There’s no finer meal than brunch. And the good news is, if you miss it, you can just skip straight through to lunch.
Now a list of the Top 100 Brunch and Lunch Spots in the UK has just been published, which combines the best of both worlds
It’s been published by OpenTable just ahead of Mother’s Day, which the company says was the biggest dining day of 2025.
And the good news is there are three York venues among the top brunch and lunch spots. And they are…
Bettys
St Helen’s Square, York
Well, it had to be in. Any café where people queue round the block to get in can’t be ignored.
OpenTable says: “For over 100 years Bettys has been devoted to lifting spirits with life’s little pleasures; handmade cakes, unique freshly baked products, beautiful Café Tea Rooms, rare and exclusive coffees and teas and continental-inspired menus.”
Lucia York
Swinegate, York
OpenTable says: “Lucia York is an all-day restaurant and cocktail bar serving a modern Italian menu feat. homemade pasta, gelato, pizza, pesce & carne dishes seven days a week.”
The Star Inn The City
Museum Street, York
OpenTable says: “Located in the Old Engine House on the edge of York’s Museum Gardens in a riverside setting close to the historic Lendal Bridge, The Star Inn The City has an enviable position, which we aim to match with the best produce God’s Own Country has to offer and genuine Yorkshire hospitality for the ‘whole package’.”
Sasha Shaker, senior director at OpenTable in the UK and Ireland, says: “Despite Mother’s Day being the biggest dining day of the year in 2025, 53% of reservations were made within a week of the day itself.
“Our Top 100 Brunch and Lunch Restaurants for 2026 list takes the pressure off the 33% of the UK who stress about finding the right spot. Whether mum is partial to a Sunday roast, brunch with bubbles or a fancy dinner, diners are spoiled for choice with this new list.”
