Ambiente Tapas

Great pub, upstairs from bottle shop. Friendly staff, maybe best atmosphere in all of York! Don't…read moremiss this gem!

This place was a little hard to find. Look for the liquor store on the ground floor that says…read more"trembling madness" on the window. Pub is upstairs. Pub was fairly cool. Saw some reviews saying something about a Harry Potter vibe, but I didn't get that at all. It has some cool elements, but definitely did not live up to those expectations. Had a nice beer selection on tap. And prices were quite reasonable. Ended up picking up a few interesting beers on my way out.

Upstairs front room atmosphere.

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When you want to savor your melancholy mood...

Kings Arms

4.5(22 reviews)

I loved it instantly. The staff are charmless, blunt, they can be terse and downright rude - a…read moreliving working Fawlty Towers of the pub world. They make it no stars. We should get to call all their male bar staff Basil, the female, Sybil and Terry for those workers who don't identify with these genders. I noted that all the male staff wore thin, cheap shirts and trousers so worn out they were shiny. They had a darn good range of beers and darn decent porter mind. At just £15.80 for three pints and a large glass of wine they offered great value for money. That brings 5 stars and allows us to tolerate the staff. The place was packed so the recipe is working for the owner. They are along the riverside with outside cheap seating, right beside the Ouse river and geese strolled around as we sat and chatted in warm sunshine. If they did actual food I didn't notice. As we walked inside to the bar to order our first drinks we encountered staff challenging a chap of much advanced years, dressed like a drab Quentin Crisp, who attempted to use his mobile phone in the pub. I later spotted him outside, drink in one hand and mobile phone against his ear, he was chatting, leaning against the wall trying unsuccessfully to look nonchalant. They describe themselves as a 'digital detox pub'. The chief rule is no mobile phones as they want customers to talk to each other. How novel, quirky and eccentric in the 21st century. No swearing and no music either. Them rules are strictly enforced and you will be evicted if them rules ain't followed promptly. If I'm ever in York again I'll be sure to return for the stout and the insults.

Down by the riverside..... This is a Sam Smiths pub in a…read moregreat location. Great selection of Smiths on tap including ciders and organics. Prices are great and the vibe is cool and relaxed. Don't miss the flood gauge with the heights of many past deluges marked.

The more friendly locals

The door into the pub

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Stout which was good.

The Stone Roses Bar

3.6(18 reviews)

OMMani...rest in peace. How have I never reviewed the…read morepilgrimage of all pilgrimages?!? It's most likely because I am in utter awe during each visit. It's a pub, but it's also a museum of sorts for you guessed it, The Stone Roses (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE), Oasis, Joy Division, and the like. If I could win the lottery, which I have never played, I would move to York and be within walking distance of The Stone Roses Bar. The staff are superb. Exceptional humans. The bar is nothing short of perfection. The drinks are well-made, tasty, and affordable. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. Always. Looking forward to my next visit.

Stumbled upon this cool pub in York: Mostly because we are fans of the band Stone Roses! Love the…read morevibe, decor, music. Was happy to find a place like this to duck out of the rain.

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Golden Fleece

4.0(37 reviews)

0.3 mi

This place was a really nice time. I'm very late posting this, but better late than never…read more.. because this spot deserves a shoutout. A group of us stopped here around Halloween while making a drive from London to Scotland. One of my friends loves anything spooky, so I sought out what's rumored to be one of the most haunted pubs in the area (I think we were in York... forgive me if I'm off, travel brain ). From the moment you walk in, the place is dark, moody, and mysterious with a very cool vibe. You seat yourself, and we had a table reserved. The atmosphere was lively and social, almost speakeasy-like. There's no traditional table service, you scan a QR code, order food on your phone, and it magically appears at your table. Drinks are ordered directly at the bar, which we learned is pretty common here. Fun surprise: the bartender was actually from California, so it was great chatting with someone from the States while abroad. The crowd overall was lovely, mostly locals, and everyone was super friendly and chatty with us Americans, which really added to the experience. Halfway through our meal, a live band set up right in front of us and absolutely killed it. Think Rolling Stones meets a gritty Seattle grunge band. They were phenomenal. They even invited me up to sing... but sadly, I hadn't had enough shots yet, so I declined. Maybe next time Food-wise, we ordered butternut squash, a few burgers, chicken wings, and a few appetizers. The food was just okay, not bad by any means, but not the highlight. For a pub in the middle of York, it was perfectly acceptable and hit the spot. Did we feel a spooky, haunted vibe? Honestly... not really, which was a bit of a letdown. But hanging out next to the little skeleton sitting at the bar (which I think someone has already posted photos of) was still fun. The memorabilia and décor throughout the pub are great and give you plenty to look at. Overall, The Golden Fleece is a very cool stop for a quick bite, drinks, and fantastic live music. The atmosphere and camaraderie made the night, and I'd absolutely recommend popping in if you're nearby, especially if there's a band playing.

The Golden Fleece is such a fun spot to check out in York! It's got that perfect blend of…read moreold-school English pub charm and a slightly spooky vibe (it's supposed to be haunted, after all!). Even if you're not into ghost stories, the place just oozes character with its low beams, creaky floors, and dark cozy corners. The drinks were exactly what were we're looking for and expected...classic pints and spirits to choose from. Honestly, it's the kind of pub you want to spend a couple of hours in, just soaking up the atmosphere and imagining all the stories those old walls could tell. If you're in York and want a pint somewhere with a bit of history (and maybe a ghost sighting or two), The Golden Fleece is definitely worth popping into.

Upper bar/sitting area. Very very old and very comfy feeling

Inside

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The five ghosts of the Golden Fleece

The Nook

4.5(6 reviews)

Took a punt on this little bar/cafe and enjoyed it thoroughly. Lovely friendly staff and great…read morecoffee (according to my companions) inside a cute place. It was a hot day and my cold bottle of Brew Dog IPA really hit the spot. A big fat slice of lemon drizzle cake was excellent. No Wi-fi to encourage chatting!

Went here on a Living Social cocktail deal on a Saturday evening. It's great: everyone is over 25…read moreand not gravy tanned 16 year old nitwits like in Revs, it's just out of the way of the main drag so its busy but not too busy, you can hear each other over the music and the cocktails are really nice and not too expensive. Not sure about during the day but will sample that later.

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The Victoria Vaults

5.0(1 review)

0.7 mi

I generally visit York once or twice a year…read more The Victoria Vaults is now an essential part of my visit - nicely kept pint at a fair price, great live music, decent bar staff. Highly recommended

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View from Nunnery Lane

JD Wetherspoon

3.0(10 reviews)

0.5 mi

Some people are put off when you say the word Wetherspoons but this one has to be one of their…read morefinest pubs in the UK, the decor and food is not comparable with some of the other Wetherspoons I have visited. The only drawback is that staffing levels are a bit lacking but they work hard! As said, the food here is much better, for some reason, than other Wetherspoons pubs, you even get hot chips at this one, a rarity at most others!

I have frequented this pub on a number of occasions, it is busy, and crowded, but serves a good…read morepint and is popular with students. the selection of beers is good, the facilitys are clean, and the lighting it warm and inviting. the decor is modern looking and the atmosphere is friendly

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Red Lion

4.1(8 reviews)

It felt like the locals pub of choice. We stopped inside to grab our first beer. It had the low…read moreceilings, old walls and floors, with a cute little bar. There's seating around every little wall and outside. Service was good and fast. Place was clean inside and outside. Perfect spot to start our trip in York.

The Red Lion is a inviting and cozy little pub that called my name several times as I was in York…read more It sits on the corner of Walmgate and Merchantgate just inviting those in that walk past. The inside (and outside) of the pub is traditional English; as we Americans would call it. The furniture has an antique look and feel to it. The beers are cold and available. When I visited the service was A plus each time. Also friendly and helpful and loved striking up a conversation.

Inside.

The bar and main room

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Sir John Falstaff.

Spread Eagle

5.0(3 reviews)

0.5 mi

I stayed at the Indigo Hotel right next door to the Spread Eagle for a week and during this time I…read moreusually started and ended my nights of drunken debotchory at the Spread Eagle. It's a wonderful dive bar with a very diverse crowd of regulars. I had such a great time drinking here and carrying on conversations with everyone I met; quite the cheeky crowd it is. And a couple of the nights I visited they had some really good bands. Definitely worth checking out and relaxing. Just be cool.

Myself and my gf went here as 1 we loved the name and 2 it was right next door to our hotel…read more * Drinks prices excellent! * DJ was spinning some awesome tunes on the Sunday night we first went in * Bar staff very friendly * Nice big beer garden out the back Great little place and will defo be back!

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The Swan Inn

4.6(5 reviews)

0.7 mi

The polar opposite of Yates and Revolutions. Friendly locals, just far enough out of the city…read morecentre that you don't get tourists, no scallies and most of the Bishopthorpe Road maroon trousered twerps are busy looking after their Guardian reading progeny to come in and smash their prams against your ankles. Race days can be a bit hectic but then few pubs in York aren't affected by this. BUT they have friendly doggys, nice seats, pies on the bar and a decent beer garden. What else do you want?

Managed to get some time in the lovely public bar, before it was taken over for a darts match. This…read moreis yet another charming old style pubbe of Yorke! They had an interesting ale selection (and I would have loved to have tried the Ginger Cider if I had had more time). Enjoyed a Collingham Breadwinner. A good beer.