UPDATED FEBRUARY 2026! York is arguably best-known for its history, but the food and drink scene in the city is exceptional. There are tons of amazing restaurants in York, and a lot of fantastic cafes and coffee shops. But York is definitely an excellent city for drinking and going out. Rumor has it that there are more than 365 pubs in the city, one for every day of the year!

From historic pubs to posh cocktail bars, there really is something for everyone in this city. I’ve divided this post into sections on where to drink for beer, cocktails, wine, and general vibes. Here are the top bars and pubs around the city: the best places to drink 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!

The Best Places to Drink in York for Beer

House of Trembling Madness (Stonegate)

This is one of my favorite places to go in York, and somewhere I always take visiting friends from out of town. The bar is very small, and it can be tough to get a seat. But the medieval theme, complete with animal heads on the wall, wooden furniture, and fur throws, sets it apart. It’s a bit pricier than other bars, but it’s a fantastic place in a great setting. Top tip: you can buy any of the beers in the downstairs shop to enjoy upstairs – they just charge a small extra “opening” fee! I always refer to this one as “old” House of Trembling Madness, since they opened another one in 2018!

Address: 48 Stonegate // Website

House of Trembling Madness (Lendal)

The “new” House of Trembling Madness is housed in a beautiful, historic building on Lendal. Spread over several floors, there is a lot more space here and the decor is all Georgian-style. They also have funky selection of beers on tap, along with a huge craft beer shop in the basement. This is one of my favorite places to meet friends and catch up. Ladies, make sure you pop into the toilets since they’re absolutely gorgeous! (Something I rarely ever say about a pub!)

Address: 14 Lendal // Website

The Hop

If you’re a fan of beers and especially ales, this is the place for you. The Hop has a beautiful back room, complete with a massive skylight, but the selection on tap is really what sets it apart. They’ve got around 20 beers and ciders on tap to offer, so whatever kind of pint you’re looking for – chances are they’ll have it! They also do delicious pizzas and calzones. They run a lunch special Monday to Thursday from 5-9pm for a pizza and a pint for £14.
Address: 11-12 Fossgate // Website

 

Blue Bell

Right across the street from the Hop is York’s smallest pub: Blue Bell. While I’ll always love this place as it was the site of my first ever lock-in, it’s a great place to come for a nice classic pub atmosphere and friendly staff. It first opened in 1798, and still has the original Edwardian decor from 1903! It is very small though, and tough to find a seat. There is a back room behind the bar, so if the front room is full always check the back!
Address: 53 Fossgate // Website

Brew York Beer Hall & Taproom

Brew York is a fantastic place for drinks, as it’s a brewery first and foremost. The beer hall upstairs is really spacious, and they have a taproom on the main floor. The atmosphere has always been busy but never raucous when I’ve been, and there’s no better place to try one of their beers than the brewery itself! There’s usually about 40 beers on tap in beer hall. This is somewhere I always bring friends when they come to visit York!
Address: Enterprise Complex Walmgate (off Walmgate, between St. Denys and Piccadilly) // Website

Pivni

Housed in a beautiful Tudor-style building, Pivni takes over three floors of wooden beams and sloping ceilings. Despite being a small space, they’ve got a really good (unique) beer selection, and board games if you come with friends. It can sometimes be hard to get a seat as the ground floor is tiny – make sure to check all of the floors for seating!
Address: 6 Patrick Pool (by Shambles Market, off Church Street opposite Swinegate) // Website

Rose & Crown

Of course, I couldn’t make a list of my favorite bars in York without a shout out to my local pub, the Rose & Crown. Chill for drinks, fantastic for food, and always a warm welcome from friendly staff – Rose & Crown is the best pub I know. They’ve got a big selection for whiskies and gins, with rotating ales as well. It’s simply the best!

Address: 13 Lawrence St // Website

The Phoenix Inn

This independently run, traditional pub prides itself on real ales. The staff here are always welcoming, and there’s a small beer garden out back. Time your visit right to catch one of the regular live jazz music shows. The interior dates from the late 1800s, so there’s definitely a historic edge here.

Address: 75 George Street // Website

The Best Places to Drink in York for Cocktails

Evil Eye

This place is the absolute best place for cocktails in the city. They made the Guinness Book of World Records for most gins on offer – they have over 1,000 varieties for sale! The cocktails are great, as are the specialty shots. It won’t be cheap, but it is well worth the money to treat yo’ self!
Address: 42 Stonegate // Website

Fossgate Social

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to include Fossgate Social on this list, because during the day it definitely is more a coffee shop and cafe than bar (and it’s one of my favorite coffee shops in the city!). But one of the things that I like most about Fossgate Social is how seamless it transitions from cafe to pub. There’s a great atmosphere in the evenings, and they have an eclectic mix of beers on tap. They have another venue, Micklegate Social, across town that has an even bigger selection of beers there. But I must admit I still prefer the one on Fossgate!

Address: 25 Fossgate // Website

Sora

Sora Sky Bar is the amazing rooftop bar on the seventh floor of Malmaison Hotel. While the space is dedicated to a Japanese restaurant and sushi bar, it’s also one of the best bars in York. The view out over the city to York Minster is incredible, especially at sunset. This is a top pick for nice cocktails in an elegant setting.

2 Rougier Street // Website

The Best Places to Drink in York for Wine

Howl

Howl is a lovely little wine bar, where the wine is exceptional and so are the vibes. They do serve craft beers and charcuterie boards and a few small plates, but it’s really the wines here that take center stage. Their selection of orange wines always surprises me!

Address: 7 Castlegate // Website

22 Yards Wine and Restaurant

This lovely wine bar is located right across from the Minster, with a huge variety of wines available. They also have small and large plates plus desserts and charcuterie boards. They can get quite busy in the evening, so it might be good to book in advance if you’re wanting to order food.

Address: 21 High Petergate // Website

The Best Places to Drink in York for Vibes & Atmosphere

King’s Arms

No list like this would be complete without the King’s Arms. Located in a phenomenal location right by the River Ouse, King’s Arms is one of the cheaper places in York. It is a Sam Smith’s pub, but I can overlook that for decent prices on the riverside. On any warm, sunny day in York, everyone heads to the river for a beer here in the sunshine. The pub frequently gets flooded – don’t miss the flood level signs by the door when you walk in!
Address: 3 King’s Staith // Facebook Page

Spark:York

Spark is easily one of my favorite places to go in York. Housed in repurposed shipping containers, the site is home to a number of food/drink traders and independent businesses. Grab beers from Piccadilly Tap or cocktails from Boho – the atmosphere here is buzzing no matter the time of day or night!

Address: 17-21 Piccadilly // Website

The Fat Badger

This pub is located right next to Bootham Bar, one of the gates of the city walls. While the pub itself is on the small side, it’s the massive beer garden that sets it apart – and earns it a spot on the list. There’s loads of seating, and views both of the city walls and of York Minster! Fat Badger is great for summer weather.
Address: 2-4 High Petergate // Website

Valhalla

Located right across the street from Pivni, Valhalla is York’s Viking bar, and proud of it. Where else in York can you drink mead from a horn?! The name is from Viking folklore and means “hall of the slain” in Old Norse. There’s a small selection of interesting craft beers, and they’ve got some pretty tasty sharing platters. Check out the bones in the floor as you walk in, and don’t miss the ceiling either. You can see some Viking runes carved into it, which are the names of some of the employees!

Address: 4 Patrick Pool (by Shambles Market, off Church Street opposite Swinegate) // Website

Cosy Club

If you’re looking for Gatsby-themed, 1920s-style interior, this will be your best bet in York. Cosy Club is housed in an old movie theater, and is a beautiful space. The lamps, lighting, comfy couches, and open front wall make it the perfect place for drinks – especially in the summer.
Address: 19-22 Fossgate // Website

Planning Your Trip to York

York is just two hours away from London by train, making it an easy daytrip or long weekend away. 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? You should if you’ll be trying as many of these spots as possible! 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!

There are so many fantastic bars and pubs to enjoy in York. It’s such a good city for a night out, with so much variety to choose from. I hope this helps in planning your trip to York!

Have you ever been to York? Where were your favorite bars, pubs, and places to drink?!

You might like my other posts on York:

The Best Restaurants in York, England

The Best Cafes and Coffee Shops in York, England

18 Hidden Gems to See in York

The Best Snickelways in York

20 Things to Do in York That Are Absolutely Free!

The Complete Guide to the Best Instagram Spots in York

The Best Walks in and Around York, England

5 Things You Must Do in York

All of my York posts!

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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!