The Perky Peacock Coffee Shop in York

A cosy cafe with a picture view. We had a quick grub for breakfast and enjoyed one of the better coffees we had in York!

Lovely quirky little independent doggy friendly cafe/bar literally a few minutes walk from the train station. Enjoyed a light lunch with my daughter and my pooch! Will definitely go back!

By chance saw the sign and thought it was closed, it was not. What a charm of a place, absolutely love the atmosphere which evokes that 700 year old feel. Had a latte in the dungeon and today got to sit upstairs in the watch tower. If you are in to Game of thrones, or Vikings, it’s perfect. Ellie is a gem and the owners Richard and Sheryl are pleasant too, I think I was offered a job but I’m too busy enjoying all the charms of York!!

What a gem of a find. Lovely friendly welcome. Dog friendly in the dungeon! We had a coffee, and it's not often I take a sip of coffee and comment... but it's one of the best cuppas I've had. The dogs enjoyed a tub of doggie friendly ice cream. If you are in York, this is a must to visit. Quirky, friendly, historic, homemade food, dog friendly and great coffee ☕️ 🐾

Nice staff, we ate well, it looks like Hagrid's hut, I love it

Inside, it’s cozy and beautifully decorated with peacock motifs. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy a warm cup of tea during winter, with a view over the River Ouse.

Nice coffee and cake :) cozy historical building converted into a coffee shop.

A magical, medieval place to have a delicious coffee and very cosy.

Our first trip to York and we found this place by chance, coffee, cake and a fire with real atmosphere, will definitely go back.

Lovely place, incredibly friendly people, great, rustic atmosphere and good coffee. What more could one ask for

Staff attitude to dietary requirements was extremely disappointing

Well what welcome...not both standing with sour faces staring at their phones. We were obviously tourists gasping for a cuppa or drink yet nothing...not a hello or smile. We got our own menu and still no acknowledgement. so we left. No peacock...no toilet...sticky tables..

There’s a bit dirty - sorry. And no toilets , but the taste was good

Quaint any cozy coffee shop on the river. Have a look at the dungeon while you're there or just relax in the comfy upstairs.

Lovely cosy cafe with great food, service was fast and the staff were excellent. Definitely visit again

Lovely little cosy cafe with nice coffee and cakes. A perfect place to take a break!

Amazing venue for coffee and cake...don't miss

This little cafe is seriously a must visit! Tucked away in an old river tower, this cafe is like something straight out of a storybook Stepped inside and BAM - instant cozy vibes! The atmosphere is so warm and inviting. Grabbed hot chocolates with my partner and decided to brave the "haunted" underground area. Spoiler alert: No ghostly encounters, but major fairytale feels! Seriously, this place is pure magic. Tiny, historic, and packed with charm. If you're in York and want a spot that feels like it's been pulled from a whimsical storybook, The Perky Peacock is your jam! Totally enchanting 💕 Would like to grab a coffee next time!

Service was so slow we only ordered 2 cappuccinos and a children's hot chocolate but took nearly 15 mins to make and receive our drinks. Lovely coffee and great prices but not willing to wait that long for hot drinks.

Cosy coffee shop with good food and drink options. Nice setting being in an old tower.

Great view and inside the cafe is very cozy

Good coffee. Incredibly busy. Not much sitting inside but plenty outside.

It's my fav spot in York for coffee!

Old building is cute, but having years of spiders’ webs over the food prep area is gross. Ordered takeaway coffees, and the barista charged me before flagging that it would be a long wait…something it would be good to know beforehand.

Wonderful, small and cosy coffee shop. Polite service, friendly atmosphere. Delicious hot chocolate in a beautiful autumn cup. Beautiful location. They also sell alcohol. I highly recommend.

Gorgeous cafe, good coffee, and very cool owner with great taste in music!

Very good ambience and dungeon felling when dining in. The food was also good but the service is not very prompt and quick as normal restaurants. A very good breakfast option with a classic backside view of river Ouse flowing through York.

The perky peacock~~ Arrived at York Station at 9:30 am. Tower Coffee Shop Scones are the signature menu item, the coffee is strong and delicious, the atmosphere is nice, and the staff is very friendly. Enjoy the relaxation of a cup of coffee~

Lovely location but lattes and cake were incredibly sweet and no toilets

Not good coffee or food. Lured in by the look / location, but unfortunately that's where the good ends. The flat white tasted burnt and the bagel sandwich came untoasted and was clearly bagged grocery bought style bagels. It was really disappointing and I truly don't understand the good reviews.

The staff was friendly but the food and coffee were awful. They were store bought bagels and they tasted sour, like they were old. It was pretty bad, overall, and we ended up not finishing and going somewhere else for breakfast. Save yourself the trip, please!

Very nice place, good value, great location, friendly staff

A really disappointing trip to The Perky Peacock today. It's a brilliant, unique space with loads of atmosphere, so they were on to a winner straightaway. However, everything else was pretty terrible. Ordered at the counter, dealt with a reasonably unfriendly server. When the drinks came, two teas came as two teabags floating in super-cheap, chipped mugs. Somebody had ordered a cream-cheese bagel: the bagel came untoasted, something I have never experienced before. Two of use ordered the sausage sandwich which, according to the menu, was served in a soft, white bap. When they turned up they were served on cheap white sliced bread, and the sausages themselves weren't the best either. We tucked in anyway, trying to make the best of things, until my daughter pointed in horror at what were unmistakably two small piles of mouse poo on the window ledge. That's when we called it a day and left. It seems like there is the opportunity here for someone to have a unique and characterful cafe on the river in York, but they are obviously doing everything on the cheap.

Lovely little cafe set in a 14th century tower.

Stumbled across this cafe on an early morning walk and stopped for coffee and warm croissants. Lovely chilled music playing in the background, whilst we sat outside by the river and watched people starting their day. We loved it so much we went back at lunchtime which was much busier but the service and food were still good. Would definitely visit again.

Stopped here for a quick coffee and cold drink with my partner on a warm summer's day and it was perfect. We sat outside, overlooking the river and took in the views. A chilled and relaxed vibe and a perfect spot literally on the edge of the city centre. Access to the cafe was via a set of steps and I didn't see any access for wheelchairs which may be a problem for some if the weather isn't agreeable, to be expected however as it is set in a medieval tower and is something they didn't really consider a knight in shining armour may require! Also, there were no toilets available. Beautiful, handy location. Staff were friendly and polite. We had coffee, a can of drink and a croissant, which I thought was a tad expensive at £10.50, but otherwise it was lovely and would return.

Perky Peacock Cafe, situated by the river in York, is a charming spot. Their delightful drinks menu and picturesque location make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee

Lovely quirky place. Enjoyed my salmon and cream cheese bagel :)

Super cute!! Great coffee and scone, lovely staff were playing great tunes too!

Nice wee cafe off the wall. Good coffee, tea and bacon rolls.

Excellent scones with jam and clotted cream!

Hadn't been in for a good while, but the Perky Peacock didn't disappoint.

Cute little place by the river. Delicious treats and ice-cream, smiling service. Very beautiful setting, super pleasant on a sunny day.

We travelled from Hull to York and the Perky Peacock was the first coffee shop we came across apart from the station concourse. What a little gem! We stopped for coffee before walking our feet off in York. Riverside setting with lovely outdoor seating but also a lovely athmosphere inside. On the way back to the station we had time to spare so we popped back in again. My husband was celebrating a big birthday and I had made him wear a badge. The cafe owners spotted this and bought down a beautiful slice of cake with candles in it. Experiences like this are priceless and it made our day. Lovely cafe, great coffee and tea, amazing cake and the most friendly staff ever. Thank you all

Great cafe right on the river with outdoor seating. Really good coffee too

good aesthetics, good food at amazing prices, fast service, really good hot chocolate 😋

The worst cafe experience we have ever encountered and by far. We arrived at the cafe, the table and chairs hadn't been put out ready and it was left to us customers, one pregnant and one disabled to put out our own table and chairs. There was no table service. When we asked for a menu, we were told to go and get one ourselves. The small cafe is up steep stairs, not ideal for anyone with even slight mobility issues. No customer toilets, we had to go find these elsewhere. The food itself is overpriced. After 30 minutes of waiting for our drinks, we had to ask where they were. Only to be told are (paid for) order had been taken to another table. The other table next to us ordered after us and had their food first. Other tables, also frustrated, cancelled their order and left. In the end a very lovely lady from the Quirky Tea Rooms on the bridge had to close her cafe to come and sort out their mess. The staff here simply couldn't be bothered, no service with a smile. Multiple times they brought the wrong order over to our table, even though the tables are numbered. Our tip would be to go to the Quirky Tea Rooms instead.

Have often walked past this cafe but decided to pop in for a coffee whilst in York for hubbies birthday. We decided to have coffee in the haunted dungeons. Was great. Would have been nice to read about this history of the place so maybe put something on the tables Will be back to sample the cakes.

We went on a recommendation not impressed tea bag in old mug gave transport cafe vibe. Felt we were intruding in the owner's training staff

Wonderful little cafe set in one of York's historic river towers. Nice gentle music played in the background while we drank nice hot drinks and ate nice pastries. Comfortable and atmospheric inside, it also offered seating at little private tables outside.

A unique experience...the building is quaint and worth a visit to experience how people lived hundreds of years ago.

Really nice quaint and cozy place. Owner and staff were very friendly. Food was amazing.

Great little cafe in historic building, nice people running it in awesome peacock aprons 🦚🙂

A great little hidden treasure in an amazing tower location. Great coffee, friendly service, fresh flowers and cheerful tunes. The perfect pit stop in a long day of wandering the city! Worth knowing that there's wifi but no bathroom because of the nature of the building.

Beautiful coffee in great surroundings!friendly staff. Myself and my husband came to York for a relaxing day out and this place is just the ticket

this is a lovely cafe with wonderful outside seating by the river! The inside is so quaint and lovely - a former tower as part of the wall! service was friendly and excellent drinks and scones!! please don’t miss this spot to sit and relax as you take in York!

We enjoyed the Perky Peacock three times while visiting York from Canada. The coffee was fine, and all the staff was friendly, especially the owner. It felt cosy, casual and eclectic. The cafe is unforgettable because of its location history and lovely ancient walls and roof.

A FABULOUS, FUN and FUNKY CAFE BAR. QUIRKY MEDIEVAL VIBE. LOVELY STAFF. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Nice place! Recommend when comes to York.

The coffee shop is outstanding and the food and service is wonderful.🥰🥰every one should try citronkladkaka-(swedish ) made by neyomi .I highly recommend you guys🥰

Very cosy place to grab a coffee and croissant by the river. Prices are fairly reasonable for the location too!

Can't beat having a yummy breakfast in a medieval tower from the 14th century! Great people and food.

It's a place where warm and friendly people work, and the food is delicious.

We didn’t go for anything special just a sausage sandwhich. Sandwhich was lovely, very nice sausages. Very sweet and cosy vibe. Really original. Staff very freindly and genuinely looked happy at work which says a lot. Well worth popping in if you are visiting York

Stopped in for coffees on our trip to York. Great coffee, and friendly service. It's very quirky due to the building and furnishings, but unfortunately no toilets, as it's a listed building (Barker Tower), and is not wheelchair friendly due to the steps up to, or down to either floors.

What a lovely find recommended by a walking guide beautiful coffee great snacks and cake quirky building by the river and very friendly people loved it Would recommend a visit and coffee 😊😊👍

A great hidden gem we happened to find on the way home along the wall walk. Super snug cosy cafe upstairs. Great mocha

A very cozy place with a friendly staff. The drinks were good (macchiato, mint tea, and Yorkshire tea). The food was a little hit or miss. The Moroccan soup special of the day was very tasty, but the breads and bagel were all mass produced store-bought type baked goods and not very good. We didn't try any of the other baked goods though, so the cakes, etc. might be good.

Great place for a coffee. Lovely staff and very reasonable prices. Great atmosphere in a really interesting and important piece of historical York.

Quaint, tiny coffee shop with nice coffee and cake.

What a little gem of a place. Cracking cuppa, breakfast sandwiches of very high quality, and in a stunning little building packed with history. 5 mins walk from station so ideal for us waiting for our train! Will.be back!

The Perky Peacock is a quirky little tea room located inside Barker Tower, alongside the banks of the river Ouse. The Perky Peacock provides reasonably priced cakes, snacks, and rolls, along with the usual array of coffees. There is also a bar selling wines, spirits, and cocktails. For a great atmospheric break, check it out.

Nice and cozy vibes with nice people. Just wish there was a larger selection of pastries and stronger coffee. Wasn't my favourite tasting coffee. The carrot cake was good though🥕

Great little hideaway, perfect for getting out of the rain with something warm to drink.

But what a splendid place this tiny place overlooking the river is! Shabby chic style, intimate, welcoming, super friendly staff, and excellent food. Nothing to add, it's my favorite place in York!

Great authenticity present within the venue. Lovely decor and great atmosphere. I was greatly relaxed and comfortable. 100% will come again

Called in the Perky Peacock for a hot chocolate after a cold wander round York. It was warm, cosy and very friendly staff. The drinks were delicious. Excellent with cream and marshmallows. We sat upstairs but downstairs in the dungeon looked very toasty! We then nipped across the road to the Quirky and had a lovely chat with the owner. The decor is lovely with a beautiful fireplace and wooden floors. It lives up to its name with the quirky stair cases! Definitely a place to visit whilst in York!

Nestled in an awesome location, the Perky Peacock in York exudes a fantastic vibe that sets the stage for a memorable dining experience. The understanding and amiable staff added to the allure of this delightful cafe. As a vegetarian, I was impressed by the staff's willingness to customize dishes to suit my preferences. The cream cheese bagels with sundried tomatoes were a standout recommendation that I thoroughly enjoyed. The mozzarella sandwich and pita bread with hummus and veggies also catered perfectly to my tastes. Exploring hummus for the first time, I found it to be a delightful addition to my meal, especially when paired with the fresh veggies like tomatoes and pickles. Although my taste buds reveled in the culinary experience, the hot chocolate leaned a tad towards being overly sweet, slightly diminishing its appeal. Perky Peacock left my tummy very content and satisfied. Despite the slightly sweet hot chocolate, the cafe's ambiance, accommodating staff, and flavorful offerings made for a fulfilling and enjoyable dining adventure.

Conveniently located by the Grand Hotel, this was my go to place for chai tea latte and coffees in the morning. Located in a charming tower in the one of the old bridges.

The building is cozy and has lovely people there, however it is quite expensive and the music is loud. There wasn't much option on the menu for me food wise, but the food wasn't bad when it got to us. Overall, not too bad.

My partner and I went to this cafe twice during our 2 day trip to York. I wouldn't say the food and drink were amazing but they were enjoyable. What we really loved about this place is the atmosphere. The interior is really neat. I love that the cafe is located inside an old medieval tower. Despite that, we actually sat outside by the River Ouse and thoroughly enjoyed watching the geese and rowers on the river.

Gorgeous atmospheric old building, cosy on a cold frosty morning. Best coffee I’ve had in ages too! Partner had a bacon butty I had a crispy croissant. Delicious and the antidote to chain coffee shops.

Location is really great and I loved the way it looks inside but coffee is very average. Not sure about the food!

Friendly cosy cafe. Sausage sandwich was delicious. Coffee was full of flavour. Staff were attentive. All good!

Beautiful hidden little cafe in the castle walls. Staff are lovely and attentive and do a great coffee! Will definitely be visiting again

Super friendly staff. Great coffee. Delish (cheesy!) beans on toast.

Popped into the quirky cafe for breakfast when visiting York for my sisters 18th Birthday with the family. Great quality breakfast at a great price and came out piping hot. The hot drinks were also lovely. After noticing my sisters birthday, they were lovely enough to bring over a slice of cake for her! Such a lovely cafe, with lovely staff and we thoroughly enjoyed our morning there. Couldn’t recommend more!

Couldn't get a seat. Waste of time going there

Great staff, food and drinks. Amazing experience at this restraunt. All the family enjoyed it and I recommend coming I'm look forward to coming back.

Amazing strong double espresso. Lovely staff. Will be back.

Fantastic dirty chai, wonderful place to chill, the playlist was 10/10. I spent an hour here doing a sudoku, perfect vibes.

Great food with a nice selection, beautiful atmosphere and view, perfect if your walking on the York City Wall and want a bite to eat, also its right next to the grand Hotel Perfect if you are staying there.

The location is super, Barker Tower on Lendal Bridge, and the upper cafe and dungeon look cosy and quirky but the service and food were at best average. We sat in the dungeon where the door was open, one of the windows is a grated aperture giving great views over the river but pretty chilly, despite the fire, at this time of year. We were asked to take menus with us as we were shown to the dungeon and told that someone would come take our order. There was no alcholic drinks menu and no one came so we traipsed back up to ask about what wine was available and place our order. Our wine came first relatively quickly and our sandwiches soonish after. They were quite disappointing for the price - normal sliced brown packet loaf on my tuna salad and packet bagel for my friends cream cheese and smoked salmon. Mine had no garnish at all, my friends a handful of capers on the side of the plate. We had been finished for some time when A member of staff came to deliver a couple of coffees to the only other couple in the dungeon but despite looking over and seeing that we had finished she left without clearing the table or acknowledging us at all. Off we traipsed back upstairs again to ask for our table to be cleared and for cake and coffees. The coffee and cakes were nice, coffee a bit slopped but not surprising as it’s come down stairs, but the rest was just disappointing. We won’t be back

A super, charming, quirky, cosy place to grab some food or drink in a building bursting with history. Super friendly staff. There’s no where else quite like it in York. You’ll love it.

Drizzly day , so the first floor tables were full. Headed to the ground floor , which unfortunately seemed to be also used as a bit of a storeroom with boxes cans, brollies and cushions piled up next to the door. Shame as the rest of the room looked nice , Took away from the ambience a bit. Store cupboard would have been a solution ? Nice coffee and cake though.

I enjoyed a lovely latte and scone at this wonderful spot in an old gatehouse on the river. The team worked together well and wew very gracious.

Lovely coffee and amazing cakes! Cozy atmosphere and friendly staff! 100% recommend over any of the chain stores.

Delicious breakfast cake, good coffee and very nice staff. We enjoyed a nice breakfast in a cheerful friendly atmosphere. The fact that it's in a very old tower with exposed beams, bricks makes it even better.

Stumbled across this little place. Great tasting coffee, nice setting, inside seating area was inviting, staff pleasant

Lovely little cafe by the river. Warm welcome and friendly service. All food appears homemade. Absolutely delicious strawberry tarts. Give it a try!