York - a food and wine lover's guide
Some ideas for breakfast or brunch
York has loads of really great independently owned places for a coffee, cakes, pastries and all types of breakfasts. We've listed a few places here that we go to regularly. Some are 3 minutes walk away. None more than 10 minutes on foot.
We often dash to Partisan for some fabulous croissants or sourdough. When friends are in town, we book a table and savour their Persian Eggs or Eggs in Purgatory. Delicious!
41 locals recommend
Partisan
112 MicklegateWe often dash to Partisan for some fabulous croissants or sourdough. When friends are in town, we book a table and savour their Persian Eggs or Eggs in Purgatory. Delicious!
Kiosk is tiny with a few seats outside. It serves fabulous coffee, great croissants and delicious sandwiches. The young guys who run it are really friendly and coffee experts.
8 locals recommend
Kiosk: Project Space
41 FossgateKiosk is tiny with a few seats outside. It serves fabulous coffee, great croissants and delicious sandwiches. The young guys who run it are really friendly and coffee experts.
Spring serves great coffee and delicious breakfasts and is on both Fossgate and Lendal.
20 locals recommend
Spring Espresso
45 FossgateSpring serves great coffee and delicious breakfasts and is on both Fossgate and Lendal.
Great brunch sandwiches - tasty and very filling. Delicious portuguese custard tarts and churros. A few minutes walk away.
teajuanas cocina
91 MicklegateGreat brunch sandwiches - tasty and very filling. Delicious portuguese custard tarts and churros. A few minutes walk away.
Trinacria
27 Bishopthorpe RdGreat place for brunch, lunch, dinner or home made gelato.
Food scene
This is really top end cooking. Great for a special occasion or if you just want to treat yourself. Arras has a great garden at the rear that adjoins the city walls
Arras
This is really top end cooking. Great for a special occasion or if you just want to treat yourself. Arras has a great garden at the rear that adjoins the city walls
Cafe No 8 has been serving great food for reasonable prices for over 20 years. Excellent spot if you are going to the theatre.
37 locals recommend
Cafe No.8 Bistro
8 GillygateCafe No 8 has been serving great food for reasonable prices for over 20 years. Excellent spot if you are going to the theatre.
Skosh
98 MicklegateSkosh is 3 minutes away from us. Creative cuisine that foodies will love.
This is great food and reasonably priced. When the weather is good in summer, try to get a table in the garden at the back.
19 locals recommend
Los Moros
15-17 Grape LnThis is great food and reasonably priced. When the weather is good in summer, try to get a table in the garden at the back.
Relaxed Turkish restaurant with good food and fabulous freshly baked lavash (Turkish flatbread). Good value.
Yakamoz
55 GoodramgateRelaxed Turkish restaurant with good food and fabulous freshly baked lavash (Turkish flatbread). Good value.
Fish and Forest has not been open long but its very popular for good reason - the chef is genius! The menu is mainly fish with usually one game dish.
8 locals recommend
Fish and Forest
110 MicklegateFish and Forest has not been open long but its very popular for good reason - the chef is genius! The menu is mainly fish with usually one game dish.
We love getting a hot chocolate here on a cold winter's day - you can choose from different chocolate types. The chocolate is amazing too!
13 locals recommend
York Cocoa House
10 CastlegateWe love getting a hot chocolate here on a cold winter's day - you can choose from different chocolate types. The chocolate is amazing too!
The beautiful gardens back onto the city walls - the best place in York for an elegant apertif in summer. The Bow Room restaurant is also excellent. A real treat!
15 locals recommend
Grays Court Hotel and The Bow Room Restaurant
Chapter House StreetThe beautiful gardens back onto the city walls - the best place in York for an elegant apertif in summer. The Bow Room restaurant is also excellent. A real treat!
Meltons has been serving delicious food for over 20 years. This is elegant fine-dining. It is one of our favourites! The wine list is fantastic and Lucy, the owner, is very helpful. It is round the corner from us.
26 locals recommend
Melton's Restaurant
7 Scarcroft RdMeltons has been serving delicious food for over 20 years. This is elegant fine-dining. It is one of our favourites! The wine list is fantastic and Lucy, the owner, is very helpful. It is round the corner from us.
Come here to discover York's thriving food market. Great cheese from Harveys, fish, meats and the delicious Bluebird Bakery. There is also a food court with indie takeaway food.
33 locals recommend
Shambles Market
5 Silver StCome here to discover York's thriving food market. Great cheese from Harveys, fish, meats and the delicious Bluebird Bakery. There is also a food court with indie takeaway food.
Informal bistro/bar/restaurant. High quality food, good wines and reasonable prices. Quirky setting in an old rope makers with original features.
9 locals recommend
Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House
25 WalmgateInformal bistro/bar/restaurant. High quality food, good wines and reasonable prices. Quirky setting in an old rope makers with original features.
Bars and Bistros
Nice place to get a beer, a wine and something to eat. Casual. Opens Sunday evenings and often has live music.
30 locals recommend
The Angel On The Green
2 Bishopthorpe RdNice place to get a beer, a wine and something to eat. Casual. Opens Sunday evenings and often has live music.
This is a great place for an aperitif or two with friends but is also a wine shop. Fabulous wine and nibbles. The owners, Cyriaque and Benjy, are super helpful and knowledgeable.
6 locals recommend
2 many Wines - Wine shop & Bar
3 Bishopthorpe RdThis is a great place for an aperitif or two with friends but is also a wine shop. Fabulous wine and nibbles. The owners, Cyriaque and Benjy, are super helpful and knowledgeable.
Recommend getting a wine flight with pairings of food. The dessert flight and pairing is fabulous.
26 locals recommend
Pairings Wine Bar
28 CastlegateRecommend getting a wine flight with pairings of food. The dessert flight and pairing is fabulous.
Howl
7 CastlegateHowl focusses on natural wine and serves interesting wines with chaucuterie and cheese.
Sightseeing
The city is dominated by this amazing building. Make sure your go down in the crypt to understand over 1000 years of York's history.
209 locals recommend
York Minster
DeangateThe city is dominated by this amazing building. Make sure your go down in the crypt to understand over 1000 years of York's history.
This is a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse. Not big but fascinating then go to York Cocoa Works on the same street for a great hot chocolate.
11 locals recommend
Fairfax House
CastlegateThis is a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse. Not big but fascinating then go to York Cocoa Works on the same street for a great hot chocolate.
You can climb on the walls opposite the apartment. It really is the best way to start your visit by walking round them. The best part is between Bootham and Goodramgate.
44 locals recommend
York City Walls on Roman Fortress
You can climb on the walls opposite the apartment. It really is the best way to start your visit by walking round them. The best part is between Bootham and Goodramgate.
A great local art gallery with an outstanding ceramics collection.
118 locals recommend
York Art Gallery
Exhibition SquareA great local art gallery with an outstanding ceramics collection.
Beautiful park in the city centre if you need a break. Also explore the ruins of St Mary's Abbey and look out for relics of Roman York.
127 locals recommend
Museum Gardens
Museum StreetBeautiful park in the city centre if you need a break. Also explore the ruins of St Mary's Abbey and look out for relics of Roman York.
Please check out our lovely local theatre! It has a nice cafe and bar too on which can be a refuge on a busy day even if you are not going to the theatre.
27 locals recommend
York Theatre Royal
Saint Leonard's PlacePlease check out our lovely local theatre! It has a nice cafe and bar too on which can be a refuge on a busy day even if you are not going to the theatre.
Really interesting insight into what life was like in Viking Britain. Not your normal museum of glass cases and exhibits but a train ride through history.
181 locals recommend
Jorvik Viking Centre
19 CoppergateReally interesting insight into what life was like in Viking Britain. Not your normal museum of glass cases and exhibits but a train ride through history.
Castle Howard is about 40 minute drive from York but definitely worth a visit. The house is interesting, the gardens are beautiful. Great hikes around the area.
220 locals recommend
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is about 40 minute drive from York but definitely worth a visit. The house is interesting, the gardens are beautiful. Great hikes around the area.
An enormous shed full of all sorts of trains - weirdly interesting.
153 locals recommend
National Railway Museum
Leeman RoadAn enormous shed full of all sorts of trains - weirdly interesting.
Yorkshire Museum
Great local museum - check website for current exhibitions.
The castle museum is 5 minutes walk away and explores York's history over the past 400 or so years.
126 locals recommend
York Castle Museum
Tower StreetThe castle museum is 5 minutes walk away and explores York's history over the past 400 or so years.
This 13th century stone tower has an amazing history. It is undergoing extensive renovation works. It should open in April 2022 with a spectacular viewing platform.
67 locals recommend
Clifford's Tower
Tower StThis 13th century stone tower has an amazing history. It is undergoing extensive renovation works. It should open in April 2022 with a spectacular viewing platform.
York was a chocolate town. This is the family home of the Terry's across the race course from the old Terry's factory. Not in the centre but you can walk out here along the river.
7 locals recommend
Goddards
27 Tadcaster RdYork was a chocolate town. This is the family home of the Terry's across the race course from the old Terry's factory. Not in the centre but you can walk out here along the river.
Interesting Georgian hall with a great collection of portraits as well as lovely gardens. It's ten miles from York and can be cycled along the river and lanes - lovely in summer.
38 locals recommend
National Trust Beningbrough Hall
Interesting Georgian hall with a great collection of portraits as well as lovely gardens. It's ten miles from York and can be cycled along the river and lanes - lovely in summer.
Neighbourhoods
This is our local shopping street and has been rated as one of the best high streets in Britain. Lots of cafes and local shops - deli, butchers, veg shops, wine shop, hardware as well as Sainsbury Local. The best place to go to get a feel for York
15 locals recommend
Bishopthorpe Road
Bishopthorpe RoadThis is our local shopping street and has been rated as one of the best high streets in Britain. Lots of cafes and local shops - deli, butchers, veg shops, wine shop, hardware as well as Sainsbury Local. The best place to go to get a feel for York
Traveler advice
Getting around
Best seen on foot.
York is a medieval city and much of the centre is traffic free or traffic limited. It is great city for walking whether in the centre, on the city walls or along the river paths.
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes and a waterproof jacket
This is Northern England - bring a waterproof jacket! Weather can be changeable, even in summer, so be prepared!