
Roots York
A Michelin-starred restaurant in York offering a seasonal farm-to-table tasting menu in a charming 1800s building.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Roots York

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A Michelin-starred restaurant in York offering a seasonal farm-to-table tasting menu in a charming 1800s building.
"One of the overall best meals I've had for a while, everything was incredibly fresh and light."
Book in Advance
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend visits or special occasions.
Non-Alcoholic Pairing
Try the non-alcoholic pairing for creatively handcrafted drinks that perfectly complement the dishes.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Fine dining
Price
$$$
Address
68 Marygate, York, YO30 7BH, United Kingdom
Website
rootsyork.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

The Sunday Feast
Indulge in a high-quality Sunday Feast with generous portions and excellent food from start to finish. Substitutions for dietary needs are available.

Seasonal Farm-to-Table Tasting Menus
Experience a unique 6-course tasting menu showcasing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients presented beautifully.

Approachable Fine Dining
A Michelin-starred experience that is unpretentious yet elevated, offering an unforgettable dining journey.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book in Advance
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend visits or special occasions.
Non-Alcoholic Pairing
Try the non-alcoholic pairing for creatively handcrafted drinks that perfectly complement the dishes.
Pre-Dinner Cocktails
Opt for the Julep with Douglas fir for an exceptional pre-dinner cocktail experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book in Advance
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend visits or special occasions.
Non-Alcoholic Pairing
Try the non-alcoholic pairing for creatively handcrafted drinks that perfectly complement the dishes.
Pre-Dinner Cocktails
Opt for the Julep with Douglas fir for an exceptional pre-dinner cocktail experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Roots York is celebrated for its exceptional fine dining experience, with particular praise for its innovative tasting menus and the well-executed Sunday Feast. Guests consistently highlight the attentive and friendly service, creating a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere. While most reviews are glowing, some diners have noted that the flavors, while good, may not always reach the extraordinary heights expected, and occasional pacing issues between courses have been mentioned.
"We booked the Sunday Feast on a weekend visit to York and I’m so glad we did. The food was excellent from start to finish. I had let them know in advance that I was pregnant and may have to avoid a few things, I arrived to find my own menu printed with substitutions for the starters and to my delight they were just as delicious as the regular options. The roast pork main was faultless in every way and each side dish was so good you didn’t know where to go next. Portions were generous but not overwhelming. The setting is beautiful and relaxed. If only we had this place in London, we’d be there every Sunday!"
Stacey Kemp
"We had the three course Sunday lunch. Everything came out promptly and was cooked perfectly. The service from the waiters was excellent, they were very attentive and helpful. Lovely relaxed atmosphere inside the restaurant."
Jade
"One of the overall best meals I've had for a while. Everything was incredibly fresh and light. Service was lovely and friendly without being overbearing in any way. If you w joy any of Tommy Banks restaurants, this is well worth visiting. A lovely restaurant that we will most definitely return to"
Alex Jones
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Roots York is known for its seasonal farm-to-table tasting menus, showcasing locally sourced ingredients and their own kitchen garden produce.
Yes, Roots York offers a three-course Sunday Feast menu, which includes meat and non-meat options, fluffy Yorkshire puddings, and roast potatoes.
Yes, Roots York offers a non-alcoholic pairing option, featuring creatively handcrafted drinks that complement the dishes.
Yes, Roots York can accommodate dietary needs, with a printed menu of substitutions provided for guests with specific requirements.
The atmosphere is described as relaxed, cozy, and unpretentious, yet refined, offering an approachable fine dining experience.
Absolutely, Roots York is considered an ideal location for special occasions like anniversaries or birthday meals.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
The best restaurants in York
One of Yorkshire’s starriest chefs, Tommy Banks has the Midas touch when it comes to posh-nosh restaurants, and Roots is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in York. It’s all effortlessly relaxing; a modern country-house style (pale woods, rooty-legged furniture, jars of fermenting goods) mixes with disco beats and tasting menus powered by ingredients from top-notch suppliers including the Banks’ family farm in Oldstead. The likes of brioche beef toast with chive emulsion, grated ox heart and a rhubarb with hay cream linger long in the memory.
13 Of The Best Restaurants In York You Need To Try
Located in York city centre, Roots, a Michelin-star restaurant, is the little sister to the Black Swan in Oldstead and shares the seasonal and sustainable ethos with naturally evolving taster menus according to produce that originated from their kitchen garden and small regional suppliers. Dishes are creative and modern and prepared with the skill to look deceptively simple, but offer refinement and depth of flavour, according to the Michelin guide. They’re one of the best restaurants in York for a special occasion.
Tripper - Guide - 15 perfect restaurants in York, United Kingdom
Nestled in the historic heart of York lies Roots York, a charming café brimming with character and delightful surprises. Step into this culinary haven and prepare to embark on a taste journey that will make your taste buds dance with joy (and possibly do a little cha-cha). With a cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and drool-inducing dishes that make even the pigeons outside jealous, Roots York is a must-visit destination for foodies and anyone in dire need of a coffee-induced coma.
Fine Dining in York | 11 of the Best Fine Dining Restaurants
Under the direction of head chef and Great British Menu North East winner Will Lockwood, Roots is a Michelin-starred restaurant with spectacular, seasonal tasting menus. Using fresh, foraged produce from their Oldstead farm, Roots offers a Core Tasting Menu and a Seasonal Tasting Menu, as well as a Sunday menu for a delicious fine-dining feast. Coupled with an exquisite wine list, it is no wonder that this stunning restaurant has won the top prize in the hospitality industry.
The 14 best York restaurants
A collaboration between Tommy Banks' family and Matthew Lockwood - a close friend of the family and a successful restaurateur - led to the establishment of Roots York in late 2018. Tommy Banks, the acclaimed head chef of the Black Swan at Oldstead and two-time champ of the Great British Menu, brings his culinary expertise to the table. Situated adjacent to Museum Gardens, this family-run establishment is all about shared dining, featuring a rotating, season-sensitive menu.
The North Yorkshire restaurants - and one even closer to Teesside - named in top 100 across UK
Roots York on Marygate in York was ranked 38th on SquareMeal's list - the second highest ranked place in Yorkshire. Although about an hour away from Teesside, it certainly seems worth the journey. In their review of the Michelin starred restaurant, SquareMeal wrote: "At Roots York, Tommy Banks serves a no-frills, hyper-seasonal menu in which fresh ingredients - sourced mostly from the Banks’ family farm - are given the chance to shine.
Where To Eat In York: The Best Restaurants In York
Ideal for farm-to-fork fine dining that doesn’t take itself too seriously…. The second act of chef Tommy Banks, this Michelin-starred venture doesn’t just serve food – it serves a sense of time and place. Housed in a Victorian pub where patterned rugs soften wooden floors and natural light pours through tall windows, Roots presents the Banks family farm (over in Oldstead, where the mothership Black Swan sits) in edible form.
Best Vegetarian Restaurants York Has To offer 2024
Roots is a high-end restaurant offering a seasonal farm-to-table tasting menu in an 1800s building. They’ve reimagined traditional fine dining to deliver an experience that focuses on interaction and connection over formality, with exceptional service standards that truly showcase their unique, seasonally curated menu. Open Wednesday & Thursday from 6.00pm; Friday and Saturday at 12 noon for lunch and 6.00pm for dinner.
The Best Fine Dining Restaurants in York, England
Roots is your culinary paradise, where vegetables reign supreme. This innovative vegetarian restaurant will challenge any preconceptions you may have about meatless dining, and even though I’m not a vegetarian, I enjoyed every minute of my dining experience at Roots. This is definitely the most well known and expensive fine dining restaurant on this list, with one Michelin star so it is absolutely worth a visit.
Best restaurants in York
Sitting pretty in our guide to the UK's Top 100 Restaurants, this second restaurant from chef Tommy Banks of the Michelin-starred Black Swan at Oldstead has become the place to eat in York, with tables still hard to come by. Everything on the seasonal menu revolves around fresh produce grown and foraged on the family farm in Oldstead, which is then lightly handled in order to allow each flavour to shine.
Best Restaurants in York
Located just a stone’s throw away from the historic city of York, Roots offers a dining experience that’s both down-to-earth and utterly extraordinary. It’s where the charm of the countryside meets the creativity of the kitchen. This fine-dining establishment is all about celebrating the best local produce, showcasing the flavours of Yorkshire, and delivering them to your plate with a dash of artistry.
The Best Places to Eat in York
Roots - Roots is a unique restaurant that offers a menu of modern British cuisine with a focus on vegetables. The restaurant is run by Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks, and the menu features dishes like smoked beetroot tartare, salt-baked celeriac, and wild garlic gnocchi. The restaurant has a relaxed and informal atmosphere, with a focus on using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
Top Places to Eat in York
For a Michelin-star experience take a stroll to Marygate where you’ll find Roots, created by Tommy Banks from Great British Menu fame, and under the talent of Head Chef Will Lockwood, you’re in for a tasting menu of dreams. Taking inspiration from the heritage of farming, Roots provides an outstanding experience with impeccable tastes.
EATING OUT REVIEW: Coto Vietnamese Restaurant, Swinegate
But they have drawn national attention (by which we mean reviews in London-based newspapers) to York's eating out scene. And just this week, Harden's Best UK Restaurants Guide included York in its top ten destinations for diners for the first time.
Restaurants and Places To Eat in York City Centre
A Tommy Banks restaurant that specialises in sharing-plates, serving his take on Modern European dishes. This is one of York's premier restaurants suitable for those special occasions. Within a relaxed, modern and vibrant setting.
Exploring The Beautiful Ancient City Of York, England
See, the chef behind Roots (Tommy Banks) was (and I think, still is) the youngest ever chef to have received a Michelin star!. Again, if you’re planning on visiting York – this is one spot you HAVE to make time to eat in!
12 Amazing Veggie Spots in York
Want a proper British pub meal yet keep getting faced with plates of nicely arranged parsnips?. Try Roots (pun intended)!. With a 5 star rating, right in the city centre, they are certainly not short on options.
Explore York with kids: the top things to do, where to stay and what to eat
Another star chef creating a buzz on York’s food scene is Tommy Banks whose sharing-plate restaurant Roots opened on Marygate last year. The thought-provoking menu is based on a three-season concept.
Best Restaurants and Cafes in York
Among the most prestigious York restaurants, Roots provides farm-to-table fine dining, in a laid-back style. Eat mouth-watering Michelin star food, and relax in the cool, contemporary dining room.
Best restaurants in York for cheap food, special occasions ad casual dining according to BBC Good Food
This Michelin star restaurant is run by award winning chef and Great British Menu winner Tommy Banks, who owns Black Swan in Oldstead and is closely involved in creating Roots’ novel dishes.
Best Restaurants In York
Sorry, you need to accept cookies from Instagram to view this content. Roots is one of the best restaurants in York. According to the Michelininspectors, it’s the best restaurant in York.
Food and Drink in York | Food Guide
Roots is a relaxed tasting-menu restaurant in the very centre of York. It’s the sister restaurant to Michelin-starred The Black Swan.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit