The Old White Swan Restaurant in York

The only award the pie should have at this place is “The Rock Hard Dry Pie Award” My knife only just broke the surface of the crust. Like King Arthur, retrieving Excalibur out of the Stone I too struggled to remove my knife. Eating the pie was something to be done carefully so as not to break any teeth. Not one member of staff came over to ask how our food was. My daughter’s tapas was baked beyond belief too. When someone finally came over to remove the plates did we get asked if the meal was nice. I replied with honesty and told them it’s awful and I was t very happy at all. They just said oh sorry and cleared to table. Do Not Eat in Here. York has many many many more places that offer better food. I certainly won’t be heading back.

Lera was very attentive and welcoming - we had a lovely meal at the old white swan!

Fantastic meal and great service.

Loved the dining room. Nice choice of sandwiches

Our go-to when visiting York, had the Sunday lunch then sat next to the warm fire.

Great place for a pint of real ale and some fantastic British food

Beautiful old pub with a cozy interior and cozy fireplaces. We had the rabbit pie, which was delicious! The portioning was brilliant, and the side of gravy was lovely to dip pur veg in.

Fab place to sit and relax. The food is lovely and plenty of drinks choice. There are plenty of places to sit and super dog friendly. The staff are friendly and you can tell they enjoy working there.

We had an absolutely fantastic time at the old white swan this afternoon, and i could not recommend it enough. Our bartender Lilly was superb and made our day.

The chap serving the beer was not pleasant at all. Almost threw the drinks at you spilling it on the counter as he put it down. Not impressed.

No food, drinks only, fabulous old world coaching inn. O popozing history and atmosphere by the bucket loads. Oak beams and fires 🔥 what's not to like

Staff were really friendly Food was great Very enjoyable evening thank you

Not had any food but on a Friday night they have a live singer you have heating outside aswell

A special event evening ( Burns Night Menu) was a total disaster. Initially we were seated in the lovely dining room on a well set out themed table only to be joined by several others just drinking and now watching the football at a rather loud volume. We asked to be moved and the only table available in the lounge was one seated next to the cold vent (it was freezing). There was no attempt at resetting the themed table, just plonked there and away you go. 1st course arrived, should have been as special starter of Salmon served on sourdough bread but instead we got the house usual of ciabatta Salmon. 2nd course arrives but is missing the roasted vegetables. Desert arrives but is missing the Honey. The staff from the on set knew they had got this wrong and were so avoiding it was unbelievable but then to top it off we were overcharged for the lot. If you are going to have a special event night.....make the effort and make it special, we used to love coming here lots but this has really soured our experience.

Good food, great service, good atmosphere. Really enjoyed our visit and will return

Just had a roast beef dinner/ steak & ale pie with chips & veg. Beautifully cooked, & very lovely young girl who served us. Lovely desserts, service excellent by friendly staff.

The pub and staff great The music from the live band is far too loud Also, your own choice of music playing over your speaker system should be aimed at your clientele, not what the bar staff like

I've been here a few times nice old pub cosy log fires very friendly staff good food would recommend.

Good beer, charming ambience. Great Pub! Don't miss it when you visit York.

Great family friendly pub. Went with my wife, 6 year old girl and our pup. It was super friendly, food was decent. Really enjoyed it and would 100% recommend it

Live music the echoes who were amazing and good selection of drinks. Nice vibe.

Pork Belly was terrific. Fabulous service at Bar , from dark haired young lady. Such efficiency with a wonderfully "Winning" smile. 1st class visit.

Returning customer, always worth calling in.

Proper British pub grub menu. We both ordered a burger. Everything came hot and fresh and was delicious. Perfect place for lunch whilst mooching around York for the day.

We were visiting York from Christmas Eve through til the 28th, we booked this pub on a recommendation from our friends who were travelling the year before. We were not disappointed what an amazing experience we even went the evening before it was that good! The service and food was amazing, thank you.

Hugely busy, Hugely helpful staff. In the middle of the christmas nightmare..served great food to us, Barman so good. Go and see..

Good selection of beers & real ales

Loved this place, would recommend it to any one

Ate here on December 15th for our works Christmas meal. Arrived on time for our booking (same time kitchen opened) waited an hour for food, waitress not very helpful. We were then told that our table would still need to be vacated at the time on our confirmation. We wanted to order desert, that took 25 mins and had the staff watch us from the bar trying to hurry us up. The Sunday roast wasn't that nice. Vegetables were almost raw they were so hard. We asked how the beef was cooked and told very pink so others opted for something different and as they wouldn't cook it to how we would like it. I have also checked the receipt today and I was charged incorrectly. I had 1 lime and lemonade and was charged £15. However only noticed once it was too late as we were rushed out. Not a great experience

Went for a coffee, nice atmosphere

Been here a few times over the years. Now a Nicholson's pub. Walk into the covered courtyard from Goodramgate and you have a choice of two bars, one to the left and one to the right. Both have a good real ale selection. Very busy early evening a week before Christmas. Ic and Flic found space on a large table with people moving up for us. A good pint of Golden Doubloon from Laine brewery. A lovely large pub with a restaurant area for more formal dining.

Lovely Dog friendly pub, perfect for a pint at the Christmas Market

Came again to York ti see it at Christmas, this time we brought some family with us, we had to bring them to this amazing place for them to experience the quality of the food served here. Yet again they did not let us down the service was good friendly and polite as usual, the food came in good time and I’m only to pleased to say it was every bit as good as the last time we visited York, our family were as pleased with the food as we were so much so we went back again for another visit 2 days later, So to all the staff and management well done for continuing to give a great service and top notch food 10/10

Visiting from London. Booked for the first night and food was so good we booked for the next night.

We had such a lovely staff Christmas meal. The atmosphere when we walked in was gorgeous with all the decorations and happy faces. The staff were really attentive, accommodating of food requirements, cancellations or splitting the bill etc. It felt very human. The food I was most surprised about to be honest as I thought the Christmas menu came at a great price so didn’t expect too much but it was so nice. Beautifully presented, warm plates, really good portion sizes (not too small and not too big) plus as a veggie I had the nut roast which can be pretty awful and dry but this one was really nice with lots of seeds and quite light actually. A lot of us weren’t drinking and it felt nice to have a big selection of soft and zero alcohol drinks plus water on the table. Our room was cosy and quiet before later on we moved to round the fire. It was perfect! Please do pass a big thank you into the staff and the chefs (I feel they often don’t get the credit). The only tiny thing that I didn’t like was the music. It wasn’t too loud so it didn’t matter too much but it was a lot of rock etc. were we would have loved some Christmas music. I understand that the staff might be sick of it though! 🙃

We were welcomed, our reservation confirmed and shown to our table, situated in a light and airy part of the restaurant. The staff were polite and attentive both with our drink and food orders. The food was delivered in a timely fashion and was piping hot. A very pleasurable lunchtime experience.

Had three days in York and booked for the first night. Food was so good we booked for a second night. Lovely staff, well priced and the food was so good. Cannot recommend this pub highly enough.

Fish pie? We can only assume the fisherman was still out trying to catch- nice bowl of sauce (lots of it) and soggy topping - a few tiny flakes of fish, hard brocolli, OK carrots...... disappointing won't bother again! House wine horrendously expensive compared to other pubs we'd been in during the day. So disappointed and felt really ripped off. The pub itself is lovely in decor and atmosphere but no we won't be visiting again.

This is without doubt the worse Sunday roast I have ever had. All the vegetables were completely dried out. The potatoes were completely inedible. I could neither get my fork nor knife into them let alone eat them. I suspect they had been kept warm since lunchtime and I was there at 4pm. I made them aware of this and told them not to serve them to anyone else. To my horror within half an hour they served a table close to me food in the same condition. The two young ladies were seen trying their best to cut through the potatoes. I made yet another member of staff aware of this and yet again nothing was done. Disgraceful practice. Money wasted on inedible food.

Stopped for breakfast on a rainy christmas market morning, the food was good, great atmosphere and really liked the traditional touches of decoration and information plates displayed around the pub.

I always love the old white swan in York at Christmas, the atmosphere is perfect 👌 the staff are so friendly and helpful. Food is amazing can't wait to go back.

Fabulous pub for either a drink or food.

Could & should be one of the best pubs in York It's old, quirky and the front "beer garden" is a great spot Inside it's been well maintained but any olde world ambience is ruined by the TVs which are EVERYWHERE 😄 And absolutely no one is interested in watching them There is nowhere you can rest your eyes without seeing a TV except out the windows Really weird

Not good all the burgers burnt we live Aldwark my brother and wife came from Leeds.to take us for a nice meal very disappointed the staff were no wear to complain. Expensive night time your staff were trained to look after customers very disappointed.

Popped in for a drink during a weekend in York. Lovely old pub with friendly staff. Lots of seating options and worth a visit

Never any issues decent choice of Non alcoholic drinks

Beautiful amazing place with great food. Our first choice every time. We cone back every year. If you want a traditional pub with exceptional food and a great choice of drinks then this should be your first choice. Recommend joining the mailing list and getting a free drink

Great pub with lovely atmosphere and absolutely delicious pies, definitely recommend the beef rib

Lovely pub that has just had a stunning refurb, even spoke to the General Manager Luke behind the bar who happily spent time talking to us. We used to frequent the cross keys down the road. I think we've found a new regular for when in York!

Had a steak and ale pie which was tasty, the carrots 🥕 were a bit undercooked for me though.

Great little place for a drink or two we didn't have any food Can get very busy

Excellent pub with a great traditional menu

Lovely lady served us lovely relaxed manner really nice quiet dining room will be definitely going back

Food was very good and the service as well! Even though it was very busy we had a tasty burger with fries and drinks for a good price. Would definitely eat here again!

Went during York Ghost Week, the service was good and pub lovely. Breakfast was delicious!

Lovely cosy pub in centre of York, great selection of wines, beers and lovely atmosphere with cosy little snuggle areas perfect for a romantic meal whilst having a weekend away from it all. Everything within walking distance,shops, restaurants and Yorks fantastic historic streets and the wall which in areas you can walk round on 10/10 well done the whole team 👏👏👏

Great place to eat and relax right in the centre of beautiful York.

Not great..we had the last roast chicken at 4pm and the beef had already gone! Dry chicken and no stuffing despite it being on the menu (forgot to check before starting). No atmosphere and limited choices..very disappointed

Nice pint didn't eat as it was a bit full

Amazing food even better service 😍

Lovely place to visit for a quick drink

Dirty inside and staff who count care less about the customer

Great food , like the quiz, not enough staff on at the minute

Didn't stop for food but we had a couple of drinks and snacks. Lovely place to escape the light rain! We were served by a helpful fellow at the bar and everyone seemed to be having a laugh!

Wonderful food and a very kind waiter found a table for 4 at an extremely busy period in the afternoon. We had the Beef Rib Shin Brisket Pie x 2, Seabass & Fish & Chips. Delicious. Food was on the table about half an hour after we arrived. Thoroughly recommend 😋

We didn't arrive until 7pm this evening. We were told that the kitchen would close at 8:00 PM and that persons under the age of 18 had to leave at 8:00 PM. Despite that, we decided to order anyway. Our youngest daughter is 15, but we should be able to order and eat it within an hour. The pub looks cozy. Delicious fish and chips. But at exactly 8 p.m. we were asked to leave the building. Even though we hadn't finished eating yet. We had already paid and really had no intention of ordering more or staying for long. But we were no longer allowed 5 minutes to empty our plate. I don't find that very hospitable. Maybe it's because we as tourists don't understand the rules??? I found it rather unfriendly and for that reason I will not return here again.

Lovely pub, nice food & great entertainment

Really reasonably priced drinks Lovely bar nibbles. The halloumi fries were the best we have ever had and the batter was so light and chilli’s were the best complement with the dip. The nachos were nice just what they say on the tin. We will be back for the halloumi fries. Busy but worth the wait!

Beer is higher in price on a Saturday. Surely the day you take the most money , yet you decide to take advantage and charge more for your already expensive beer. Absolute joke. You should be ashamed. On a positive atleast your toilets are kept clean. God knows what your kitchen is like. Visited 26th of October 2024.

Had Breakfast which was well worth the money, very tasty good portion sizes😋 the salmon & scrambled egg was delicious. Variety of drinks, reasonably priced. It's a very old pub with plenty of atmosphere 👌 lovely staff too.

Steak sandwich was a mistake the large piece of gristle was the thickest thing in it.Will not be returning very expensive felt ripped off.

The food here is so good. We ate two nights in a row. Sampled different food. All of it was good. We ate outside and in the pub. The atmosphere is really nice. Friendly service. Casual is the best why to describe this place. You don't need to be all fancy and can relax with a good meal and drinks. I would recommend it to anyone.

Chain pub but good quality food and beer. Great service from staff.

York City Restaurant Week offers a pie 🥧 😋 with mashed potato 🥔 and 🥕 🥕 carrots served with a pint from a selection of beers 🍻 😋 or a glass of wine 🍷 for £15. Here throughout the promotion. Enjoy 😉

Great pub in the quieter side of York 👍

Oh dear what a disappointment . Not been for a while but decided to treat the family as all very good last time. The Old White Swan is not going down the 'Swanee' is it? There were others saying similar . The staff were rushed have to admit but the standard of presentation wasn't as it should have been. As for me the pie was a bit overcooked and the chips weren't particularly hot. The rest of our party weren't overly impressed either. There are other places to eat better than this in York. Hope it improves food wise as the pub is a lovely olde worlde one,

Just stopped for drinks at one of the oldest pubs in York

Great pub, lots of choice of live sport and in the other end has live music. Loads of space to sit and a brilliant big fire.

Fantastic old pub. The 3rd most haunted in york but don't be put off. It is very cosy and welcoming. The staff are lovely. Lots of space to find your own corner. Sit in front of the fire and enjoy a pint. Toilets very clean.

Another pub in York charging over £8.50 for a pint and a half of lager. Dick Turpin was here.

A Nice historic pub but the food is just disappointing ! I had the fish pie , and found it tasteless and stodgy ! All in all very disappointed

Great pub in the middle of York, rich in history. The food is lovely and the staff are very friendly with plenty of food and drink choices. I would highly recommend visiting here when in the city! ☆☆☆☆☆

We were a group of ex work mates who called in the pub, for a quick, lunch time pint, during our walk round the city walls. As it was early, 11.30am, it was pretty quiet, but the staff were friendly and helpful. We sat outside in the seated area. Tables, and chairs were of a good standard, and tables were cleared strait away. Would recommend a visit.

A beautiful, ambiance and historic public house. Just had a simple cup of tea, although the "pot" was only half full, asked for a small jug of hot water to top up and given a very small top up. If you would like customers to recommend your business, a little extra hot water would go a long way. However, the overall experience was lovely.

Just a great pub. The best ambience that exudes a lot of peace and security. Our lunch was great too. Family-friendly, something for everyone. at a fair price.

Just popped into this charming old pub for a quick pint! It is set out in a variety of different rooms so has something for everyone's taste! We didn't have time for any food but the meals getting served looked lovely! A nice range of popular beers!

Had a lovely meal with a dear friend for several hours here. Steak and chips with peppercorn sauce was just delightful, so full of flavour. Staff and servers were wonderfully pleasant as well. All in the setting of a historic building, beautiful 😍 highly recommend.

Anywhere that pours a perfect Guinness dwells in the Elysian Fields, in my eyes. The whole group enjoyed a really good variety of ciders and ales for the couple of hours we stayed. We were a group of about ten yet there was plenty of space in this cosy pub for us and the bar staff were lovely. Definitely coming back next time we are in York!

Great food , lovely friendly atmosphere, large choice of drinks . Great service .

A great find! The steak and ale pie is the best I can remember ever having and they have a decent selection of beers on tap. Staff are friendly and even called us over to a less crowded area when they could see they were dealing with hungry travelers and not folks interested in joining the dudebro sportball watching that was going on. Honestly wish I had room to try some of the appetizers, they sounded great. Very worth a stop.

Expensive, like most places round here, but nice enough.

Just came here for a drink on our days in York. We sat outside with our dog, drink was nice, service was good, the bartender seemed to be working on their own, so a queue was a given. Didn't try the food unfortunately, but there was 2 outdoor seating areas which was good. There were also alcohol-free options.

I have been coming to this place for years. Then I went home and just got back after 17 years. Still the same or even looking better now 😊

Visited as a family of 4 on a Thursday evening. Ordered 2 x fish and chips, a Nicholson burger and sausage and mash. All were freshly cooked and absolutely delicious. Black sheep best bitter a very good quality pint. Lovely traditional feel to the pub and pleasant, efficient staff. Well worth a visit.

Perfect atmosphere with a good selection of Ales. Food was perfect and service was really friendly, I think the lads name was Joe. Perfect size portions of food and really tasty

We spontaneously ate here. The very friendly service gave us a table in the really rustic room. We had fish and chips and a delicious pie. In terms of price it was absolutely ok for what was offered.

Great food , beautiful decor , great atmosphere

I used to come here all the time. Sadly, the food has gone drastically downhill. Hopefully this pubs food will return to its previous standard. It would be such a shame if not, as its such a beautiful building.

Was on a Coach tour and had prebooked as group (48 people) and also pre ordered our meals a day in advance for 8 pm. Meals were brought out close to 9 pm very slowly and some people had already finished before everyone got theirs. Staff very slow bringing out plates. They were cold, burnt and some inedible..the group not happy as it was our farewell dinner together.

The food is amazing!! Staff are very friendly and service very quick. We felt welcome, and we had a lovely time here.