After many years of being the one friend who sits at the café table with a hot chocolate, I have finally matured to the point of mildly enjoying the taste of coffee. Here are 7 lesser-known coffee spots in York that make great places to warm up as the weather gets colder:
1. Spring Espresso – With award-winning baristas across two York sites, one on Fossgate and one on Lendal, Spring Espresso is one of the few places I’ve found that makes a proper piccolo latte. Breakfast is the draw for many regulars, with the scrambled eggs earning a notable mention from many visitors (I’m more partial to poached eggs, so I unfortunately wasn’t brave enough to try them).
2. Bean & Gone – Hidden in the Bootham Bar walls, Bean and Gone is a great spot to impress friends who are visiting York for the first time. Despite my protestations that I’m coming around to the taste of coffee, I couldn’t resist the ‘Ultimate Chocolate’ on their menu, which was a great pick for a sweet tooth like mine.
3. Over the Rainbow Café – York has had a somewhat patchy history with LGBTQ+ venues, but one spot that’s remained a staple of the local community over the years is OTR café. You’ll find this non-profit sober space and community café just above the Portal bookshop, next to The Shambles. It offers a welcoming, safe space, whether you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community or not.
4. Perky Peacock – You might think that a 700-year-old Grade I listed building would be difficult to run as a modern venue, but the Perky Peacock manages to maintain a cosy atmosphere in one of the oldest buildings in York. This family-run business is also licensed, so if you’d rather enjoy an alcoholic beverage with an overlook of the River Ouse, head on down to Barker Tower.
5. The Dark Horse Espresso Bar – The Dark Horse has two sites, one on the Shambles market and a sit-down café on Bishopthorpe Road, and offers a unique, Allpress-focused menu with an Australian twist, thanks to Sydney-born co-owner Mark and his Sydney-acclimatised partner Laura. A little taste of Oz, in York!
6. Brew & Brownie – Another family-run business, Brew & Brownie runs a delicious all-day brunch menu, with hot food served until around 4.00pm. If you’re worried about getting in before then, you’ll be pleased to know that Brew & Brownie also runs a bakeshop just two doors down, to meet the demand for their brimming range of delectable baked goods.
7. FortyFive Vinyl Café – FortyFive’s unique concept belies its many different functions; a café and bar, combined with a record store and listening room – it’s also a live music venue! This unique amalgamation makes for a cohesive, cosy and creative atmosphere, and they don’t half do a good cup of Joe!
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