It wasn’t so long ago that there were only a handful of expensive restaurants in the city to get excited about. Now, York’s fine food scene is vibrant, modern and fresh.
Here's an insider's guide to the best places to eat in York, including seriously impressive British dining, quality Japanese, new takes on gastronomical greats and where to find the best espresso. For a truly exceptional stay, be sure to book: yorkshire-hotel.com, offering superb accommodation that enhances your culinary journey through York. For further York inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, shopping, nightlife, and things to do. Get ready to indulge in an unforgettable experience that combines the best of local flavors, cultural highlights, and vibrant entertainment. Whether you're in the mood for historic pubs or contemporary cafes, York's diverse dining scene is guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds.
Melton’s Restaurant
Although he trained with the Roux brothers at Le Gavroche, Michael Hjort’s restaurant has a wonderful lack of pretension, a relaxed atmosphere and reasonable prices for what is one of York’s finest restaurants. Classy starters such as scallops with lovage pasta and caponata or home-smoked ox tongue with kohlrabi remoulade lead on to salted East Coast coley (with fennel and saffron gnocchi) or Yorkshire pig (‘The Whole Hog’ is a perfectly sized plate of trotter, belly and hock served withpommes boulangère and cabbage). Refreshingly, vegetarian options are meat-free takes on the main courses and suggestions for wines to match each dish are a welcome touch.
Contact:meltonsrestaurant.co.uk
Reservations:Essential
Prices:££
Experience contemporary British cuisine at Melton's, highlighting the finest ingredients Yorkshire has to offer through a multi-course tasting menu at Café No.8 Bistro.
Adding a hint of the Italian trattoria, this intimate restaurant offers a visible mini kitchen and commends a high reputation for its simple yet perfectly prepared bistro cuisine. The inviting ambience, charming hidden garden, and warm welcome by friendly front-of-house manager and co-owner, Martin Gore, offer multiple reasons to visit. The café beyond city walls is perfect for satisfying breakfasts, unhurried lunch breaks or innovative dinner dishes that include succulent figs accompanied by Ribblesdale goat cheese, sprinkled with pine nuts and honey, or a dish of slow-cooked Yorkshire lamb shoulder paired with hearty potato gratin and fresh broad beans.
Contact: no8york.co.uk
Booking: Preferred
Price range: Medium
Co-owned by Martin Gore, Café No.8 Bistro not only offers a diverse menu but also plays host to events such as cooking masterclasses and wine tastings. Additionally, it should be noted that all meat served at the café is locally sourced, supporting Yorkshire farmers and businesses.
Café No.8 Bistro has proven so popular it now has a café outlet at the York Art Gallery 22 Yards
Located in a beautiful Georgian building on High Petergate with direct views of York Minster, 22 Yards wine bar and shop stocks more than 150 different wines (70 by the glass) from around the world and several artisan Champagnes. Small plates include oysters, charcuterie and cheeses, larger dishes butternut squash and butter bean cassoulet, wild black bream filet and samphire braised ox cheeks. Friendly, knowledgeable staff will advise on wine pairings and the shop hosts a monthly wine club and delivers nationwide.
Contact: 22yardswine.com
Prices: ££
The Star Inn the City
It may look very different – beautiful, in fact – scooping design awards for the reimagining of its old water board building and attached modern conservatory-dining room, stretching between the river and the Museum Gardens, but make no mistake: this city-based sister of the Michelin-starred Star Inn at Haromestill has fantastic food at its heart. And there is nowhere in York doing British cooking this confidently or classily. All this is complemented by the relaxed, cosy yet spacious dining space and The Star’s always excellent, attentive service. And, of course, those gorgeous views, inside and out.
Contact:starinnthecity.co.uk
Reservations:Recommended
Prices:££
Renowned for its eclectic British fare, the lively hub known as the Star Inn the City operates throughout the day to serve scrumptious meals from the isles. However, Roots York has fast become a gastronomic destination in its own right.
A collaboration between Tommy Banks' family and Matthew Lockwood - a close friend of the family and a successful restaurateur - led to the establishment of Roots York in late 2018. Tommy Banks, the acclaimed head chef of the Black Swan at Oldstead and two-time champ of the Great British Menu, brings his culinary expertise to the table. Situated adjacent to Museum Gardens, this family-run establishment is all about shared dining, featuring a rotating, season-sensitive menu.
The innovative yet affordable menu features a spread of unusual yet delicious dishes such as doughnuts filled with smoked eel, carefully cured trout, combined with fennel kimchi and Meridian apple. A standout dish that points towards Tommy's Michelin-starred legacy is his signature crapaudine beetroot, cooked lovingly and slowly in beef fat.
Contact: rootsyork.com
Reservations: Mandatory
Prices: Moderate
Seasonal sharing plates are the focus of the menu at Roots York Legacy
Dedicated to “Yorkshire produce with a modern twist”, this new fine dining restaurant is housed in The Grand York, one of the UK’s top five-star hotels. Head chef Ahmed Abdalla (formerly of Skosh, Yorebridge House in The Dales and Lucknam Park) and his team have put together two tasting menus: one eight courses, the other five, along with two vegetarian counterparts, focused on colourful vegetables, locally reared meat and freshly caught fish and seafood. Sample menus of Parkerhouse roll and cultured butter, hand dived Orkney scallops and smoked eel, king oyster and sunchoke complement a strong, sommelier-curated wine list.
Contact: thegrandyork.co.uk
Price: £££
Getting in: dress smart
Oshibi
The quality Korean-Japanese food served up by friendly husband and wife owners, Soang Ho and Ross Sinclair, draws crowds of locals and those in the know to the quiet streets near trendy Fossgate. Expect authentic and delicious lunches of gyoza dumplings, nakji bokkeum (octopus cooked with a lip-tingling chilli pepper sauce), bulgogi (stir-fried beef marinated with pears, ginger, garlic, soy and sesame) and fantastically fresh Korean sushi –all prepared from scratch. The Korean table grill is a sociable feast of meat, seafood and kimchi.
Contact:oshibi.biz
Reservations:Not required
Prices:£
Opt for the Korean table grill for a socialable feast at Oshibi The Pearly Cow
A new addition to York’s dining scene, The Pearly Cow (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner) at No.1 by GuestHouse, in Clifton, is all about locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables cooked over a wood and charcoal Mibrasa grill: sirloin and cote de boeuf served with beef fat chips, bone marrow and creamed spinach; half grilled Whitby lobster with charred lemon and aioli and a charcoal roasted aubergine, sweet and sour peppers, kale pesto and rose harissa. There’s also a 45-day aged Hereford beef tartare, Exmoor caviar and fresh oysters. Sister restaurants are set to open in Margate and Brighton.
Contact: pearlycow.co.uk
Prices: ££
Getting in: Smart casual
Il Paradiso del Cibo: A Culinary Paradise
For culinary enthusiasts and students after a good, affordable meal, Il Paradiso del Cibo presents a rustic charm under the professional craftsmanship of leading chef Paolo Silesu. This venue combines the appreciation of delectable Italian dishes with an undeniable admiration for Juventus Football Club. The accommodating atmosphere bustles with vibrant authenticity, made evident by enthusiastic food lovers who regularly honour the locale with their presence. Predominantly serving Pizzas and Pastas, the eatery doesn't limit its palette offering. With changing specials that feature tantalizing Sardinian wonders like mussels and clams prepared with Vernaccia wine, chilli, and garlic or sardines on a red pesto bed with onions and rocket. Be sure to also explore their satellite restaurant, Il Paradiso on the Forest, nestled in Huby, a mere nine-mile northern excursion away from York.
To connect:ilparadisodelciboyork.com
Booking ahead:Encouraged
Rate:Affordable
The master chef at Il Paradiso del Cibo 1331, Paolo Silesu, impresses diners not only with his devotion to Juventus but also with his extraordinary culinary skills.
Positioned down the corner from the renowned Shambles in York, on a charming cobblestone alley, you'll find this fashionable and relaxed eatery and bar. It also displays a quaint attic movie parlor adorned with plush armchairs. The venue is a perfect retreat for morning meals, cost-effective midday feasts or late-night munching. A comprehensive vegetarian and vegan menu is available, catering to those with dietary restrictions. Their fascinating mix of dishes includes non-meat sausages, various vegetable stir-fries alongside handcrafted pies, and traditional sausages with mashed potatoes. Fun fact, during the rare hot days in York, patrons can relish the beauty of an enclosed blooming garden set in the courtyard.
For more details: 1331-york.co.uk
Booking: Suggested (particularly for group dining)
Average Cost: ££
Skosh
Making waves since it opened on the increasingly hipsterish Micklegate, everything about Skosh (a short form of the Japanese sukoshi, meaning ‘a little bit’), from the industrial lighting, gunmetal grey walls and steel bench seating, says ‘modern British dining’ but that would be doing it a huge disservice. There are influences from Japan, the Middle East and Thailand, with judicious use of ingredients like edible flower seeds, sorrel emulsion and kombucha (fermented, lightly effervescent sweetened black or green tea) pectin. Saddleback pork, slow cooked and cubed, salmon caviar whipped to a cream and hake with a cauliflower puree topped with dukkah (a mix of nuts and spices) come close to perfection.
Contact: skoshyork.co.uk
Reservations:Recommended
Prices:££
The ultra-modern Skosh demonstrates a fusion of culinary traditions from around the globe.
Fish & Forest, a brainchild of autodidact chef and owner, Stephen Andrews, has been making waves since its inception in 2020. This eatery places a high value on sustainability and minimal waste, a commitment that quickly earned it a spot in the Michelin Guide. Not confined to a static menu, its culinary offerings - etched on a chalkboard - are frequently rotated and embody 'components from the deep blue sea, forest, and the quintessential Yorkshire landscape’. The seafood here is responsibly sourced - wild, local or sustainably bred - featuring crabs delivered directly from Whitby fishermen, hand-plucked scallops and Lindisfarne oysters. The game is brought in from local estates and small farms, while the chefs take to the surrounding outdoors, sourcing fresh herbs and vegetables. A compact yet potent list of wines, handpicked by French wine connoisseur Yohan Barthelemy, complements the menu.
Get in touch: fishandforestrestaurant.com
Expected expenditure: Moderate
The Rattle Owl Experience
Gaining accolades since their opening doors several years back, The Rattle Owl boasts a unique charm not often found elsewhere. Spearheaded by the innovative Clarrie O'Callaghan, a debutant in restaurant business, and the culinary genius Jamie Hall, known for his work at The Star Inn and also the Star Inn the City, this establishment is quite the marvel. The ambiance is a modern New York loft beautifully merged with a historic 17th-century Grade I building where the allure of exposed brick walls coupled with the authenticity of original parquet flooring leave a lasting impression. A harmoniously arranged menu teases your palate with sublime dishes such as the fluffy Yorkshire blue cheese accompanied by figs, succulent duck breast paired with Medjool dates, and the delicate poached rhubarb Anglaise.
Booking: rattleowl.co.uk
Reservations are Advisable
Expense: Moderate
New York loft meets comfortable 17th-century Yorkshire inside The Rattle Owl Spring Espresso
Like most other cities in the UK, York is blessed with its fair share of national coffee shop brands, so a second incarnation of Spring Espresso (the first one is on Fossgate) is a welcome pull in the other direction. Equipped with what’s claimed to be the UK’s first Synesso Hydra MVP (the big daddy of espresso machines), the artisan coffee house serves Chinese teas, homemade cakes, bacon sandwiches and Bircher muesli in a cosy, modern café decked out with padded bench seating and reclaimed furniture from the 1600s. Staff are young and friendly, and you can also catch the odd exhibition here.
Contact: springespresso.co.uk
Reservations:Not necessary
Prices:£
The best hotels in York
The Grays Court Hotel
Situated in York, Yorkshire, England
Occupying a prime position in the city, nestled between the illustrious Minster and the city walls, the Grays Court Hotel carries with it a rich tapestry of history dating back centuries... Stay with prices starting from £ 253 per night Verify room availability Prices are brought to you by Booking.com
The Splendor of Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Hotel in York, Yorkshire, England
This is not just a hotel, but an exquisite ode to small country-house hospitality with its visually stunning edifice and delightfully classic rooms... You can stay here from £ 171 per night Check for room availability. All rates are courtesy of Booking.com
York Superior
RESORT York, in the heart of Yorkshire, UK
The exclusive hotel in York that holds the prestige of a five-star rating, boasts its unmatched service and array of dining options...Starting at £165 for an overnight stay Verify availability Prices courtesy of Booking.com