York boasts an impressive variety of incredible restaurants. But finding the perfect spot can be a challenge.
That’s why we’ve scoured the city to discover the finest restaurants and hidden gems. So no matter what you fancy, there’s something for everyone on our list of the 16 best restaurants in York.
1. Delrio’s Restaurant
Price: $$
Address: City Centre, 10-12 Blossom Street
Phone: +44 1904 622695
This informal and vibrant Italian restaurant is located in a beautiful brick cellar down the steps from Micklegate, the Royal Entrance to the City of York. It is just minutes from the York train station. Enjoy one of their fine wines or cocktails as you watch Chef Giovanni prepare traditional Sardinian-influenced Italian dishes in the open kitchen. The menu features fresh seafood, locally sourced meat, traditional pizzas, pasta, and homemade desserts.
2. Skosh
Price: $$$
Address: 98 Micklegate
Phone: +44 1904 634849
For contemporary British cuisine, Skosh is an excellent choice. The restaurant is near the 12th-century Micklegate historic entrance to York. Skosh is an open-design restaurant where you can watch chef-owner Neil Betinck and his team in action. The menu features an eclectic collection of uncomplicated yet refined dishes. Enjoy grazing or being served course by course for a complete dining experience. All bottled wine is available by the glass, or enjoy a specially prepared seasonal cocktail or artisan craft beer. A great place to enjoy with friends.
3. Tah Tien
Price: $
Address: 10 North Street
Phone: +44 1904 63339
Tah Tien serves authentic, inexpensive street-style Thai food just like you’d find in Bangkok. Don’t worry about reservations when visiting this hidden gem. You’ll feel welcome the moment you step in. All dishes are made from scratch with fresh local ingredients. The menu features items you won’t find in other Thai restaurants in the UK. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating.
4. The Masons Arms York
Price: $
Address: 6 Fishergate
Phone: +44 1904 541479
Looking for traditional British pub food? Discover The Masons Arms York. They feature daily specials and serve all the traditional dishes you’ve come to expect from a British pub. In addition, every Sunday, they have a traditional Roast Dinner. The restaurant is in a 1935 Tudor-style building on the River Foss with a secluded beer garden overlooking the river. Its reputation for fine food and hand-pulled ales, combined with its enviable location, make it a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
5. Melton’s
Price: $$$
Address: 7 Scarcroft Rd
Phone: +44 1904 634341
Melton’s is fine British dining at its best and has been a York favorite since 1990. Known for serving high-quality food in a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, Melton’s uses only the finest local ingredients. They even offer a Yorkshire tasting menu. The extensive wine cellar is stocked with over 120 bottles from around the world, all hand-selected by owners Michael and Lucy. A great place for date night.
6. Roustique
Price: $$
Address: 28 Castlegate
Phone: +44 1904 612744
Experience first-class French cuisine in the historic center of York. Located next to Clifford Tower, Roustique serves rustic French dishes in an upbeat bistro environment split over two levels. The restaurant is bright and lively and includes an outdoor dining terrace. The menu has a large variety of locally sourced meat and fish dishes. The wine list features French and New World wines, and the wait staff can offer the perfect pairing for your meal.
7. Le Cochon Aveugle
Price: $$$$
Address: 37 Walmgate
Phone: +44 1904 640222
An intimate, romantic restaurant serving elegant traditional French-inspired dishes. Chef Josh Overington combines his training in Paris with fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create a unique dining experience. The restaurant offers a multi-course, blind-tasting menu. You are encouraged to sit back and enjoy the savory creations prepared by Chef Josh and his team in the open-plan kitchen. The extensive wine cellar focuses on lesser-known varietals from around the world. The restaurant is a four-minute walk from York Castle Museum.
8. Los Moros
Price: $$
Address: 15-17 Grape Lane
Phone: +44 1904 636834
Located in a historic brick building in the center of York, Los Moros serves modern North African cuisine. Originally started as a street food stand in Shambles Market, the restaurant offers dishes unavailable at the market stand. Dishes are inspired by the various cultures of North and Central Africa. Enjoy a glass of wine from the hand-picked wine list or a Los Moros Pale Ale made by Brew York. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.
9. Ambiente Tapas
Price: $$
Address: 31 Fossgate
Phone: +44 1904 638252
This local chic restaurant serves Spanish-style tapas and small plates. Part of a local chain, Ambiente Tapas Fossgate is just a two-minute walk from Jorvik Viking Center. The perfect place to share with friends. Enjoy a glass of sherry in the spacious and stylish dining room as you watch the chefs create your order from scratch in the theater-style kitchen. Sherry not to your liking? Enjoy a glass of Spanish wine or one of the many Spanish-inspired cocktails. The menu offers vegan and vegetarian options, and the kitchen will cater to various dietary requirements.
10. Upper River Restaurant
Price: $
Address: 61 Gillygate
Phone: +44 1904 848720
Upper River is the only authentic Hong Kong style “cha chaan teng” in York. The family is originally from Hong Kong, and they created a welcoming, unfussy environment to enjoy dishes you won’t find at other Chinese restaurants in the UK. The menu features siu mei dishes, stir-fried noodles, and other Asian staples. The staff is warm and friendly and happy to make suggestions. Asian comfort food at its best.
11. The Rattle Owl
Price: $$
Address: 104 Micklegate
Phone: +44 1904 658658
The Rattle Owl serves modern British cuisine in a renovated 17th-century building on one of the most historic streets in York. Chef Tom Heywood and his team offer seasonal 4-course and 8-course tasting menus with wine pairings. In addition, there’s an alternative vegetarian tasting menu available. All the chefs are city foragers, whether they collect wild garlic from York’s city walls or Elderflower and Rowan berries in the local parks. The chefs combine these ingredients with fresh local produce to create exceptional seasonal tasting menus. The Rattle Owl is a marriage of modern British dining in a historical setting.
12. Ipfu Sushi
Price: $$-$$$
Address:14 George Hudson Street
Phone: +44 1904 658473
Looking for the best sushi in York? You’ll find it at Ipfu Sushi. Originally called Sushi Waka, Ipfu serves high-quality Japanese small plates. From sashimi to yakitori skewers to tempura, Ipfu’s extensive menu offers Japanese dishes just like in Tokyo. The restaurant is cozy and comfortable, and the welcoming staff is ready to offer suggestions. The website menu even defaults to Japanese, so you know it’s got to be authentic!
13. Las Iguanas
Price: $$
Address: 21 Back Swinegate
Phone: +44 1904 948849
Tour the tropics at Las Iguanas. They offer an extensive menu of grilled Latin American dishes from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Cuba, and beyond. The menu includes vegan and vegetarian options. Plus, it’s always happy hour at Las Iguanas with 2 for 1 cocktails served all day, every day. Las Iguanas is perfect for large parties or cozy corners. Dance salsa and bachata every Friday evening. The bottomless brunch is served throughout the day and comes with unlimited cocktails, Coronas, Prosecco, or mocktails. Enjoy alfresco dining in the hidden rooftop garden open throughout the year.
14. Corner Grill House
Price: $$
Address: 9 Walmgate
Phone: +44 1904 654201
The Yorkshire Prestige Award winner for the best steak house in York for 2021/2022, the Corner Grill House is only a three-minute walk from Jorvik Viking Center. The restaurant has a stylish and cozy interior. The menu is kept deliberately small to showcase their exceptional dishes. Steaks are cooked exactly as requested. The staff is always happy to suggest the perfect accompaniment or wine pairing. The restaurant has limited seating, so reservations are highly recommended.
15. Fish and Forest
Price: $$
Address: 110 Micklegate
Phone: +44 1904 220587
This cozy restaurant serves sustainable fish and game dishes inspired by the sea, the forest, and the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. Fish and Forest is a neighborhood bistro with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff is passionate about great food. Sustainability is at the heart of every dish they serve, and they were recognized in the Michelin Guide for “sustainable gastronomy.” The menu is a la carte and changes daily based on the freshest local produce, seafood, and game available. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended.
16. Pairings Wine Bar
Price: $$
Address: 28 Castlegate
Phone: +44 1904 848909
Sisters Kelly and Kate have created a space where you can relax, socialize, and feel at home regardless of your knowledge of wine and food. This cozy and stylish restaurant is just a stone’s throw from Clifford’s Tower in the heart of historic York. The menu features the best local charcuterie, cheese, fish, and desserts in small plates and sharing boards. In addition, the Pairings experience allows you to discover the finest wine and spirits alongside each other in the form of Flights or with the recommended food pairings.
So, whether you’re looking for fine British or French dining or casual North African cuisine, a visit to any of the 16 best restaurants in York will be an experience to remember with loved ones and friends. After all, nothing brings us closer together than sharing a wonderful meal.