York is a historic walled city at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England, and is the traditional county town of Yorkshire to which it gives its name.
For more information of tourist things to do visit "Visit York"
So here we go Otto's "bakers dozen" of must visit pub's in the city of York;
York Tap, Tea Room Square, Station Road, York
Hours: Mon-Tue 09-23, Wed-Sat 09-24, Sun 1000-2330
Handily located at the train station (plus it opens quite early), it would be quite understandable if you went to this pub and didn’t venture into the city. Often 35 beers on tap and keg, bringing the best from Yorkshire, England , and the rest of the world, one could spend hours here. One of the best pubs in York.
Pivni, 6 Patrick Pool, York
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11.30am–11.30pm; Fri-Sat 11.30am-11.45pm; Sun noon-11.30pm
A ramshackle and tilting (historic and atmospheric), the building itself is worth a visit. Pivni is easy to find as it’s centrally located in town. There is upstairs seating with the bathrooms all the way up the top floor. Nice selection of beers and as The Tap’s sibling you’ll find similar taps as the other bar. Friendly barmen even when quite busy.
The Maltings, Tanners Moat, York
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-11pm; Sun: 12 noon-10.30pm
Great pub on the way from the train station to York’s actual centre, this pub, one of the most authentic in the city serves a nice range of 7 casks and 2 good ciders and some Foreign keg beers, awesome homemade food. Very small, darkly lit, wooden doors on the roof, random signs hanging from every crevice. There is a pleasant outdoor patio to the rear. What it can suffer from is the dreaded Stag and Hen parties at weekends, but there is usually a doorman trying to stop this. Certainly must visit on any trip to York.
The House of Trembling Madness, 48 Stonegate, York
Hours: Mon-Sat 1000 to midnight; Sun 1100 to midnight
A great bottle shop in a lovely old, atmospheric building. located in central York. Basically a four-sided room with a great range of bottled beers is located at the rear of a shop that sells a bit of everything. The selection of beers form local breweries in Yorkshire is especially interesting. From the shop there’s access to a small café/pub/restaurant on the first floor that has heaps of wood, stuffed animals and such....(beware it gets very busy) plus in the basement there’s an outlet for spirits. Prices seem reasonable for what they have on offer. Polite service. This place is special for its old charm and an essential stop if you’re visiting York.
Three Legged Mare (York), 15 High Petergate, York
Hours: 11-11 Mon-Thu, 11-12 Fri & Sat, 12-11 Sun
A modern style, comfortable and relaxed pub close to the Minster. The Three Legged Mare (aka the Wonky Donkey) is a York Brewery pub. It has nine hand pumps usually 4/5 York beers (including the Wonkey Donkey, brewed especially for the pub) and 4/5 interesting guests. If the choice is too daunting you can order 3 samples of third pints for £3.80. The eight keg taps are mainly the usual big brewery staples. There’s an area at the front with comfortable seating, high tops made out of barrels by the bar and at the back and a conservatory, all lit with tea lights. The toilets are downstairs, accessed via a short spiral staircase. There’s free wifi, live music on Fridays and / or Sundays. The bar staff are friendly, efficient and polite.
The Hop (Ossett), 11-12 Fossgate, York
Just opposite to the Blue Bell in Fossgate in central York. An what a contrast to the Blue Bell! This one is a new, opened in late 2013, quite large modern place with a huge L-shaped dark teak bar near the entrance, and a pizzeria to the rear. It belongs to the Ossett chain which means that they offers cask ales from Fernandes, Rat, and Ossett in addition to a few guest ales on tap and cask. Nine hand-pumps plus two devoted to ciders. American and Belgian beers dominated the bottled menu. Service is polite. A good idea would be to visit first the Blue Bell and then The Hop just to experience two very different British pubs, both good for drinking well-kept cask ales.
The Blue Bell, 53 Fossgate, York
Hours: 1100-2300 Mon-Sat, 1200-2230 Sun.
A genuine, old-fashioned, British pub with preserved Edwardian interiors from the early 1900s. A little bar serving two small rooms and a side corridor. Great ambiance in this historic, grade II listed pub. The waitress’s are friendly and informative about the history of the pub, with the building established in the mid-18th century, and the pub from 1903. Seven well-kept cask ales and a limited bottled range of Belgian fruit beers. Tasty locally made pork pie. Background music with a Sixties theme. Just great! A must do visit.
The Duke of York (Leeds), 3 - 4 King’s Square, York.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11am - 11pm Friday & Saturday - 11am - 12pm Sunday - 12pm - 11pm
With its smart greige interior, flagstone floor and extensive food menu, this newcomer feels like a gastro pub.Located in the heart of medieval York, at the top of the historic Shambles, the ‘Duke’ is a pub packed full of history and charm. It's owned by Leeds Brewery, but there is no stinting on the beer. Eight cask pumps showcase Leeds beers and four guests, with keg lines. You'll also like the dimpled half-pint mugs, the tiny tankards for tasters and the pub's monthly War of the Roses, a Lancashire-versus-Yorkshire brewery showdown.
Incidentally, if you are here at the right time – its hours are very limited, check the website – do not miss the Attic above the neighbouring Harlequin cafe, 2 King's Square, A simple lounge set-up with a small corner bar, indulges a passion for craft beer from USA, German and UK a beer geeks delight!
Rook and Gaskill, 12 Lawrence Street, York
Hours: Sun-Wed 1200-2300; Thurs-Sat 1200-0000
A likable and consistent British pub very close to the medieval gateway (Walmgate Bar) of the old city walls, and just across the street from Waggon & Horses. The pub is a free house, no longer with ties to the Castle Rock Brewery. Eight active hand pumps for cask ales and seven on keg. Overall a very friendly and comfortable local with a great selection from unusual micros not seen in the other York pubs. Low prices too!
Brigantes Bar & Brasserie, 114 Micklegate, York
Hours: Open 12 noon - 11.00pm Daily
It’s located a few minutes’ walk from the train station, turning right when leaving the station. As many other Market Town Taverns it has a classic-modern and well-preserved outlook, it was warm and cosy with wood floor’s and furniture, more comfortable than it sounds. Good selection of eight cask ales, two hand-pulled ciders and another eight beers on keg. Homemade sandwiches and pub’s well-kept ales. The keg and cask ales are done in thirds. Friendly service from the staff. A good relaxing atmosphere and variety of beers.
Waggon and Horses (Bateman’s), 19 Lawrence Street, York.
Hours: Mon-Thurs 17:00-23:30; Fri & Sat 12:00-00:00; Sun 18:30-23:30
An unpretentious local with nine interesting hand pumps. The Waggon and Horses is a Batemans pub but this isn’t particularly obvious as normally only a couple of Batemans beers alongside others from various smaller local breweries. The bar dominates the main room and they take the beer seriously here. Each hand pump is labelled with a little blackboard giving its style, alcohol content and price. At the side of the bar there’s a hot plate from which they serve warm pies and peas. There is a music room to the left of the front door were live bands play. Plus two rooms at the back, one of them like a cosy library in a country house, there is a nice buzz to the place.
Golden Ball, 2 Cromwell Road, York.
Hours: Mon-Wed 1700-2300; Thurs 1700-2330; Fri 1600-2330; Sat 1200-2330: Sun 1200-2300
A small community-owned pub divided into several rooms. It’s kind of old and worn, but the presence of the locals who almost live here warms the place. The beer choice isn’t the biggest, but worth visiting for the atmosphere. A grade-II-listed Victorian building, the main bar is a suitably plain space. There is original tile work around the bar, an open fire, copper-topped tables and a bottle-green banquette that sweeps around the room. One wall has a photo of pub community outing with landlord in the centre, from 1928, which tells you something. The back rooms, where reading and singing groups meet, are cosier. Within York's walls just, but off the beaten track, the Ball is a good place to swerve the tourist hordes.
Hope you found this usfull, oviously there are a lot more pubs in the city and you may like ones I have not included, remember beer is an adventure it does not matter when you start, just as long as you explore it!
Cheers to beers Otto
