Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in York
Hardens guides have spent 31 years compiling reviews of the best York restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 31 restaurants in York and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing York restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured York Restaurants
1. Miller's Fish & Chips
Fish & chips restaurant in Haxby
55 The Village - YO32
Now in its ninth decade, Nick & David Miller’s veteran chippy outside York remains on tip-top form, winning consistent high ratings for its excellent fish ’n’ chips and top service.
2. Fish and Forest
Fish & seafood restaurant in York
110 Micklegate - YO1
We began Fish&Forest to provide York with a forwa...
3. 31 Castlegate Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in York
31 Castlegate - YO1
2021 Review: A “consistently good” indie that has been open since 2005 and occupies the former house of Georgian architect G.T. Andrews, in the shadow of the Clifford’s Tower; its continental cuisine continues to elicit solid ratings, and “their 2-for-1 special offers (once they have your email address) are superb value”.
4. The Bow Room Restaurant
British, Modern restaurant in York
Grays Court Hotel, Chapter House Street - YO1
A “beautiful setting” – York’s oldest inhabited house, host to knights and politicos in its day, and boasting a medieval walled garden – adds to the drama at this graceful 12-room hotel. In summer 2021, award-winning chef Adam Jackson (who helped Yorkshire pub The Black Swan to a star before launching his own venture) took over the head chef role, and early visitors were “blown away” by his “exquisite” and “creative” seasonal food, including six-course tasting menus. “An eating experience that creates memories.”
5. The Alice Hawthorn
British, Modern restaurant in Nun Monkton
The Green - YO26
“The village setting only adds to the charm”, say fans of this 18th-century pub – nowadays owned by Richard Harpin (the millionaire co-founder of HomeServe plumbing) and run by Claire Topham and chef husband John, formerly at The Angel at Hetton. In late 2021 it was crowned by The Times as one of their top 100 hotels in the country. On the food front, our reporters give it very high ratings and say it’s “good value” too.
6. Skosh
British, Modern restaurant in York
98 Micklegate - YO1
“Next level!” – Neil Bentinck’s funky, small city-centre dining room continues to be one of the highest-performing and most commented-on destinations in this very foodie town. The menu revolves around “eclectic small plates alongside a small but excellently curated wine list” and the cuisine is “brilliantly conceived and superbly executed”.
7. Five Guys
Burgers, etc restaurant in York
47 Low Petergate - YO1
2021 Review: “When all you want is an old-school burger”, these US-based arrivals of recent years really “hit the spot” – you can “build your own”, with “tons of accessories”; plus “seriously addictive fries”, “thick milkshakes”, and “more soda flavours than is reasonable”. “The eat-in experience is as depressing as McDonald’s”, though, in fact perhaps more so – “some branches have a strangely gloomy ambience” – but fans feel that “if you don’t mind 1980s-rock, a trip can still be surprisingly fun”.
8. Mannion & Co
British, Modern restaurant in York
1 Blake St - YO1
“Exceptional breakfasts” and “wonderful coffee and cake” are the big draws at this deli/café with a restored Tudor frontage, which the Mannion family originally opened as a grocer’s more than 30 years ago. It’s also a “perfect spot for brunch, with a courtyard outside – the food is of a very high standard and the specials board changes weekly”. There’s now a spin-off in Helmsley.
9. Los Moros
North African restaurant in York
15-17 Grape Lane - YO1
“Hidden gems in York”: Tarik Abdekadim’s Shambles market stall (est. 2015) and Grape Lane restaurant (est. 2018) serve his “incredible” North African dishes, featuring the best local produce alongside pickles, preserved lemons, merguez sausages and falafel, all made on site. “Wonderful staff and a fabulous wine list” ensure that “this is an excellent place to enjoy eating again”. Top Tip: “the ZFC is stunning” (Zaatar Fried Chicken, served with preserved lemon mayonnaise).
10. Bettys
British, Modern restaurant in York
6-8 St Helen’s Square - Y01
“Like being on the Titanic without the iceberg!” – with its “piano music and wood panelling taking you back to a bygone age”, its “super service and such attention to detail”, (not to mention its “perfect cakes”) – this iconic tearoom sails serenely on. The same couldn’t be said, though, for its nearby Little Betty’s offshoot, whose closure was announced in Spring 2021.
11. Cafe No. 8 Bistro
Sandwiches, cakes, etc restaurant in York
8 Gillygate - YO31
2021 Review: “Never had a bad meal”, say fans of this “favourite” tiny bistro, off the Gillygate, serving “excellent ingredients prepared with some imagination”. It can feel “rather cramped inside”, though. Top Tip: “go for the garden room in summer, under the medieval city wall”.
12. The Ivy St Helen's Square
British, Modern restaurant in York
2 Saint Helen’s Square - YO1
The York branch of Richard Caring’s glossy Ivy chain generates most enthusiasm for its attractive interior, which makes it a pleasant spot to while away an hour or two – including over afternoon tea – especially if you can nab a table by the full-length windows (difficult to guarantee, since tables are allocated on arrival).
13. Star Inn the City
British, Modern restaurant in York
Lendal Engine House, Museum Street - YO1
A “lovely”, “bright and airy venue on the River Ouse” plays host to this city spin-off from Andrew Pern’s well-known Star Inn at Harome, 25 miles to the north. It would surely rate higher were it not for a feeling in some quarters that it offers “nice” or “distinctly average” bistro food “at fine-dining prices”.
14. The Whippet Inn
Steaks & grills restaurant in York
15 North St - YO1
This exposed-brick steak and ale house – they have a 14s-and-over-only policy, so leave the kids at home – turns out a “good value and interesting menu” where Yorkshire meat is the star. Top Tip – ‘Let’s Get Roasted’ Sunday lunches, running until stocks dwindle, around 4pm.
15. Roots
British, Modern restaurant in York
68 Marygate - YO30
“A go-to-restaurant in York!” – Tommy Banks continues to inspire delight at this converted pub in the centre, which is one of our most commented-on destinations in this ever-more foodie city. Central to its appeal is a menu that fans “love, love, love as it’s so creative and sophisticated”, using ingredients grown on the Banks family’s 20-acre farm. There’s only one caveat, and that’s increasing concern over creeping prices: “not sure the Tommy Banks hype is improving things at his two restaurants, and value for money is certainly reducing”. The team is not standing still, though: in November 2021 Will Lockwood transferred from being head chef at The Black Swan to run the kitchen here.
16. Ambiente
Spanish restaurant in York
31 Fossgate - YO1
2021 Review: A “lovely, good-value Spanish restaurant” whose modern, industrial style interior has a “buzzy, relaxed and friendly atmosphere”. This is the larger of two branches in York serving tapas and paella (there are offshoots in Leeds and Hull): “I love it and have never had a bad meal there”.
17. Mumbai Lounge
Indian restaurant in York
47 Fossgate - YO1
2021 Review: “Beautiful Indian food” from a “varied menu with a touch of the exotic” and some really “great flavours” has earned this eleven-year-old Bengali a position as one of the town's top curry stops.
18. Arras
British, Modern restaurant in York
The Old Coach House, Peasholme Green - YO1
“Really worth a visit” – Adam & Lovaine Humphrey’s intimate, contemporary outfit (fewer than 20 seats) “doesn't disappoint”, whether you opt for the two- or three-course set lunch and dinner or the more elaborate five-course ‘Kitchen Menu’ blending market-led dishes and Arras staples. “Try to fit in the wonderful cheese course and petits fours too!”
19. Pairings
British, Modern restaurant in York
28 Castlegate - YO1
2019 Review: A “great little wine bar with exceptional wines, personal service and tasty nibbles” – this three-year-old venture offers simple food (sharing platters, charcuterie, cheeses) to help soak up its vinous offerings. Top Tip: “the ‘Pairing Wine Flights’ matching food with wine are a fab concept and fun to experiment with”.
20. Barbarkan
Polish restaurant in York
34 Fossgate - YO1
2021 Review: A “robust Polish food offering in central York”, also serving other Eastern European specialities (notably textbook pierogi and borscht) and winning fans for its bargain prices; “if you can, leave room for the cakes which are truly delicious”.
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