The Best Restaurants in York

You’re unlikely to stumble upon Arras by accident as you wander York’s shopping streets, but it would be a crime to miss out on this lovely little restaurant near the renowned City Walls. It’s actually only a very short walk from the city centre, but the area has a feeling of calm you struggle to find amongst the crowds. The restaurant’s enclosed rear terrace is a terrific spot to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing too. The cooking itself comes with a creative streak, grounded by strong classical techniques.

If you’re walking the City Walls – as any self-respecting tourist should – then you’ll likely have your head turned by the beautiful Grays Court and its gardens. With York Minster looming in the background, this Jacobean house looks mightily impressive and is now home to a hotel and restaurant. The latter utilises a variety of produce from the garden, along with some ingredients from the luxury side of the ledger in order to make the dining experience a match for the gorgeous surroundings.

You can expect both fish and forest to feature on the menu of this welcoming restaurant tucked down Grape Lane, a quintessential cobbled York street. The top-quality seafood comes from small boats and – like all the produce – is used with minimal waste in mind, which means every part of the ingredient fulfils a purpose in the kitchen. The restaurant has a neat, smart feel with chic dark blue décor and hand-painted artwork on the walls to liven things up.

When you arrive at York’s historic train station (the national railway museum is nearby for enthusiasts), it won’t take you long to find The Grand, the city’s premier hotel housed in the one-time offices of the North Eastern Railway Company. Within it, alongside a spa and whisky lounge, is Legacy – an elegant restaurant serving ambitious modern dishes with the occasional international influence. There’s a certain formality to the place, with efficient, knowledgeable service adding to the experience.

Located on the outskirts of the city, towards the Bishopthorpe district, Melton's is a proper neighbourhood restaurant that will provide a welcome break from the bustle should the city centre crowds get too much for you. Earnestly run by a friendly, long-standing team, it's a warm place where the cooking takes on an ambitious edge in the form of either a tasting menu or à la carte. Effort is put into the wine list, too, which features options from all over the globe including some lesser-known regions.

As the jewel in York’s culinary crown, the only restaurant in the city with a MICHELIN Star, diners go to Roots with lofty expectations. It’s fortunate, then, that it is powered by a kitchen team of such immense skill. The restaurant is part of the Tommy Banks stable – which also includes The Black Swan and The Abbey Inn a little outside the city – and as such reaps the rewards of terrific ingredients from the Banks family farm. The cooking is different from at its siblings, however, with the technical, precisely crafted dishes often taking a more complex approach.

All cities should have a Bib Gourmand in their dining scene – and York answers the call with Skosh, a fun and thriving spot that the city’s diners are clearly loving. In fact, it’s so popular that the team had to expand their premises to cope with demand. It’s no surprise, considering the terrific atmosphere and the menu of good value, on-trend sharing plates. These take on a multitude of international influences, meaning that the boldly flavoured dishes could range from tataki to tostadas via vindaloo and fried chicken.

There’s plenty to love about this big, bright brasserie in a brilliant location on the edge of the Museum Gardens. There’s its pun-tastic name, for a start, which is a nod to its parent pub, The Star Inn at Harome – a MICHELIN-Starred operation about 23 miles further north. Then there’s the large windows allowing light to flood in and affording views of the gardens outside, plus a riverside terrace for the summer. The cooking itself is proudly Yorkshire-based, with the region’s produce incorporated into crowd-pleasing dishes.