Harrogate Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: A “bustling” ambiance that “gives a lift to the spirits” is the chief plus-point of this brasserie offshoot of the ever-expanding London luminary. Even fans concede it’s “expensive for what it is”, and “could be said to be a little formulaic”, while a couple of other reporters noted meals that were positively bad.

“Betty’s is a real institution in Harrogate” of over a century’s standing, and as the home of “traditional afternoon tea at its best” these “quintessential” tea rooms are peerless (they are “masters of the art of making a visit memorable”). “Amazing cakes and pastries are made on the premises and served alongside a wonderful selection of teas”, in a “stunning” setting enlivened by a pianist tinkling away on the ivories in the background. “Thoughtful, delicious and with no unnecessary frills: this is Yorkshire through and through”. “You cannot book so turn up early”.

This “wonderful stalwart of Yorkshire dining” is, to its many fans, “a mainstay of any visit to Harrogate” for its fabulous fish and “attentive service”. Founded in 1971, it has been run for the past 10 years by the Carter family – under whose ownership it “never disappoints”.

This “quirky café with wonderful cinnamon buns and waffles” offers a “real taste of Scandinavia in Harrogate”. It’s “very popular with yummy-mummies in the morning so can get a little loud, but you can buy all the baked goods from their shop just by the theatre”. Owner Paul Rawlinson’s Scandi restaurant Norse is still missed, five years after its closure.

2021 Review: “A very traditional Yorkshire chippie” which doesn’t offer anything fancy but “just good fish ’n’ chips” (the former “huge and well-battered”, and “you can go for more exotic if you wish”); “a little tip – avoid early evening when the ‘pensioners’ special menu’ is served – it will be heaving!”

The “amazing pan-Asian food” has been a crowd-pleaser at this venue under the Studley Hotel for more than twenty years. “The room itself is perhaps a little drab, but boy the food is good” – “we’ve been coming for years and it still has the best Weeping Tiger we’ve ever eaten!”. “Pity the Sunday buffet has gone”, though.

Chef-owner Stefano Lancellotti and his wife Sara Ferguson celebrate the 25th anniversary of their highly rated restaurant this year. Named after his home town in Emilia Romagna, it brings an authentic taste of the region to Yorkshire – even the eggs are imported to create pasta as it should be.

Open from an early breakfast to dinner, the modern brasserie at this Georgian stately home near Harrogate wins solid ratings across the board. Afternoon tea can be taken in the Conservatory, while Horto restaurant next door provides the destination’s fine-dining option.

2022 Review: This “lovely hotel” is so proud of its own produce that it named its main restaurant Horto, Latin for kitchen garden, and charged young head chef Callum Bowmer (who arrived for two weeks’ work experience in 2010 and never left) with the task of creating showcase menus from it. The resulting meals are “really enjoyable”.

2019 Review: A “consistently good” rustic-chic inn dating back to the 16th century; “the food is well-presented and flavoursome” and there’s a “warm welcome” to go with it (backed up by the roaring fire).

“Terrific breakfast and brunch”, “excellent coffee”, “brilliant beers and pizzas, plus more healthy fare” – all win high praise for this “independent bar, café, kitchen”, which opened in 2016. “It’s a flexible haunt, and a great place to work too, with fab music!”

“Finally, Frances Atkins has opened a place to sample her exemplary cooking after the sad ending of the Yorke Arms as a ‘go-to’ destination”. Her legion of fans will be relieved to know it’s “an easy place to visit”, in a garden centre close to Harrogate. The first woman in the UK to earn a Michelin star, Frances has revived her Yorke Arms team of more than 20 years for the new project – chef Roger Olive and front-of-house manager John Tullett.