfection just cut into them and the yolk just oozed perfectly. The spices just popped and enhanced the dish, with seeds adding texture. 😍 It was a huge portion and I could not eat it all. We had their drink specialty of homemade lime and basil syrup with soda water was a perfect mix of sweet and savoury which maybe testing to some palates but we loved it. Seeing the other good coming out of the kitchen which looked equally amazing, we will definitely be back

Hidden gem with fabulous, ethical food. Not the cheapest but you get what you pay for with decent size portions too.

So good - one of the best in Leicester - breakfast and lunch are fire

Scrambled salmon is absolutely fantastic.. will have that again and recommend it

Friendly staff. Amazing matcha. My new local coffee shop. Love it!

Everything exceeded our expectations. Creatively and assiduously thought out dishes, executed to a flavourful and punchy delivery. The kimchi, tuna and Red Leicester / mozzarella sourdough toastie was flavour combination my tastebuds were delighted to experience! The salad maple and mustard dressing was delicious too. All ingredients are fresh, grown on site or sourced locally from the market and local suppliers like butchers and bakers, and their quality is reflected in their superb taste. I can’t recommend this place enough; it’s clear that there’s a passion for and curiosity about food as there is mastery for culinary execution . Very generous portion sizes. Excellent service.

Just moved to Leicester and tried Grays twice now in the space of 7 days. Early brunch. Fantastic food and great service by all the staff. Outside options and a chilled atmosphere. Try it!

The cakes!! Try the cakes!! Some of them may look a bit boring, but by Jove they're tasty. Made by Grays' mum, apparently. Always excellent service. Very much recommended.

If your looking for a truly scrumptious experience head to Gray’s located inside LBC. The breakfasts are the best, not in Leicestershire, full stop the best breakfast I’ve ever eaten. The full English included home made sausage patty, Devine tomato’s and mini fried potato’s, coffee is smooth and well roasted, the toast, hot and dripping in butter, you will not be disappointed.

Awww man, what a menu, such a fab range of breakfast/brunch/lunch options, so hard to choose from! Ended up going for the corned beef toastie with skin on fries, exceptional and coupled with delicious coffee. Would definitely recommend, ideal spot to pop in or work from. Very friendly staff.

Needed some why for breakfast and came here solely on the strength of the Tripadvisor reviews and photos. It didn’t disappoint. Really friendly service. Astounding food and crazy value. Brilliant menu with plenty of choices (inc vegan/dairy free etc). Highly recommend the pancakes, they were outstanding (and hugely filling)! Loved it and it was just perfect. Thank you.

Fantastic place, lovely relaxing vibe, staff are friendly and food is amazing! Would highly recommend. Great place to catch up with friends. Me and my partner go there all the time.

Ate here for my birthday breakfast with my husband. I chose pancakes with bacon and berries. Absolutely beautiful … bacon was almost like belly pork and cooked very well (I can’t bear undercooked bacon) and the blueberries were cooked down to almost a jammy consistency and were perfect with the richness of the bacon. Husband had a cob with black pudding and sliced sausage (my dads from Glasgow and would love this so I’m bringing him in for breakfast very soon) which he really enjoyed .., really good quality produce and not stingy with portions. We both had coffee which was lovely. The inside of the toilet cubicles were interestingly decorated too 😊 But yes - loved it here and looking forward to visiting again soon.

Excellent full English breakfast , huge variety , nicely cooked and served piping hot. Great value in fact could do with giving choice of large or small version. We’ll be back

Great breakfast meeting here for work. 10 of us turned up unannounced, the staff were really welcoming and brought all our drinks out to us instead of making us wait at the counter. Food was delicious - porridge, pancakes, French toast, and shakshuka on offer alongside a really good cooked breakfast. Would thoroughly recommend.

Amazing food - fresh & tasty. Lots of veggie & vegan options. The breakfast is epic! Staff are LOVELY. Fantastic place - I love it.

So pleased I found this amazing place. My new 'go to' when visiting the city. The menu is quirky (including a lasagne sandwich!) but all of the food is amazing and very good value. Have had really good breakfasts, brunch and lunch. The steak and eggs is the best I have had. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Had the added bonus of being able to sit outside last time. This place never disappoints.

Good place to eat with the kids. Fresh food and healthy options. Local to amenities. One of my favourite local places to go. I would recommend

Best Shakshuka this side of Marrakesh 👌🏻

Always impeccable service & a creative, seasonal menu. Fantastic for brunch or lunch and weekend evening menus never disappoint! Love the relaxed atmosphere & local artwork, never had a bad experience. Would recommend!! Nothing else like it in Leicester.

We have been to LCB a few times since lockdown for drinks and Last Friday. But tonight we went for small plates dinner for the first time. And wow. We had 6 plates and a bottle of wine for less than £60. All the menu options were interesting, well thought through and very tasty. The atmosphere is nice with some good music and outdoor heaters and the service was prompt and as friendly as it gets. We have lost some of our favourites over lockdown so it’s great to discover what I’m sure will be a new favourite

Outstanding, creative food, made with high quality, fresh seasonal produce, delicious cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere. Day or night my partner and I have never been disappointed or let down by Grays Coffee shop in the day or Kitchen at night. Always something going on, local art to peruse and of course the monthly and legendary last Friday street food event. Always looking forward to our next visit and seeing what’s on the menu.

Was off to the supermarket to buy breakfast and turned right to Grays. So glad that I did. A very generous full English with espresso and tea. Downed the espresso, delic. Breakfast was really excellent, not too many carbs, but enough, each element was quality. Tea washed it all down nicely. That was so good after a 49 hour fast. Get in!

One of my favourite Leicester foodie places. Unashamedly meaty but with a social conscience - shopping locally, thinking sustainability. The combination of flavours in every single dish is so well thought out. Evening food nights have been a particular lockdown lifting treat - and the daytime menu is great and reasonable too... and all served by the friendliest team.

Absolutely in love with the team at Grays and their food.The team does everything with great care, even remembering my exact order. The food is always fresh, pushing the boundaries compared to some of your run-of-the-mill places in town. They have a huge love for their customers and it just radiates throughout the place. A Leicester institution

The food at grays is absolutely delicious! Menu is very well thought out and has a variety of options. The courtyard is beautiful and feel safe as they are following the rules really well. One of my favourite restaurants in leic!

Best blooming breaky/brunch in Leicester! Soooo good - great produce making extra tasty food. Beans to die for. And big tent to eat in at the mo. All Covid friendly, big 10/10

Love it here. The food is always so innovative and tasty. Very relaxed atmosphere and the staff are super friendly!

Leicester hidden gem serving up some amazing food. Fresh, local and full of flavour. The weekend evening events are fantastic and their food in the day is just so tasty

Brilliant food. Everything tastes great and the portions were very generous. The atmosphere was perfect and just what we needed after the stressful lockdown period. Highly recommend people visit!

So, here in Leicester we are still in lockdown. We have been since forever (well maybe March but look, allow us some dramatisation, we have to get our kicks somehow here). We can’t socialise in each other’s houses; we have just been allowed to entertain in our gardens - which given it is now October is a bit useless. So what to do? Go to Grays of course! I honestly don't understand why this place isn't rammed; a place with a lovely secluded outside area that’s warm and has some shelter from the rain? Gold dust! I think the problem lies in the fact Grays is in the LCB Depot and kind of looks like a load of offices, which it is, but it also isn't. For those saying ‘where the hell is Grays?’ It’s opposite Manhattan Bar, near The Curve. Google it. Anyway, onto the review. Grays is one of the few places in Leicester with a secure, heated, part covered, tranquil and relaxing outside area. It’s an added bonus that you get to be served by friendly masked up staff, that the food is unbelievably good, that the prices are reasonable. Oh and that there’s a chap there DJ-ing who also works for Jazz FM. And that the music isn’t too loud. (I. Am. Old.) And that it isn’t full of tanked up idiots. (I said I was old). Obviously they fully adhere to track and trace, sanitising, distancing, etc. That's a given. But the food, oh the food! It's like Ottolenghi had a secret love child with Ina Garten and they became a chef. First off let's cover the vegans - @bamboostreetfood full menu is on here, and it's a delight. I hesitate to say this in case it alienates any vegans, but the kebabs are decidedly meaty despite being entirely soya based. They are also HUGE. Starve in anticipation. For the meat eaters, well you're just spoilt aren't you? Gin and beetroot cured trout with lemon jelly, delicious to eat and also beautiful enough to wear as a hair garland (maybe a bit smelly). Spiced cod with onion Bhaji was moreish, as were the crab croquettes. Oh and don't miss the beef dripping potatoes with balsamic and pecorino. And did I mention the cheese, ale and whole grain mustard fondue with dipping cauliflower? I forgot my table manners and used my fingers to remove every last trace of fondue from the bowl. Don't worry, I wasn't sharing. There's also lots of duck and other meaty stuff. Previously I have been a little underwhelmed by the puddings at Grays, however they have stepped up with the new Autumn menu to include a delicious chocolate and bakewell inspired marquise which was declared 'mmmmmmm s'good' through mouthfuls. Me being a cheese platter seeker, I chose their Roquefort, bacon and fig doughnut. Sounds odd? Yes but also YES! So good. Prices are around £7 a plate and we felt two/three would be ample per person. Go, go, go! Please let's fill this place up with bookings. Except one table for 2 every Saturday at about 7pm, okay?

I mean, if you've not been you're missing out- really is the tastiest most beautiful food you can find in the city. The menu is always changing and they're not afraid to put things together you wound't expect- be brave it's always worth it. And the staff are the best. And for all that you'd imagine you'd pay pretentious prices- nope. Go.

Lovely service. Laid back atmosphere. Gorgeous food. Quality cocktails. Reasonably priced. Will be back soon hopefully. You can receive a heavy dose of hand sanitizer on way in!

Grays at the LCB in Leicester is one of my favourite places to eat! I can pretty much guarantee the food I order from their ever changing menu will be delicious. They do really good coffee too, but if you do go then make sure you go for some food, the chef is just amazing, creating exciting new dishes every week. The staff are also really lovely which makes it a great experience.

I visited on one of their Friday nights last month with the vegan bamboo kitchen..now I love meat and always say I could never go veggie as I love crispy chicken wings too much...however their cauliflower wings were to die for and definitely an amazing substitute! Everything was delicious and portion sizes were huge so unfortunately l didnt have room for dessert! The crab croquettes were delicious as was the venison meatballs and celeriac mash...yum definitely need to head back again. Gorgeous food and very friendly service. Felt very safe.

I wish we had taken photos of food before they were demolished! We sampled nearly all the dishes from the new Autumn menu for sharing (between 4). They were all spectacular! Beautifully presented and very well priced. Please give Grays a try, if you haven't had the chance. They are a hidden gem among the Cultural Quarter, good food, fab staff and chilled surroundings. We'll be back!

The new dinner menu is incredible. Outside seating arrangements are warm and comfy and their care catering to people safely during Covid is absolutely second to none.

The most unreal food! We couldn’t decided what we wanted so made our own tapas and ordered loads which was the best decision! Everything was so tasty and even the cocktails were really nice. Even with social distancing at the minute, the tables outside are covered and have heaters so we sat outside all night with no issue. Can’t wait to come back!!

COVID friendly new set up is easy to navigate. Was seated very quickly. Service was amazing and very attentive. Had dinner and pudding all was lush and the cocktails were amazing too

Delicious food, generous portions and great service. Would highly recommend any time of the week. Something for everyone

Great food. The portions were enormous and all the meat was cooked well and the salads and sides were delicious. Amazing staff who were really helpful and are doing a fab job in really difficult circumstances. Leicester people please go here and support our local businesses. You won’t be disappointed.

The food at Grays has always been very imaginative and the evening menu is no exception. We enjoyed every dish, although we did over order the small dishes but they were so delicious we finished them off anyway! It was really well organised and we felt very safe - the Covid measures they have put in place couldn't be better.

Had a very lovely evening dining outside at Gray's The food was amazing and the staff very friendly. Perhaps the drinks menu could be improved Also bring back the cocktail bar🍸

I ate here twice for the outdoor summer bbq and it did not disappoint. So many great choices on the menu we couldn’t decide what to get - so we ordered a few things each and shared. Some of the tastiest food I’ve had in ages and reasonably priced too!

Chef is a genius with local produce and carefully composed flavours in an unexpected way. All while being accessible and not feeling like you’re in an experimental kitchen lol. Can not recommend this place enough. Friendly bunch too. Awesome.

Another lovely evening at Grays! The small plates are really inventive and very tasty. Bamboo kitchen vegan food also fab. Very COVID safe too, we sat inside tonight and felt assured that they take all the measures they can. Best Espresso martini I’ve ever had (well since the last time we visited)

Lovely service and relaxed atmosphere. This was the summer BBQ evening event the food was 5 star excellent and reasonably priced.

Visited this Saturday just gone for the garden party.The weather wasn’t in our favour, but we still went.Food was delicious. Social distancing adhered to. Attentive staff.Only downside is that we had to sit inside, which wasn’t quite the atmosphere we were after - but you can’t beat Mother Nature!But there is something in the air about this place, really cool relaxed vibe.Massive kudos to the guys at grays and Bamboo street food.Will definitely return!

Always a warm welcome and great food

A group of us went to Grays last night for the socially distanced BBQ. It was fantastic. Food and atmosphere were perfect. Highly recommend the steak - it was melt in the mouth magnificent! The chips were to die for too! Great selection of food on the menu. The cocktails were fabulous also! We will definitely be back! Thanks x

I come here every Wednesday and love the food and drinks. There is a very good menu and the staff are excellent Thank You Tom/Simon

Versatile. Lovely breakfast. Lunch, from a creative menu, or a burger,or a creative burger. Just coffee if you like. Big outside space when it's warm. Great selection of snacks and drinks during evening events, such as the Leicester Comedy Festival. Always friendly :)

Brilliant service, food and variety 💜 awesome vegan cakes

Grays Café didn't leave me blue😁

Dishes always surprising for the flavours combinations, quality and variety of ingredients all cooked with care, passion and imagination

I was scrolling on Instagram last night and heard about Gray's and thought I would try and find them whilst in Leicester today. It is about a 5-10 minute walk from the train station, if you pay attention to the direction boards on the pavements you really can't go wrong. It's inside the old bus depot, you may well think you're in the wrong place as you have to go past a reception desk before you reach the café/ kitchen. Plenty of choices from jacket potatoes, sandwiches and all day breakfasts to other culinary delights. You can get the daily menu emailed to you if you sign up via their website. I was too early for their lunch menu which starts at 12 so I went for a full English breakfast and a latte. Service was friendly and welcoming and I really didn't have to wait long at all for my food to arrive. It was yummy and the perfect amount to start my day. The coffee was really nice, great latte art too! Coffee and food was £9, great value. I would definitely like to come back and try a lunch, the pictures on TripAdvisor look amazing!! Thanks so much.

Great friendly staff, awesome food, their burger and chips are out of this world, I highly recommend eating here.

Great coffee, ever changing menu with tasty dishes.

Stopped for a quick lunch before visiting The Curve. Great range of sandwiches, burgers and mains to suit all tastes and budgets including vegan options. Fab coffee, friendly service and good value for money. What's not to like?

Nice little cafe, bacon butty was great

Nice place to go for a coffee in the cultural quarter. Didn't eat here though but food appeared to be nice

New discovery today, called into the cafe not expecting much, really impressed, inexpensive and excellent.

Best lunch spots on leicester town hidden gem, fresh ingredients and new menu weekly

took some friends for a quick lunch. and the moment we walked in realised that the spread was too vast to make it a quick lunch. we were greeted with a friendly and welcoming smile by sajee. we were quickly shown to our seats and from there it was all about treating ourselves to some great food. starters were fresh. indian chinese japanese and western were all available and we were tempted to try out a little bit of everything. the dessert corner had a great selection but we were too full to try all of them. and all the ladies and gents who were serving were prompt to clear the dishes fill our water and to bring anything we ordered from the action stations.and a big thank you to thushara whose has been a great promoter and servant of the hilton for the past so many years and has served us many times before. will return for sure for a longer lunch.please continue the good work

Visited on a flying visit to Leicester to see my daughter and we went to Grays and what a great little cafe kitchen it is. Plenty of space, clean, tidy and attentive staff it is a lovely place to eat, drink or just hang-out. There is a specials menu board and it caters for both carnivores and vegetarians alike. I had a special bacon steak with all trimmings of salads and sauces in the bun and Amy had a Sweet Potato concoction with said trimmings and sauces. Nicely presented and taste to die for. Drink accompaniments where either hot or cold drinks and there were dessert options too but we declined as too stuffed from the main course sandwich. Reasonably priced for a city centre and all in all I recommended you try this cafe for a very fulfilling and rewarding food experience.

A lovely, spacious cafe tucked away inside the old LCB depot. Nice staff, smooth coffee & excellent food. A destination cafe as well as the perfect drop-in when you’re in the cultural quarter.

Having just started working in town I'm discovering new places to eat and this is a new favourite. Ive been 3 times in the last month amd each time the food has been excellent whether the jacket potato, burger or samdwich. Great menu with specials and flavour a priority. You can eat inside or outside as well.

My first visit. A really cool and relaxed environment to chill out over a great coffee. I even had a small cake! Come visit!

Service and food of a high standard. Great for a quick coffee, or even an afternoon lunch, with the staff and owners willing to accommodate requirements.

Great food that is constantly changing. Lots of contemporary foods and recipes. The menu is limited and can be considered a light lunch menu but is very high quality! The burgers are great. I'm always looking forward to the new tastes and ideas.

Good rustic food. Slightly different to the usual cafe food. Very nice.

Came in to use the meeting room for interviews as LCB depot. Lovely place. Clean and nice staff . The coffee shop is good. Some unique sandwiches and lunch options . Would definitely recommend as a meeting place.

Love it! Great for foodies who want to try foods that you can otherwise only read about when you live in a small city. A great range of veggie and vegan options.

Great service and food in this small venue

I work nearby and regularly lunch here with colleagues. We try to limit ourselves to one lunch a week but we always end up at least 2 visits because it is so goddamn tasty. Also the added bonus of lovely friendly staff. Fish finger sandwich is my fave.

Friendly coffee outlet tucked inside LCB Depot. Outside seating with view to the spire of St George’s Serbian church. View to the churchyard and direct access to it would be a bonus.

Very good quality food. It's a limited menu but it's enough for a quick snack or lunch. Some of the best burgers in town.

When you walk through the doors you don’t expect much. It’s like any other office reception area with a coffee shop area on the side. However, the food served here is most definitely not like any usual office affair.

Great coffee, friendly young staff, and inventive light lunches.

I've recently started working within the same building as this little coffee shop and needless to say it's very hip and suited for this area of Leicester. In the heart of the LCB building which had a renovation some years ago, includes what seems like a standard business coffee shop, is also open to the public for small to large lunch meals.

The staff is very friendly and the place has a cool vibe to it.

Morning brunch and tea with a five star rating

fantastic fresh food. different menu each week all made to order with local produce. great atmosphere provided by welcoming staff. you must try

Very friendly staff, and good customer service received Thank you

I work round the corner from Grays and go there at least twice a week. The menu changes almost every day, but the quality of food is consistently amazing. There is no better place to go for lunch in Leicester. The fact that they also do the best burgers in Leicester also seems to go under the radar unfortunately. Just go there, it's Gray-t!

I enjoyed the tomato and lentil soup. Nice atmosphere with lots of space. I would like to come again to try a burger or salad

The cafe attge LCB Depot. Very good homemade food. Good coffee. Great atmosphere.

Lovely place with lovely staff ! Also awesome food !🍔🍟😊

Excellent range of innovated dishes. Brilliant atmostphere. Good service.

Friendly staff and food was good

Really nice looking menu that changes daily. Went there for breakfast one day as they serve it til about 3pm when the kitchen closes if I remember right. It was delicious. It's priced well too. Can sit inside or outside. The outside area is nice for a drink in the sun.

These guys continue to serve delicious food and great coffees. Big smiles ,good banter front of house and top chef-ing in the kitchen. Why eat at multinationals when you can have this sort of top notch food.. There are other independents in the city but none can match what Grays are doing.

Great place with interesting art going on close by

Good freelance shared work/meeting space

Grays really makes the LCB Depot what it is. Great tasting food, top quality coffee and fun, friendly team. Grays creates the perfect atmosphere for a creative lunch or just a place to get some headspace and have some good food.

Loving the street food fats they hold here, last Friday of every month, they try not to have the same vendors so get a really mix of different foods. Very nice crowd, and fun evening. Only slight disappointment is it can get very crowded, with long queues for the food stalls and towards the end of the evening the food tends to run out. But overall a fun Friday night.

Great place, hosts an excellent street food night on the last Friday of every month.

The street food here was amazing

Every last Friday of the month there's a street food mini fest and pop up bars. Live free entertainment and Dj. Food is so good, not too expensive and a 5 star cocktail bar.