Christmas Dinner in York 2024
If you’re spending Christmas in York, you’ll no doubt be wondering where to eat Christmas dinner in York.
I’ve compiled my top picks of pubs and restaurants hosting Christmas dinner in York 2024. These range from top end luxury hotels, historic pubs to family-friendly city centre restaurants so you’ll find a York Christmas dinner for every taste and budget.
So, if you’re looking for the best Christmas lunch York has to offer, or are visiting York with kids on Christmas Day, you will find something in my recommendations below.
I’ve noticed that this year some hotels and pubs are only offering Christmas dinner for guests staying with them whilst others I wrote about last year are not offering dinner at all. Venues that are hosting Christmas dinner have had to put their prices up from last year.
Whichever venue you choose, make sure you book your Christmas dinner York well in advance of your trip.
Christmas dinner in York – over £150 pp
York Minster Refectory
📍2 Deangate, YO1 7JA
You can’t dine much closer to York Minster than at the historic Minster Refectory. If you want to spend a memorable Christmas Day in York, this is the place to come.
It offers a fantastic view of York Minster from its front terrace whilst inside you are treated to stone arched windows and elegant decor.
The York Minster Refectory menu serves high-end classic British food with a gourmet twist. This is Christmas fine dining in style. However, it’s also the most expensive Christmas dinner in York.
Unfortunately, there isn’t parking on site so you’ll need to park in either Marygate or Monk Bar car park. Both car parks are around a 10 minute walk from the restaurant.
Their Christmas dinner menu is exceptional. You’ll get a sloe gin cocktail to start with festive nibbles, followed by main course choices of Scottish salmon, turkey or York ham. Vegetarian options include Jerusalem artichoke and cauliflower wellington.
Dinner is followed by plum pudding or a selection of cheeses and rounded off with a spiced Cinnamon eggnog.
Cost – £250 per person.
Service – There’s only one sitting at 1 pm so book early to avoid disappointment.
The Grand Hotel York
📍Station Rise, YO1 6GD
The Grand York is one of the best hotels in York so dining here is a treat at any time of the year. It’s the perfect place to unwind after visiting the Christmas markets in York.
Unfortunately, parking isn’t available on site but there is a NCP car park on nearby Queen Street, a 5 minute walk away.
The Rise restaurant Christmas dinner starts with a canape reception followed by a four course dinner. Starter and intermediary courses include pumpkin veloute and dick liver terrine. Main course options are Yorkshire turkey or beef wellington followed by Christmas pudding or lemon tart.
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options are also available.
You can expect beautiful decorations, impeccable service and even a visit from Santa himself. You can dine overlooking the city walls whilst at the same time watch your dinner being prepared in the open kitchen.
Note that The Legacy Restaurant is not serving dinner on Christmas Day. Instead, it is offering a sumptuous Christmas Eve menu.
Cost – £165 per adult, £75 for children under 12, £45 for children under 5.
Service – Christmas dinner at The Grand York is served between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
Guy Fawkes Inn
📍25 High Petergate, YO1 7HP
This pub is best known as the birthplace of the infamous Guy Fawkes who tried to blow up Parliament in 1605. However, it also has a great reputation for its delicious food.
Its AA rosette winning restaurant serves British classics year round, including one of the best roast dinner York has to offer. I think it is one of the best pubs serving Christmas dinner in York.
There’s no parking on site. The nearest parking is either Marygate or Monkgate which are approximately a 10-15 minute walk from the pub.
Christmas dinner at Guy Fawkes Inn is a four-course meal. Starters and canapes include feta and cranberry tart or crayfish cocktail followed by main dishes of turkey, belly pork, cod or roasted butternut. There are four choices of desserts.
Cost – £120 per person, children under 12 £60
Service – Between 12 pm and 4 pm
Christmas dinner in York – over £100 pp
The Milner York
📍 Station Road, Yo24 1AA
Recently re-named from The Principal Hotel, The Milner offers a lavish four-course Christmas dinner in its stylish Peachey’s Bar and Grill.
There’s free parking on site and if you’re arriving by train, the hotel is adjacent to York rail station.
Starters include ham and beetroot fondant whilst main course options are turkey, beef, halibut or leek and blue cheese tart. There’s a selection of three desserts followed by coffee and mince pies.
After dinner, guests are welcome to relax in The Garden Room where there will be a screening of the Christmas Day King’s speech at 3 pm.
For the setting and the menu, I think this Christmas dinner in York is very reasonably priced.
Cost – £105 adults, £60 for children.
Service – There’s only one service at 1.30 pm so pre-booking is essential.
The Fat Badger
📍2 – 4 High Petergate YO1 7EH
Tucked between Bootham Bar and the city walls is the historic Fat Badger pub. Don’t miss the gorgeous views of the Minster from the rear beer garden (which I think is one of the best beer gardens in York).
It is a cosy, convivial pub and Christmas Day is no exception. The pub prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients. We always enjoy eating here as the food is consistently of a high standard.
There isn’t parking on site but parking is available at nearby Marygate car park.
The Fat Badger Christmas Day menu has four courses. There is a choice of three canapes, four starters, four mains (turkey, ox cheek, leek and potato pie and risotto) and four desserts.
Cost – £120 per person, children under 12 £60
Service – Between 12 pm and 4 pm
Chez Mal at Malmaison
📍2 Rougier Street, YO90 1UU
The stylish 4 star Malmaison Hotel is a five minute walk from York rail station and sits adjacent to The Grand Hotel. It’s rooftop Sora Bar offers a fantastic 360 degree view of York city centre.
There isn’t parking on site but Queen Street NCP is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel.
Malmaison’s Chez Mal Brasserie hosts a four course Christmas Day dinner in a laid back festive atmosphere. All meals included a glass of champagne for adults and a Christmas mocktail for kids – plus a Christmas cracker of course!
You’ll have a choice of four starters, four mains and four desserts. Main course options include turkey and all the trimmings or trout, beef and roasted cauliflower. Guests can enjoy coffee and chocolate truffles after the meal.
Cost – £119.50 for adults
Service – There are two sittings at 12.30 pm and 3 pm.
Budget friendly Christmas dinner in York
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a cheap or free Christmas dinner in York. However, there are several good options for visitors who are visiting York on a budget.
Harkers York
📍1 St Helen’s Square, YO1 8QN
Harkers may be one of the most popular pubs in York but it is not your average pub.
It was built in 1847 and sits proudly on St Helens Square in the heart of York next to the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House. It serves high quality British pub grub in an impressive setting.
There isn’t parking on site. The nearest parking is Marygate or Esplanade – both of which are at least a ten minute walk from the pub.
This Christmas Day in York, the four-course Harkers menu has a choice of four starters, four mains and five desserts followed by coffee and mince pies. Main courses include turkey with all the trimmings, steak, seabass and a nutroast. Wine and champagne costs extra.
There are separate children’s menus available for Christmas Day so this is a good option for a family Christmas dinner in York. It offers a choice of three dishes per course so children are sure to find something they like.
For a city centre location close to York’s Christmas Market, I think Harker’s at Christmas is great value for money.
Cost – From £69 for adults | From £27 for children
Service – The pub opens from 11.30 am on Christmas Day.
Ye Old Starre Inn
📍40 Stonegate, YO1 8AS
Fancy Christmas dinner in a historic British pub?
Ye Old Starre Inn on Stonegate was built in 1644 and is thought to be York’s oldest public house.
It was used as a hospital and mortuary for soldiers during the English Civil War and is said to be haunted by soldiers and two black cats!
There isn’t parking on site so you’ll need to park at Marygate or Monk Bar car park (15 minutes away on foot).
Christmas Dinner at Ye Olde Starre Inn is the cheapest Christmas dinner York has to offer. I also think it’s the best value for money you’ll find in the city centre. Plus, the affordable price includes a glass of fizz or a soft drink.
It offers a choice of four starters, four mains and four desserts. Main options included turkey, beef, seabass and Tiger King prawns plus mushroom wellington. There is a separate menu for children with a choice of two starters and mains and three desserts.
Cost – £59.95 adults | £25.95 children
Service – Check times when booking your table.
Miller and Carter
📍22 Lendal, YO1 8AA
New to my list this year is this brand new restaurant in York city centre. It sits adjacent to the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House and is housed in what was once York post office.
The menu has a choice of five starters, three mains (turkey, cod and mushroom galette), four steak options and six desserts. The children’s menu is one of the best in this list offering an extensive choice of four starters, six mains and four desserts.
There’s also a completely separate gluten free menu – rather than the usual one or two options!
If you want a reasonably priced but varied menu, book a table at Miller and Carter.
Cost – £97.95 for adults | £47.95 for children
Service – Check service times when booking.
The Dormouse Pub York
📍Clifton Park Avenue, off Shipton Road, YO30 5PA
This traditional British pub is a local favourite and is an easy 35 minute walk from the centre of York. It sits behind an orchard in a leafy residential area of York. If you eat here on Christmas Day, you’ll be surrounded by locals, not tourists.
There’s free parking on site but if you’re not driving you’ll have to walk or take a taxi as York buses won’t run on Christmas Day.
This Christmas dinner in York is good value and offers a lot of variety. The Dormouse York Christmas menu has a choice of six starters, six main courses and seven desserts. Main course options include turkey, beef Wellington, pork belly, venison steak and a mushroom and spinach pithivier.
Separate (cheaper) children’s menus are available so this restaurant is a good option for a family dinner in York. I like how kids get offered turkey with all the trimmings rather than nuggets and chips!
If you’re visiting York at Christmas with your dog, The Dormouse is one of York’s dog friendly pubs.
Cost – £79.95 adults | £39.50 children
Service – Check service times when booking your table.
Mumbai Lounge York
📍47 Fossgate, YO1 9TF
If you are visiting York at Christmas but don’t like traditional roast dinners, there are other options available for your holiday lunch.
For Christmas lunch in York with a difference, try the set curry menu offered by the fabulous Mumbai Lounge on Fossgate. It’s one of my favourite Indian restaurants in York.
The set menu includes a glass of champagne, popadoms, house mix starter, a choice of two mains and two side dishes.
It is open on Christmas Day from 12 pm to 5 pm with the last sitting at 3pm and pre-booking is essential. you’ll also get dessert and kulfi.
There isn’t parking on site so you’ll need to park in Clifford’s Tower car park, a 5 – 10 minute walk from the restaurant.
Cost – £49 per person | £25 for children under 12
British Christmas dinner – FAQ’s
What food will I be served?
You’ll have a choice of starters which usually includes soup, prawn cocktail, smoked salmon or pate.
The main course is traditionally roast turkey with all the trimmings.
The ‘trimmings’ include crispy roast potatoes, stuffing, vegetables (usually carrots, peas or red cabbage) plus Pigs in Blankets (small sausages wrapped in bacon). A turkey Christmas dinner is accompanied by sweet Cranberry sauce and gravy.
Of course, the best Christmas dinner in York will also include a savoury Yorkshire pudding!
Alternatives options are usually fish, beef or a vegetarian dish such as a nut roast.
Will I get a dessert?
Dessert is usually a chocolate sponge Yule Log with fresh cream, or a generous dollop of Christmas pudding. If you haven’t tasted it before, it’s a heavy, fruit pudding made weeks in advance of Christmas. It’s served hot with brandy butter or cream.
Finally, a festive dinner in York ends with coffee and icing topped Christmas cake or mince pies (sweet pastry filled with spiced mixed fruit).
What time is Christmas dinner served?
Most people in Britain eat Christmas Day dinner at lunchtime, not in the evening. All pubs and restaurants in York will be serving a lunchtime dinner on Christmas Day.
Traditionally after dinner, everyone flops on a sofa to watch the the 10 minute long King’s Speech which starts at 3 pm.
Is public transport in York running on Christmas Day?
No, there is no public transport in York on Christmas Day.
Thankfully, as York city centre is small, getting around York for Christmas lunch is easy. If you need to travel from outside the city centre, you’ll need to take a taxi or an uber.
If you are spending Christmas in York, I hope this guide has helped you find – and book – the perfect Christmas dinner in York 2024 for your trip.
Wherever you choose to dine, I highly recommend walking off your dinner with a Christmas Day stroll around York. You’ll never see it so quiet!
Bon appetit!
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