21 Things Everyone Must Eat In York

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.