14 best romantic restaurants in York

Looking for the best romantic restaurants in York for your special York date night?

I’ve lived in York for over 18 years so I’ve enjoyed plenty of date nights in York city centre with my husband. This article features 14 of our favourite romantic places to eat in York. 

There are lots of romantic thing to do in York day or night. The city’s cobbled mediaeval streets, historic architecture and illuminated buildings sets the perfect backdrop for a romantic York date night. If you’re thinking of staying overnight, check out our guide to the best romantic hotels in York. 

Whether you want lively restaurants or cosy candlelit corners, foods from Yorkshire or around the world, atmospheric basement dining or romantic York restaurants with a view,  there is a romantic restaurant in York for you. 

 

The Legacy Restaurant

 

If you want the best posh restaurants York has to offer for a super special date night, consider The Legacy restaurant. It is a small, impeccably designed and furnished Art Deco style restaurant in the 5 star Grand Hotel. 

The hotel is a five minute walk from York rail station so The Legacy is a great option if you are visiting York by train. 

I love its blue and gold colour scheme and think its one of the most romantic places in York to eat. 

The Legacy is a three AA Rosette-awarded restaurant offering a modern British and Yorkshire-inspired tasting menu alongside an exceptional wine list. It focuses on locality, sustainability and seasonality and, as a result, regularly makes the top ten best restaurants in York lists. 

The Signature Menu has eight courses including dishes such as glazed pork cheek plus lime and creme fraiche. It costs £125 pp. 

The Legacy Menu has five courses including beetroot gnocchi and Yorkshire duck and costs £95 pp. 

To be transparent, I’ve visited The Legacy but haven’t eaten here yet. I will keep dropping hints to my husband…

 

Ate O’Clock York

 

Ate O Clock is one of our favourite romantic restaurants in York. In addition to its delicious food, the glamorous Art Deco styling is right up my street! It is situated down a fairy lit alley off High Ousegate, near Coppergate and Parliament Street.

The service and food is outstanding each time we visit. The restaurant is small so pre-bookings are essential, though there is an adjacent courtyard for overflow seating. Dishes include meat, fish and pasta. 

Furthermore, there is a street facing bar with pink chairs and glitter balls which is perfect for a pre-dinner drink. 

The Ate O’Clock menu has main courses starting from £14.50. Alternatively, you can choose the two course set menu for £22pp. 

 

The Star Inn The City 

 

The Star In the City sits on the banks of  the River Ouse next to Lendal Bridge and specialises in British cuisine.

Its floor to ceiling windows and outdoor veranda provide fantastic views of York and the River Ouse, especially at night. Inside, the chic-country style decor has a light, airy feel. The Star Inn The City York has a distinctive Yorkshire feel, so maybe that’s why we love it so much!

Main courses at The Star Inn the City start from £24 pp. 

 

Lucia York

 

Lucia is another of our favourite romantic restaurants in York and is widely regarded as one of the best Italian restaurants in York. It is in the heart of the pedestrianised centre of York, tucked away on Swinegate Court East, just off Grape Lane. 

The Lucia York restaurant, lounge and cocktail bar is set in two buildings linked by a courtyard dining area that in summer months will make you feel as if you are dining al fresco in Italia. 

It is a lively, stylish restaurant offering set and a la carte menus, lunchtime deals, a Sunday roast and bottomless brunches. 

The Lucia York menu has main courses starting from £13.95 and I guarantee the lasagne at Lucia is one of the best you will ever taste! Alternatively, the set menu offers two courses for £22. 

Pre-booking is essential for this popular York restaurant. 

 

The Whippet Inn

 

If you and your partner love steak, The Whippet Inn York is the place to go. It offers dimly lit interiors, succulent steaks cooked to perfection and a cosy 34 seat restaurant.

You will find The Whippet in a Grade II listed building on North Street, a five minute walk from the city centre over Ouse Bridge. The quiet side road lacks atmosphere but you visit The Whippet for its food, not for its surroundings. 

The Whippet Inn York menu has main courses starting from £17.50 with the steak range starting from £32. 

The Whippet also offers private dining, plus it’s got a great cocktail and wine menu.

 

Skosh 

 

Skosh York offers a unique, small plate dining experience combining contemporary British cooking with an international influence. It’s an open concept kitchen and is a must visit for foodies. 

Skosh is in a Grade II listed building on cobbled Micklegate, which additionally offers several pubs and bars for a pre-dinner drink. 

Sharing a variety of Skosh dishes can be an intimate experience, and the ambiance is stylish yet comfortable.

Plates range in price from £4.50 – £25.

 

Guy Fawkes Inn York 

 

Fancy a romantic restaurant in York with a bit of history thrown in?

The Guy Fawkes Inn is a mediaeval era pub, restaurant and hotel on High Petergate, directly opposite York Minster. An interesting fact about York is that the inn is believed to be the birthplace of the infamous gunpowder plotter.  

The cosy AA Rosette winning wood floor restaurant is lit with candles and gas lamps. There is also a covered courtyard (with heaters) at the rear. It serves a diverse menu using locally sourced food. 

The Guy Fawkes Inn  York menu has main courses starting from £16.95. I recommend having your pre-dinner drink here as the pub serves a great selection of real ales. 

 

Delrios York  

 

Delrios is a long standing, family run Italian restaurant and a favourite with Yorkies.

It is on Blossom Street, next to Micklegate Bar and a five minute walk from York rail station. If you are driving in York, Nunnery Lane car park is one minute away on foot. 

Delrios restaurant York has cosy, candle-lit cellar seating in alcoves; perfect for a romantic night out. In summer you can eat outside overlooking the city walls. 

Delrios menu has a strong Sardinian influence so if you want something a little different to your usual Italian, Delrio’s is a great option. 

Pre-booking is essential as this popular restaurant books up quickly. The great food, friendly service and atmospheric setting makes this one of the best romantic restaurants in York. 

 

La Rustique York

 

There are two Rustique in York but my pick for a romantic night out in York would be the Castlegate restaurant. If you’re getting around York by car, Castle car park is a one minute walk from the restaurant. 

You will feel as if you are stepping into a Parisian restaurant at Rustique Castlegate York.  It has wooden floors and chairs plus French themed decor. There is additional outdoor seating in summer months. 

Rustique specialises in rustic style French cuisine using locally sourced meat and fish. It has an upbeat Bistro style ambiance so it is not the place to go for a quiet, intimate meal. We love its vibrant atmosphere.  

There is a two course set menu for £21.95 or main courses from the a la carte menu start from £14.95.

 

Ambiente York

 

There are two Ambiente Tapas in York but in my opinion, the Goodramgate restaurant is smaller and a better option for a romantic dining experience. 

It has an Andalucian inspired bar downstairs with a small, cosy restaurant upstairs. 

Ambiente York menu offers a range of tapas dishes starting from £5.50. My favourite is Chorizo y Patatas (it’s to die for). Sharing platters start from £15.95. 

Pre- booking is recommended at Ambiente Goodramgate York.

 

The Bow Room York

 

If you want the ultimate fancy restaurant in York, check out the Bow Room at Grays Court Hotel. The city centre hotel overlooks the city walls and is a two minute walk from York Minster.

This award winning restaurant is more than your usual dining experience. It offers a set, 12 course tasting experience using local ingredients, some of which are grown in the hotel garden.

Dinner is served at 7 pm and starts with drinks in the Jacobean Gallery. You will then move into the Bow Room for your tasting menu which includes dishes such as Kohlrabi and Monk fish.

There are just 22 seats in the restaurant so you are guaranteed a quiet, private dining experience. 

The tasting experience costs £125 pp. 

 

The Ivy York

 

The stylish Ivy restaurant sits in the heart of York city centre on St. Helen’s Square. It is next to the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House and a five minute walk from York Minster.

Don’t let the renowned Ivy name put you off dining here if you’re visiting York on a budget. The Ivy York is surprisingly affordable for the quality of its food and its city centre location. 

The restaurant serves modern British cuisine to brasserie-style classics and has an elegant and sophisticated decor. 

The Ivy York menu has main courses starting from just start from £15.95. There is also a set two course menu costing £19.17 plus an additional £5 for desserts.

Why £19.17? That’s the year The Ivy was founded. 

 

Sora at Malmaison

 

If you want a romantic restaurant in York with a view, check out Sora on the 7th floor of the Malmaison hotel. Day or night, the view of York from Sora is fantastic. It is the best rooftop bar York has to offer. 

The 4 star hotel is a five minute walk from York train station and from York city centre. It is included on my list of the best romantic hotels in York. 

You can sit indoors in the stylish restaurant or outdoors on the terrace under heaters. The menu consists of mix and match small plates with an irresistible selection of sushi, Robatayaki and pan-Asian style tapas dishes. The restaurant/bar also has a good selection of cocktails. 

 The Sora sky bar York provides live music and resident DJ’s every Saturday night from 9 pm – 1 am. 

Sharing platters cost £18 whilst tapas style small plates range between £6 – £20. 

 

Pairings Wine Bar

 

If you want something upmarket but yet low key, check out the award winning Pairings Wine Bar York which is run by two York sisters. 

Known simply as Pairings, it is situated on Castlegate, a stones throw from Castle car park and Clifford’s Tower. 

The restaurant has a relaxed table service and serves an excellent selection of fine wines, beer, whisky, gin and cocktails. Its food choices include small plates and sharing boards consisting of locally sourced charcuterie, cheese, fish and desserts.

Small plates range from £4.50 – £15 whilst sharing platters range from £15.50 – £35. 

 

Whatever your food preferences or budget, I hope you have found a romantic restaurant in York to suit you. Bon appetit!

Before you go, don’t forget to check out my guide to the best things to do in York for couples and 21 romantic things to do in York.