It’s hard to nail down the best places to eat in York, as there are just too many to choose from. So, we’ve just hand selected some spots we know to be top 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.
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 cities centre.
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 absolutely mouth-watering.
The restaurant has a really 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 pizzas with lots of wine and beer.
2. Melton’s – best restaurants in York
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 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.
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.
4. The Whippet Inn
We headed to the Whippet Inn for a Sunday Roast and weren’t disappointed. Located near the Radisson hotel, the impeccable adorned restaurant with industrial style brick walls, leather seats serves up 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.
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.
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.
Read More: 7 Of The Most Irresistible Indian Restaurants In York You Need To Try
7. Rattle Owl
Housed in a restored 17th Century building on the famous Micklegate, The Rattle Owl serves up an international fusion of food with ethically sourced ingredients many forged by Head chef Tom Heywood.
The menu is a seasonal four-course (£50 per person) and eight-course (£90 per person) sample menu along with a classic Sunday Roast lunch. Eat dish is stylishly presented to perform a feat for the eyes along with your tastebuds.
Dishes include wild bass served with a tomato gazpacho, pickled mussels, and Tagete; rib of beef served with turnip, dill, and oyster; a chocolate dessert of Gianduja, with 50% Dominican Republic Chocolate and hazelnut praline, coffee ice cream, candied hazelnut.
8. Forage Kitchen & Bar
Found on Little Stonegate. Forage specialises in cocktails that are sustainable and foraged plates bar with a focus on seasonal produce. Their cocktails include a couple of nods to Yorkshire with their rhubarb sour, which has rhubarb & ginger, lemon, sugar and egg whites, and also their Yorkshire garden which includes cucumber, mint, elderflower lime infused with apple and gin.
9. 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 – which has previously been graced with dishes such as wine prawns, Sardinian sausage meatballs, fresh sea bream and meaty pastas packed with pork and beef, and paired with homely ragu sauces.
10. Cafe No8 – best restaurants in York
The stylish bistro and walled garden located on the busy street of Gillygate in York serves up traditional dishes such as Char-grilled Yorkshire lamb, roast Mediterranean vegetables, rosemary & garlic potatoes, hollandaise sauce and Pan fried smoked duck breast, cassoulet bon-bon, glazed carrot & beetroot, charred baby leeks, asparagus, game sauce.
In summer make sure you make use of the fantastic outdoor seating that’ll make you feel like you’ve been transported out of the hustle and bustle of the busy city.
11. 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 to get the Michelin guide. They’re definitely one of the best restaurants in York for a special occassion.
12. Ambiente Tapas – best restaurants in York
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 together, work nights out and any other experience. Especially with a nice glass of sherry, wine, beer, cava and cocktails.
13. Clucking Oinks
If you only have one burger from Clucking Oinks SPARK:YORK who recently moved into new 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 incredible loaded fries and fried chicken strips with a range of dips to accompany your juicy burger.
