The Best Cafes and Coffee Shops in York, England

UPDATED FEBRUARY 2026! Having lived in York for nearly a deacde, I’ve been to my fair share of the amazing places to eat and drink around the city. You can read my previous posts on the best restaurants in York and where to drink in York. But York’s cafes and coffee shops deserve their own post. About 65% of businesses in York are independent, according to Indie York, and this post highlights some of my top picks. It was hard to narrow it down, but 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

Fossgate Social

Located on Fossgate 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 have another location across town on Micklegate, the Micklegate Social!

Address: 25 Fossgate // Website

Black Wheat Club

Black Wheat Club is more than just a coffee shop or a cafe – it’s an institution. It opened in February 2025 and quickly became one of the best places to eat in the city. This bistro serves inventive, seasonal dishes with fresh ingredients – their bread is baked in-house – for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They’re closed on Tuesdays; note their dinner service is only available on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Address: 52 Fossgate // Website

Lè Speciality

This cozy cafe on Fossgate is a go-to for matcha lovers, as they focus on specialty drinks with an Asian/Malaysian twist. But even if you’re not a matcha fan, there’s still plenty here to enjoy. They serve croffles (croissant waffles) in both sweet and savory flavors, plus milkshakes and smoothies. Note they’re closed on Tuesdays.

Address: 23 Fossgate // Instagram

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. It’s right next to the dramatic entrance to the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall on Fossgate. They’ve got a great menu, to say how small their kitchen is! They’re open Monday-Saturday from 8:30am-4pm, and Sundays from 8:30am-3pm.

Address: 41 Fossgate // Facebook

Spring Espresso

Spring Espresso has not one but two locations in York, focusing on artisan coffee and classic brunch dishes like avocado toast and eggs benedict – as well as offering the ubiquitous sweet treats. The Fossgate location has more seating than the Lendal location.

Address: 45 Fossgate & 21 Lendal // Website

Brew and Brownie

Brew and Brownie is one of my favorite breakfast/brunch spots in York. The food is amazing – try their pancakes! 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 usually 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 B&B 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 – peacado toast (their unique guac) for £8?! 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. They’re all divine.

Address: 35 Bishopthorpe Road // Website

Robinsons

Easily one of the best breakfasts in York, Robinsons is a classic spot and well worth waiting in the queue. Located on Bishy Road, this spot dishes up impeccable brunch favorites – I personally recommend the pancakes, sweetcorn fritters, or truffle mushrooms. Top tip: if there is a queue for both Robinsons and Pig and Pastry, have one person wait in each line as they’re just a few doors down from one another. See who reaches the front of the queue fastest!

Address: 7 Bishopthorpe Road // Website

Partisan

Partisan is located on Micklegate, a favorite for breakfast/brunch dishes. The venue is gorgeous (and very Instagrammable!), and has a huge selection of antique furniture and artwork that you can actually buy! My recommendations are the shakshuka or avocado toast – but anything you eat here will be good. They’re open daily from 9am-3pm.

Address: 112 Micklegate // Website

Heppni Bakeri

Heppni is a newcomer on the scene, opening in summer 2024 and quickly making waves. Their pastry selection is top-notch, with a focus on local ingredients – the flaky, buttery croissants melt in your mouth. The indoor seating area isn’t huge, but you can always get the goods to takeaway. They’re open Wednesday to Sunday.

Address: 14 Swinegate // Website

Nice to See You

This family-run cafe on Goodramgate has a range of breakfast and lunch dishes, including a rotating variety of Polish dishes. But the real draw here are their cakes – rich in flavor and oh so sweet.

Address: 30 Goodramgate // Facebook

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. They also do custom orders for cupcakes and cakes – they made the delicious cake I had for my divorce party!

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 cafe. It’s technically a tearoom, but in reality it’s much more than that. Bettys is an institution in Yorkshire – it’s classic, it’s posh, it’s fancy, and 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 // 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

The 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 tasty and there’s a very cozy atmosphere. There are a few tables outside as the inside is very small! Keep in mind there is no toilet here.

Address: Barker Tower // 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!), York Cocoa House 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

Bruks

Tucked away down a quiet side street (Peter Lane) near two snickelways, you’ll find Bruks. It’s tucked out of the way, but 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

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 staff are very welcoming. Note that they don’t have plug access, so this isn’t a spot to go for work/study!

Address: 17 Heslington Road // Facebook

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 cafe you’re looking for, York will have one for you. Be sure to check opening times in advance, as some spots are closed on certain weekdays.

Planning Your Trip to York

York is just two hours from London by train, so it’s easy to visit on a day trip or for a weekend away. The closest airport is Leeds-Bradford airport, but Manchester airport offers much better flight connections. I always use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Planning on staying overnight in York? I’d recommend the following places:

Budget: Safestay York or the Fort Boutique Hostel
Mid-range: Hotel Indigo or Galtres Lodge
Luxury: The Grand

Interested in foodie tours in York? My good friend Ben runs the York on a Fork Food Tour, which is an excellent way to explore the city with a real expert on the food scene here. You can book his food tour here.

For more tours and activities around York, check out the options below!

York is a fantastic place for cafes and coffee shops. It’s always difficult when I have friends come to visit, trying to choose where to take them! I hope this post helps planning your York trip, and where to go for coffee and brunch around town.

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

You might also like my posts:

The Best Restaurants in York, England

The Complete Guide to the Best Instagram Spots in York

20 Things to Do in York That Are Absolutely FREE!

The Best Snickelways in York

18 Hidden Gems to See in York

The Best Bars and Pubs in York, England

The Best Bookshops in York

All posts in the York category!

Like this post? Pin it for later!