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

Relax in this fabulous, lush garden-setting for the summer Thor’s Tipi.

Spark:York

Watch the World go by from this vibrant mix of street food and independent drink businesses.

The Red Lion

Enjoy a traditional pint in a beer garden tucked out of sight in the heart of the city.

Shambles Tavern

A small but perfectly formed beer garden, overlooking the market and off York’s most famous street.

The Corner Pin

Bask in the sun-trap that is the beer terrace of this traditional oak-beamed pub.

The Gillygate

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

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

Close to York Minster, Stonegate Yard has a lovely enclosed beer garden with modern furniture.

Waggon And Horses

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’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

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

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

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

Feel fabulous by the Foss, as you drink spirits from around the World.

Brew 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What was little more than a dumping ground above the Golden Lion has been transformed into a small but stylish sun trap.

The Habit

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

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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

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

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

A large and popular beer garden that is perfect for families

Fulford Arms

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

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

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

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

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

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 in Heworth is one of the greenest of our open spaces, and is popular with families.

The Woodman, Bishopthorpe

Another new entry, this pub in Bishopthorpe boasts a large and lovely plot for a summer’s drink.