We’ve rounded up a list of venues in York for outdoor dining with great beer gardens or outside spaces you can enjoy. Enjoy a drink or meal out with friends or family in the good weather! ☀️🍺☀️Our list of family-friendly places to eat and drink (sometimes with the bonus of outdoor seating and play areas!) in York is one of your summer essentials. It’s always a treat to eat out or have a cup of coffee and cake or even a pint or glass of wine and some nibbles! What is even better is doing that sitting outside in the summer sun with your children happily playing.
We’ve also included a handful of places that are all about the children having fun. Fear not, they have good cafes too so you’ll get to enjoy a drink.
If you know of somewhere family-friendly we’ve missed, leave us a comment on Facebook or Instagram or email us so we can add it to the list.
A large terrace outside overlooking the fields (booking essential). A great village pub with a family-friendly restaurant.
More information: See Facebook page and book online here.
Large family friendly pub situated on Hull Road with a large beer garden.
More information: Black Bull website.
Friendly local country pub, with a high standard of locally produced food, a wide variety of beers, wines and cask ales including a guest ale of the week. Large beer garden with plenty of seating.
A friendly family pub in a lovely village setting serving delicious homemade food and excellent cask ales and lagers. Also dog friendly and has two enclosed beer gardens.
More information: See Facebook page.
Opening hours & booking details: Open 7 days a week from midday for drinks and food available from Yuzu Street Food. No table bookings – just turn up. Large outside seating space.
More information: Brew York website.
A traditional pub which serves food and has a large beer garden.
More information: See Facebook page or Carlton Tavern website.
Opening hours & booking details: Large beer garden & pizza oven open 7 days a week – pre book online.
More information: See Facebook page and The Churchills website.
The pub has a large outdoor seating area with 136 seats and another 36 seats with overhead covering.
More information: See Facebook page
Warm and homely atmosphere with freshly made food and quality drinks. Beer garden and marquee.
More information: See Facebook page.
Outside dining is available in the amazing garden space with hut and Tipi experience. Book online.
More information: See Drovers Arms website
Independent Cafe & Bar based in one of York’s most iconic buildings. Terrace is open for seating and takeaways are also available.
More information: See Facebook page and Dyls website.
This family-friendly pub offers home-cooked food daily. It has a large garden and play area. Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“The Ebor in Bishopthorpe is great food and value.”
Old English Inn in the city centre, with an outside seating area available with Minster views!
More information: See The Fat Badger website.
With lots of good meal deals, this pub has soft play (additional cost) plus a small outdoor play area and a beer garden.
More information: See Flying Legends website.
The Fox in Holgate has a huge beer garden (York’s largest!) and just as important – great beers!
More information: See Facebook page.
Enjoy one of the many cask ales or a meal in their beer garden.
More information: See Facebook page
Terrace is open for coffee, brunch, lunch & dinner. Some of the covered outdoor seating is available to pre-book although most tables are on a first-come, first-served basis.
More information: See Judge’s Lodging website.
This independently-owned pub and restaurant serves quality food and hand-pulled ales. There is a large outside garden/seating area and an enclosed play area for children. Note: There is a ‘no pushchair policy’ on a Sunday. Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“Definitely recommend the Lysander Arms. Food is amazing and lovely outdoor play area for the kids.”
This lovely pub in Bishopthorpe has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It serves great food and has a beer garden with a play area for children. Find out more
What do Mumblers think?
“It’s lovely and got a great play area for the kids outside.”
This traditional country pub. Food is served Thursday – Sundays and booking is highly recommended.
More information: See Facebook page
Traditional pub with outdoor beer garden. Great pizza menu!
More information: See Facebook page.
Large pub with outdoor space.
More information: See Greene King Pubs website
This pub has indoor soft play, outdoor play areas and a beer garden. Soft play is an additional cost at hour. Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“Riverside Farm on Shipton Road has a wacky warehouse for indoor play, and a free outside play area plus a pub for food and drink.”
This family-run pub in the heart of Strensall serves homemade food and real ales. There is outside seating and a play area in the garden. Please note families are very welcome but no children after 8pm. Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“The Ship in Strensall is fab and they have a nice play area for kids and a bouncy castle in the summer.”
No need to book – first come, first-served basis. Open Tues-Thurs 12pm – 10pm, Fri & Sat 11pm – 1ppm & Sun 12pm-8pm.
More information: See Spark website.
Large restaurant with riverside terrace available for bookings.
More information: See The Star in the City website.
This traditional pub in the heart of Bishopthorpe serves great food and has a children’s menu. There is a large play area outside and plenty of seating. Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“We had a lovely meal at The Woodman in Bishopthorpe recently, they have an outdoor children’s play area.”
Cafe open with outside seating, 7 days a week 9am – 5pm
There is a brilliant outdoor play area, an animal corner with a feeding platform and you can pick your own fruit in the summer. Enjoy sitting outside in the café, whilst the kids are busy in the play area. Find out more on Mumbler.
What do Mumblers think?
“The Balloon Tree on the way to Stamford Bridge is lovely, with an outside play area too.”
There is lots of entertainment to be had at Beetle Bank Farm. You can see a huge variety of animals, enjoy the play area, sandpit and inflatables (in good weather). With the added bonus of a great café overlooking the beautiful grounds. Find out more here.
Cost: from £7.50 per person
What do Mumblers think?
“Beetle bank farm is fantastic cafe sells meals and snacks there’s sand pit tractors etc for kids and lots of animals.”
There is so much for children to explore inside and out at Creepy Crawlies. From giant slides to ball canons and disco area to sand & water play. The café has lots of seating and serves homemade food. It’s a brilliant place to catch up with friends whilst your children are having a lot of fun! Find out more on Mumbler
Cost: Vary depending on time of week/school holidays – check before you visit
What do Mumlers think? “Food there is fab!! It’s great plenty of choice and good value for money.”
Pop-up cafe serving takeaways open 7 days a week 10.30am – 4pm (Mon, Wed & Fri), 12.30-4pm (Tues & Thurs), 10am – 4pm (Sat & Sun). Opens April – September only.
More information: See Explore website.
Open Monday – Saturday 9am – 4pm (10am on Saturdays) with outside seating. Takeaways also available.
More information: See Explore website.
Open 7 days a week 9am – 6pm with outside table serves and takeaways.
This café in the park serves food and drink, plus has over 1,000 books you can borrow, including a range of children’s books. There is a small outside eating area, and it is perfectly located for a play in the park! Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“Rowntree Park has a nice cafe with children’s books & toys as well as the park itself.”
This family-friendly cafe outdoor seating (when it’s nice weather!) overlooking the beautiful fountain to the front of the Gallery on Exhibition Square.
More information: See York Art Gallery website.
Open 7 days a week 9am – 4pm for outside dining available – no need to pre-book.
This very family-friendly café has an outside play area and is often recommended by Mumblers. There are activities such as outdoor slides/climbing frames. Find out more on Mumbler
What do Mumblers think?
“Willow Farm Cafe. They have fun things for kids to do whilst you have a drink”
Hidden away off Water End this relaxed café is open daily. Whilst there is no play area, there are tables outside in the gardens and you can always visit Homestead Park which is next door. Find out more
What do Mumblers think?
“It’s a hidden gem. It’s got a grassed area and tables outside the extension which is the cafe.”
Indoor and outside seating area for dining. Takeaways also available and there is a farm shop.
More information: See Facebook page.
Disclaimer: All information is correct at the time of re-publication (6 March 2023). Please check the venue’s website/Facebook page directly prior to booking or arrival as opening hours etc may be subject to change.
