Updated on 21 October 2024
Let’s get straight to it - you’re here looking for Yorkshire’s best restaurants. Well, we’ve got the goods, or rather, Yorkshire has the goods! This huge county (by far the largest in the UK, don’t you know) stretches all the way from Sheffield in the south, up into the North Pennines and North York Moors in the north. Although technically broken up into four individual counties (North, South, East and West Yorkshire), many still colloquially think of Yorkshire as a single entity and we’re including the whole lot in our list - that means great restaurants in Leeds, York, and everything in between.
That everything in between is pretty vast. Whilst it’s tempting to gravitate towards the cities when you’re looking for good food, some of the best places to eat in Yorkshire are out in the countryside. Some of the best gastropubs in the UK are found nestled amongst Yorkshire’s endless green moors and quaint country villages, and we’ve picked out a handful of those as well as some acclaimed city centre spots.
What makes food in Yorkshire so good? The produce certainly has a part to play. Well regarded Yorkshire chefs like Tommy Banks and Andrew Pern are vociferous about growing and sourcing much of their produce within Yorkshire - this is home to some of the UK’s very best produce, and when that ends up on the plate courtesy of great chefs, it translates to fantastic food.
Scroll down and you’ll find a selection of our favourite restaurants in Yorkshire. If you see something you like, click through to the restaurant page where you can find more information, booking details and more.
Byland, York, North Yorkshire, YO61 4BD
Tommy Banks’ third restaurant is arguably the most relaxed of the three, but The Abbey Inn brings his signature modern British touch to a more gastropub setting. With Byland Abbey sitting right outside, you’re hard-pressed to find a more impressive backdrop.
68 Marygate, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 7BH
Part of an impressive Tommy Banks stable that also includes The Abbey Inn in Byland and The Black Swan at Oldstead, Roots York is unquestionably one of the best restaurants in the country, serving intricate, delicious modern British food in a gorgeous dining room.
12 Bridge Street, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5DX
Yorkshire has a habit of hiding killer restaurants in small villages, and Pignut is exactly that - a chic Scandi-style spot in tiny Helmsley. Former Rattle Owl chef Tom Heywood and sommelier Laurissa Cook make this distinct restaurant a place worth travelling for with elegant, seasonal plates and cocktails.
The Angel Inn, Hetton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6LT
Michael Wignall’s ultra-precise cooking gets plaudits everywhere he goes, but The Angel at Hetton might be his most successful restaurant yet, blending the charm of a local pub with pinpoint technique and execution. Another regular in the upper echelons of our Top 100 restaurants list.
7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ
This Indian restaurant in Leeds specialises in Keralan food, and is consistently among the most popular Indian restaurants around Leeds and Bradford - no mean feat given the embarrassment of riches in South Yorkshire. It’s also a favourite haunt of Indian cricket star Virat Kohli when he’s in Leeds - if it’s good enough for Virat it’s good enough for us.
Prudom House, Goathland, North Yorkshire, YO22 5AN
Right in the heart of the North York Moors, Goathland is a bit of a trek but it’s worth it for a visit to Homestead Kitchen, which brings together a host of local suppliers - from flour milled on the moors to fresh fish caught in nearby Whitby - into an exceptional, heart-warming menu.
Grantley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3ET
Grantley Hall is certainly one of the most impressive locations on the list - a sprawling five-star hotel and spa, with a fine dining restaurant to match. Shaun Rankin is the man overseeing the food, and he brings outstanding British ingredients to new heights in this opulent setting.
2 Dyson Place, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S11 8XX
Small plates restaurant Tonco has its priorities in order, laying on menus of dishes that you just want to devour, alongside extremely knowledgeable wine selection. Every city in the country should be lucky enough to have a restaurant like this.
Oldstead, North Yorkshire, YO61 4BL
The Black Swan is the restaurant that turned Tommy Banks into a household name - a huge amount of the produce here (and at Banks other restaurants) comes from the Banks’ family farm and it goes into clever, precise dishes that have made The Black Swan a worthy Michelin star winner.
Main Street, Hovingham, North Yorkshire, YO62 4LF
A charming little joint tucked away in Hovingham, Myse offers a tasting menu curated by Joshua Overington that celebrates the very best of Yorkshire cuisine. Produce-led cooking takes the forefront with 'Time and Place' menus that are dictated by the ingredients available each day.
High Street, Harome nr Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5JE
A legendary Yorkshire restaurant, The Star Inn was sadly closed for some time after a fire gutted the restaurant, but Andrew Pern has reopened this beloved eatery and it’s as popular as ever.
Shibden Mill Fold, Shibden, Halifax, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 7UL
Originally a corn and spinning mill, Shibden Mill Inn has entered a new lease of life as a gorgeous countryside restaurant with rooms just outside Halifax. The cooking is brilliant, but come here for the building too, which retains all its old charm with old wooden beams, heavy-set stone walls and crackling fires.
Nether Edge Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S7 1RU
This Sheffield wine bar has been building some national buzz for its outstanding, thoughtful cooking and wine selections. You can buy any particularly good bottles you discover in the shop afterwards too.
98 Micklegate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6JX
Neil Bentinck’s York city centre restaurant is one of the most popular in the city, loved for its wide spectrum, idiosyncratic cooking. Bang for buck, this is one of the most delicious, affordable, high quality restaurants anywhere, making the people of York very lucky indeed to have it so close by.
West End, South Dalton, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 7PN
Another legendary Yorkshire restaurant, James and Kate Mackenzie have run the Pipe and Glass for nearly 20 years, handling back and front of house respectively and holding a Michelin star for over a decade thanks to their exceptional service and elevated British classics.
Old Mill Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S35 0LB
Luke and Stacey Sherwood-French have turned a Kelham Island shipping container into one the best restaurants in Yorkshire at Joro, blending Nordic and Asian influences across picture-perfect tasting menus.
Fancy exploring some Yorkshire cities? We've got guide on the best restaurants in York, the best restaurants in Sheffield, and the best places to eat in Leeds for you to check out, just to name a few!
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