Bars and Restaurants In York: A Brummie’s top 9 picks.
A Brummie In York
I’ve been visiting York for years now, maybe 25. I have family there, and a lot of friends. So the last time I went up, and had some time spare, I thought it a good idea to go to a load of my fave bars and restaurants in York, and share them with you. I also managed to get to a couple of my favourite coffee places too!
The York food and drink scene is excellent. As a city that relies heavily on tourism, the independent hospitality scene does a great job in servicing locals and tourists alike. With the Minster, the city walls, The Jorvik Centre, The National Railway Museum, Clifford’s Tower (and loads more) to tempt anyone there to enjoy the sights, the food and drink scene easily keeps pace. The independent food scene ranges from street food, cafe’s, a shipping container hub, restaurants of all sorts of cuisines, and places in the Michelin Guide.
Bars and Restaurants in York – The York Pub and Bar scene
To add to that, one of the sayings in York (and there are loads), is that there is a pub for every day of the year. I’ve never counted them, nor would I want to, but there are flipping LOADS of them. From brewery taprooms, to bars, to chain pubs, to pubs owned by the community itself, York has an incredible amount to offer.
If you are going to York, bear in mind that (not all but) most roads within the city walls have the word ‘gate’ at the end. If something has a similar name, but with the word ‘bar’ on the end, it generally means that there is an old entrance through the city walls at that point. For example, there is Micklegate, and at the end of that road is Micklegate Bar. Intel.
Ok, so here we have a short list of 9 of my favourite places in and around York. Bars and restaurants, as well as coffee places, bakeries and brunch places.
Vi Coffee + Wine
Located just outside the city walls on Monkgate in a tiny old building, this place in my opinion, currently serves one of the best cups of coffee in York. Starting as a booth just called Vi Coffee’ at Spark, the cities shipping container hub (and is still there as their other place). This place then opened and upgraded to also serve wines. Pastries are on offer too, and the space is both modest and also has an air of subtle humility. Even the cups are classy bespoke pottery.
Every time I’ve been in, I’ve had coffee made from London’s ‘Kiss the Hippo’ beans, and the guys at Vi work magic with those.
In tandem with the coffee and pastries, the wine offering is simple and well selected, whilst keeping the pricing consistent. One type of each, with the same price per glass.
The booth at Spark is equally humble. A simple concrete counter, and what feels like bare minimum equipment, and some pastries on show. I mean…they have what they need, but the feel is minimal. And this is the thing, in keeping it broadly muted, the coffee really has room to shine. The cups are takeaway here, fitting into the less permanent street food environment, so you can easily just grab and go if you don’t want to hang around and enjoy the vibe.
The Blue Bell
OK, so right from the outset, I’ll say that this is one of the best pubs in York. Current York CAMRA pub of the year in fact. Tiny, with a room at the front, a room at the back and a couple of seats in the entrance corridor by a hatch. And because it’s tiny, you end up friends with everyone. When we were in there last week, we ended up talking to a couple from Worcester and had a lovely evening with them. A great entry on the list of best bars and restaurants York.
Mostly cask ales, and a container of pies on the counter, this is like a step back in time. In fact, the pub first opened in 1798 (40 years after not that far away Samuel Smiths brewery opened in Tadcaster).
Located at one end of Fossgate, the Blue Bell is fairly central (right near M&S), and Fossgate has a load of great places on. So central, that for years, there was always a ‘private party’ sign on the front door to stop it getting overwhelmed by tourists. There was never any party.
There are some pubs in the centre that I never go to. Some are tourist traps, some are mainly for locals, and some are a mixture of the two. This is that, and I have only ever had great beer here, alongside great conversations with totally random, but lovely people every single time. If you can get a seat.
Skosh
There are different parts of York, as there are with any city, that have reputations. In Birmingham, it’s known that Broad Street is ‘the strip’, and once you have your fill by a certain age, you tend to need a good reason to go back. York has Micklegate. Known by many as the ‘dark side’, it’s over the river from the main part of the city centre. You’ll find Pop World there, and Flares isn’t far either. However, in recent years Micklegate has become home to some of the best things in York, and Skosh proves that point expertly. (also see Partisan, Brancusi, 45 Vinyl Cafe and Micklegate Social amongst others)
Skosh is a casual restaurant, with an easy to navigate small plates and wine menu, in a bright, fun environment. We were there for lunch on a Friday, and if we hadn’t booked, we wouldn’t have got in. Side rooms, nooks, private party room, and more importantly, kitchen counter seating. For me it’s always great being able to feel part of the activity, or watch the chefs hard at work. At a Friday lunchtime, they were all very much earning their wages. Neil Bentinck appears to have made a world where both staff and punters enjoy it alike. To add to that, with the restaurant growing in size a couple of years ago, people were worried that the dynamic would change. It hasn’t.
The food itself is pretty spectacular. It’s so much more of an experience than ordering, eating and leaving. This is just as much about being part of it all as it is about the food, but of course without well balanced and put together dishes, it would all be for nothing.
The menu is a playground of playful, eclectic and fun dishes. Everything from the ‘Hens Egg’, a sneaky starting gun of a dish, with whipped egg, PX sherry and mushrooms, served in an egg shaped vessel; to the hoggett and wild garlic sausage ‘thai style’, the menu borrows from all over. The reverence gives the menu currency and it became a game of cuisine bingo as we ordered. The ‘shawarma’ dish was an unexpected little so and so, the Royal Jersey ‘chaat’ was laid bare and exposed just for me, and the fried chicken ‘Massaman’ was a delight. House!
There are some very good restaurants in York, but Skosh has done the independent scene in York no harm at all for almost 10 years now.
Pig and Pastry
Everywhere has it’s areas that are in vogue, and Bishopthorpe Rd is York’s. Lovingly referred to the Bishy Road, this is just the other side of the Ouse from town, just past the Castle Museum and Cliffords Tower. Known for its indi scene, cafes, shops, coffee shops and more, it’s worth a visit.
There is nothing more worth visiting here than Pig and Pastry, or ‘The Pig’. It started in 2008, and has been plugging away with breakfast, brunch and lunch since then, slowly getting a solid reputation for great, accessible plates of interesting and well made food, as well as daily changing specials.
For brunch, I always go for the interesting option. So obviously, I went for the spinach pancake, which came with chilli and lime butter, grilled halloumi and a poached egg. The butter combined with the incredibly different but excellent green pancake, was a taste sensation. I was on my own, and moaned as I took my first mouthful. Oops.
If you want a table on a weekend, I recommend getting there not long after they open (15 mins tops), else you’ll likely have to wait outside for a bit.
The Kiosk
Situated next to the entrance to the wonderful Merchant Adventurers Hall on Fossgate, this part of town (as like most of York) is steeped in history. As a result, the tourists are great for a bit of people watching round here.
You may have noticed that I have a thing for a minimal coffee shop, and this is exactly that. Good coffee, made well is really all I need for 20 mins of peaceful relaxation, and I love a space that’s in sync with that. The staff are lovely, and the coffee is good. Feels artsy. I’m in.
Since I was last up in York, they have added some street seating too, which makes a wonderful addition, especially as the summer approaches.
Brew York, Handley Tap
Personally speaking, when Brew York opened the fancy bright Beer Hall in town, I didn’t massively like it. It has since won loads of awards, and it is obviously very good. But to me, the original, dark, brew tap underneath was always the best. Honest and representative of hand to mouth brewing. When Brew York then moved their brewery and opened their Handley Tap warehouse space, I was secretly willing it to be amazing. And then I went. And now I go every time I’m in York. I love it.
Situated out of the way at Osbaldwick, maybe a 10 min cab ride from town, this does what all great tap rooms do. It sits there tempting beer fans to find the industrial estate. There’s always a sense of beer based achievement when you do. I’ve done the same thankless journey up and down the country. Bath, Bristol, Manchester, Lewes, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield …it goes on and on.
And the taproom itself. A HUGE space, with a domestic bar on one side with a fridge for take outs. There’s a small roller shutter in the corner, and street food vendors pull up to it so that smells don’t overpower the space. The beer is pure unadulterated Brew York, and it’s almost a gift to the people of York, in the sticks, near loads of houses. Ten keg lines, four cask, family and dog friendly, and all sorts of seating to choose from. There are also cocktails and wine to choose from here, but lets face it, when in Brew York….
Heppni Bakeri
I first found here courtesy of the fine team at Vi Coffee. As I was leaving, they asked where I was off to next. I gave them a general direction, and they said that I’d be doing myself an injustice if I missed Heppni on Swinegate. (hope you are keeping up with all the gate names) It’s been open nearly a year now, and India who owns it (and is head baker) has been doing the bakery rounds over the past years, working all over, getting experience. Back home to York, and started this smashing place.
Coffee, cakes and pastries to the front, and up a few steps to the rear where the bakery is. Everyone is so friendly. The internal space is light enough to lift your mood while you chomp on something delicious. Attention to detail is always a great start. Both the mugs and the stools being bespoke, with the signature H on them. So it’s a great sign that the baked goods and coffee should follow suit with an equal level of attention.
With a wall mounted magnet board behind the counter displaying local recommendations, here’s another classy touch. A subtle acknowledgement that tourism is a big deal in York, and that its nice to be nice. Something I LOVE. Always a lovely experience, and I wish India and team the very best of luck.
The Rook and Gaskill
I mentioned pubs earlier that have a good mix of locals and visitors. This is one of those. Students eating quality pub grub (pizzas and burgers made on site), tourists trying to find a good but less busy boozer, or the line up of regulars at the bar, this place is ace. Just outside Walmgate Bar (remember the big openings as part of the city walls), The Rook has TV beer menus, and a great range of keg and cask beer alike, this place is a friendly and solid local bar. One of my fave places
I’ve been drinking here for 15 or 20 years, and they always sell very interesting cask ales, and also keg beers from a diverse range of breweries. In fact, I’ve found out about a few breweries just from trying beers here. To add to that, Paul keeps his lines in excellent condition too.
There is always a good range of people here, and there are also regular quizzes etc. Any Brummies reading this, although from York, Paul also has a strong connection to somewhere in north Brum too. You could say a significant link. 😉
Smokehouse Burritos
As well as Spark, that I mentioned in the Vi Coffee bit at the top, the other main street food place in York is the Shambles Market. The market itself is a fairly good, but typical market, but the food stalls are what I go for. Amongst the selection of 6 or 7 stalls of food, my favourite is always the Smokehouse Burritos stand. This is my final stop on the list of bars and restaurants in York. Not really a restaurant in the traditional sense, it’s a great thing to know about.
With a choice of fillings, and an interactive process, it’s a fun activity. BUT, the burritos are GOOD. This is why i go there as much as I can. Street food at street food prices, keeping prices down by keeping turnover high. The man next to me said that these burritos are the best burritos in the north of England. He heard my accent, and assumed I didn’t know York. But I do. ‘There’s a place in Sheffield’, I told him, ‘that are pretty good too’.
The food bit is so busy, you’ll struggle to get a seat, but that’s the beauty of a burrito. It has built in packaging! Perfect for walking around the Shambles, looking at all of the 14th century Harry Potter potions shops. Weaving your way through the tourists like a wizard through the muggles. York <3
Final thoughts on my trip to bars and restaurants York
For the size of York, it crams a lot in. The city walls restrict most of it, but you do find that things spill out. Just like any city, a lot of the good places are outside of town. The mix I’ve suggested is a bit of everything, and has developed over the years. I thought it was about time I shared it. And just like any city, it’s constantly changing, reinventing itself. This is a snapshot, and realistically, I have loads more places I go to regularly, so 9 is actually a small number.
Above is a mix of places of all types of eating and drinking places, to give a broad feel of the better places. There are LOADS more, and you have to find your own way, but these are a pretty good start. You may know York, and you may have your own favourite places. If you ever want any tips, feel free to message. Or if there are any places you like that aren’t on the list, please leave a message in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed reading about my trip to York, and you want to read more from me, explore my website by clicking here. I hope you have enjoyed my blog post! Alternatively, follow me on Instagram to see the fab places around Birmingham and the West Midlands I go to, with the occasional away day 😉
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