Tried & Tested Pubs In York And Places To Enjoy British Food

York has lots of historic pubs and great places for traditional British food. On our visit, we enjoyed plenty of beers out and some traditional food, including fish and chips, pies, and roast dinners. I really enjoyed the cheaper eats while on our visit.

Most pubs in the city were dog-friendly and great places to stop to enjoy a beer or two, including some local options. I could have spent a month visiting all the pubs and eateries; there are so many. This blog post is about those I tried and enjoyed.

Pubs In York

There are lots of pubs to visit in the city, many with rich histories. Since we were in York for 24 hours and had lots to see, we didn’t have much chance to try many. The ones we did visit were all dog-friendly, and Henry would have loved visiting.

Golden Fleece

After seeing the sign at the front of The Golden Fleece, the most haunted pub in England, I had to pop in for a beer. The Golden Fleece is a nice traditional pub with inside seating and a beer garden. Since it was Halloween, the pub had lots of spooky décor throughout. Here I opted for some local Timothy Taylor’s beer, which hit the spot for me. Unfortunately, there were no spooky moments this time.

Tank & Paddle

One of the earliest places I found to get a beer in the city was Tank & Paddle. This riverside pub has a nice interior and a balcony overlooking the river and the Ouse Bridge. They had a good range of drinks on offer, and I enjoyed an Estrella on the balcony after a pleasant sunrise walk.

The Fat Badger

After spotting The Fat Badger while walking along the city walls, we decided to stop for a beer. We got off the walls at Bootham Bar and went in to order our drinks. It’s a cosy pub, a restaurant and a hotel too.

They had some nice small rooms for people to sit in and a big beer garden at the rear, which was nice. I found it a pleasant place to sit and sup while planning the next move to make the most of our day.

Cross Keys

Near Monk Bar and York Minster Cathedral is the Cross Keys, a traditional pub. The Cross Keys was a convenient stop for me after walking along the city walls and getting off at Monk Bar for a pint. They have an extensive range of beers to choose from, and I opted for a Nicholson’s Pale Ale but was tempted by their German offerings. Their food menu features traditional British pub grub with plenty of options.

Budget British Food In York

During our visit to York, we were on a bit of a budget for dining out, but we found some great British food to enjoy on the go. This included some delicious pies, York eggs, fish and chips, and a Yorkshire roast dinner. There were also lots of nice-looking restaurants in York, including many that were dog friendly.

The Shambles Sausage & Pie Company

One of my favourite places for lunch on the go was The Shambles Sausage & Pie Company. Based on the Shambles, this is a fantastic pie shop with plenty of options. If I had stayed longer, I could have tested the entire menu.

Highlights for me were their York egg and pork pie, both of which were oven-fresh. I enjoyed these sitting on a bench in an old town square. This was my first experience with the local egg, which is an egg wrapped in sausage meat and then bacon. It hit all the right notes for me.

Drake’s Fish & Chips

On this UK trip, our first stop was London, and we have always lucked out on fish and chips in the city. Thus, we awaited our first meal in York to get some. After lots of research to avoid disappointment, I opted for Drake’s Fish & Chips. This was a nice-looking place a short walk from our hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at the hotel, and that was knocked off my UK Food Bingo card.

The York Roast Co.

Another favourite meal that I missed while living abroad is the traditional roast dinner with Yorkshire pudding. I spotted the York Roast Co while exploring the city and thought I’d give it a go. They have two places in the city, and both seem pretty popular.

Their concept is pretty unique; it’s a cross between a carvery and a fast food place. Basically, you choose your meat and meal style, and it is served for takeaway or at one of their tables, much like at other fast-food places. Anyway, the meal was delicious, with a generous portion of beef, a perfect Yorkshire pudding, and gravy.

Shambles Kitchen

Busy during the daytime and lit up nicely at night, the Shambles Kitchen. This is a special sandwich shop with great smoked-meat options. Their smoked beef sandwich was excellent and was worth the queue.