The best places to eat in Pickering

You’re spoilt for choice for places to eat in Pickering as there’s something to suit every purse and palate. From Yorkshire tea bread to Yorkshire puddings, local produce is proudly featured on many menus, making it a great opportunity to sample the best of the county on your plate. 

If cake is what you fancy (when isn’t it?), there’s a wealth of charming tearooms and cafes serving up delicious homemade slices. Due to its proximity to the glorious North York Moors, the weather can be changeable here, but there are plenty of options to enjoy a sunny afternoon in a beautiful tea garden or take cover inside a cosy cafe during a shower. 

From traditional inns to more upmarket bistros, Pickering offers consistently excellent meals and friendly service. You’ll also find lots of things to do in Pickering and an array of holiday cottages to head back to after enjoying a wonderful meal with family or friends.

Skip to sections:

• Best Pickering restaurants
• Best pubs in Pickering
• Best Pickering cafes
• Other places to eat in Pickering
• Map of places to eat in Pickering

Best Pickering restaurants

A holiday is a great opportunity to treat yourself to a special meal out. Whatever your budget, Pickering can supply some fabulous dining experiences.

Willowgate Bistro

Matthew and Gemma at the bijou Willowgate Bistro go the extra mile to give you a wonderful dining experience and, if you give them some notice, can provide special orders like lobster, crab and fillet steak. They can even create a bespoke menu for parties. There are early sittings for families with children to make room for the adults-only evening service. 

Capplemans

For either a sit-down meal (your dog can come along too) or a hot fish supper to take away, head to Capplemans. As well as top-notch cod, why not ring the changes with a black pudding fritter or mushy pea bomb? If you’re on the hunt for a bargain, go online for the family meal deal that feeds four for only £22. You can also click and collect to save time as they fry fresh to order. 

Best pubs in Pickering

Local ales and local knowledge are both on offer in these traditional pubs – you can be sure of a warm welcome and a lovely meal that showcases the best of Pickering’s producers.

The Black Swan

In business for 300 years, The Black Swan in the heart of Pickering combines the charm of an authentic old pub with contemporary touches such as locally sourced produce and a menu featuring European fusion dishes like chicken, pancetta and leek pie. Dogs are welcome throughout the cosy interior and there’s a large, covered courtyard outside for al fresco dining whatever the weather.

The White Swan

In the battle of the swans, just a 1-minute walk from The Black Swan is its neighbour, The White Swan. It offers outstanding, freshly cooked meals in the smart restaurant or on sunny evenings, why not dine in the leafy courtyard? The Sunday roasts are sensational and, of course, feature the fluffiest Yorkshire puddings ever. Unsurprisingly, it’s best to book.

Best Pickering cafes

Whether it’s lunch, a light bite or just a little treat, the cafes in Pickering step up to the plate. Discover our pick of the best.  

Cedarbarn Farm Shop & Cafe

Image credit: Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Cafe

This wonderful farm shop and Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Cafe have bagged many awards and rightly so. How many other establishments can say they’ve supplied asparagus to the Queen? Originally a pick-your-own strawberry farm, it’s expanded to include a large cafe, deli and gift shop and even has a miniature railway so you can take a tour of the land and see all the lovely produce growing. The Graze in the Garden menu offers a boxed, picnic-style meal that you can enjoy on the lawn or take away as a packed lunch.

Ivy’s Tea Rooms

However you pronounce it, scones are the order of the day at this adorable cafe, and they’re freshly baked too. There’s a wonderfully vintage feel to the place, including the delicate china, but they bring a modern twist to the baking, with highlights including feta cheese, sundried tomato and olive scones, and brownies studded with chunks of Crunchie. Of the many tearooms in Pickering, Ivy's Tea Rooms is a corker.

Nosh

Perched at the top of Pickering High Street, in a beautifully quirky building, Nosh is a small but perfectly formed, family-run cafe that prides itself on the wide range of homemade meals and sweet treats on offer. Rhubarb scones served with homemade rhubarb jam, anyone? There’s also the chance to try the local delicacy Yorkshire tea loaf, served with a slab of Wensleydale cheese, while the pear and ginger cheesecake is out of this world.

Other places to eat in Pickering

Ring the changes with some international cuisine – the Chinese, Italian or Indian options are all mouthwatering.  

Fortune Inn

Opposite the North Yorkshire Moors Railway station in Pickering, Fortune Inn is a superb Chinese restaurant, perfect if you fancy spicing things up with a sizzling platter of fillet steak with ginger and spring onions or mixed seafood with asparagus. There’s also a generous selection of dim sum (small plates), which is ideal to sample several of the delicacies on offer. The owners are Cantonese, so it’s a chance to try their authentic cuisine. Pick up a takeaway here too if you’d rather have a quiet night in.

Figaros

The buzzy vibe of Figaros shows just how good the food is – make sure to phone ahead to get a table at this amazing Italian restaurant. As well as delectable pizzas with thin and crispy bases, there’s an excellent range of pasta dishes and the risottos are exceptional. The creamy desserts served in retro sundae glasses are well worth saving room for. 

Spice4U

The extensive menu at Spice4U makes it a challenge to decide which delicious dish to order at this lovely Indian restaurant in Pickering. Let alone mains, there are 13 varieties of savoury rice on offer. The dishes cooked in their ‘tandoor’, or clay oven, are fabulous – the marinaded lamb is succulent and bursting with flavour, perfect with a light and fluffy naan bread. Enjoy a meal in their bright and airy restaurant or swing by to pick up a takeaway.

Map of the best places to eat in Pickering

Find your favourite restaurants, pubs and cafes with this handy map of the best places to eat in Pickering.

Plan your getaway to Pickering

Now you’ve feasted your eyes on what culinary delights Pickering has to offer, why not choose from the excellent range of holiday homes in this neck of the woods? You’ll find dog-friendly Pickering cottages, romantic places to stay and large properties where there is room for a big family get-together.

For inspiration on what to see and do during your staycation to this wonderful North York Moors market town, take a look at this handy guide to the best things to do in Pickering.