Top 10 Places to Eat and Drink in York

Shambles Kitchen

The Shambles Kitchen is tucked away in the historic Shambles, surprisingly enough. They cater for mostly meat eaters (although often do have a vegan option) and provide the most incredible hot and cold sandwiches. The simple menu, inspired by their mums, is made from seasonal ingredients that are full of flavour, but still suit every palette, AND everything is cooked from scratch each day! What more could you want? The pulled pork is the most popular sandwich they offer, so make sure you go and give it a try. At Kit Keeper we provide student storage in York.

Evil Eye

Evil Eye holds the record for stocking the most amount of gin in the whole of the UK! So if you are a gin enthusiast, then you absolutely have to go to Evil Eye. However, if gin isn’t your thing, they also have a vast number of cocktails available to suit every palate. Their cocktail menus are fun and themed around board games, with prices well under £10 per drink. Enjoy your drink in the graffiti-splashed downstairs bar or on Roman-style loungers upstairs. It is also apparently Johnny Depp’s favourite bar

Plush

Plush is a fairly new, independent business, located in Stonegate. They have three uniquely themed rooms - the Garden Room with swing seats, the Art Deco-inspired Neon Room and the luxurious Bohemian Room, all of which are very instragrammable. Their delicious food menu includes vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options and are all served with their signature edible flowers. If this isn’t enough then make sure you check out their Plush boutique store before you leave.

House of the Trembling Madness

Famed for its unbelievably small kitchen, impressively huge collection of beers, & its rich and varied history, our medieval ale house will always be associated with its quirky taxidermy animal collection, and the staff who truly embody the spirit of "Madness"! All food is sourced locally and intended for sharing (this means large portions). The bar is hidden, and so is the extensive spirits cellar, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for it. The ground floor shop stocks classic German and Belgian beers, the best craft beers from around the world and a huge selection of wine, gin, rum, tequila, brandy and much, much more!

Betty’s

Betty's story started over 100 years ago in Harrogate and was started by a Swiss orphan who accidentally boarded a train to Yorkshire. The Tea Rooms interiors are inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner.  Whilst you are in York, you absolutely must go to their famous Cafe Tea Rooms to have a traditional afternoon tea, complete with one of it’s famous fat rascal scones - it's a cross between a scone and a rock cake and tastes amazing!

Mommy Thai

Mommy Thai feels like you have walked straight into Bangkok. The seating are chairs from tuk tuks and the decor feels as if you are actually in Thailand, and the food is even better. Having come back from Thailand a few years ago I have searched for a similar experience and taste as out there and Mommy Thai has to be one of the closest I have got to it. They provide authentic Thai dishes, which won’t break the bank.

Il Paradiso Del Cibo (Italian)

Real and authentic Italian food, with a strong Sardinian influence. They have an excellent selection of home-made fresh pasta, regional italian dishes, wood oven cooked pizzas and the best sardinian wines, all at a great price. Visit Il Paradiso Del Cibo for lunch or dinner and be greeted by their super friendly staff, incredible food and great atmosphere. They also have options for those who are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.

Fossgate Social

The Fossgate Social is perfect for all your food and drinking (soft and alcoholic needs). In the morning you can expect sourdough breakfasts and flat whites whilst in the afternoon, the booze starts flowing. We particularly like the setting: neon-lit walls adorned with work by local artists. The Social has a sister venue on Micklegate, which is also worth exploring – above all for the wacky array of live events it puts on in the basement.

Dyls

Located inside in the old Motor House on Skeldergate Bridge, Dyls is the former toll booth that granted travellers access to the city. Dyls is now the home to one of the city’s best cafes and bars. Climb the spiral staircase to the elegant hexagon tower room, or choose to chill out in the fantastic riverside garden. You will struggle to find better seats anywhere else in the city. They serve a delicious range of breakfast, brunch, lunch and late night snacks, as well as, a great selection of teas, coffees and home made cakes. If you’re looking for something alcoholic they have a superb selection of artisan gins and bespoke cocktails.

Dusk

Dusk is open during the day for freshly baked bread, artisan coffee and a large selection of lunch items including homemade burgers, wraps and sandwiches. Whilst there is the option for a couple of craft beers during the day, you have to try out Dusk’s cocktail menu. The bar describes itself as ‘Glastonbury without the wellies’, referring not only to the breadth of its soundtrack but also the variety of customers it attracts. Two-for-one cocktails every evening until 10pm are not one to be missed.