Great Foodie Date Destinations in Yorkshire
Whether you’re an early bird preferring a morning coffee date, a night owl who dreams of a romantic dinner for two, or you’re somewhere between the two
Bison Coffee House
17 Heslington Road, York YO10 5AR
01904 637607
bisoncoffee.co.uk
For your next date why not support local by visiting Bison, a small but mighty independent coffee house in York. Serving speciality coffee from around the world, they change coffee every few days meaning serial daters can try a variety of flavours every time. They also serve a variety of Hasbean teas and hot chocolate if you would prefer. Prolong your date and pair your choice of hot drink with a speciality bagel, toastie, pastry or delicious brownie – our favourite is definitely the millionaire shortbread brownie and creamy hot chocolate. You can thank us later!
Bettys Café Tea Rooms
Across Yorkshire
0800 456 1919
bettys.co.uk
There are six Bettys in Yorkshire, and each one has its own personality, but what they all have in common is the delicious treats you’ll find inside. Inspired by a Swiss heritage, while still celebrating their Yorkshire roots, they offer everything from savoury specials including a breakfast rösti, to iconic classics such as their fat rascals. Enjoy handmade bread, cakes and chocolates from their own craft bakery, and for a real treat we recommend the traditional afternoon tea for that perfect first date!
Lutt and Turner
12–14 Market Street, Malton YO17 7LY
01653 692555
yobakehouse.com
Where better to enjoy a coffee and a cake than direct from the bakery itself? YO Bakehouse specialises in artisan sweet bakes and bread, which you can now enjoy in their cute coffee house and eatery, Lutt & Turner. With lots of tarts, scones, macarons, traybakes, pastries and brownies to choose from, or if you can’t decided between them there’s always their afternoon tea. For those with a slightly bigger appetite, Lutt & Turner offer breakfast, brunch or a light lunch too, so you’re not just limited to sweet treats for this coffee date.
Brew & Brownie
5 Museum Street, York YO1 7DT
01904 647420
brewandbrownie.uk
With a chilled, contemporary interior, Brew & Brownie is the perfect place to relax with your date over good food and drink. Inspired by the seasons, there’s lots of choice on the menu all made using Yorkshire’s finest local produce. With the choice of barista-style coffee, hot chocolate and loose leaf tea from Brew Tea Co., as well as a cake and pastry selection to die for, you’re sure to leave this coffee date feeling smug.
Muse
104 High Street, Yarm TS15 9AU
01642 788558
museyarm.com
Boasting a licensed pavement café, Muse is the perfect place for an al fresco coffee date in the sunshine. Their European-inspired menu puts the emphasis on fresh, carefully sourced, seasonal ingredients to produce top quality dishes. So, whether you opt for a simple espresso and pain au chocolat, or treat yourself to a caprese bruschetta and a wine, we are sure it’ll be a great date.
Mowgli
631 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield S11 8PT
0114 266 0069
mowglistreetfood.com
Mowgli is not about the intimate, hushed dining experience, and it’s a million miles away from the curry stereotype. The simple dishes on this menu show that real Indian food is healthy, often vegan and packed with fresh flavour. Perfect for a casual lunchtime date, the décor at Mowgli is laid back, with wooden benches and rope swing seats, and the food itself is served in traditional metal tiffin trays. What better way to spice up your date than exploring the tastes of Indian street food cuisine?
Shibden Mill Inn
Shibden, Halifax HX3 7UL
01422 365840
shibdenmillinn.com
Few things in life can beat a good pub lunch, and few pubs in Yorkshire can beat the Shibden Mill Inn. A hidden gem, this multi-award winning country inn offers first class dining with an inviting backdrop of open fires, low-beamed ceilings and a cosy bar. Sourcing the finest and freshest ingredients from local and specialist suppliers, they offer delicious dishes and head chef Will Webster even creates some dishes using ingredients grown in their own kitchen garden. Organise your date for a Sunday lunchtime and settle down to the inn’s traditional roast.
The Wild Plum
34–36 Hookstone Road, Harrogate HG2 8BW
01423 815320
snootyfrox.co.uk
A stylish day restaurant in the heart of Harrogate, the Wild Plum is the ideal choice for lunchtime. Head chef Bethany Haresign leads a talented all-female team making everything from scratch, and using only the best ingredients sourced locally. Rising to the challenge of constantly bringing something new to the table, the menu changes weekly, however expect to find pancakes, waffles, quesadillas and poke bowls on the menu. Not to mention there is also a whole section of the menu dedicated to Yorkshire Gin!
Elsworth Kitchen
18–20 Coach Street, Skipton BD23 1LH
01765 229224
elsworthkitchen.co.uk
In the historic canal quarter of Skipton, Elsworth Kitchen is a vibrant, welcoming restaurant serving fresh and authentic food. With a motto of ‘empty plates equals happy customers’, the menu changes weekly, but always uses the finest in local, British and seasonal produce. Lunchtime means everything from farmhouse black pudding with ham hock, smoked beans, poached egg and a bourbon glaze, to butternut squash gnocchi with spinach, pine nuts, crispy kale and Cropwell Bishop stilton, as well as dirty rosemary fries with mature cheddar, onion, chorizo and sriracha mayonnaise.
Devour
Luke Lane, Thongsbridge, Holmfirth HD9 7TB
01484 684793
devour.co.uk
Devour recreates the warmth and generosity of back-street trattorias in Italy, just a stone’s throw away from the cobbled streets of Holmfirth. In a beautifully-restored wood turning mill and dyehouse, it offers riverside dining combined with a British take on Italian food. Want to sweeten your date? The Dolce Dessert menu is so tempting, with millefoglie, pannacotta, affogato, and even a tiramisu cocktail. Devour is all about serious food with a simple laid-back approach, perfect for a daytime date.
Cave du Cochon
37 Walmgate, York YO1 9TX
01904 640222
caveducochon.uk
Sister restaurant to the award-winning Le Cochon Aveugle, Cave du Cochon is a casual wine bar serving pizzas, sharing dishes, cheese, charcuterie and a huge selection of wines from across the globe. Pair their delicious sourdough pizza with a glass, carafe or bottle of wine from specialist small grower-producers (great discussion point if conversation is running dry) – so whether you pop in for just a glass of wine or for dinner, this is the perfect place for a first date.
Ogino
Beaver House, Butcher Row, Beverley HU17 0AA
01428 679500
ogino.co.uk
Ogino serves contemporary Japanese cuisine in an informal fine dining setting. Modern dishes use fresh, locally-sourced produce for a truly unique dining experience. For date night we recommend the Zensai tasting platter for two – with the chef’s selection of five canapés it’s a great way to try lots of different flavours. There are a variety of mains which all come with a suggested wine pairing, or for a real treat choose the grade A5 Kagoshima Wagyu beef with garlic butter rice.
Ibérica
Hepper House, Leeds LS1 2BH
0113 403 7007
ibericarestaurants.com
In a Grade II-listed former cloth merchants, Ibérica is a light and airy restaurant with high ceilings and stunning chandeliers. Michelin-starred chef Nacho Manzano has worked hard to make his food equally as impressive as the building. Offering a truly authentic experience, he celebrates the spirit and style of Spain with the finest foods and wines his homeland has to offer. From cured meats such as Sobrasada and artisan Manchego cheese, to classic tapas and paella to share, and of course 100 percent pure bred Jamón Ibérico, spend an evening experiencing the true tastes of Spain for a date with a difference.
The Whippet and Pickle
14c Towngate, Holmfirth HD9 1HA
01484 443910
thewhippetandpickle.com
The Whippet and Pickle offers a relaxed fine dining restaurant in Holmfirth’s Town Gate. The menu here changes seasonally, yet it always has well-thought-out choices and uses the freshest produce in its homemade dishes. A must-visit date spot for food-lovers, expect to find dishes such as venison, celeriac, sloe gin and pickled blackberries, and sea bream, clams and samphire, sprouting broccoli and burnt corn, as well as salted pecan meringue with preserved blueberries, bay cream and birch syrup.
Crab and Lobster
Dishford Road, Thirsk YO7 3QL
01845 577286
crabandlobster.co.uk
This is a quirky, cosy restaurant with lots of character. Famous for its fish, the wide-ranging menu has everything from fresh local seafood to locally-sourced steak, and dishes are generous, unpretentious and prepared to perfection. We recommend the Crab’s Fish Pie with market fish, scallops, prawns, mussels, Fortune kipper mash, fresh crab meat and a cheddar crust, and the Crab’s Assiette to finish – a selection of all the desserts ion the menu in miniature.
