Could York be a city of love?
Yes, according to online restaurant-reservation service OpenTable – whose ‘Top 100 Romantic
Restaurants’ for 2026 features five venues in York and North Yorkshire.
Each year, OpenTable looks at insights from diner reviews and demand to determine the top romantic restaurants across the country, and among the swoon-worth spots making the cut are Casa Brazilian Rodizio, The Cut & Craft York, The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub, The Star Inn The City, and Lucia York.
OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the UK for 2026 list is generated from over 600,000 reviews from verified OpenTable diners and dining metrics from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025.
Restaurants with a minimum threshold of diner reviews were considered and evaluated by a compilation of unique data points, including diner ratings, the percentage of five star reviews, the number of alerts set, the percentage of reservations made in advance, percentage of capacity and direct searches.
If you’re looking for a Valentine’s dining spot – or a romantic night out at any time of the year – why not give one of these venues a go…
Casa Brazilian Rodizio on Micklegate is no stranger to accolades – as it was ranked #1 in the UK and #7 in the world for Casual Dining in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards 2025. The authentic Brazilian rodizio-style restaurant serves up eighteen exquisite cuts of premium meats, fresh seafood, and extensive salad bar.
The Cut & Craft York is currently undergoing a £750K refurb to transform the interior and design, however visitors can still expect expect to find their high-quality steaks, signature fish dishes and specials still on the menu.
The Drovers Arms in Skipwith, ten miles south of York, also had a refurb in the last couple of years and is worth travelling out of the centre of York for!
“We’re thrilled to share that The Drovers Arms has been named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants,” they wrote on social media. “With Valentine’s just around the corner, there’s no better place to book your special meal!”
The Star Inn The City York also shared the accomplishment on social media, thanking everyone for their support. Situated on the banks of the River Ouse, the restaurant has been open since 2013, and has a Michelin-starred sister venue in Harome with chef Andrew Pern.
If you’re looking for a date night – or better, a galentine’s night – Lucia York is also named on the list, and is serving up heart-shaped pizzas throughout February to celebrate the month of love! Add on some bottomless cocktails and it’s a Galentines to remember.
Take a look at the full Top 100 Romantic Restaurants list at OpenTable’s website.
