The Swine Bistro is a bistro in Headingley, Leeds. Rated 4.8 stars from 522 Google reviews. Known for wine list and lunch set menus. Best for lunch with a set menu and birthday celebrations. Price range: ££.
The Swine Bistro is rated 4.8★ on Google (522 reviews) and 4.9★ on TripAdvisor (352 reviews) — a consistent rating across both platforms.
Rankings updated
The Swine Bistro
Across 498 rated reviews, 94% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.8★ |
| Reviews | 522 |
| 1-star share | 2.0% |
| Best for | Lunch |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“The cosy atmosphere and service were the icing on the cake.”
“For the main course, my partner ordered the bavette steak and mushrooms.”
“Really tasty small menu, had salt cod and duck.”
Consistently rated across Google and TripAdvisor
874 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
Precise, generous cooking on a small menu, wine list that matters, and service that remembers you—a Leeds gem that moved to better premises and lost none of its warmth.
You want seasonal bistro cooking at lunch prices and wine that rewards attention.
About The Swine Bistro
Lunch at The Swine Bistro pulls people in from Manchester and keeps Headingley locals coming back six days later for a second sitting — that kind of loyalty is earned. The kitchen works a short, seasonal menu with a nose-to-tail ethos, and nothing feels wasted: the ox tongue, the devilled eggs, the bavette and the custard tart are the dishes reviewers keep returning to, though the Thursday special menu and the rotating lunch set are reasons enough to plan ahead. The duck broth — mushroom-laden and properly deep — has been turning heads lately, and the belly pork draws the same attention. Staff like Joe and Freya are mentioned by name, which says something. The wine list has eleven mentions in recent reviews, and the Bloody Mary has drawn at least one regular across the Pennines more than once. Quaint and unhurried, with candlelit tables that suit a birthday as well as a Tuesday.
The Swine Bistro is the neighbourhood spot done right — unhurried, unpretentious, with a wine list that gives it an edge over most of its category.
In the last 90 days, The Swine Bistro has drawn 12 substantial written reviews (50+ characters of genuine feedback) — recent momentum that is one of the signals behind its place on the hot list.
What Stands Out
Wine list
Wine list surfaces in 11 recent review mentions, described as thoughtfully curated with enough depth to reward attention.
Lunch set menus
Multiple recent reviews praise the lunch and Thursday special menus as offering exceptional value—one reviewer called it 'unbelievably accessible, given the quality of the cooking.'
Precise, generous cooking
Recent reviews name pork belly 'beautifully cooked and full of flavour', picanha 'juicy, really well seasoned', and chicken that 'fell off the bone'—portions large enough that dessert rarely fits.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
Frequently Asked Questions about The Swine Bistro
The Swine Bistro in Headingley, Leeds is popular for solo dining, with a casual atmosphere and attentive service that makes a single diner feel welcome. The lunch set menu offers excellent value and is designed to be enjoyed without ceremony or pressure.
The Swine Bistro's menu changes seasonally, but regulars return for the pork belly, picanha with tomato butter and crispy frites, ox tongue, bavette steak with mushrooms, and salt cod. The Thursday special menu and lunch set are particularly strong value.
The Swine Bistro's wine list is thoughtfully curated with enough depth to reward attention, and it surfaces in more recent reviews than any other element of the offering. The non-alcoholic drinks—coffee, tea, and cocktails—are notably varied as well.
The Swine Bistro in Headingley has a private dining room for group celebrations and candlelit tables that work equally well for milestone dinners. Recent reviews describe it as polished enough for special occasions while remaining warm and welcoming.
The Swine Bistro's staff are described in recent reviews as attentive, friendly, and happy to answer questions about the menu. Service is warm and remembers regulars, without pretension or fuss.
The Swine Bistro in Headingley is marked as LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safespace, with a visible commitment to inclusive spaces and particular warmth extended to LGBTQ+ guests.
Also in Headingley
View allSee the full Headingley ranking
How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
Hot Score: 53/100 · ranked October 2026
The written profile on this page is generated from real Google reviews and reviewed monthly. Quotes are verbatim and belong to the people who wrote them — not to us.
How our monthly rankings workOwn or run this place?
booteek is the AI agent for independent restaurant and bar owners. It helps AI assistants like ChatGPT recommend your venue. It does not change this list: a place on the Hot List cannot be bought.
See how booteek works