The tradition continued through the centuries, and remnants of the past can still be experienced in some of York’s coffee houses today. Bettys opened its flagship York tearooms in 1937, and has preserved its original St. Helen’s Square site as a must-visit today. Going further back in time, The Perky Peacock is a cosy coffee shop in one of York’s oldest buildings, the 14th century Barker Tower on the city walls, whilst Coffee Culture on Goodramgate is housed in a Grade I-listed 16th-century building – both places providing a wonderfully historic setting for a modern brew.

Today, there are great coffee shops dotted all over York. On Museum Street, across from Museum Gardens, Brew & Brownie is a lovely space that does what the name suggests with exceptional coffees and cakes. Elsewhere in the city centre, on New Street, La Bottega Milanese brings the Italians’ love of coffee to York, serving fab fresh custom coffee, locally roasted.

Indeed, York has some fine local roasteries: Divine Coffee Roasters, on Micklegate and Market Street, is a small-batch roastery serving up delicious single-origin and blended coffees. Nano coffee roasters Harmony focus on ethically sourced speciality beans, dedicated to quality and sustainability. And York Coffee Emporium source high quality beans from around the world to roast locally and sell fresh from several York coffee shops.

For something a little different, FortyFive Vinyl Cafe adds a taste of Nashville to your coffee, as great music soundtracks great brews here. Whilst for an Asian twist to York’s coffee scene, try Lè Specialty on Fossgate, whose iced orange Americano and Asian Dolce coffee offer a unique and refreshing surprise. Also on Fossgate, Kiosk serves single estate coffee from a tiny Grade II-listed building full of character, and Spring Espresso’s artisan coffee from award winning baristas is so popular they also have a second store on Lendal.

Over on Bishopthorpe Road, a renowned independent hotspot, you’ll find another cluster of favourites: Stanley and Ramona, Robinson’s and The Pig & Pastry are all much loved by locals here, and The Dark Horse Espresso Bar added their bricks and mortar cafe on Bishy Road to their converted horsebox at Shambles Market.
All over York, inside the city walls and beyond, there are dozens of coffee shops adding to York’s brewtiful coffee culture. Thanks a latte to a local scene that’s full of beans.

Here’s some of our top picks:

Divine Coffee Roasters

Divine Coffee Roasters began in 2016 when Alex bought a tiny roaster and began crafting his first few batches of coffee. After the next two years perfecting his roasting skills, he joined forces with James, an old school friend working in the coffee industry, to create Divine’s flagship ‘lucky’ blend Fortuna. Divine Coffee Roasters have now grown into masterful hand-roasters of fresh small-batch coffee of the highest quality, which you can buy online and enjoy in their two lovely York coffee shops.
22-24 Market Street, YO1 8SJ
74 Micklegate, YO1 6LF
@divinecoffeeroasters

Spring Espresso

Steve and Tracey had been running a mobile coffee business back in 2011 when they decided to open a speciality coffee shop on Fossgate. 14 years later, Spring Espresso continues to serve delicious artisan coffee in a warm and friendly environment to many more coffee lovers – having expanded their original space as well as opening a cute second store on Lendal.
45 Fossgate, YO1 9TF
21 Lendal, YO1 8AQ
@springespresso

Brew & Brownie

This irresistible coffee shop opposite Museum Gardens is a wonderfully welcoming mix of relaxed and vibrant – epitomising the Northern hospitality Gina was aiming for when opening Brew & Brownie in 2013. Now with a bustling cafe and a bakehouse two doors down, both championing food that’s local, seasonal and sustainable alongside equally excellent coffee.
5 Museum Street, YO1 7DT
@brewandbrownie

La Bottega Milanese

Having made its name since 2009 as one of Leeds’ finest coffee shops, La Bottega Milanese brought its taste of Italy to York in 2024, not long after Katia had taken over her beloved coffee shop. “If it’s not from Italy it’s from Yorkshire,” they say, a mantra embodied in their imported goodies and fresh ingredients enjoyed in a social setting with a coffee obsession; fusing an authentic Milan experience with the best local offerings.
4 New Street, YO1 8RA
@labottegamilanese