My wife and I ate at Sandinista midweek just recently. To say its January, the place was pretty busy and with the ambient lighting from candles in old rum bottles, excellent background music and the buzz of other customers combined to make it very atmospheric.
I opted for sizzling fajitas whilst my wife had a selection of 3 tapas dishes. Both were quite excellent and couldn't be faulted! The service was friendly and relaxed - none of your drilled in, auto pilot 3 minute check back nonsense. Just genuinely natural and welcoming. And as a bonus just as we finished up a really good guitarist started which persuaded us to stay on a for a mojito or two despite it being a school night!
Highly recommended!!
Lisa
Had a great meal at Sandinista on a Thursday evening a couple of weeks ago. The food was excellent - we ordered a selection of 6 tapas dishes to share based on 3 per person and I couldn't fault any of it. In particular the meatballs and pork belly stood out. This is the best tapas I've had in Leeds. Its not 100% authentic Spanish tapas but its not meant to be. It was very tasty, great value for what we had and was miles better than what you would expect somewhere like La Tasca. The atmosphere was really cosy and our waiter (don't remember his name) made us feel really welcome and was helpful without ever being over fussy. Oh and I should mention that we both finished up with a dessert cocktail which rounded things off perfectly. If you have yet to eat here make it a priority. We'll certainly be back soon!
Johno
This is the one - best bar in Leeds (Yorkshire?!) by far! I love the northern quarter in Leeds but Sandinista is the pick of the bunch. The atmosphere is always wicked at the weekends - never fails to go off. Wicked tunes played to a really up for it, unpretentious crowd. Cocktails are top notch as well. Definitely one to check out.
Sandinista
Amazing bar that? worth the long walk. It has a relaxed vibe and cool staff and punters, just avoid the Jagermeister if you want to leave with any dignity
Sandinista
Tucked away on a side street near the infamous Mojo, Sandinista is definitely in the top two of my favourite venues in Leeds (the other being the aforementioned Mojo). The Central American inspired bar offers a relaxed atmosphere in which to sample the extensive menu of home cooked food (best described as a fusion of traditional English and Latin inspired dishes) or enjoy the impressive drinks list. With a distinctly revolutionary feel Sandinista is a unique concept in a city that is being over-run with corporate chain bars/restaurants and the fact that they don't conform to this benchmark is what makes the place so loveable. Famed for its Sunday Recovery Kit (board games, Sunday papers, Bloody Marys and a Sunday menu to die for - from Eggs Florentine to Sunday roast) Sandinista? bartenders are among the friendliest I have come across. Also a great pioneer for local talent, Sandinista regularly play host to up and coming bands and DJs and have an impressive music collection featuring the most influential of sounds from the history of music. Definitely worth a visit!