Food · York · United Kingdom
What to eat in York
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define York, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Yorkshire pudding, Fat Rascal and Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake. Bettys Café Tea Rooms, opened in York in 1937 in an Art Deco room on St Helen's Square, is the city's most famous tearoom. Book dinner on Fridays and Saturdays and for Sunday lunch; York fills with weekend visitors.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Yorkshire pudding
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 8
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in pubs.
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish · Vegetarian
1.Yorkshire pudding
A light, crisp batter pudding baked in hot fat until it rises, traditionally served with roast beef and gravy or as a starter on its own. Some pubs serve giant puddings filled with stew or sausages.
Where: Pubs and restaurants serving Sunday roasts across the city.
Snack · Vegetarian
2.Fat Rascal
A large, round, scone-like cake with currants, citrus peel and spices, decorated with cherries and almonds to make a face. It is a Yorkshire speciality made famous by Bettys tearooms.
Where: Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St Helen's Square, and other bakeries and tearooms in the city.
Dish
3.Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake
A crumbly, mild cheese from the Yorkshire Dales, traditionally eaten with a slice of rich fruit cake, a Yorkshire pairing that surprises many visitors.
Where: Cheese shops and delis in the centre, Shambles Market and pub cheese boards.
Dessert · Vegetarian
4.Yorkshire curd tart
A pastry tart filled with sweet curd cheese, currants and nutmeg or allspice, a traditional Yorkshire bake.
Where: Tearooms, bakeries and some traditional pubs.
Dessert · Vegetarian
5.Parkin
A dense, sticky ginger cake made with oatmeal, black treacle and golden syrup, traditionally eaten around Bonfire Night in November.
Where: Bakeries and tearooms, especially in autumn and winter.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Yorkshire forced rhubarb
Tender pink rhubarb grown in dark sheds in the 'Rhubarb Triangle' near Wakefield, about 40 km south-west, and in season from about January to March. It appears in crumbles, desserts and cocktails.
Where: Seasonal menus in York's restaurants and on market stalls in late winter.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Yorkshire ale
Yorkshire has a long brewing tradition, from Theakston and Black Sheep in Masham to Samuel Smith's in Tadcaster, about 15 km away, and York's own craft brewers. Cask ale is served from hand pumps at cellar temperature.
Where: York's historic pubs inside the walls, many dating back centuries, and brewery bars around the centre.
Snack · Vegetarian
8.Afternoon tea
Sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and cakes served with a pot of Yorkshire Tea, the county's own blend. York's tearoom culture is one of the strongest in England.
Where: Bettys on St Helen's Square, the smaller Little Bettys on Stonegate and many independent tearooms.
Snack · Vegetarian
9.Chocolate
York was home to Rowntree's and Terry's, which made the KitKat, Aero, Chocolate Orange and Smarties here, and the city still has independent chocolatiers.
Where: Independent chocolate shops in the centre, especially around the Shambles and Stonegate.
Food experiences
Afternoon tea at Bettys
Bettys Café Tea Rooms, opened in York in 1937 in an Art Deco room on St Helen's Square, is the city's most famous tearoom. Expect a queue at busy times; the shop downstairs sells Fat Rascals and cakes to take away.
Shambles Market food court
Behind the Shambles, the open-air market has a food court of street-food stalls alongside traders selling produce, cheese and bread.
Historic pub crawl
York claims a pub for every day of the year; historic inns such as Ye Olde Starre Inn on Stonegate and the House of the Trembling Madness make for an evening of real ale in medieval surroundings.
York Food and Drink Festival
In late September, Parliament Street and the city centre fill with food stalls, tastings and demonstrations of Yorkshire produce.
Quick bites and street food
- Fat Rascal — Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St Helen's Square, and other bakeries and tearooms in the city.
- Afternoon tea — Bettys on St Helen's Square, the smaller Little Bettys on Stonegate and many independent tearooms.
- Chocolate — Independent chocolate shops in the centre, especially around the Shambles and Stonegate.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 8 are usually vegetarian: Yorkshire pudding, Fat Rascal, Yorkshire curd tart, Parkin, Yorkshire forced rhubarb, Yorkshire ale, Afternoon tea and Chocolate. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Book dinner on Fridays and Saturdays and for Sunday lunch; York fills with weekend visitors.
- Race days and Christmas weekends bring big crowds; restaurants and hotels book out early.
- Many tearooms do not take bookings, so go mid-morning or late afternoon to avoid queues.
- Tap water is free on request in restaurants and pubs.
- The Fossgate and Walmgate area is good for independent restaurants away from the busiest tourist streets.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants and tearooms with table service, about 10% is usual for good service; check whether a service charge has been added.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ey up | Hello (Yorkshire greeting) |
| Snicket | A narrow alleyway (York's are also called snickelways) |
| Gate | Street (from the Old Norse gata), as in Stonegate |
| Bar | A gateway in the city walls |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is York famous for?
Yorkshire pudding, Fat Rascal, Wensleydale cheese with fruit cake and Yorkshire curd tart. A light, crisp batter pudding baked in hot fat until it rises, traditionally served with roast beef and gravy or as a starter on its own.
+Is York good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Yorkshire pudding, Fat Rascal and Yorkshire curd tart.
+Do you tip in restaurants in York?
Tipping is not expected in pubs. In restaurants and tearooms with table service, about 10% is usual for good service; check whether a service charge has been added.