The Maven Restaurant in Leeds

My second visit despite not liking it the first time, the joys of a group vote :) It's still an utterly hateful place, from the chip on his little shoulder bouncer pretending there wasn't enough room inside and delaying our ascent for no reason to the awful cave-like darkness, pretentious and snail-like service, unremarkable drinks and the deafening output of the live "DJ" exporting his finest beats through a terrible unidirectional sound system with no audio range but enough volume to make conversation impossible even if you could see each other. The rooms were littered with discarded plates of half eaten food from a private party upstairs, hopefully they were having a better time than I did. I have no idea how some of the photos shared here were taken, presumably with night vision goggles.

If this used to be a great bar it has since fallen off a cliff. The cocktails we had were atrocious and we couldn't even finish them (Corn exchange and a pornstar martini we got via the free drink offer) We booked a table a week in advance and ended up sitting next to the entrance so there was no cosy atmosphere that you would expect from seeing the pictures. You expect low lighting cute and cosy speakeasy vibes and you get a very bland space with music blaring and £13 cocktails that taste like Dettol. Have tried twice in 2 months and will not be returning for a third. (Fri / Sat) AVOID

Staff inside are very friendly and the drinks at the main bar are nice! However, the bouncer was quite rude upon arrival and the drinks for the private event we attended were nowhere near as good as the ones downstairs. Overall a decent experience!

We had our engagement party here yesterday in the Highland room and could not fault any of the experience! The bar staff were amazing, (Evan and Will) and we had multiple friends and family tell us how great of a job they did. They had some great music recommendations! The venue is gorgeous and we were able to set up the night before which was great, and the staff were very careful and considerate with our belongings after the party. Overall we had the most wonderful experience here, and would recommend it to anyone!!

Absolutely terrible service yesterday (2nd November). We arrived as a group of 4 at just after 5pm. Our wives managed to find a table while we waited at the bar to be served. We stood there for about 15 minutes or more without even being acknowledged. Yes the 2 staff members were making drinks, but the bar area was quiet and it takes seconds to say I'm really sorry we are busy, we'll be with you shortly. Anyway we left our table without any service and went to Salt around the corner. Got served in no time, despite the bar being busy. Had multiple drinks each and pie too. 😀 Won't be visiting the Maven again that's for sure. Happy to pay for good quality cocktails that take a little longer to make, but not if staff fail to acknowledge our existence.

Great Speak easy bar. Really nicely done out. Staff were brilliant, lots of choice of drinks. Went during a Saturday afternoon, didn't have a reservation but not an issue. Although I suspect at busier times/evenings you may struggle to get a table as there were lots reserved at 3PM, suggests would would be very busy later it gets. Definetley worth a visit.

Cool secret cocktail bar. Interesting cocktail options on the menu, most look like original creations, and the ones we had were all delicious. Good vibe on a Saturday night, there was a decent buzz without it being too busy.

Nice spot, the drinks lacked that oomph about them

I love it here. Great music, interesting cocktails, lovely staff and just a fantastic vibe.

Having a great time the staff are out of this world very friendly indeed.

Table service with fantastic cocktails. Only had bar snacks but they were very tasty. Staff lovely friendly and helpful. Quirky atmospheric bar area .

Great cocktail bar away from the hustle and bustle. Lovely decor, attentive staff, very chilled and the cocktails were fabulous. Now my favourite in Leeds 👏👏

Absolutely wonderful staff very polite and friendly and the atmosphere was so nice and inviting the drinks are a bit on the higher side but definitely worth it

So a bottle of mackmyra is £48 retail. They charge £40 for 4 shots. When people talk about the death of bars this is the reason why. If they need to charge these prices they should shut up shop.

Shouts to Blake and Nick, two absolutely lovely bar staff! Drinks were also lovely – first time ever having a cocktail justifiably described as 'wholesome'.

The whole place is absolutely class, from the atmosphere to when you walk in, to the excellent, welcoming, knowledgable staff and the superb drinks they make. Have been here quite a few times now and they're always mixing up the menu. Well done guys, brilliant.

We hired the Highland room for 50 people, there was a minimum spend of £1500 just on drinks. Every time we asked what the amount was during the night it was hard work, felt like they didn’t want to tell us, embarrassed just for asking. The staff were lazy, tables were loaded with empties, we emptied many ourselves. Found all staff except the lovely blonde girl rude and unapproachable. We had checked if a baby was allowed at the party and was confirmed okay, manager said she’d have to leave at 9pm despite being a private function and having the okay beforehand. We kept turning the music down as it was more of a gathering of family to celebrate a wedding than a dance party and we wanted to talk. Staff kept turning the music up! It was far too loud to have conversations. Would not recommend this place

The service here was hostile and some of the worst you'll experience in Leeds. The cocktails and venue are nice. Expect to pay around £15 per drink.

The cocktails were all very nice! Some with a unique Yorkshire twist and have really pleasing layers of flavours, instead of just being a jumbling mess of sweetness or super watered down. Really love the nice smoky incense they use, gives the bar such a relaxing and laidback vibe. One thing that bothered me though, was the loud music which got progressively louder over the night. My friends and I had to shout over the music in order to make a conversation 😬

Incredibly friendly staff, delicious drinks, and music so good that I had to ask for the playlist

Great venue, friendly staff and great food. Attended an event there. Will be back

We had a private corporate event at the Maven and from first contacting Mica to the evening and staff everything was exceptional. The only issue we had on the night was some tipsy guest from another function decided to come into our event but this was swiftly dealt with by the staff. I could not recommend The Maven highly enough and it will be top of our list for any future events. Thank you all.

We had a 50th birthday party in the Monkey 47 room and everything was perfect from the planning - Mica answered all questions super swiftly, the food from Relish, the DJ. Everyone had such a fab night. I definitely recommend x

Has to be one of the best bars in Leeds. Beautiful hidden spot, amazing service and the cocktails are so well executed. Really can't reccomend enough.

Over £75 on a round of cocktails, which weren’t drinkable or palatable in the slightest. Staff not able to do anything. Really disappointed as we’d gone for a special occasion. Would not recommend!

Love the Yorkshire-inspired cocktails 🍸and a great move to have booked at 3pm- friendly and welcoming staff! Great ambience inside! 👍

The Pacitto Promenade is literally the best cocktail I've ever had.

We hired Monkey 47 for our engagement party, we had about 50-60 people there and the room was the perfect space. The Maven had great communication and couldn’t have been anymore helpful. I’d definitely rebook for another event.

Excellent spot for a date night! Unique cocktails, knowledgeable staff, and an atmosphere that can't be beat. Can't wait to come back!

Lovely cocktail bar with excellent decor. I have it on good word that the cocktails are quite good but I don't drink alcohol and there's not a great soft drink selection.

Had a couple of delicious cocktails. It’s a lovely place but was quiet on a wet Wednesday night, sure if it’s the weekend the atmosphere would be 5*

The tasting menu (6 small cocktails all following a theme, in our case a journey along the Silk Road) was thoughtfully constructed and delivered by the Maven's highly skilled staff. They were very knowledgeable and happy to talk about the Cocktails they we're presenting. The drinks themselves were interesting, often complex, and most importantly, delicious. If you're into craft cocktails, there is plenty here to entertain and excite. Our group had a great time and we can't wait to visit again and explore a different theme.

Delicious cocktails and friendly staff.

Great cocktails served by knowledgeable staff

Fantastic cocktails, great tunes and a really good atmosphere. This place is a must

On Thursday, 14th December, I and three friends visited the Maven. Although our visit was unplanned, I had always considered it to be a reliable establishment known for its refined atmosphere and dependable cocktail offerings. However, upon arrival, it was evident that there were at least two private parties taking place, characterized by the presence of inebriated young women. As I entered the ladies' restroom, I found it overcrowded with around six individuals from these private parties, leaving little space for other patrons. The condition of the restroom was appalling, with vomit scattered everywhere, thereby undermining the cleanliness and appeal of the establishment. Furthermore, the mixologists, seemingly prioritizing the larger parties, appeared to neglect our presence and treat us as an afterthought. When a member of our group expressed that her drink was too strong, a mixologist made her another drink and with sheer audacity asked “But you will like this one ye?!” and, remarkably, charged her for the replacement, demonstrating a lack of sensitivity to customer satisfaction. In sum, our experience at the Maven was highly disappointing and unacceptable, particularly given the steep prices associated with the establishment.I’m

Visited 2 weeks ago, very poor experience with rude staff and uncaring attitudes. Will not return.

Went for the Xmas taster menu, really good experience and drinks complimented the treats well!

We went of a Thursday night so it was quite quiet. Nice kept bar and table service was great. It’s nice to have the option to have good cocktails and be able to talk to your friends without the music being too loud.

Great place but had a lot better cocktails, bit watery for me

Absolutely mint place drinks/cocktails 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. Staff excellent one member recommended a list of other establishments to visit as we were only in Leeds 1 night all brilliant with excellent service a big thank you to her (didn’t catch her name ) you made our night 💕

Nice venue, good vibe. Disappointed they didn't have draft on tap so couldn't make me a shandy 🤣

I have not rated the food as I did not eat. The cocktails are fantastic. They do need a extra mixologists as ordering for several people at once takes the bar man a lot of time, however every single cocktail was spot on.

Lovely little cocktail/jazz feeling bar, dark with candles and funky music

Wow! Cracking cocktail bar with a great vibe and awesome drinks. Particularly loved the Orange County. Would highly recommend!

Really good spot to rent for an event - very reasonable, good selection of beers and good cocktails

A menu full of things I want to try, and very happy to see an amaro based cocktail on the menu. Attentive and accommodating staff. This sets the bar high for others to follow. Great selection of seasonal and "classic" cocktails, but for my driving friend they pulled out the stops to also create custom mocktails that were as good as the "genuine" article. Judging by the seasonal specials I have to come back to sample one of the tasting menus...

It wasn't great. 5pm on a Saturday is not a challenging time. To take 15 mins to bother to ask what we wanted, despite two trips to the bar to ask,. and 15 more to finally serve them; we'd given up the ghost by then. Cocktails were fine, that wasn't the issue, but surly bar-staff and desultory service doesn't impress. The art should be to get people in, not to make them feel it was a mistake in coming in. Plenty of other bars, as we rapidly discovered.

This place really is a hidden gem, really warm atmosphere and well made cocktails.

Cool speak easy, drinks are good, atmosphere was nice and relaxed. The service was knowledgeable and quick. I would recommend.

Friendly bar staff and nice cocktails, just a bit too loud in the table areas for me.

Tasty cocktails, chilled vibe, good atmosphere

Truly nice cocktail bar with a cozy and slightly dark atmosphere. The selection of signature cocktails is quite good with also a selection of specific monthly cocktails (there was a selection of Negroni-based cocktails, for example). Nice discovery, right in the center after some stairs inside a relatively anonymous building. Truly recommended!

Had the most gorgeous birthday celebrations at Maven. The service, as always, was impeccable and they were so helpful from start to finish. The cocktails were amazing and everyone had a wonderful evening!

Really great cocktail tasting experience. Fantastic service and explanations of each course - would highly recommend! Thank you 😊

Great cocktails, great atmosphere, great service!

We hired the 2 rooms upstairs out for our 10 year wedding anniversary. The staff were great and the whole place has such a great vibe. The decor is gorgeous! Thank you for hosting our special event and making it so easy for us.

Some of the best cocktails in Leeds. Staff are so polite and friendly as well. Great ambience. Always have a good experience here.

I had some sort of banana peel rum cocktail and it was bloody delicious!

Beautiful selection of cocktails and good atmosphere

These guys can make a cocktail. Wonderful keep up the quality👍

I can't recommend this place any higher! We recently hosted a surprise 30th birthday in the green room. They were always really prompt to reply and went truly out of there way for us. On top of that, the bartender was amazing, he was an absolute pro and could make anything we asked. Will 100% recommend this venue to everyone we know!

Great speak easy cocktail bar with tasty cocktails, nice team and feel good spot

Superb venue , lovely people great bartenders and excellent drinks .. what's not to like.

Hidden gem in Leeds. The cocktails are tasty and strong, what's not to like!

Held a private party in their Highland Room and the experience from start to finish was excellent, even from when we originally booked to the end of the night - the staff were incredible and couldn't do enough for us.

Nice place to have a quiet drink early on but quite lively later in the evening.

Great bar amazing cocktails and the staff are super friendly. If you can find it you are in for a treat

Great cocktails ,really friendly staff ,a hidden little gem

Edit: Music WAY too loud on Friday night. Loads of tables (including 8 people on ours) left because it hurts to shout and trebles coming out of the 70s music playlist were painful on the ears. Bar staff told but no change - pity. - avourite cocktail bar in Leeds. Low lit vibe similar to Blind Tyger but a little cosier. Bartenders very affable and helpful with tips and recommendations.

Superb Negroni's Don't go without a reservation as they may not be able to accommodate you - and with good reason. Great bar, better drinks

No hassle, great place for a nice cocktail. Table service, not crowded, good service. Upstairs, so not wheelchair accessible. Entrance not easy to find!

Great decorations and a nice atmosphere with a good selection of cocktails.

Really good vibes in this hidden gem. Lovely staff too!

Great atmosphere and unusual cocktails

If you turned the lights up a little and turned the music down a lot you would have an excellent bar

Secret leeds bar nr the market-fab decor lovely barstaff who wait on you-wonderful cocktails-couldnt get over the leather kinky aprons the bar staff wear!!!! Go for a treat i loved it

Absolutely love this bar. After walking from the train station and witnessing a mass of stag and hen parties it was incredible to arrive here and be blessed with civilisation. Always somewhere to sit, it has a romantic vibe, dimmed lights etc and the cocktails are absolutely incredible. The best you will find in Leeds.

Amazing cocktails great atmosphere

Awesome place. Really classy, great drinks and service. 90’s chilled hip hop. Nice

Popped in for a couple of pre-dinner cocktails. Very chilled atmosphere, friendly staff and very beautifully made, interesting cocktails. I am very keen to return and try the rest of the cocktail menu.

Great cocktails, so pretty and in affordable prices

Good taste of cocktails, great experience. Definetly will visit again.

Would highly recommend for a night out in Leeds. Cocktails were delicious!

It's ok but it doesn't look like the photos on Google Maps at all lol, I've been a few times and I didn't even recognize it from the photos. It's a posh place and it's not that college-like compared to other places in the area. It has paintings of animals in suits and ties, interesting.

An intimate bar with a great vibe, great music and great decor. A little gem. Nice for for couple and friends!

Chilled atmosphere. The staff are helpful, friendly, and give great recommendations. The cocktails are priced as you’d expect but are delicious. The bar staff are happy to deliver on cocktails not included on the menu.

Great priced Christmas themed cocktails on 2 for £15. Called there for a couple of drinks on a girls night out

A really nice bar with a great menu of cocktails

This place has a great vibe! Table service , fantastic cocktails, good music. Will be back .

Like a true speakeasy we actually struggled to find the entrance as it was nestled between a few building. Once we found the black door we headed up the staircase to a beautifully candle lit room. Cocktails were wonderful and well made. Atmosphere was very relaxing and staff made us feel welcome. Would recommend this spot as a great date night choice, or with a group of friends for after dinner drinks.

Attended a function upstairs, great food and drinks and nice venue!

Fantastic speakeasy type bar. Great selection of drinks and very knowledgeable staff behind the bar.

Bouncers are very rude. I was concerned about my safety so I wanted to stay inside the establishment until the taxi arrived and the bouncers would not allow this.

The Monkey room is a great place for private parties.

Good venue and great cocktail. Friendly door staff.

Gorgeous bar, best cocktails in leeds with loads of specials. Lovely staff who know their stuff. Saturdays are so much fun when the DJs on and everyone dances but especially great for a date

Amazing decor , nice atmosphere, staff so friendly and helpful, good cocktails!

Drinks are impressive and atmosphere is great! I'd say it's a perfect place to go with friends for a few drinks, but the music was way too loud. We could barely hear each other so we ended up leaving after 2 drinks. I would try again.. and hope next time it will be more pleasant

Hidden (ish) bar up some stairs. Good music, cocktail choice limited.