Where to eat in York
York eats better than its tourist streets suggest. Traditional Yorkshire cooking is done well in pubs and tea rooms, and a small group of modern restaurants has made the city a serious place for dinner. Book the top tables a week or two ahead, and eat your Sunday roast somewhere you have booked.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The streets around Micklegate and Fossgate for independents, and the center for the traditional places.
- Order this
- Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips, and afternoon tea.
- When to eat
- Lunch from noon, dinner from 6pm to 8pm. Many kitchens close by 9pm.
- Book or walk in
- Book for dinner and for Bettys afternoon tea, especially at weekends.
- Tipping
- Leave about 10 per cent if service is not included.
What to eat in York
- Yorkshire pudding and Sunday roastA crisp batter pudding served with roast beef, gravy and vegetables. Pubs serve a roast on Sundays, and some serve it all week.
- Fish and chipsBattered cod or haddock with thick chips, eaten with mushy peas and bread and butter.
- Afternoon teaSandwiches, scones and cakes with a pot of tea, served at Bettys and at tea rooms and hotels across the city.
- Fat RascalA large fruit scone with a smiling face of cherries and almonds, a Bettys speciality.
- Yorkshire curd tartA baked pastry case with a lightly spiced curd filling and currants, found in bakeries and tea rooms.
- Wensleydale cheeseA crumbly white cheese from the Dales, often eaten with fruit cake or apple pie.
- Modern Yorkshire cookingSeasonal British menus using local meat, game and vegetables, in a few dining rooms and tasting-menu restaurants.
Where to eat in York, by neighborhood
The old center
Pubs, tea rooms and a few good restaurants around the Minster, St Helen's Square and Stonegate. Prices and quality vary, so book rather than wander.
Micklegate and Fossgate
Independent restaurants, small bars and cafés, mostly aimed at locals. Quieter and often better value than the tourist lanes.
Bootham, Marygate and the river
Gastropubs and quieter restaurants on the edge of the old city, a short walk from the Minster and the Museum Gardens.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
£££Tea room · St Helen's Square
Orderafternoon tea, or a Fat Rascal with a pot of tea
A York institution with a pianist and a well-known afternoon tea in the Belmont Room.
- Book
- Book afternoon tea ahead, or join the queue for a table in the main room.
Confirmed open: bettys.co.uk
-
Skosh
££Small-plates restaurant · Micklegate
Orderthe sharing plates, with the dishes of the day
A small restaurant with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, cooking modern British food with Asian influences.
- Book
- Book several days ahead for dinner.
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
Roots
££££Restaurant · Marygate
Orderthe tasting menu
The city's only Michelin-starred restaurant, with a modern menu built around Yorkshire produce.
- Book
- Book a few weeks ahead for dinner.
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
The Star Inn The City
££Restaurant · Museum Gardens
Orderthe seasonal Yorkshire menu
A riverside restaurant by the Museum Gardens serving modern British cooking.
- Book
- Book for dinner and for weekend lunch.
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
Arras
£££Restaurant · Peasholme Green
Orderthe seasonal modern European menu
A modern restaurant in a converted coach house near the walls, listed by the Michelin Guide.
- Book
- Book for dinner at weekends.
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
Food markets in York
- Shambles MarketA covered market with more than 75 stalls and a seated food court, good for a cheap lunch and local produce. Also called Newgate Market.Open daily, 9am to 5pm (to 4pm in winter), closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's DaySource: makeityork.com
How York eats
- Meal timesLunch from noon and dinner from 6pm. Kitchens in pubs and restaurants often close by 9pm.
- TippingLeave about 10 per cent if service is not included. Check the bill for a discretionary service charge.
- ReservationsBook for dinner at weekends, for Sunday roasts, and for any Michelin-listed place.
- PubsOrder and pay at the bar. Many serve good food, and a roast is often only on Sundays.
- Sunday roastServed from about noon until the meat runs out. Book, or go early.
Signs of a place to walk past
A restaurant on the Shambles with a fixed price menu and a tout outside.
A menu with photographs of every dish.
A 'traditional Yorkshire' pub where the pudding comes from a freezer bag.
Eating in York: questions people ask
What food is York known for?
Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, fish and chips, afternoon tea, and Bettys' Fat Rascal. The city also has a growing set of modern restaurants.
Where is the best place to eat in York?
For a traditional treat, Bettys. For modern cooking, Skosh and Roots, and for a riverside dinner, The Star Inn The City.
Do I need to book restaurants in York?
For dinner, yes, especially on Fridays and Saturdays and in December. Bettys afternoon tea is best booked ahead.
Is Bettys worth the queue?
For the setting and the afternoon tea, yes if you book. If you simply want tea and cake, queueing for a table downstairs can take a while at weekends.
Can I eat cheaply in York?
Yes. Shambles Market has a food court, many pubs serve decent lunches, and independents on Micklegate and Fossgate are good value.
What is a Yorkshire pudding?
A crisp, risen batter pudding baked in a hot tin and served with roast beef and gravy. Some pubs serve a large one as a starter or as a main course.