House of Koko grows from Chapel Allerton favourite to city centre café

Ask anyone in Chapel Allerton where to go for brunch and House of Koko is likely to be near the top of the list. The neighbourhood café has been a local favourite for a decade, and its warm, Lebanese-inspired hospitality has now found a home in the city centre too.

House of Koko was founded by Rosita Rogers in Chapel Allerton in 2015. She drew inspiration from her Lebanese heritage, creating a café where generous food and a welcoming atmosphere come as standard.

The café built a loyal following in the busy north Leeds suburb, known for its independent shops, bars and restaurants. Its popularity eventually made a second site possible, and seven years after the original opened, House of Koko arrived in Oakwood, close to Roundhay Park.

In November 2025 the business took another step, opening a third café on Central Road in Leeds city centre. The new site revives the former home of Mrs Atha's, a much-loved coffee shop that closed in April 2025, so it was a welcome sight for many regulars to see the space come back to life.

The city centre café seats 28 people inside, with plans for outdoor seating to almost double capacity during the summer months. It brings the House of Koko brunch menu to a whole new audience of shoppers, office workers and visitors.

Central Road is one of the city centre's characterful side streets, and House of Koko's arrival there adds to a growing cluster of independent places to eat and drink tucked away from the busier main shopping streets.

It is a heartening story of a neighbourhood business expanding at its own pace, keeping hold of the qualities that made it popular in the first place. A decade on, the original Chapel Allerton café remains the heart of the brand.

For those who have yet to try it, House of Koko now offers three ways in: the original café in Chapel Allerton, the Oakwood site near Roundhay, and the newest address on Central Road in the city centre. Each is well suited to a relaxed weekend brunch, and the café's social media channels are the best place for the latest news.