Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in River Derwent

"An unexpected pleasure in the heart of York, this 16th-century mansion hotel's small restaurant focuses on British, locally produced food, some of it plucked from the house gardens. As well as multi-course..."

"One of the more unique and wackier places on this list is none other than the House of The Trembling Madness. Many of the reviews of this place say that it is a ‘MUST-visit’ and 'If you’re looking for unusual, fun, esoteric and eclectic then this is your place.’ With its unusual name, many people are drawn to this place by its pure aesthetic alone, with its famous 900 year old wall, the House of The Trembling Madness resides in the first Norman building built in York, the wall is all that remains of its original structure. When you come here though, you won’t want to leave when you see their generous selection of world crafted beers on offer, and their big portions of hearty pub meals all at very reasonable prices, such as their large steak and stout pie with mash and peas, at only 13 USD!"

"The House of the Trembling Madness is a great place to drink in York if you’re into quirky and unusual buildings. The original Trembling Madness is much smaller, quirkier and has a very odd charm to it, whereas the newly refurbished one is much bigger and has a classier vibe to it; it also has a shop downstairs where you can purchase your drinks for a fraction of the price and then take them upstairs to drink in the bar/restaurant!. Whichever one you visit, you’re sure to delight in its weirdness and enjoy wonderfully crafted drinks."

"Just like the name suggests, this eccentric restaurant offers something a little unique. It is designed to resemble a medieval ale house with stuffed animals sprawn across the walls and Belgian beers on tap. Food is served all day long with bar snacks, authentic Yorkshire ingredients, and craft beer all round."

"Unit 6, Enterprise Complex Walmgate, York, YO1 9TT01904 848448Website. No venue has made a bigger impact on the recent York pub and brewing scene than Brew York Brewery and Tap. It’s already hosted numerous beer festivals and a major expansion in 2018 will see it take over the whole of the former Maltings next door to make it a one-stop food and beer mecca, as well as expanding its brewery capacity."

"Located on Walmgate, the beer garden at Brew York is a hidden gem that overlooks the River Foss and Rowntree’s Wharf. With unique barrel benches and YUZU street food also on offer, make this your next stop for a fresh brew."

"Spark is a relatively new addition to the city of York but it’s certainly one that’s been welcomed with open arms (at least by me). Offering a vast selection of different cuisines, as well as gorgeous seating areas and unique shipping containers disguised as shops and food stalls, Spark is a great place to grab some pictures."

"When to go: When you fancy something quick, casual and can’t decide so visit more than one. What to have: The buttermilk fried chicken burgers from Clucking Oinks are unbeatable. Wash one down with an ice-cold can of craft beer from resident bar Piccadilly Tap."

"Spark:York is proud to always offer an eclectic mix of food and drink from around the world. Showcasing a fantastic range of local and independent businesses. Enjoy a deliciously fruity peach bellini served by the piano at Bohemian Bar."

"Pavement Vaults is yet another one of the best places to eat and drink in York as it serves a hearty selection of both yummy food and alcoholic beverages and is a great place to enjoy a more intimate drink with friends, family or your partner. There’s a small downstairs area with comfortable booths that’s great if you want to be a little more removed from the hustle and bustle of the bar upstairs. 2 Piccadilly, York YO1 9NU"

"It is a pleasant Sunday afternoon at Quirky Ales and Monkey is starting his afternoon off with a Hip Hop. Is that wise Monkey?"

"One of the coolest spots in a city renowned for its oldie pubs, The Habit is a café-bar with assorted, reclaimed furniture, relaxed vibes and a decent selection of guest ales and beers. One of the main attractions, though, is the regular live music and hip DJs, making it quite popular with the city's student population. Head up stairs to the terrace in the summer, where you'll also find The Habit's renowned graffiti wall."

"The Habit is a no-fuss bar and eatery, known locally for its relaxed atmosphere and regularly hosting live music. Serving a classic range of beers, ales, and whiskies from Scotland to Japan you can’t go wrong with this one. They’ve got the cutest roof terrace, and the views of York Minster is what really pushes this into being one of the best beer gardens in York."

"National Railway Museum – Get up close to over 300 years of fascinating railway history at the National Railway Museum. Explore giant halls full of trains including the majestic Duchess of Hamilton, step on to the futuristic, Japanese Bullet Train simulation or marvel at the stunning opulence of the Royal Trains."

"York's National Railway Museum – the biggest in the world, with more than 100 locomotives – is well presented and crammed with fascinating stuff. It is laid out on a vast scale and is housed in a series of giant... Top ChoiceMuseum in York"

"Good news: the largest railway museum in the world is also open year-round!. This museums offers tons of free activities as well as a railroad-themed play area for the kids, which makes it a slam dunk for the entire family."

"Barley Hall is a timber framed medieval townhouse lying behind Stonegate, accessed by a narrow snicket. The 14th century house was concealed under the framework of a more modern building and was only discovered during renovation work in the 1980’s. Barley Hall, particularly its recreated banqueting hall, will provide visitors with an accurate experience of what life was like in medieval York."

"This historic site was discovered by accident, when it was scheduled to be destroyed. The oldest parts of Barley Hall date from about 1360, but until the 1980s the house was hidden under a more modern brick façade. The medieval house was once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York."

"If you want to take a photo wearing a traditional medieval cape in some beautiful surroundings (as well as learn more about the relationship of science, religion and chemistry in the Middle ages in York), head to the Barley Hall, where you can do all that."

"With one of the country’s most important regimental collections, York Army Museum offers visitors an immersive insight into 300+ years of Yorkshire military history. Learn about the Royal Dragoon Guards and Yorkshire Regiment through interactive exhibits, centuries-old artifacts, and audiovisual displays."

"York has been an important military base since the IX Legion was here in Roman times. York Army Museum displays a large and diverse collection dedicated to The Royal Dragoon Guards, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and The Yorkshire Regiment. All have a long connection to the city."

"Barley Hall is a timber framed medieval townhouse lying behind Stonegate, accessed by a narrow snicket. The 14th century house was concealed under the framework of a more modern building and was only discovered during renovation work in the 1980’s. Barley Hall, particularly its recreated banqueting hall, will provide visitors with an accurate experience of what life was like in medieval York."

"This historic site was discovered by accident, when it was scheduled to be destroyed. The oldest parts of Barley Hall date from about 1360, but until the 1980s the house was hidden under a more modern brick façade. The medieval house was once home to the Priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York."

"If you want to take a photo wearing a traditional medieval cape in some beautiful surroundings (as well as learn more about the relationship of science, religion and chemistry in the Middle ages in York), head to the Barley Hall, where you can do all that."

"One of the UK’s finest Georgian townhouses, Fairfax House on Castlegate was designed by John Carr. Originally the winter retreat of Viscount Fairfax, the house was converted into a dance hall and cinema in the 20th Century. The York Civic Trust however restored it to its former Georgian glory, and today it’s open to the public with the Noel Terry collection of furnishings, ornaments, decorative arts and paintings on display inside."

"Things to Do, Attractions"

"One of the Best Bottomless Brunch destinations in York, located along the city’s busy Stonegate street. Stumble into the Botanist and you would be forgiven for thinking you had walked into a secret garden. Their menu is short and as sweet as their triple-layered french toastie, with veggie and vegans also looked after."

"The Botanist have a fresh new offering for brunch that you can upgrade to bottomless brunch if you would like (and what’s not to like?). You choose a dish from six different sections of the menu – each section has three options."

"Our Italian restaurant serves tasty, authentic dishes from pizza, pasta and risotto to salads and indulgent desserts – all in a uniquely designed restaurant. Our Italian menu also includes Vegan and Vegetarian options and we also offer takeaway on Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. 2 Lendal, York, YO1 8AA"

"Nationwide Italian chain Zizzi is not exactly the last word in cutting-edge culinary cool, but it’s been quick off the mark to introduce some hot ..." Read our full review"