There are not many better ways to pass the time than to sit in a good old Yorkshire café with a scrumptious savoury treat, an irresistible cake, all washed down with your favourite cuppa. What makes it even better, is when the café is surrounded by breathtaking views all adding to the wonderful atmosphere.
Sound perfect for your next day out? Luckily, our fine county has some of the best cafés in the country. They offer incredible views mixed with outstanding scenery. We have put together some of our favourite Yorkshire cafés so you can plan your next foodie trip.
1. Time Café at Stump Cross Caverns, Harrogate
When looking for fun things to do in Yorkshire, then you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Stump Cross Caverns. You’ll go on a journey deep underground through an extensive network of passages, caves, and caverns, filled with stalactites and stalactites, dating back millions of years.
After all that exploring, you will definitely work up an appetite. Luckily for you, Stump Cross Caverns has one of the best cafés in Yorkshire. Before we even start on the food, there’s the view. You are surrounded by the stunning Yorkshire Dales with its rolling hills, drystone walls, and dramatic scenery.
As you take in the landscape, you can enjoy a wonderful menu of freshly prepared sandwiches, paninis, toasties, homemade treats, and classic cakes. If you are feeling a little bit fancy, you can enjoy a scrumptious cream or afternoon tea, which includes homemade sausage rolls, plenty of finger sandwiches, fruit scones and cream, and a selection of cakes. Trust us, we’ve tried it, it’s delicious.
There is both indoor and outdoor seating. It has a cosy and quirky interior, decorated with beautiful clocks all over the walls, perfect for those colder days. However, when the weather is fine, you can take a seat at one of the outdoor tables and soak in those wonderful views.
For more information regarding Stump Cross Caverns and Time Café, visit the website here.
2. Toft Gate Barn Café, Harrogate
You’ll find the next addition to our list of best Yorkshire Cafés, located at the top of Greenhow Hill. It is set on a working farm and offers delicious breakfast, lunches, snacks all made from locally sourced produce.
The Café has quite the backstory and takes us back to the glorious year of 1966. That year, David and Doreen Prince purchased Toft Gate Farm, which became a predominantly cattle and sheep farm. They ran the farm for almost 40 years before handing it over to their son Christopher and his wife Caroline.
To make the farm more financially sustainable, in 2014, they decided to convert a barn that had once housed pigs, cows, and turkeys, into a café. And so, Toft Barn Café was born. The beauty of its location is that the beef, lamb, and pork used in their meals comes directly from the farm. So, the team knows that it is quality produce and hasn’t traveled a vast distance to get to your plate.
So, what’s on the menu? You can choose from locally sourced pies, homemade quiche, soups, full English breakfast, roast dinners, freshly made sandwiches and paninis, and a selection of mouthwatering cakes. There are also plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. You really will be spoilt for choice!
While enjoying your food, you can choose to sit indoors in the cosy barn. Or you can sit outside and enjoy the panoramic views of the Yorkshire Dales. The café is dog friendly, so you can have your favourite pooch with you.
For more details, check out their website here.
3. Oliver’s on the Mount, Scarborough
Next on our list of Yorkshire cafés takes us to one of the most popular seaside spots in the UK – Scarborough. You’ve probably already guessed by the name, but you’ll find Oliver’s on the Mount at the summit of Oliver’s Mount. It is a great place to rest after the climb up the hill, and its location means you have wonderful, sweeping views over the town and coast.
They serve up breakfast, brunch, and lunch and focus on using fresh, local produce to keep their dishes high quality. Examples of some of the scrumptious food on offer, includes:
- Full English Breakfast
- Steak and Eggs
- French Toast
- King Prawn Poke
- Smokey Joe
- Club Sandwich
- Posh Fish Finger Butty
They also have plenty of homemade bakes, coffees, teas, and currently everyone’s favourite drink Matcha. They also have a great range of smoothies, including Rise and Shine, Vitamin C, and Death by Chocolate.
If we’ve got your mouthwatering, then check out their website for more information about bookings.
4. The Nest, Northallerton
We love a hidden gem here at The Yorkshireman, and The Nest café is certainly one of them. You’ll find it tucked away at Crabtree Hall in Northallerton and it offers breathtaking views over the beautiful Wensleydale towards Penhill. The rustic building itself is also spectacular and it is set in the middle of a working family farm, offering you the chance to experience rural life, a touch of luxury, and delicious food.
It is open from Monday to Friday, 8.30am till 4pm. They offer a fine selection of classics and favourites, such as toasties, paninis, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, BLT, Quiche salad, breakfast rolls, black pudding and poached eggs on sour dough, and much more. They also pride themselves on their delicious homemade treats, including blondies, brownies, scones, and cakes.
It is such a relaxing place to eat and drink, whether you are having a couples date day, a bit of me time, or hanging out with family and friends. Oh, and the best bit is, there are friendly Alpachas who live in the field next to the café to keep you entertained. Fancy it? Check out their website for more information.
5. The Waterfront Café, York
Set in the historic city of York, our next favourite Yorkshire café is an absolute riverside paradise. Located on the River Ouse, which flows through the heart of the city, it is an experience that offers wonderful food and a chance to soak up the beauty of York while you are eating.
Their food offering is highly innovative and uses locally sourced ingredients. Their breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus cater for meat eaters,vegetarians, vegans, and those needing gluten-free. To give you a taste of the dishes on offer, here are some highlights:
- Poached Salmon & Gnocchi Hash
- Eggs Benedict
- 8oz Flat Iron Steak
- Fish Finger Raft
- Afternoon Tea
- Tiger Prawn & Sun Blushed Tomato Kebab
- Steak & Ale Pie
If you have a sweet tooth, don’t worry, they offer a fine selection of delicious cakes and treats, such as Biscoff cheesecake and raspberry crumble tart.
It is the perfect place to sit by the river and watch the boats and the world go by. You can sit in their stunning conservatory and gravelled terrace, the ideal setting for a warm summer’s day. On those colder days, the conservatory has underfloor heating so you can still enjoy that incredible view. Oh, it doesn’t stop there, they have a roaring log fire to keep you warm and cosy.
Ready to relax and enjoy some wonderful Yorkshire hospitality at The Waterfront Café. To book a table, visit the website here.
Looking for More Things to do in Yorkshire?
Our county is full of wonderful places to explore, eat and drink, make memories, and keep the family entertained. Whether you are heading west, east, north, or south, there are so many incredible things to do in Yorkshire.
To find out more about what’s going on in Yorkshire, discover our events and travel pages for our latest guides.
Read More: 16 Of The Best Farm Shops In Yorkshire To Visit
Feature Image Credit: The Nest, Northallerton
