York’s best beer gardens – updated for 2019. Cheers!

The sun is finally out, so we’ve wiped the rain off our beer garden guide.
There’s no time like the present to try them out.
Thanks to nominations from YorkMix readers – and our own diligent research of course – here’s a thoroughly tried and tested list of the city’s top outdoor drinking spots.
If we’ve missed your favourite, let us know in the comments.
Happy summer!
City centre hotspots
Thor’s Sol Ást tipi bar
Thor’s Sol Ást tipi bar, Principle York, Station Rd, York YO24 1AA
Relax in this fabulous, lush garden-setting for the summer Thor’s Tipi.
Spark:York
Spark:York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB
Watch the World go by from this vibrant mix of street food and independent drink businesses.
The Red Lion
The Red Lion, 2 Merchantgate, York YO1 9TU
Enjoy a traditional pint in a beer garden tucked out of sight in the heart of the city.
Shambles Tavern
Shambles Tavern, 44 Shambles, York YO1 7LX
A small but perfectly formed beer garden, overlooking the market and off York’s most famous street.
The Corner Pin
The Corner Pin, 17 Tanner Row, York YO1 6JB
Bask in the sun-trap that is the beer terrace of this traditional oak-beamed pub.
The Gillygate
The Gillygate, 48 Gillygate, York YO31 7EQ
Stylish inside, and relaxed outside: that’s the Gillygate. There’s a good-sized beer garden and the Shed, a venue for all kinds of entertainment.
Lamb & Lion
2-4 High Petergate, York YO1 7EH
This popular haven is part of the history of York, being built on to the city walls. Still a big favourite with our readers.
Stonegate Yard
Stonegate Yard, 8-10 Little Stonegate York YO1 8AX
Close to York Minster, Stonegate Yard has a lovely enclosed beer garden with modern furniture.
Waggon And Horses
Waggon And Horses, 19 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3BP
One reader described a pint in the Waggon’s beer garden as ‘paradise’. And we’re not going to argue.
The Whippet Inn
The Whippet Inn, 15 North Street, York YO1 6JD
The Whippet’s menu is known for its steaks, and you can stake a claim to a place in the sunshine in its small beer garden.
White Swan
The Old White Swan, 80 Goodramgate, York, YO1 7LF
A great place to eat, drink and be nosy. Sit and sup in this beer garden backed directly onto Goodramgate and you’ll see the whole city pass by.
Ye Olde Starre Inn
Ye Olde Starre Inn, 40 Stonegate, York YO1 8AS
This is one of York’s oldest pubs, and so, we assume, one of the oldest beer gardens. What it lacks in space it makes up for in its location and history.
Yorkshire Bar & Grill
St Maurice’s Road, York
The refreshment arm of the Monk Bar Hotel has what it describes as York’s best kept secret – a suntrap of a beer garden, with plenty of greenery.
Riverside rendezvous
The Polish Vodka Bar
The Polish Vodka Bar, 24 Walmgate, York YO1 9TJ
Feel fabulous by the Foss, as you drink spirits from around the World.
Brew York
Enterprise Complex, Walmgate, York
The brilliant Brew York brewery and tap room hosted the YorkMix fifth birthday bash, so we’re biased. But what was already a rather nice al fresco location has just got better, as its riverside beer garden has been updated and improved.
City Screen
13-17 Coney Street, York
A great place to chill and watch the world float by on the River Ouse. And when you’ve had a drink on the riverside terrace, perhaps take in a film.
Dyls
The Motor House, Skeldergate Bridge, York
Dyls is about to reopen after a massive makeover – and just in time for summer. It’s a beautiful spot to sit either in the designated seating area or just on the riverbank.
Postern Gate
90 Piccadilly, York
Judging from its rather modern exterior and place on Piccadilly, which is never going to win the award for York’s loveliest street, you wouldn’t expect a view like the one above. But this is what you see when seated on one of the Postern Gate’s 12 picnic tables.
Star Inn The City
Lendal Engine House, Museum Street, York
With Museum Gardens one side, and the river on the other, you have the best of both worlds on the Star’s large terrace.
Top terraces
Cave du Cochon
37 Walmgate, York
This wine bar is a relatively recent addition to the Walmgate food and drink scene. And it has a compact terrace out the back for mixing sunshine and wine.
Fossgate Social
Fossgate Social, 25 Fossgate, York YO1 9TA
When it comes to beer gardens, it isn’t the size it’s what you do with them. And the Fossgate Social is always doing something different, including various flavours of live music, in its backyard.
Golden Lion
9 Church Street, York
What was little more than a dumping ground above the Golden Lion has been transformed into a small but stylish sun trap.
The Habit
The Habit, 40 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF
As you venture across the Habit’s threshold, you are greeted by a friendly welcome but no indication of what lies above. This is York’s finest licensed roof terrace bar none.
Judge’s Lodging
9 Lendal, york
There are more opportunities to drink outside at the Judge’s Lodging than any other bar. Not only do you have the beer garden at the front, but some first floor decking, complete with comfy outdoor sofas.
The Maltings
The Maltings, Tanner’s Moat, York YO1 1HU
No other pub is like the Maltings. One of the real ale pioneers in York it has more character than umpteen chain bars lumped together. Its outdoor area overlooking Lendal Bridge is a more recent, and very welcome, addition.
Rook And Gaskill
Rook & Gaskill, 2 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
The Rook has another hideaway of a garden, but it’s a nice spot to try one of the many real ales on offer.
Further out
The Fox
The Fox, 168 Holgate Rd, York YO24 4DQ
A large and popular beer garden that is perfect for families
Fulford Arms
121 Fulford Road, York
The Fulford Arms may be many miles from the sea. But that hasn’t stopped the pub from creating its very own beach in the beer garden. Totally tropical…
The Golden Ball
The Golden Ball, Cromwell Road, Bishophill, York, YO1 6DU
York’s community-run pub has a small but well-kept garden which you can see from the city walls. Worth dropping in to (but not straight from the walls.)
The Inn on the Green
3 The Green, Acomb
The Green in question is the one in Acomb. This handsome, well-run pub also boasts a rather superior outdoor drinking area.
The Lysander Arms
Manor Lane, Rawcliffe, York
A new entry for 2017, the Lysander Arms got the vote of several readers. And looking at the large, beautifully kept beer garden, you can see why.
The Rose and Crown, Sutton on the Forest
Main Street, Sutton on the Forest, York
Not only is this a stylish and relaxing beer garden, it backs on to some playing fields too. Great if you have kids.
The Swan
The Swan, 16 Bishopgate Street, York, YO23 1JH
On the corner of Clementhorpe, the Swan is well worth the walk out of town. Chill here with a fine pint and friendly company.
The Walnut Tree
The Walnut Tree, Heworth Village, York, YO31 1AN
The Walnut Tree in Heworth is one of the greenest of our open spaces, and is popular with families.
The Woodman, Bishopthorpe
16 Main Street, Bishopthorpe, York
Another new entry, this pub in Bishopthorpe boasts a large and lovely plot for a summer’s drink.
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