Best restaurants in Yorkshire

Originally a corn and spinning mill, Shibden Mill Inn has entered a new lease of life as a gorgeous countryside restaurant with rooms just outside Halifax. The cooking is brilliant, but come here for the building too, which retains all its old charm with old wooden beams, heavy-set stone walls and crackling fires.

A legendary Yorkshire restaurant, The Star Inn was sadly closed for some time after a fire gutted the restaurant, but Andrew Pern has reopened this beloved eatery and it’s as popular as ever.

Michael Wignall’s ultra-precise cooking gets plaudits everywhere he goes, but The Angel at Hetton might be his most successful restaurant yet, blending the charm of a local pub with pinpoint technique and execution. Another regular in the upper echelons of our Top 100 restaurants list.

Neil Bentinck’s York city centre restaurant is one of the most popular in the city, loved for its wide spectrum, idiosyncratic cooking. Bang for buck, this is one of the most delicious, affordable, high quality restaurants anywhere, making the people of York very lucky indeed to have it so close by.

Grantley Hall is certainly one of the most impressive locations on the list - a sprawling five-star hotel and spa, with a fine dining restaurant to match. Shaun Rankin is the man overseeing the food, and he brings outstanding British ingredients to new heights in this opulent setting.

This Indian restaurant in Leeds specialises in Keralan food, and is consistently among the most popular Indian restaurants around Leeds and Bradford - no mean feat given the embarrassment of riches in South Yorkshire. It’s also a favourite haunt of Indian cricket star Virat Kohli when he’s in Leeds - if it’s good enough for Virat it’s good enough for us.

This Sheffield wine bar has been building some national buzz for its outstanding, thoughtful cooking and wine selections. You can buy any particularly good bottles you discover in the shop afterwards too.

Luke French and Stacey Sherwood have headed out of Sheffield city centre, setting up shop in the Oughtibridge Paper Mill development, and relaunching one the best restaurants in Yorkshire. Joro blends Nordic and Asian influences across picture-perfect tasting menus.

Yorkshire has a habit of hiding killer restaurants in small villages, and Pignut is exactly that - a chic Scandi-style spot in tiny Helmsley. Former Rattle Owl chef Tom Heywood and sommelier Laurissa Cook make this distinct restaurant a place worth travelling for with elegant, seasonal plates and cocktails.

Another legendary Yorkshire restaurant, James and Kate Mackenzie have run the Pipe and Glass for nearly 20 years, handling back and front of house respectively and holding a Michelin star for over a decade thanks to their exceptional service and elevated British classics.

Tommy Banks’ third restaurant is arguably the most relaxed of the three, but The Abbey Inn brings his signature modern British touch to a more gastropub setting. With Byland Abbey sitting right outside, you’re hard-pressed to find a more impressive backdrop.

A charming little joint tucked away in Hovingham, Myse offers a tasting menu curated by Joshua Overington that celebrates the very best of Yorkshire cuisine. Produce-led cooking takes the forefront with 'Time and Place' menus that are dictated by the ingredients available each day. 

The Black Swan is the restaurant that turned Tommy Banks into a household name - a huge amount of the produce here (and at Banks other restaurants) comes from the Banks’ family farm and it goes into clever, precise dishes that have made The Black Swan a worthy Michelin star winner.

Right in the heart of the North York Moors, Goathland is a bit of a trek but it’s worth it for a visit to Homestead Kitchen, which brings together a host of local suppliers - from flour milled on the moors to fresh fish caught in nearby Whitby - into an exceptional, heart-warming menu.

Once an eighteenth-century coaching inn, The General Tarleton is now one of Yorkshire’s top dining spots, the latest venture from local restaurateur Tommy Banks. Found just outside Knaresborough, expect a warm, village-pub spirit paired with refined, produce-led cooking, offering everything from standout snacks to delightful souffles.

Part of an impressive Tommy Banks stable that also includes The Abbey Inn in Byland and The Black Swan at Oldstead, Roots York is unquestionably one of the best restaurants in the country, serving intricate, delicious modern British food in a gorgeous dining room.

Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Horsforth high street, this cosy bistro serves up some of the best French cooking outside of the capital. With its relaxed, home-away-from-home feel, here you can enjoy hearty plates of classic French fare - think bouillabaisse, lamb pithivier, and an outrageously indulgent escargot feuilleté.

Kerala Canteen in Leeds offers bold, spice-packed South Indian cuisine inspired by Kerala’s toddy shops. Led by chefs Bobby Geetha and Abdulla Siddique, the menu features vibrant sharing plates, curries, and creative desserts. With a cosy, lively atmosphere, it’s perfect for group dining, celebrations, or casual feasting.