A few months ago, I published a huge post on the best restaurants here in York! It was really popular, and I think answered a lot of questions people have about where to eat in York. There are SO MANY choices for where to eat (and where to drink, for that matter!) in York that it can be a bit overwhelming. But after nearly 3 years of living here, I think I’ve tried some of the best and can narrow it down to some of the best places. I specifically split this section from my best restaurants post, since I thought it deserved its own! So these are the best cafes and coffee shops in York!

Interested in a FREE 10-page York Mini Guide? Included in this York Mini Guide are: The top experiences and things to do in the city Where to eat & drink (cafes, restaurants, pubs) The best daytrips outside the city An itinerary for how to spend 3 days in York Click here to get your free copy!

Gatehouse Coffee

Of course, there’s no doubt in my mind for my favorite coffee shop in York. While I might be biased because it’s pretty close to where I live, Gatehouse Coffee is one of the most unique cafes you could visit. It’s also definitely one of York’s hidden gems! Gatehouse Coffee is housed in Walmgate Bar, one of the four main gates to the city walls. You can even walk out and sit along the barbican, or sit on the rooftop terrace with a hint of a Minster view! It’s small, but really cozy and popular with students. They do a mean chai tea latte, and also have a great selection of cakes and light eats. Gatehouse Coffee is also a great stop if you’re doing a full loop of the city walls! Note that they’re closed on Sundays, as they’re run by a group of Christian volunteers.

Address: Walmgate Bar, Walmgate // Website // Facebook

Hairy Fig

Another small coffee shop, it’s tucked away on Fossgate to the side of the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall entrance. There’s only a couple of tables in the Hairy Fig, but they do your classic café fare and an excellent hot chocolate. It’s also generally pretty quiet, so it’s really nice if you’re wanting to catch up with a friend. They have a great shop in the front room, and next door too!

Address: 39 Fossgate // Website

Fossgate Social

Located almost directly across from the Hairy Fig is Fossgate Social, one of my favorite places in all of York. This is the kind of place you can visit anytime and enjoy yourself: during the day it’s very much a coffee shop vibe. But it transitions seamlessly into a fun and happening pub in the evening—they’ve got a lot of really nice local beers, and fantastic cocktails. There’s a small area out back, and an upstairs room too. So if it’s busy in the front room, don’t necessarily give up for a spot to sit! And great news: they’ve now opened one across town by Micklegate, the Micklegate Social!

Address: 25 Fossgate // Website

York Cocoa House

I love chocolate, and whatever chocolate delight you want to indulge in will be available at York Cocoa House. Now as part of their chocolate factory (they run tours and chocolate making classes!), the York Cocoa House still has plenty of chocolate-y options for both drinks and food. They have basically an entire page of the menu for different kinds of hot chocolates!

Address: 10 Castlegate // Website

Brew and Brownie

Brw and Brownie is one of my favorite breakfast places in York. The food is amazing (try their pancakes), and even though there might be a bit of a wait during busy times, it’s worth it. If you just want a drink and something light, I’d recommend going to the Brew and Brownie Bakeshop, just a few doors along. It’s also small, but as more of a coffee shop it’s way less crowded. The best thing is that they have their delicious brownies at both locations, so you can’t go wrong!

Address: 5 Museum Street (9 Museum Street for the Bakeshop) // Website

Pig and Pastry

Possibly (probably) the best brunch spot in York, Pig and Pastry is located on Bishopthorpe Road (Bishy Road, for the locals) and is one of the best feel-good cafes I’ve ever been to. First of all, the food is amazing, with a big focus on local suppliers. Second of all, it’s incredibly priced for how good everything is—avocado on toast for £6?!? It’s also one of the most welcoming places on this list, with super friendly staff and a lot of regulars who help you feel at home. Pig and Pastry is a small place and they don’t do reservations—but it tends to be a quick turnaround time, so don’t be put off if there’s a line. It’s worth it! Oh, and don’t even get me started on their cakes and pastries. I could write a whole blog post on them.

Address: 35 Bishopthorpe Road // Website

Partisan

A relative newcomer to the scene is Partisan on Micklegate. They opened just about two years ago, and have been a big success—especially for brunch. The venue is gorgeous (and very Instagrammable!), and has a huge selection of antique furniture that you can actually buy! Again, they don’t take reservations, so you’ll need to wait for a table if it’s busy. They’re open in the evenings on Thursday-Saturday with their dinner menu as well!

Address: 112 Micklegate // Website

Crumbs Cupcakery

Best cupcakes in York? Yep, that’s how I would sum up Crumbs Cupcakery. Yes, it’s a really nice place and yes, they do nice drinks. Yes, their location right behind York Minster is fabulous. And yes, I suppose all the really nice and friendly staff are good for a business too. But the main draw is the cupcakes—and they are GOOD. Run (don’t walk) to Crumbs because they are some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever consumed in my life. And I’ve had a lot of cupcakes!

Address: 10 College Street // Website

Bettys

Now, Bettys is kind of its own category. It’s not really a restaurant, and it’s not really a café. It’s technically a tearoom, but in reality it’s much more than that. Bettys is an institution in Yorkshire, and it’s so big they’ve got two locations in York: the main one in St. Helen’s Square, and a smaller one on Stonegate. Bettys is classic, it’s posh, it’s fancy, it usually has a queue that wraps around the entire square. But the cakes are delicious, and I had their Champagne Afternoon Tea once—and yes, everything was perfect.

Address: 6-8 St. Helen’s Square (46 Stonegate for the smaller one) // Website

Mannion and Co.

I was shocked (and embarrassed) that it took me over two years of living in York to finally get to Mannion and Co. They have an extensive food menu, great for small snacks, meat/cheese boards, and full meals as well. I’d definitely recommend their sausage rolls—quite possibly the best sausage roll I’ve ever had (something I don’t say lightly). They do have a room in the back, so don’t be too disappointed if the front room looks full!

Address: 1 Blake Street // Website

Perky Peacock

Perky Peacock is definitely a unique space with lots of character! It’s housed in a circular tower that is supposedly 800 years old. The coffee shop is right by Lendal Bridge with very nice views of the River Ouse. The cakes are divine and there’s a very cozy atmosphere. There are a few tables outside as the inside is very small, with only a few tables! Keep in mind there is no toilet here.

Address: North Street Postern Tower

45 Vinyl Café

Only in an indie-loving city like York could you find a café that is both part-café and part-record shop! 45 Vinyl Café is one of the most unique venues on the list as it doubles as a record shop. You can have a drink or something to eat and browse away to your hearts’ content.

Address: 29 Micklegate // Website

Bruks

Tucked away down a quiet side street (Peter Lane) near two snickelways, you’ll find Bruks. To say how out of the way it is, I was surprised at just how busy it got around lunchtime! I had an ice cream Oreo milkshake which was delicious. It’s a very laid back atmosphere, and good for all ages!

Address: 1 Peter Lane // Facebook

Kiosk

My best description for Kiosk is that Kiosk is a local’s local. It’s quite small (there’s only a few tables inside) but you’ll be made to feel at home here. Kiosk (their full name is Kiosk: Project Space) doubles as a gallery, with different art pieces inside. While yes they are decorations, you can actually buy the pieces too! They’ve got a great menu, to say how small their kitchen is! Note that they’re closed on Mondays.

Address: 41 Fossgate // Facebook

Bison Coffee

Bison Coffee is definitely more of a local affair. This coffee shop is just far enough outside the city walls that you don’t see very big crowds unlike some of the others on this list—more than likely, it’ll be full of students. They have a basic menu of bagels and toasties, but the décor is quirky and the mother and son who run it are both very welcoming. Note that they don’t have plug access, so don’t plan on needing an outlet if you’re planning on working!

Address: 17 Heslington Road // Website

York is full of fantastic coffee shops and cafes. With so many different independent places to choose from, it is really difficult to narrow it down to this (very long!) list! Regardless of what type of coffee shop or café you’re looking for, York will have one for you. I hope you enjoy this post and go out and try some of the best coffee shops and cafes in York!

York is just two hours away from London by train, making it perfect for a daytrip or a long weekend away. It is also certainly an international destination in its own right! I always use Trainline to find the best deals on train tickets. Planning on staying in York overnight? You can look for hostels in York here, and you can check out hotels in York here! You can also sign up and search Airbnb for accommodation in York here!

If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial to eat, make sure to check out my post on the Best Restaurants In York, England! Otherwise, enjoy these cafes and coffee shops around town!

Have you visited any of these cafes or coffee shops in York? Which one is your favorite?!

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The Best Snickelways in York

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My Top 12 Favorite Bars in York

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All posts in the York category!

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Interested in a FREE 10-page York Mini Guide? Included in this York Mini Guide are: The top experiences and things to do in the city Where to eat & drink (cafes, restaurants, pubs) The best daytrips outside the city An itinerary for how to spend 3 days in York Click here to get your free copy!