10 hidden gems to discover in Sheffield this summer

Despite being an award-winning cocktail and small plates bar, you could easily miss Public due to its location. Positioned slap bang in the city centre, it is located underground in a converted public toilet. Alongside the exceptional cocktails and innovative food in this cosy yet pristinely designed space, you’ll find a vinyl library and turntable on the end of the bar, constantly spinning a variety of interesting tunes.

Not just apt for inclusion here based on name alone but the Hidden Gem Café really is tucked away somewhere unexpected, in the quiet residential suburb of Bents Green. Here you’ll find some of the best breakfast and brunch items being plated up and it’s also worth keeping an eye out for when they do their bistro evenings. Hyper-local produce is a big focus here, so you can always expect fresh flavours.

A not-for-profit social enterprise scheme that runs a pay-what-you-feel/can café (made with surplus donated food that would usually be thrown away) and also puts on lots of events, talks, gigs and community happenings. Run by the community for the community. 

Delicious local ice cream made on a working farm where you can drive up towards the Peak District, enjoy one of their ice creams outside, take in beautiful sweeping views and hang out with the cows that produce the very milk you taste. There are numerous deluxe flavours that are also only available from the farm shop, should you want to try the likes of cherry brandy, banoffee pie, Turkish delight or liquorice. There are also plenty of lovely walks close by, including Damflask reservoir.

An independent record store tucked away in a somewhat hidden unit of shops slap bang in the city centre off Devonshire Street. It’s excellently stocked – with both new and second-hand - and it’s also a place where lots of bands do in-store gigs and record signings. 

A DIY music venue located in an old shop unit from the now non-existent Castle Market. You’ll find local talent playing alongside international touring bands. It’s relaxed and friendly with a focus on safe space behaviour and for some events it’s even bring your own booze. It also has a recording studio upstairs and Delicious Clam is also a record label putting out local bands.

An amazing natural wine bar, deli and small plates eatery nestled away in a more quiet residential part of the city in Nether Edge. The wines are expertly picked from wineries all across Europe and they have a constantly changing menu, meaning there are always new ones to try. The daily sourdough loaves that are baked in house are also some of the tastiest in the city.

An amazing specialist book and magazine shop where you can pick up the rarest, most unusual and unique publications in circulation today. Also, helpfully, it's located in Kommune, a food hall in an old converted Co-op building, so you can grab a huge variety of food from across the globe while you are there flicking through that niche independent mag on coffee or cycling you just picked up.

A very tucked away and very small garden that has been created within a derelict flagstone quarry. It's almost always deserted and is a place to soak up some real tranquillity. It’s a little out of the city centre but It’s located right next to some brilliant walks, and Whirlowbrook Hall, so it is a great place to begin and end a walk that can take you out into the Peak District. The Norfolk Arms is a good pit stop for some lunch too. 

Around about a 30-minute drive from Sheffield. This is a great day out for kids and adults alike, and is packed with lots of water based activities, such as: canoeing, fishing, a nature reserve, water-skiing, jet skiing, model boating, sailing, paddle boarding, mountain biking, an aqua park and windsurfing.