1. Brunch at The Perky Peacock.
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York's very own coffee chain (it has two locations, it counts), does two things really really well: brunch and coffee. The Lendal Bridge location sits nestled in a medieval tower, and serves up the best cappuccino art around (the York swan is a favourite). Meanwhile the Gillygate café has a less extensive coffee range, but hot damn, their croque madame is a hell of a way to start your day.
2. Plant-based tapas at El Piano.
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A wholly vegan and gluten-free restaurant, you'll find many a meat-eater in El Piano too. A little haven of Andalucia in York, the coconut-milk dhaal and crispy spring onion and carrot Tinas are enough to make anyone forget the juiciest of steaks.
3. A pulled pork burger at Shambles Kitchen.
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This feel good eatery started life as a smoothie shop, rebranding to Shambles Kitchen off the back of its food's success. Smoothies are still on the menu, but now you'll find healthy fast food too – mainly "streetfood" boxes crammed with Moroccan lamb and mint meatballs, and the famous pulled pork that bubbles away overnight before selling out the next day.
4. Afternoon Tea at Little Bettys.
Everyone knows Bettys of York, and their high quality teas, delectable little cakes and horrendous queues. But not many know Little Bettys, tucked away on Stonegate, that serves the same high-quality teas and cakes, minus the queues.
5. A slice of homemade cake at Gatehouse Coffee.
Hidden in York's Roman walls, this caff is blimmin' brilliant. The cake and coffee is expertly made, the setting is like an old English library, and the prices will have you yelling praise be.
6. Gourmet pie at Puddin' & Pie.
You can't come to Yorkshire and not have a pie. Fact. And you won't find much better than this hearty fare, dished up with mashed potatoes, onion gravy and peas.
7. South Indian curry at Coconut Lagoon.
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Run by three former taxi-drivers, Coconut Lagoon brings a taste of South India's Kerala to York, and their divinely spiced recipes will convince even a bonafide korma addict to try something new. Grab a Kerala curry and masala dosa, and prepare to have your curry conceptions blown.
8. Pizza at The Hop.
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There are more than 360 pubs behind York's walls, and this is one of the best. Inside it's all gorgeous vintage hanging lights and mahogany bar, but the real star of the show is an open kitchen that churns out stone-baked pizzas in less than ten minutes. Crispy, with a perfect cheese-to-tomato ratio, they're the best way to soak up some of the Ossett Brewery beer on offer.
9. A veggie burger at Goji.
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Humungous garlic mushrooms with halloumi or smoked tofu make up Goji's infamous burgers, with quinoa and sweet potato burgers for non-mushroom fans. Trust us, it's likely the best veggie burger you will ever eat.
10. Pub grub at The House of Trembling Madness.
Expertly hidden on Stonegate, one of York's busiest streets, this beer drinker's heaven is easy to miss. Tucked into a 12th century Norman house above an off-license, it has over 600 available brews that cover everything from niche Japanese ale to Belgian strawberry beer. Paired with solidly good steak & ale pies and sausage & mash, pub-lovers will never want to leave.
11. Pierogi at Barbakan.
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A Polish delicatessen that evolved into a café after punters realised their snacks were far too good to wait to eat. Everything from the stuffed red peppers to the famous lasagne is delicious, but it's the pierogi you NEED to try. Pan-fried dumplings filled with cheese or beef with potatoes, topped with crispy bacon and sour cream. Nuff said.
12. Meat and cheese platter at Mannion & Co.
A deli shop overflowing with charcuterie, cheeses, rillettes, terrines, pates and home-baked breads. The only thing to do is grab a board, load up and devour it all in the glorious courtyard garden attached.
13. Fish 'n' chips at The Sea Catcher.
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The Sea Catcher say they're the best fish and chips in York, and we're not going to disagree. The batter is crisp, the chips are fluffy and it's all served piping hot in highly Instagrammable boxes.
14. Pancakes at Brew & Brownie.
A slice of street-style in York, Brew & Brownie's mochas, macchiatos and PBJ sandwiches appear on brown paper menus and are eaten on distressed wooden counters. If you couldn't hear the Minster in the background, you'd think you were in deepest Shoreditch. The brownie may be this place's namesake, but it's the pancakes, dripping in maple syrup and topped with streaky bacon or blueberries, you need to order.
15. Sausage rolls at Pig & Pastry.
Opened by Julia and Steve Holding in 2008, the Pig & Pastry does delicious home-made treats on Bishopthorpe "Bishy" Road. Adored by locals, ingredients are sourced as close to home as possible, and the café's relaxed atmosphere makes stuffing an entire sausage roll in your mouth okay. Which is what you'll want to do once you've tried their flaky-pastry wrapped goodness.
16. Beef Rendang at Evil Eye.
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Notoriously lethal, you need to pad out your drinks with a bite to eat in York's most famous cocktail bar (Johnny Depp is reportedly a fan). It's far from a chore though, with a menu of Thai curries, Malaysian and Indonesian street food, and of course, proper Sunday roasts. The beef rendang is a firm local favourite – on every day that isn't a Sunday that is.
17. A seasonal salad at Filmore & Union.
This healthy takeaway and café has blown up in the last few years, starting in Petergate and expanding to five branches. Not-exclusively vegetarian, you'll still want to try one of the vibrant salads, carnivore or not.
18. Bulgogi at Oshibi.
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A bustling hub of authentic Korean dishes in a quiet courtyard, run by an ultra-friendly husband and wife. The beef bulgogi is the best place to start if you're new to Korean food, a one-pot dish of tender meat, fluffy rice and crunchy vegetables. Japanese-fans should know there's a really decent sushi selection too, alongside the Korean 'kimbap' version.
19. Gelato at Trinacria.
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Pop into this family-run Sicilian café on Bishopthorpe (a local foodie hotspot) for a scoop of homemade artisan ice cream, done in creamy Sicilian-style. If you've still room, make sure you try a cannolo from La Pasticceria too – pastry chef, Giuseppe Pugliares has come direct from Sicily to make them for you.
20. Yorkshire puddings at The Star Inn The City.
Andrew Pern's Star Inn is one of the North's most revered restaurants, and his pun-tastic York branch lives up to standards. Forget the fancy scallops and just order up a plate of Yorkshire puds. Pair them with a roast if you must, but honestly, they don't need it. They're that good.
21. Treacle tart at The Blue Bicycle.
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A former brothel, you'll find throwbacks to this restaurant's saucy history on the walls and menu (hint: it's naked ladies). Now thoroughly reputable thanks to its strong British fare, the best comes at the end, with a sticky treacle tart that will finish anything off on a high note.