York Restaurant Guide

The Mannion clan first opened this venue as a greengrocers’ three decades ago; its current incarnation is as a “charming café-deli that consistently delivers on quality, atmosphere and indulgence” (be it Full English breakfasts or pork belly sandwiches), and offers “very efficient and friendly” service to boot. There’s also a sibling in Helmsley (the Easingwold spin-off having closed in summer 2025).

“A gem of a restaurant” serving “delicious North African cuisine” from Algerian-born Tarek Abdeladim, who started out with a stall in Shambles Market before graduating to this two-storey venue. Reporters name-check various “brilliant” dishes this year, including “a great coconut dahl” and “raspberry cheesecake with a sprinkling of the most tasty raspberry powder (I had to restrain myself from licking the plate!)”.

“This iconic tea room is in a league of its own” and “almost as charming as the Harrogate original” (it was built later, in 1936, with its interior modelled on the Queen Mary). It can be “a pity that it is overwhelmed by tourists with the resultant queues” but this is a trivial quibble – for practically all reporters it’s an “old favourite that never fails” and “it’s rare to be disappointed here”. Cosset yourself with afternoon tea, sandwiches, scones and patisseries galore, or there’s always the opportunity to eat here all day from the ‘Grande Breakfast’ onwards. “Always go there when in York and always delighted!”

A popular little bistro around the corner from the Minster (with views from its garden at the back) that fans claim “would be worthy of awards if it had more than 8 tables and tablecloths”. In business since 2002, “if anything it improves”: last year, Ian Pragnell, son of co-founder and self-taught chef Chris, joined the team to add lunchtime openings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Top Menu Tip – “excellent goat’s cheese and tuna starters, lamb and pork main courses”.

2022 Review: 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).

High-profile North Yorkshire chef Andrew Pern opened this city spinoff from his famous Star at Harome a dozen years ago, on an attractive site beside the River Ouse. These days, it attracts limited feedback and such as there is remains rather up-and-down.

“Tucked away off the main street and without a sign outside, it may be difficult to find but it’s well worth seeking out” this trendy decade-old haunt from the owners of the Stone Trough Inn in Kirkham Abbey. The venue “specialises in beef, especially ex-dairy cows”, be it Finnish Sashi beef, or Galicia’s famous blonde cattle; add in a “buzzy atmosphere” and “attentive” service, and it “makes for a meat-eater’s heaven”.

“Perfect from start to finish” say fans of the “stunning food and amazing wine list” at the Banks family’s converted pub in the city-centre, where “innovative preparation methods transform humble and not so humble ingredients to make everything into a delight”, choosing from a ‘Core’ menu at £95 per person, or a ‘Signature’ one for £145 per person. The Telegraph’s William Sitwell – a man who is hard to impress – agrees, saying in his May 2025 review his meal was “heavenly”. But while all reports in our annual diners’ poll do acclaim the cooking, the prices are increasingly becoming a major turn-off – sceptics feel that “the environment is underwhelming and doesn’t feel like the special occasion demanded by the bill”, or that “for all the hyperbole, the food is good-only, leaving poor value for money”.

Zoe & Tim Sinclair have long since turned what was a self-proclaimed “side hustle” into a five-strong tapas chain – the first link of which is this “friendly” two-floor venue, est. 2010 in a Georgian house, and oft-commented upon in our annual diners’ poll. Alongside “excellent tapas” and “succulent” mains (fish, paella), there’s a “superb drinks list which includes a fleet of sherries available by the glass”.

This “great local French restaurant” has been a fixture next door to Clifford’s Tower on Castlegate for more than two decades, and is “very popular for its good-value” Gallic bistro classics including soupe à l’oignon, escargots, magret de canard and boeuf bourguignon (not forgetting the dessert listed as ‘le sticky toffee pudding’).

Limited but all positive feedback this year on Adam & Lovaine Humphrey’s bright dining room, which bills itself as ‘Delicious, Different & Central’ and whose somewhat eclectic menu-style has been imported from their original ‘Arras’ (which was in Sydney, Australia). In the evening, there’s a five-course menu for £90 per person – at lunch and pre-theatre shorter, cheaper options are available.

“Reliable and relaxing” Anglo-French dining (onion soup; tartiflette; ‘rosbif’) in a characterful old building “with a pub on the ground floor – what more is there to ask for?” (although ‘Hangman’s Noose’ might be a better name: the ropes used for executions in York Castle Prison used to be made here). Patron Michael Hjort is director of the annual York Food and Drink Festival; his family have owned restaurants in York for 35 years and took over the building in 2001, relaunching it in its current guise eight years ago.

2023 Review: There are “no airs and graces in this homely little Italian” from Sardinian-born Paolo Silesu – just “great food, friendly service and a lively buzz”. “If you just woke up here, you’d think you were in the back streets of Naples – it’s mad and hectic, but brilliant” – and “totally authentic”.

“There’s nothing pretentious or exclusive about this delightful and relaxed restaurant”, run since 1990 by Michael Hjort and his wife Lucy (who also run the Chopping block) – “food and wine is what they are about and that is what they deliver” either for their fairly short à la carte menu (three courses for £85 per person in a fairly classical modern British style) or tasting menu (seven courses for £98 per person).