Bettys Tearooms
6–8 St Helen's Square York YO1 8QP
Bettys is a real Yorkshire icon, rarely seen without a queue outside. Waitresses, neatly turned out in old-fashioned aprons and crisp white shirts, bring out beautiful food, which has an unusual Swiss-Yorkshire slant to it – expect anything from potato rosti and leek tartlets to Yorkshire breakfasts and rarebits. Signature cake is the ‘Fat Rascal’ (a large fruit bun topped with toasted almonds and cherries), while fancier offerings are shown off from the cake trolley and tea is served just-so in silver tea pots with all the trimmings – the tea and coffee menu alone takes some serious consideration. On Sundays they serve afternoon tea accompanied by a live pianist. It's touristy for sure, but is just as much part of York's history as the Minster or the walls – and you can take away more cakes and some wonderful breads from the shop counter on the way out.
