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.

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.

I love this spot, the cocktails are interesting and artisan. The staff are friendly and quite…read moreknowledgeable about the different spirits and the cocktails on the menu.. it's a very laid back cool vibe here,it's a great date spot as they keep low lighting throughout but also a fun time with friends

The food was amazing! We had the veggie pie, chicken hanging kabobs with Mediterranean vegetables…read moreand mashed potatoes. Side of beer batter onion rings. A few specialty cocktails all were very good. Lemonade was fresh and not overly sweet. Sever was great, pleasant and and personable.

It's a very old pub, but it you already knew that…read more The Sunday roasts are fantastic! Solid beer and wine selection, too, though I was disappointed they were out of their BTG red Burgundy -- oh well, the Rioja did just fine. I recommend a table by the windows for some cool views. The guy taking our orders at the bar wasn't necessarily the friendliest, but that didn't sour our experience too much.

It claims to be the oldest boozer in York city…read more So what, I mean really, who cares. It's not a USP rather it's lazy. Stick up a cheap sign, put in Ye and an E at the end of old and get em tourists in. Maybe it's just me but it just struck me as stale and frumpy. The other pubs we visited were characterful and the welcome in each stood out (not always for good reasons) and their beer choices were pretty meh. It is dog and family-friendly with wheelchair accessibility, and free WiFi. We had one drink here for four folks - two pints and two glasses of wine £22.95 - and while the food menu looked darn good and reasonably priced there was no atmosphere nor character to persuade us to stay. The young barmaid behind the counter was functional but devoid of easy chat. I'm glad on reflection that we went to the trembling madness next - their booze selection was stunning in comparison and cheaper at £22.10 for a similar round of better quality drinks. I sure wouldn't return here.

Lovely historic pub with good brews and service My husband…read moreand I throughly enjoyed the experience of having a late lunch while looking at the old timbers and fireplace but be warned, the Yorkshire pudding is only a Sunday lunch menu item

American Review: fantastic place for a old old old pub. I felt like singing some pub tunes with the…read morelocals who were hanging out. Food was just ok but atmosphere made up for everything. Super glad I stopped by!

On the outskirts of York's historic center, we found The Mason's Arms, a small pub/inn with an even…read moresmaller parking lot - but we found a spot ... HOOAH! The staff were very friendly and made us feel welcome from the start. We decided to go local with two pub classics, the Homemade Mason's Steak and Potato Pie (£12.95) and the Homemade Sheppard's Pie (£14.95), along with a shandy and a pint of cask ale. The steak and potato pie was massive, a huge slice that nearly filled the plate surrounded by chips (fries) smothered in brown gravy and fresh veggies. It was filled with loads of steak and a few potatoes, one of the best savory pies I have had in the UK and that is quite a few. My wife's shepherd's pie was nearly as large, coming with a boat of brown gravy and a cup of vegetables. It was also superb. We met a very nice family from Newcastle at the table next to us with two sweet children and the cutest little dog named Bobby, making the night even more special. We had eight dinners in England during this trip and this was not only the best, it was a terrific TravelValue and we shall return the next time we're in York ... OOH-RAH! CombatCritic Gives The Masons Arms 10 Bombs Out Of 10 And A Spot On My ¨WALL OF FAME¨ ... More Bombs Are Better!

About eight of our group of American tourists ate here and all agreed the food was good or very…read moregood at this pub/restaurant. I had the lamb shank on the bone and my wife had the chicken with risotto. This was one of those times I was pleasantly surprised by pub food. Partly also because our room was not in the same area as the bar, so it was quiet and felt much more like a restaurant than a bar. Obviously, we're not talking about burgers or fish and chips. Service was pleasant. It was a short walk from the hotel on Piccadilly from our Holiday Inn.

Nice pub with good food. Service was a little slow but the staff were friendly so that made up for…read moreit. That and the nice cold beer.

Great roast beef dinner with Yorkshire pudding and roasted vegetables. Service was good. Warm…read morebrownie with ice cream for dessert. Beautiful restaurant in York.

We wanted a nice light lunch inside, and headed here, knowing the restrooms would probably be very…read moreclean (they were!). The food itself is just fine. The ambiance is fancy, and the service was attentive and good. It's more of the kind of place you come and dress fancy with your girlfriends or a relative you want to impress for afternoon tea.

The ambience to this place is just beautiful. It feels upscale but you can arrive in jeans. There…read moreis a 2-3 dish prefix meal section that makes dinner affordable but doesn't skimp out on flavor. Everyone really enjoyed every single dish. The service was excellent, efficient but friendly. It's a nice experience to be at St Helen's Square where you can hear music in the background while enjoying the people watching.