The ancient surrounding walls of York could only hold off the inevitable invasion of modernity so long, and now the barrier has been well and truly breeched. You see, bottomless brunch in York has arrived. Where once was a sweet market town, complete with cathedral and its highly regarded university, now lies a buzzing metropolitan city with student life at the heart of it.
The contemporary ritual of bottomless brunch involves all the trappings or a traditional brunch – think pancakes, eggs, avocado on toast, you know the drill – with the added bonus of endless drinks and a crowd of punters hell-bent on having a good time. While the majority of places you’ll find to satisfy your cravings for unlimited prosecco are indeed chain restaurants, that doesn’t mean they’re any less worthy of the best bottomless brunch in York award. You see, these places are reliable in their knowledge of what their customers want and present a tried and tested formula which allows everyone to relax and let their hair down come the weekend.
It’s actually not even just Saturdays and Sundays which are given special bottomless brunch status in York these days, some places on our list will let you enjoy a full fry and a line-up of cocktails at any time of your choosing during the week.
One of our favourite spots is The Botanist which combines all the required perks we're looking for with an aesthetically pleasing space – perfect for those all-important Instagram snaps. Because there are relatively few places in York that actually serve bottomless brunch, these restaurants do get booked up fast, so we’d always advise securing your table well in advance of your visit.
Whether it’s a party for two or a gathering of twenty, bottomless brunch is undoubtedly a fun way to start the day. Here is our pick of the best bottomless brunches in York to try the next time you’re looking to party pre-lunchtime in York city centre.
The Botanist
Rather than pigeonholing yourself into picking just one main for your bottomless brunch, The Botanist gives you the choice of one item from six different sections to build a brunch board. The 'hearty' category offers up tempting options like a Cumberland sausage wheel, while the 'bakery' section spans warm croissants and toasted seeded bread through to jalapeno cornbread. The bottomless element is optional, and costs £15 for a choice of an elderflower spritz, prosecco or beer.
Turtle Bay
Famed for its bottomless brunches, Turtle Bay is the perfect lively joint to enjoy a buzzy and boozy morning with a group of friends. With two hours of unlimited cocktails, mocktails and beer, the format here lets you mix and match your drinks to enjoy a taste of everything on offer if you like. Food might be the secondary reason for your visit to Turtle Bay, but if you’re interested in solid sustenance, you’ll have your pick of Caribbean inspired plates like a stack of rotis topped with fried chicken, watermelon and hot sauce or a full fry-up with jerk bacon and sausages, curry spiced chickpeas and a homemade flatbread.
Solita
For just £30 Solita offers 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks that includes your choice of Porn Star Martinis, prosecco or draft beers. With each package there’s a choice of one main – think a 100% Wagyu brunch burger with a side of mini hash browns or a classic Egg Benedict. The best bit is that the fun isn’t confined to the weekend, with the offer of bottomless booze available seven days a week, between 12-3pm during the week and 11am-1pm come weekends.
Manahatta
With a much more generous offering than most, Manahatta offers seven different kinds of drinks to choose from when it comes to its bottomless brunch. Expect a party atmosphere modelled on the bars and nightlife of New York, with a crowd who come for a good time. Standard mains include a breakfast hash, a club wrap and smashed avocado on toast, while you can upgrade for a fiver to take advantage of dishes like steak frites, a crispy chicken bao or loaded sticky beef nachos.
All Bar One
If there’s one thing a chain bar offers it’s familiarity. Soak up the satisfaction of knowing exactly what you’re getting at All Bar One in York: decent food, friendly service and all-importantly an endless amount of drinks to kick-start your day. For £35 per person you’ll be treated to 90 minutes of unlimited Bloody Marys, Mimosas or Prosecco, as well as your choice of mains. Vegans and veggies are serviced by way of a dedicated menu, while the main line-up includes a handmade beef burger, a full fry up and good old Eggs Benedict.
Revolution York
The ideal place for a crowd, Revolution does a solid bottomless brunch in York and welcomes all party sizes, so is perfect for a boozy birthday or a lively weekend celebration. Food highlights include a special brunch pizza and piles of pancakes smothered in hot chocolate sauce and lashings of whipped creams. When it comes to the drinks you get 90 minutes of free-flowing booze which can include Aperol Spritzes, prosecco, beer and Bloody Marys.
Slug and Lettuce
Brilliantly affordable, the Slug and Lettuce puts on a party for just £29 per person. The bottomless brunch lasts for two hours and includes one main dish plus a choice of bottomless cocktails, beer or soft drinks. If you prefer, you can upgrade your drinks package for £15 for it to include French Martinis. Pancakes, smashed avocado on toast and full frys are all present and correct, while fancier upgrade options include tostadas, burgers and a southern fried chicken wrap.
Fancy a trip to the big smoke? These are our favourite bottomless brunches in London