One of the best bits about going on a city break is trying loads of great restaurants, cafes and bars. I’m not sure that many places could top Edinburgh for its food scene, but on my recent weekend trip to York in the north of England, I got to try some brilliant places.
Now this is a guide for fellow veggies, but all of these places also cater for non-veggies, so don’t rule them out if you prefer your meals with meat!
Keep reading to see the best places in York for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Read more: Cheap Eats in Edinburgh
Breakfast in York: Spring Espresso
Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, and after a few too many cocktails the night before, our first morning in York required two things: a big plate of food and a strong coffee.
I’d seen so many great recommendations for breakfast in York, so how do you possibly pick? We took the easy route and chose a spot that was closest to our hotel – which happened to be Spring Espresso.
There are a couple of Spring Espressos in the city of York, and they offer a ridiculously good breakfast. I ordered the Avo Eggs and Darryl ordered the Nutella, Banana & Choc Chip Pancakes, both with large cappuccinos.
I cannot even explain how good this food was. My dish was fresh, tasty and filling (with the perfect poached eggs!) and Darryl’s pancakes were the fluffiest we’ve ever seen, and loaded with chocolate spread. Both of these were vegetarian.
Our breakfast at Spring Espresso was exactly the hangover cure we needed and it set us up for day two of exploring the city of York. I highly recommend this spot!
If you love hearty breakfasts, check out Spring Espresso.
Other breakfast spots to try:
- Brew & Brownie Bakery
- Partisan Bakery
- Kennedy’s Bar & Restaurant
Lunch in York: Spark York
We had a huge breakfast, but it didn’t stop us craving lunch! I’d heard that Spark York was a quirky street food style market, which is the kind of thing we both love.
When we arrived I was amazed at how many options there were for street food, layered over two levels. There was everything from Mexican, to Colombian, to Asian and beyond.
And if you’re not hungry – why not just grab a drink from one of the bars? It’s all outdoor seating too, so perfect in this summer weather.
As we weren’t ravenous we made our way over to Tricolor – which offers Colombian food – and ordered a Vegetable Empanada and a Roast Vegetable Arepas to share. Paired with a couple of half pint Aspall Cyders, this made for a small but very sweet lunch in the sun!
There is so much choice for vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters here. You have to swing by if you visit!
If you love street food, check out Spark York.
Other lunch spots to try:
- The York Roast Company
- Los Moros North African Restaurant
- Humpit Hummus & Pitta Bar
- Cafe No.8 Bistro
Dinner in York: Source
Described as ‘York’s inclusive Restaurant’, Source is a fantastic place to eat if you’re vegetarian or vegan.
I took one look at their menu online and spotted a section called ‘minus the meats’, so I booked us a table in advance and we dived into our delicious dinner on night one in York.
We wanted to try it all, but opted for the vegan ribs and vegan fried chicken (both made with seitan). They each came with tasty house fries and salad, so we split the meals in two to give us both a taste of this meat-free goodness.
The team were really friendly and it’s a gorgeous spot to enjoy a bite, so I’d highly recommend going to Source if you’re visiting York.
If you love indulgent vegan food, check out Source.
Other dinner spots to try:
- The Cosy Club
- Lucia Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Once Across the Garden
Drinks in York
Unfortunately we didn’t make it into any of the famous bars or pubs because it was such a busy weekend in York, and with social distancing rules there was a long wait for most of them, but if you can make it to any of these then absolutely do!
- Evil Eye
- The House of Trembling Madness
- The Botanist
There are tons more foodie places to explore, but I hope this has given you food for thought when it comes to exploring some incredible vegetarian-friendly eateries in York!
Have you been to York before? Where did you eat?
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