£££Modern Cuisine
On the edge of York’s buzzing centre, you’ll find this brick-built former coaching house. Inside, there's a Mediterranean feel to the white-and-blue décor, while an enclosed terrace is ideal for the summer. The cooking gets off to a great start with stand-out bread from their bakery, Little Arras, before dishes that are guided by the seasons and feature inventive touches and combinations. Cheese lovers should save room for the excellent British selection presented on a handmade oak trolley, while wine enthusiasts will be delighted by a well-curated list – including a strong English showing.
££££Modern British
Tucked away by the Minster and bordered by the historic city walls, this beautiful Jacobean house with luxurious bedrooms and a peaceful garden is something of a hidden gem. Enjoy an aperitif in the characterful wood-panelled gallery, then head through to the more modern restaurant with its large bow window. Seasonality, purity and freshness underpin dishes that often use ingredients from their own garden – look out for the poached Yorkshire rhubarb dessert when available. The service team have an affable, natural charm.
£££Modern British
The name is a clue as to this intimate restaurant’s focus, as well as to its sustainable ethos. Tucked down a narrow cobbled-street in York's pretty city centre, not far from the famous Shambles, its menu focuses on fish from small boats, meats reared putting husbandry first and game from local shoots. All parts of the ingredients are used too, so that the constantly evolving blackboard menu produces little waste. The self-taught chef's cooking has an ambitious edge, with dishes proving to be fresh and vibrant. The friendly team add to the appeal.
££greek
Located in York’s buzzing centre, this relaxed restaurant brings a sunny taste of Greece to the historic city. It’s a simple, cheerful place with an informal bistro vibe and friendly service. The cooking presents great value for money, especially at lunchtime, and offers well-executed versions of classic dishes: start with pita and dips, then share the likes of ‘keftedakia’ meatballs or moussaka, before ending on a sugary note with the ‘Portakalopia’, a Cretan cake with orange syrup. Greek wines and spirits add to the authenticity.
££Modern British
As locations go, this buzzy all-day brasserie is in a real gem – even in a city with as many pretty spots as York. Part of the same group as The Star Inn at Harome, this city centre spin-off occupies an old brick-built engine house next to the Museum Gardens, with large windows and a lovely terrace overlooking the river. The menu of carefully cooked dishes has a pubby base and blends modern execution with a pleasing gutsiness – underscoring it all is the top Yorkshire produce, with seasonal influences leading the way.
££££Modern British
The Grand Hotel – built in 1906 as the HQ of the North-Eastern Railway Company – is a building that certainly lives up to its name. Among its historic interiors lies Legacy, a formal restaurant with an elegant feel thanks to its parquet flooring and marble-topped tables. The kitchen is strong on technique and fuses Yorkshire ingredients with Japanese influences, from the use of ponzu to a chawanmushi-like dish of shiitake custard. The knowledgeable service team keep things running smoothly.
£££Modern British
Just outside York's bustling city centre, you'll find this cosy neighbourhood restaurant where the walls are covered with murals of ingredients and happy diners. It's apt décor for a place with a passion for local produce and a warm, inviting atmosphere thanks to the long-serving team. The ambitious cooking is underpinned by the natural flavours of the high quality ingredients, and the strong classical technique of the experienced chef is evident – if a soufflé is available for dessert, make sure you order it.
🕐 Mo off; Tu-Sa 12:00-14:00, 17:30-21:30; Su off
££Regional Cuisine, Traditional British
This smartly modernised dining pub sits on a large village green where, as well as a duck pond, you’ll find the country’s tallest maypole. Guests are spread across multiple rooms that are all packed with charm, character and the obligatory exposed brickwork and beams. The hearty, well-presented dishes showcase some garden produce and know no borders, meaning you could find dynamite shrimp and sea bass ceviche alongside fish & chips and leek & potato soup. Welcoming service and smart, slightly Scandic-style bedrooms complete the picture.
TripAdvisor review sample · 4.7/5 · 80 reviews
Located in Green Hammerton, Alice Hawthorn Inn is renowned for its traditional British regional cuisine and attentive service. Reviews frequently praise the precise cooking, highlighting dishes like cod and Hispi cabbage for their punchy flavors and fresh ingredients. Staff are described as professional, delightful, and unobtrusive. The ambiance features understated decor, charming interiors, and spacious rooms with high-standard amenities, including roll-top baths. While some guests note that prices are on the higher side or experience issues with meal pacing, the overall consensus is positive. Negative feedback is limited to isolated incidents involving unfriendly service, chewy vegetables, dry chips, and ventilation issues in certain rooms. It remains a strong choice for travelers seeking quality dining and comfortable lodging in a village setting.
Suitable for travelers seeking high-quality traditional British dining and comfortable rural accommodation.
££Traditional British
For over 300 years this charming pub has stood in a sleepy Yorkshire hamlet. It's a loveable, eclectically decorated place with a thoroughly welcoming feel that extends to the cosy bedrooms. As at any good inn, the fire is roaring in the winter and a lovely courtyard is available for warmer days. The cooking echoes the surroundings in its comforting heartiness, with full-flavoured and uncomplicated dishes spread across an extensive menu and plenty of seasonal specials. Steak and seafood platters are ideal for celebrations.
££££Modern Cuisine
This attractive restaurant inside Aldwark Manor boasts a range of eye-catching features; your interest may be captured by the boldly coloured fabrics decorating the room, the huge windows affording views over the lawns or, if you’re looking closely, the mirror with camera views into the kitchen. What’s more, one of the well-stocked bookcases even conceals a secret door into a snug bar that’s perfect for a digestif. The cooking itself consists of modernised classics on a choice of tasting menus, Romeo or Julieta – plus vegetarian versions Pol and Roger.
£££Modern Cuisine
There is a simple, homely feel to this pub overlooking the ruins of Byland Abbey, courtesy of its flagstone floor, colourful throws and blazing fires in the winter. The comforting British cooking matches the seasons well, while providing crowd-pleasing menu mainstays like their signature 'Byland Burger'. The owners, who also run The Black Swan in nearby Oldstead, provide much of the superb produce from their own farm. Traditional bedrooms sit upstairs and, in the summer, the garden terrace makes a great spot for a pint.
£££Modern British
This 18th-century coaching inn has been given a makeover by the Tommy Banks group, with its rustic charm preserved across the main dining room, a glass-roofed courtyard, a bar and a large terrace – with the latter two kept free for walk-ins. As is the Banks way, the cooking champions the best Yorkshire produce and day-boat fish, across a mixture of pub classics and slightly more original dishes, like barbecued monkfish with a lemon verbena curry sauce. The bright, engaging service team add just the kind of warmth you hope for in a pub like this.
£££Modern British
Sitting within the hotel of the same name, this elegant restaurant has a country house feel that combines classical and contemporary design touches. Diners are split between the inside dining room and a less formal conservatory, while a lovely terrace overlooks the village duck pond. The appealing menus take a seasonal approach, with classically based dishes providing plenty of flavour thanks to well-sourced ingredients and strong technique. An all-day set-up means you can pop in for anything from breakfast to a nightcap, via afternoon tea and, on Sundays, a roast lunch.
£££Traditional Cuisine
Richard and Lindsey Johns are experience operators in this part of the world. For their latest project, they’ve taken on this attractive 16th-century inn situated between the Howardian Hills and the North York Moors. There’s plenty of character to the place, from the beamed ceiling to the roaring fire for winter and beer garden for summer. Chef Richard offers hearty dishes that are classically and wholly enjoyable, like a generous pork chop cooked with evident skill. Lindsey looks after every table with a genuine warmth and personal touch.
££££Creative
The team from Pignut in Helmsley moved a few miles down the road to take over The Hare, a long-standing pub which they’ve smartly refurbished with a Nordic-esque touch while retaining its rustic character. The ambitious tasting menu employs a range of creative techniques resulting in attractive, hyper-local dishes – beginning with the ‘wastage’ broth using leftover vegetables and ending with stand-out desserts such as a signature combination of mushroom, coffee and caramel. Bedrooms are available if you’d rather stay the night than drive back down the narrow lanes after dinner.
££Seasonal Cuisine
A smart, spacious café behind a garden centre; if it’s sunny, grab a seat on the terrace overlooking the lake. They’re open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and the frequently changing menu offers seasonal dishes which are fresh, unfussy and full of flavour. Book the chef’s table to watch the kitchen at work.
££££Modern British
Set in the shadow of the imposing Ripon Cathedral, this 17th-century house is an attractive location for a restaurant with rooms. Start with a drink in the shabby-chic lounge or in the well-kept garden when the weather permits. During the day a simpler lunch menu and afternoon tea are offered, before the evening tasting menu kicks things up a gear. The cooking has a creative make-up, with numerous processes involved, resulting in precise and eye-catching dishes which often incorporate intensely flavoured elements. A classic roast lunch is available on Sundays.
££British Contemporary
The team from the former Bantam in Helmsley are behind this characterful rural pub, which benefits from an enviable location perched above a pretty valley in the North York Moors National Park. A former drover’s inn dating back to the 19th century, there’s a vintage style to the décor and a lovely, welcoming vibe thanks to the friendly team. Hearty, unfussy and downright tasty dishes are the order of the day, with old favourites like devilled kidneys and toad in the hole sure to satisfy. Bedrooms are available for those looking to explore the surroundings in more detail.
£££Meats and Grills, Barbecue
Housed in a former mill, along with a beer hall and cocktail bar, this unpretentious restaurant attracts a young and lively crowd keen to sample its wood-fired cooking using a grill imported from the US. Utilising fire and smoke to enhance quality produce is the name of the game – with the 1kg côte de boeuf on hand if you're feeling flush – but the kitchen isn't afraid of adding in bold flavours too, as evidenced by the nduja with the oysters and the gochujang glaze on the crispy pig tails. Pleasingly, there's plenty of choice for vegetarians too.
£££Modern British
Tartan upholstery and woodpanelled walls lend a historic feel to this intimate restaurant inside the luxurious Grantley Hall hotel. The dining room boasts garden views and there’s a lovely terrace on which to enjoy an aperitif in the summer. The large menu is influenced by the local area and ticks all the boxes for unfussy, flavoursome food with dishes like cheese soufflé, beef Wellington for two and a choice of cuts from the Josper grill.
£££Modern British
This smart, modern restaurant occupies one wing of an impressive Grade II listed former courthouse and has a sheltered courtyard terrace for warmer days. It’s run with passion by twins Michele and Matthew, whose menus mix traditional dishes with some more modern, creative choices.
££Traditional British
The team from the nearby country manor Grantley Hall have taken on a decidedly smaller scale project with this restored 17th-century pub. All the boxes have been ticked for a classic country inn: a roaring fire for winter; a terrace for summer; flag-floored interiors filled with trinkets and treasures; and finally, hearty traditional British cooking. Whether it’s the excellent braised beef and ale pie or throwback desserts like sticky toffee pudding and trifle, everything is comfortingly familiar, big on flavour and executed with skill.
££Mediterranean Cuisine
Experienced chef Matt Healy – a onetime 'MasterChef: The Professionals' contestant – has come home to Horsforth to open this rustic bistro and wine bar. His appealing menu features appetising small plates with Mediterranean influences; two or three per person works well, and there are some well-chosen wines, craft beers and cocktails too.