It’s hard to nail down the best places to eat in York, as there are too many to choose from. So, we’ve hand-selected some spots we know to be top-notch notch From fine dining to chilled-out spots where you can grab a burger or pizza. Our list of the best restaurants in York will not disappoint. We love a pub lunch, but we also enjoy a cheeky bit of fine dining, so you’ll find a mixture of both within our list of York restaurants.
We are friends for a nice pizza place, especially Neopolitan-style. And, York pizza spots are in abundance at the minute with new openings recently taking it to another level. York restaurants are great as they’re housed in fantastic old buildings, offering an amazing place to chill. After you’ve checked out the things to do in York, and visited some of its oldest pubs, you can grab something to eat at one of these beautiful spots located in the historic North Yorkshire city centre.
So, what are the best restaurants in York for your next visit?
1. Cresci Pizzeria
Considered one of the best pizzas in York, Cresci is a highly-rated pizza place that serves amazing Pizza Napoletana. Their homemade pizzas are made with love and look mouth-watering. If you ask a local where to eat, most will be quick to tell you that this spot is the one – and when you’re getting told by enough people it’s hard to ignore.
The restaurant has a great atmosphere and is great value for money. As well as doing fantastic pizzas, they do a range of great starters and desserts. We can’t wait to enjoy a few slices of pizza with lots of wine and beer. Address: Cresci, 20 Piccadilly, York YO1 9NU
2. Melton’s Restaurant
As one of York’s leading restaurants, Melton’s is a must-visit, and has been around since 1990 and is a fine dining restaurant serving modern British dishes. The spot is renowned for serving high-quality food whilst creating a relaxing and informal atmosphere, which is a hard feat to do.
The small independent restaurant is one of the best restaurants in York and is known for its relaxed and informal atmosphere and has two AA Rosettes and features in all major food guides. Address: Melton Restaurant, 7 Scarcroft Rd, York YO23 1ND
3. Skosh
Found inside the York city walls, Skosh serves up small plates with a mix of influences such as Britain, Europe and Asia. The menu includes a range of exciting choices from raw, veg, fish and meat options such as chicken liver parfait with summer truffle ponzu and milk bread; north sea squid spiked with punchy with nahm jim; and beetroots, goats curd and furikake.
Chef Bentinck has had a range of experience working in restaurants such as The Pipe and Glass, Van Zellar, Northcote and The Star Inn at Harome. So you know why it’s seen as one of the top York restaurants to dine in -especially for a fancy occasion. Address: Skosh, 98 Micklegate, York YO1 6JX
4. The Whippet Inn
We headed to the Whippet Inn for a Sunday Roast and weren’t disappointed. Located near the Radisson hotel, the impeccably adorned restaurant with industrial-style brick walls, and leather seats serves up a high-quality menu using the freshest ingredients. It has. a range of wines for special occasions and some fantastic ales behind the bar.
The weekly menu has a meaty focus with steaks and such cooked on a grill as the order of the day, which we will be back to taste on our next venture to the historic city. It’s a hard yes from us for one of the best restaurants in York contenders. Address: 15 North St, York YO1 6JD
5. Star Inn the City
Chef Andrew Pern brought his Michelin Star cuisine to the historic city back in 2013 – but it wasn’t luck or chance that made the venue the staple it is today. It was the expertise brought over from the accolade-collecting The Star Inn At Harome.
The Star Inn The City is another one of the best restaurants in York offers guests some of the finest Yorkshire produce there is – providing a ‘little taste of the countryside’ with its locally-driven influences, which range from Yorkshire’s hunting scene to the seasonal harvests that God’s Own Country has become renowned for over the decades. Address: Lendal Engine House, Museum St, York YO1 7DR
6. Rustique
Located on Castlegate in the centre of York, Rustique is a taste of France like no other, The restaurant is a bright room with stained glass windows which add to that classic Parisian vibe. It serves up traditionally cooked, locally sourced meat and fish dishes, giving customers a first-class, French-inspired dining experience in a vibrant upbeat bistro environment.
In the summer there is a beautiful outdoor dining terrace to enjoy some al fresco dining just like they do in Paris. The outdoor is as fabulous as the indoor and it’s one of the York restaurants in the city centre to visit any time of year with both options on offer. Address: Rustique, 28 Castlegate, York YO1 9RP
7. York Minster Refectory
The newest venture from The Star Inn at Harome/The City’s Andrew Pern and executive head chef Joshua Brimmell, the duo has brought exceptional British dining to the grade II listed former York Minster School – honouring the building’s history with unique touches throughout that showcase the school’s heritage.
And while that’s certainly a great touch for those who appreciate history and architecture, the food here is simply sensational. And both together are reasons why it’s a great addition to York restaurants’ scene. It’s upmarket, yes, but it’s reasonably priced for quality food designed and executed by Michelin-starred Pern – so basically, at a starting price of £22 per main, we think this is a steal.
The menu combines land, sea and game – all celebrating Yorkshire, of course – elevated with exceptional flavour, great cocktails and fantastic wine. Address: York Minster Refectory, 2 Deangate, York, YO1 7JA
8. Buongiorno
Located in Woodthorpe just a short drive outside of the city centre, the cosy restaurant specialises in Sardinian cuisine – a cuisine that combines some of the most stunning flavours of Italy and the Mediterranean, hailing from the Italian island of Sardinia (where the owners also hail from).
Naturally, as a small island, guests can expect plenty of seafood on the menu, with tons of fresh mussels, clams and more bringing the flavours of the Med to Yorkshire.
Buongiorno Bistro? The mouthwatering menu of specials – has previously been graced with dishes such as wine prawns, Sardinian sausage meatballs, fresh seabream and meaty pastas packed with pork and beef, and paired with homely ragu sauces. Address: Buongiorno, Wood Dr, Woodthorpe, York YO24 3XN
9. Dough Eyed
The busy Shambles Market Neapolitan pizza spot Dough Eyed, has risen from the ashes and has resumed operations once more with tasty contemporary-style pizza served alongside an array of beers and cocktails. And, it’s back at the top being one of the best york restaurants in the city centre – in our opinion. The menu is packed full of flavourful dishes, and while we love a classic – our favourite had to be the nduja pizza with a pumpkin base. The leopard print crust and tantalising tastes had us preparing for the next bite after each one.
The venue has kept up with its talent for selecting the best craft ales around serving up local Yorkshire favourites as well as others that you can select from their beer menu up on the screen. After all, what’s a pizza without a tasty refreshing beer? Address: Dough Eyed, 7 Jubbergate, York YO1 8RT
10. Roots
Located in York city centre, Roots, a Michelin-star restaurant, is the little sister to the Black Swan in Oldstead and shares the seasonal and sustainable ethos with naturally evolving taster menus according to produce that originated from their kitchen garden and small regional suppliers.
Dishes are creative and modern and prepared with the skill to look deceptively simple, but offer refinement and depth of flavour, according to the Michelin guide. They’re one of the best restaurants in York for a special occasion. Address: Roots, 68 Marygate, York YO30 7BH
11. Ambiente Tapas
An independent tapas restaurant and Spanish sherry bar on York’s popular Goodramgate and Fossgate It’s known for its sherry, 30 fabulous tapas dishes cooked in a Spanish Josper oven.
The spacious restaurants have deep booth seating, banquet -style and tables for differing experiences. Ambiente is perfect as a romantic date night setting, but also great for family get-togethers, work nights out and any other experience. Especially with a nice glass of sherry, wine, beer, cava and cocktails. Address: 31 Fossgate, York YO1 9TA & 14 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LQ
12. Clucking Oinks
If you only have one burger from Clucking Oinks SPARK:YORK also have a restaurant, we recommend the Rodeo fried chicken burger. It comes with buttermilk chicken topped with smoked bacon, crispy onions, BBQ sauce and American cheese sauce – and it’s to die for.
If it’s not messy to eat, we don’t class it as a burger and these big bad boys will have you reaching for the tissues. Along with their brilliant fried chicken burgers, the team also serve incredibly loaded fries and fried chicken strips with a range of dips to accompany your juicy burger. Address: Clucking Oinks, 1 Castlegate, York YO1 9RN
13. Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana
Located at 5 High Ousegate, the ground floor of a former shop is poised to transform into the new Rudy’s restaurant in York, complete with a rear dining courtyard. Rudy’s serves up classic Neapolitan pizza with a focus on quality. Enjoy classics such as Marinara, Margherita and our favourite Calabrese all of which are authentic to Naples the birthplace of this beautiful pizza.
The dough is made fresh daily and is fermented for at least 24 hours. Topped with ingredients imported from Naples twice a week such as San Marzano tomatoes and Fior di Latte mozzarella. Cooked in a wood-burning pizza oven on-site, it takes just 60 seconds to create the iconic leopard-spotted pizza that tastes like no other. They also serve a range of drinks alongside its tasty pizzas such as Italian classic Aperol Spritz, and refreshing summer drink San Pellegrino.
So there you have it. Some of, in our opinion, the best restaurants in York to eat. There’s a mixture of pure naughty goodness to the perfect date night spots. York has great quirky restaurants to eat that are like no other city due to the old buildings full of character that the owners and chefs of York have taken to their hearts. Rudy’s, 5 High Ousegate, York YO1 8RX
