York food and drink guide
Best pubs and bars in York
York is one of the UK's best cities for historic pubs, characterful bars and relaxed post-sightseeing drinks. Use this page to compare well-rated pubs and bars by area, price, accessibility, dog-friendly status and opening information.
Search intent
best pubs and bars in York
Venues compared
129
Average rating
4.4 / 5
Last updated: 2026-06-24
££House Of The Trembling Madness // Stonegate (The Original)
Stuffed animal heads line the walls of this quirky medieval bar serving hard-to-find Belgian beers.
££Valhalla York
This cozy, rustic spot with a viking theme serves ales and mead, plus meat, cheese and fish boards.
££Ye Olde Starre Inne
Traditional pub with flock wallpaper, wooden boards and a fire, for cask ales and comfort food.
££££Slug & Lettuce York Riverside
Smart bar chain with a cocktail list, a menu of global classics, and contemporary decor.
££Hole In The Wall
Traditional, red-brick venue with ales and classic pub food, plus quizzes and live music nights.
££Golden Fleece York
Airy rooms, some with 4-poster beds, in a casual 16th-century pub offering a beer garden.
££Pear Tree Farm - Farmhouse Inns
Hearty dishes and a daily carvery served in a modern brick pub with a garden and indoor play area.
£££The Fox And Roman
Half-timbered, rustic country pub and restaurant with a log fire and Roman artefacts on display.
££The Old White Swan
Cask ales and a traditional pub menu, served in a 16th-century building with its own ghost.
££££Revolution Revolution York
Individually styled chain bar with a global menu of comfort-food classics and nightly happy hours.
£The Stone Roses Bar
Quirky Britpop-themed pub with indie bands and sport on TV, plus pool tables and student nights.
££House of the Trembling Madness
Lendal's casual spot for pub.
££Evil Eye
Relaxed bar with an extensive menu of inventive cocktails, plus smoothies, milkshakes & a gin shop.
£York Tap
Station pub in Victorian, former tea rooms with terrazzo floor and circular bar serving craft beers.
££The Punch Bowl
Traditional pub, favoured drinking place of 17th-century Whig party members, and reputedly haunted.
£The Blue Bell
Tiny, traditional wood-panelled pub with original Edwardian decor and open fire, serving cask ales.
££Bobos Cocktail Bar York
Stylish cocktail bar offering creative drinks & featuring a shisha rooftop terrace.
££The Masons Arms
Warm, oak-paneled stop with a fireplace offering hearty pub grub plus a beer garden & river views.
££The Three Tuns
Centuries-old traditional pub serving draft ales & familiar comfort grub in a comfortable setting.
££The Hop York
Bar with tiled floors and walls for real ales, plus an airy pizzeria and weekend live music.
£Pivní York
Cosy and candle-lit, 2-storey bar serving artisan beers in 16th-century, half-timbered townhouse.
££The Fat Badger York
17th-century brick pub featuring simple, chic quarters, full Yorkshire breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
££££Tank & Paddle York
Convivial hangout fixing up burgers, pizza & meat dishes, plus beer, wine & creative cocktails.
££The Market Cat
Updated 3-storey pub with views, a partnership between a beer importer and a local brewer.
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How to choose best pubs and bars in York
Start with area and occasion. Visitors staying inside the walls usually do best around City Centre, Stonegate, Petergate, Fossgate, Walmgate and the Shambles, while locals may prefer neighbourhood spots when they want fewer queues and better availability.
What this page is best for
This page is designed for people comparing best pubs and bars in York before a York trip. It prioritises practical choice signals: ratings, review volume, cuisine, price, area, opening hours, accessibility and dog-friendly information where available.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area for best pubs and bars in York?
City Centre is the easiest area for first-time visitors because it keeps York Minster, the Shambles, Stonegate, theatre, shops and railway station routes within a short walk. Fossgate, Walmgate and Micklegate are strong alternatives for a more independent feel.
Should I book restaurants in York ahead of time?
For Fridays, Saturdays, race days, school holidays and Christmas market dates, booking ahead is strongly recommended. York's historic centre is compact, so popular restaurants and pubs can fill quickly during tourist peaks.
Does this guide include independent places?
Yes. YorkEats includes independent venues as well as well-known city-centre spots, then helps you compare them by location, rating, reviews, price, tags and practical visit details.