To ask for your York suggestions for DH 40th Birthday?

[SnowiestMountain]

Apologies, posting for traffic, also posted in UK section but think it's pretty quiet there!

I'm thinking of a quick trip to York for DH 40th Birthday. I want something suitably fancy but doesn't cost ££££, budget about £250 for accommodation and dinner.

I thought perhaps The Principal for accommodation and maybe The Starr Inn the City for dinner? These are just from a google search so feel free to recommend anywhere better!

DH was a Head Chef for many years, so he does like naice food but definitely not in a 'white tablecloths & best behaviour environment!'

Any suggestions for, well anything would be appreciated!

Oh yes, 1331 defintely. I had fogotten about that one. I was there for the short film festival last year, fabulous!

Agree that Rustique and Khao San Road are fab. I haven't tried The Ivy yet but it is on my 'to do' list

Bettys is also a real treat for a light lunch or afternoon tea.

The Star in the City is overpriced with poor menu choices and service. Mr P's Curious Tavern is equally dissapointing

Well it looks like York was a good choice! We're not going until April but I wanted to book reasonably soon so we could choose where to stay & eat rather than places being full as it's near Easter. Really looking forward to it now! Not going to go to The Star, might go to The Ivy as a treat or Rustique, or Ambiente even if it is part of a mini chain

The principal is fantastic.
We stayed there for my birthday.
Got up graded to a minster view, loved the free tuck box in the room and the actually encouraged you to steal the toiletries.
The games room is brilliant and afternoon tea, after a swim in the pool was fabulous.
A lovely ten minute walk to York centre and everything was fabulous.
I loved everything about this hotel.
It’s pure class

I think we will stay in The Principal, it looks a bit more modern and a bit more 'us!'

Cafe no 8 is very good. Very unpretentious and just lovely food.

Le Cochon Aveugle does incredible food.
I live in York and it’s my favourite restaurant. Very casual and relaxed but food that will blow you away. It’s a set tasting menu (6 courses) so you gets what you gets. Can’t recommend highly enough.

The hotel du vin in York is my
favourite of all of them. The He Location is fantastic, you can walk into town in 10 minutes and the bar is lovely. Never had a bad stay there

Another vote for Rustique and afternoon tea at The Grand Hotel.

I was unimpressed with the Blue Bicycle. Tables very close together and noisy. See what shows are on at The Opera House, great venue.

You haven't mentioned what else you like doing but:

• Ghost walks, good fun.
• Railway museum. Didn't think it would be my thing but found it really interesting.
• Snickleways walk Snickleways
• I always like the Castle Museum
• We'll obviously Bettys! Don't ask for a slice of Yorkshire Turd Cart. My friend did and they were not impressed

The railway museum is indeed amazing. And free!

5foot5 Yorkshire Turd Cart!!

My mam's friend asked for a Fat Bastard in Betty's instead of a Fat Rascal

trevortrevorslattery

Fat Bastard! Oh I wish I had been there to see that!

Another one who'd recommend Ambiente.

My mam's friend asked for a Fat Bastard in Betty's instead of a Fat Rascal
This really made me laugh. I wish I'd heard it too, it would've made my day!

@Newhousenewname another recommendation for Le Cochon Aveugle!

I'm veggie now, but that black pudding maple macaroon haunts my dreams

You must go to Bettys. It's not a tourist trap but if you really can't bear to queue there is Little Bettys on Stonegate which is usually easy to get into. If the weather is reasonable have a tour on the open top bus. You can get an all day ticket and hop on and off as you like.

Couldn’t disagree more about Betty’s.Overpriced and food not that good either. Yes they do have waitresses in their little pinnies but that’s not worth queuing for. The basics such as scones and cakes are nothing special.However it is a tourist highlight so if you associate it with York then I can see why people go ( although isn’t the Harrogate one the original?)

Star in the City very underwhelming.

Yes to Le Cochon.

Yes to Rustique at Castlegate.

Yes to Kho San Road.

The Whippet Inn also good.

We didn't bother queueing for Betty's (April). It looked very pricey for something that didn't look any better than afternoon tea elsewhere (from what we saw through the window).

Without wishing to p on anyone's chips. The grand is the ONLY hotel my daughter has ever walked out of. She stays in hotels all the time for work, but her experience at the grand was poorer than any I've had in Travelodge.

Honestly, Betty's is a cut above for afternoon tea and cakes. It really is. I used to live in York and I love afternoon tea, so I've tried quite a few places. I still go to Betty's every time I am in the city, which is fairly often though rather than forking out for afternoon tea, I sometimes just buy a quiche and a fat rascal and take then to the park.

The Assembly Rooms is amazing architecturally, and even nicer now it's been done up. Unfortunately, it's just a pizza chain in there, but possibly the most magnificent place to eat chain pizza in the world!

Oh, and I think you can book ahead for afternoon tea to save the hassle of queuing. It'd make a lovely present!

Another one for saying the star in the city is underwhelming at best. I had a lamb shank that was like wading through gloop and a chocolate assiete that was like cadburys

If you’re not fussed about afternoon tea itself but just want to experience Betty’s then there’s rarely a queue after 6/7pm and they do quite a few alcoholic drinks iirc. IMO it’s worth it purely for the interiors, plus it’s a great spot for people watching!

Thanks again everyone, this is great!