Ye Olde Starre Inn in York

It could be spectacular, but is ruined by fruit machines (very olde worlde, well done) and fairly loud, bland as hell music piped everywhere. Even in the courtyard, which should be a garden of tranquility after the crowds outside, you're subjected to some C-list crooner belting out a hit (missing a letter there). Nice staff, but I was really disappointed by the place.

Afternoon in York with the beautiful wife, awesome food, good beers and the rugby was on the TV. What could be better !!

Had a meal and drinks here. Old old pub with lots of history. Food was great especially the steak and ale pie, very rich and filling.

Great choice of drinks and fast service

Great place, tucked away but worth finding. Food looked fabulous, next time for us. Also dog friendly, very important.

Wasn't busy at the time of my visit so got served quickly.

Visited with my partner and we both had steak and ale pie, quite possibly the best pie i've ever had. Nice real fire too

Nice friendly bar with a good range of beers

Oldest pub in York did not disappoint. Great food and pints. The atmosphere was perfect

Always a pleasure to visit and hang out with a drink in hand

Spending my childhood living in pubs, I love old traditional pubs. This one was everything I love in a pub. The staff were quick, attentive and polite. The decor and furniture are traditional and classy. The drinks are reasonable priced. The food was delicious and also well priced. A throughly enjoyable experience.

Beautiful little olde pub. Great spot to sit. DOG FRIENDLY indoors & outdoors. CHILD FRIENDLY. Nice choice of ales. Good outdoor seating availability. Chef special chicken burger in an IPA Batter was beautiful! The mature cheese on the burger was perfectly matched with the flavour profile and enhanced the umami. I wasn’t given a choice between fries or chunky chips which would have been nice. But overall very good!

Really poor service, 7 of us went to this place as we go to York at least a couple of times a year which also includes this establishment, me and my son had a certain lager which came out of the pump flat so told the barman who proceeded to empty a bit out of the top of the glass and pour a little more in….. still flat, we said it was poor so he decided to put the 2 lagers into 2 new glasses with the same result, we said we would have a different lager but he said he wouldn’t replace it with a different lager. The drinks here are expensive which you don’t mind paying for if it’s of good quality but to hand over flat lager is bad, we will not be going here again!

Great food and lovely service. Very friendly and helpful staff, superb atmosphere, very olde worlde... just what's needed.

Expensive compared to everywhere else around it

Visit this pub yesterday totally by chance. Just looking for something to eat with partner and child. Couldn't find many places with a kid menu, that my daughter would eat. Food was nice highly recommend the pie. Burgers not so great. My little one liked the sausage and mash. Didn't try beer as I was driving so it was soft drinks all round.

Very busy but still very good service 😊

We ate there this evening. The food was excellent. Bar staff fantastic, chatty and humourous. The waitress was also extremely pleasant and attentive. A great all round experience

They claim to be the oldest licensed Inn in York. Accessible down an alley which is well sign posted. Lovely cosy pub with a selection of hand pumped cask ales. Gets very busy around noon but there are plenty of tables. Great atmosphere 👌

Great fish and chips and atmosphere

Fantastic place with lots of history. The staff were very friendly and professional and food was great.

I do really like this old English pub style but the truth is the price of the drink is ridiculous, I paid £46.65 for two dry martini with lemonade, two pints of cider, one pint of beer and half pint of beer. That’s ridiculous price. It’s dog friendly though. I can’t give any feedback about the food, we only went there for the drinks. Update, We have talked to the pub over the phone this morning, they realised we have been overcharged by mistake and resolved the problem professionally. Everyone can make mistakes. Therefore I will highly recommend Ye Olde Starre Inne and the staff for excellent customer service.

Very busy pub, the oldest in yorkshire can be a long wait for food. Good selection of beers dog freindly

Sunday roast was disappointing. Everything else great.

We always go to this pub when we are down in York, this time we had our American daughter in law who loved the whole feeling of the place, anyway, first of all the staff were all very good, well done to whoever runs this pub, because you have picked your staff well,and given them good training, a good selection of beers and spirits, a good menu, and we are amazed how the food is always so good,as the kitchen can't be that big, keep up the good work, see you soon

Food was great, service was good despite it being very busy, a lovely place all in

My family and I have visited Ye Olde Starre Inne many times, our most recent visit at the start of February for lunch on a Saturday. We reserved a table online and were sent a reminder the day before. On arrival we were shown to our table, and then ordered some drinks from the bar (friendly staff) while we waited for the lunch menu to be available (starts at 12pm). The staff took extra special care of our dog - and we ordered our food on the App (although you can just as easily order directly at the bar). The food was great as usual (x3 burgers, x1 Steak Pie). John and the other members of staff at Ye Olde Starre Inne were excellent. My only advice is to get there before 12.30 for lunch, as it became very busy around 1pm. Definitely recommend this pub for its warm welcome, the staff and the food and drink. Will certainly not be our last visit here.

Waited more than 40 minutes for some mid overpriced food. Also the bar staff don't seem to know what a pint is, asked for one twice and they gave me a half twice 🙄 I don't know how they manage to be so busy.

This bar is full of old charm and curiosities. The bar staff were lovely towards us, having just dealt with some awkward customers before us. Another bar steeped in history with lots to look at and gives plenty to think of and research at a later date.

Staff was so helpful and lovely , food was delicious , we actually came back the next day for more .

Family of 4 adults and 2 children, sat in the beer garden as it was very busy, but it was quite pleasant and there were patio heaters which was great. The drinks and service from the staff was very good. Found the other customers were all really friendly.

The pub was busy, but the staff were so helpful and friendly. One member of staff in particular was able to assist with getting us a table. Great drinks and a view of the minster

The Ye Olde Starre Inne is a well-known pub in York dating back to the sixteen hundreds. It is popular with tourists so the drink prices are expensive and the pub is always busy. There is a wide choice of beers, lager and cider including cask conditioned hand pulled real ales. The cask ales we tried were in excellent condition the staff are friendly there is outside seating and the pub is dog friendly.

Ye Olde Starre Inn is an absolute gem in the heart of York, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It delivers full marks across the board—whether it’s the food, service, atmosphere, or location, everything about this historic pub is top-notch. The food is exceptional, offering a great selection of classic pub fare done to perfection. Each dish is well-prepared, hearty, and full of flavor, making it the perfect accompaniment to their excellent range of drinks. Whether you're stopping by for a quick pint or a full meal, you won’t be disappointed. Service here is second to none. The staff are friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable, making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. They’re always happy to recommend drinks or dishes and share a bit of the inn’s fascinating history. Speaking of history, the character of Ye Olde Starre Inn is truly something special. As the oldest licensed pub in York, it oozes charm and tradition, with its cozy nooks, timber beams, and warm atmosphere transporting you back in time. It’s a perfect blend of history and hospitality. Lastly, the location is unbeatable—nestled right in the heart of York, it’s an ideal spot to take a break from sightseeing and soak in the city’s unique ambiance. Whether you're a local or a visitor, it’s a must-visit destination. If you're looking for an authentic and memorable pub experience in York, Ye Olde Starre Inn is the place to be. I’ll definitely be returning!

As me and my partner wondered around York on Saturday night we walked past an alley and coming from the alley was some cool music. We carried on walking and then looked at each other and agreed we should go back and check it out and we were both very glad that we did. THE BEST BURGER AND FRIES EVER! I don't know what the seasoning is on those fries but it is to die for. The burger was so juicy, fresh and full of flavour. Would definitely recommend and will definitely be returning when we come back to York in the summer. Staff were superb, checked back on us to make sure the food was OK and we're very polite. We sat in the little room to the left as you walk in. Perfect little place for our anniversary dinner! Thanks for making it special guys ☺️

Great little Pub lovely pizzas 🍕

Called for drinks only and unfortunately our favourite beer ran out while were waiting to be served. Not to worry we enjoyed our time here and liked the other real ales on offer. Hopefully we will have better luck next time.

The Olde Starre Inn had a cozy atmosphere, but the food was disappointing. The burger was dry and lacked flavor, making it hard to enjoy. While the staff were polite, the meal didn’t meet expectations.

Great oldest pub in York had a good selection of beers good service great atmosphere to catch up and talk over a beer

Nice selection of drinks and a open fire for the cold nights

Delicious food, good service and great beers

Called in for an afternoon meal and we left full and re-energised. The pies are a must. I opted for the steak and ale pie with chips and it was lovely. A pleasant experience in a nice quiet snug room. Pleasant, friendly staff who greeted us on arrival and on our departure. Support these local heritage businesses and pay them a visit.

Just stumbled across it for a drink with our dog. Lovely attentive staff, who looked after us and Arthur so well. Lovely atmosphere and great music. We will be back. A great experience all round! A little gem.

Came for a quick drink, first visit, lots of history and haunting as most places do in York. Located down a small alley, it's actually quite a large place where we could get a seat. Good choice of drinks at reasonable prices. Service friendly.

Came in this pub recently and found it a great place to go. Lots of choices for drinks and although we didn’t eat the menu looked lovely. However, our visit was fairly late (22.00) and as I went to order one last drink at ten to 11 I was informed by the barmaid that they had stopped serving. I accepted this despite it being slightly early. I returned to the bar two minutes later to ask a question about the local area to see the same barmaid serving another customer. Seems they have a preference over some customers to others!

Great service real traditional pub foods Great too reasonable prices

Wonderful place definitely worth a visit! Myself and my parents are visiting from Australia and after being astounded by the prices of another place close by because it was a place associated with a rather famous individual, coming here was exactly what was needed. Millie provided excellent service and was friendly and had a lovely chat with us while we waited for food. Not that there was long to wait. It was quick and hot and most importantly, TASTY! Though I admit their hot sauce was too hot for me personally, my dad said it was delicious a d kept going back for more. Prices were reasonable for the amount and quality of food you get. Once again, highly recommend and thank you again to Millie for being so lovely and welcoming!

The place was busy, but the staff found us a table.Excellent food, great value for money.

I had Steak & Ale pie and Sunday Roast Beef. The price was reasonable and it was very delicious! In particular, the pies are soggy and tasteless at many places, but they were very delicious. The Sunday roast beef was also very good and not dry, perhaps because it was aged well.

We wandered the streets of York looking for the perfect cosy spot to stop and have a few drinks and lunch in - and this pub was perfect for just that!! Great beers, good food, lovely atmosphere. Reasonably priced, can get busy but if you linger for a minute you’ll get a seat no problem.

A magical place full of history... they keep their essence very well... the food was great... but the service was a little slow...

Great food and very friendly staff. Will be back !!

We have been to this pub a few times and no matter how busy the staff are always really lovely. The chicken burger was honestly the best I've had.

Good food, stylish atmosphere, even a little heating wouldn't have hurt. Maybe the evening was a bit problematic, but the staff was the negative point of the evening, confusing, endless waiting to pay (once you asked me you can't leave me waiting 20 minutes to serve others) girl at the tables very cold and set (USA style)

Good real ale and from the kitchen came a wonderful smell of food.

Didn't have food but beer and atmosphere great, full of praise for the guy behind the bar on his own and coped admiralty at a very very busy time and never got annoyed, new exactly what he was doing and no customer complained👍

*UPDATE* We're BACK, almost a year to the day, and for the same reasons, so obviously had to come back here. Nothing has changed, the food, beer, and staff are still amazing. Even had a bit of excitement with a little bird this morning. We've been in York since Friday for joint birthdays and our Anniversary. We've been all over your city, getting up to Shenanigans. It's no surprise to me that the BEST service and the nicest food has been in Greene King establishments. We OBVIOUSLY had a Sunday roast today and the lamb was flipping (would use stronger language, but y'know) BANGING! Absolutely flipping sublime, so 'Big Ups' to your chefs. The rest of your team are also top notch geezers and geezerettes, and a credit to you. The place is also spotlessly clean throughout. As an aside, the cask ales are beautifully kept and there looks to be something to appeal to every taste drinks wise. Hopefully we'll have time to pop back in before we head back to Blackpool tomorrow. Fanx.

Absolutely packed but service was great, always manage to find a seat in one of the beer gardens. The outdoor heaters are a godsend, especially on the last weekend before Christmas.

Quirky place with lots of rooms and gardens but no space! Loved it though and will be back

A lovely day in York with family spoilt by the rude and obnoxious bar tender! Having stood near to the fireplace for at least 45 minutes as all of the tables were occupied, a guest who was sat on a table next to us, got up to leave and in doing so caught the garland above the fireplace (which was not secure). This caused a pint of Guinness to come crashing down. The bar tender immediately came over in a very aggressive manner stating “where is the glass you have smashed!!!” We explained it wasn’t us but he then went on to say that we shouldn’t have been stood where we were. We were there for 45 minutes, and not one person asked us to move. We were stood there for 2 hours the previous month! There is no signage to say you can not stand there either! We asked him not to accuse us of something we hadn’t done, and his response was to leave, we would not be served again!! With pleasure… we would not want to give you another penny! What I would like to know is who I send the dry cleaning bill to? My cream jacket is now ruined as it is covered in Guinness, and since the garland was not secure over an open fire, there is also a safety risk!

Nice old pub, but very expensive

The Hazy Days just about saved a bit of an uninspiring choice of beer. Other than that nice atmposhere and busy without been too busy

Can't fault the place. Visited on an exceptionally busy Sunday afternoon just before Christmas. Food of excellent and really good value. Waitress worked off her feet but was incredibly welcoming despite how busy the pub was. Credit to her and all the hardworking staff.

Great family pub great food lovely staff and great atmosphere.

A very busy Monday early evening with a good crowd enjoying the pub. We had excellent beer and mulled wine.

We were visiting York for the Christmas Market with our little dog and popped in for lunch. Although it was really busy we managed to get a cosy little seat and ordered a toasty cheese sandwich. Hubby found there was a nice selection of ales and I was very impressed by the range of non alcoholic drinks for me, most pubs offer lemon and lime. Even though it was really packed the staff kept us informed of wait time for meals and very friendly having time to chat. Our little we'll behaved dog was welcomed. It made our trip to York really nice. We will definitely be back.

The pub is always very busy, especially at this time of year. Thats why we booked a table as there were 5 of us. We were seated quickly. The staff are ALWAYS very polite despite always been VERY busy. Food is good. I had the vegan burger. It was excellent. The bar staff are very good even though its busy and some customers can be rude.

Excellent Steak and dessert, pub grub at its best, very busy pub but staff were polite, friendly even though working under pressure and service was good considering the busy tables wanting food😋

Great pub, kid friendly, staff are fantastic

Fantastic little place. Booked a table for Christmas Dinner with the family. Despite how busy it was our food arrived very quickly and as a whole table. We had a few vegans with us who were catered for well! Waiters were very nice too, would have left a tip but the little card machine wouldn't let me!! We had the festive burgers and a sticky toffee pudding for afterwards!

It was our mistake that we didn’t book for the Christmas fayre menu but the pub were happy to accommodate us! We were still able to get the 3 course set menu at such short notice. Our waitress (didn’t catch her name - brown hair and stripy top!) was lovely, 10/10 service thank you very much. The pub is lovely indoors, a cosy atmosphere perfect for Xmas time!

Lovely old pub, comfortable and welcoming. Lots of history in york and this pub is right in the centre not far from spark york.

Tried booking a table online and was unable to do so, was advised to call the pub. 3 of us have been calling for 3 weeks, the phone hasn’t been answered once, we have been leaving voice messages, not had a call back once, found an email for the manager online, emailed not had a response back. I get that it’s a busy time of year but not picking up the phone over a 3 week period, not responding to the voice messages or an email is beyond a joke!

Great cask beer, well presented G&T. The decor certainly looks original and gives the pub great vibes. Prices feel more like London, but York City Centre as a whole seemed expensive for drinks

A great pub with a selection of beers. Friendly staff and traditional food. They could do with some mustard - the waitress told me they don't do mustard!

Visited on Friday night for food and drinks. Food was lovely and service with a smile. Special mention to Millie & John who served us and the chefs Jasper and Ash who are cooking some exceptional food Will be back same time next year

Busy, very friendly staff would recommend nice pub.

I booked a table for my hubbys birthday, it was absolutely jam packed, but its main Xmas time, there was a couple of issues with getting our table and the app not working. The Manager (sorry forgot her name) quickly came over when she saw I was a bit upset, and I have to give her 10/10 for customer service, she more than made up for the issues. And for that I’m very grateful

No food choice I wanted or drink. My friends had to return there meals as they was burnt. The manager did give a refund but it spoilt our day out

Chicken kievs were hard and inedible . The staff member dealt with it professionally. Another choice was given. & it was lovely

This place is absolutely jam packed and we struggled to get in let alone get a seat! People were eating there and the reviews they gave were amazing (the food looked really tasty and plentiful!) but we didn't eat there as we couldn't get a seat in the end. The drinks were average priced but I did feel a bit chilly despite it being crowded.

Went with a friend for some food. Thoroughly enjoyed my lunch. Great service Lovely atmosphere and lovely staff. Will be visiting again!

Had a works Christmas party there, the staff really looked after us all, and the food was amazing 🤩, will definitely be back soon.

Perfect Pub. Ticks all the boxes you expect with regards to food, drink and atmosphere. Bar and server staff brilliant and polite. Taster beer no issue and check on food was ok all examples of well trained staff. We had pie and mash which was delicious.

Five of us ate here and all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The service was good and there was a lovely atmosphere in this historic old dog-friendly pub.

One of the nicest pubs in York. Friendly and welcoming staff. Excellent food. Great choice of beers.

Absolutely heaving with a long wait for food (but it was during the Xmas market) an excellent pint

Great traditional pub in a central location

Had lunch at this atmospheric old pub on a recent trip to York. It's at the end of a quaint narrow snicket leading off bustling Stonegate (there's a sign above the street to help you find it). Plenty of outdoor seating, either in the courtyard in front of the pub, or on one of three little terraces, one of them with lovely views of the Minster's towers. The timbered pub dates from the 17th century, with an eventful history and a few resident ghosts, according to a sign in the courtyard. It's dimly lit inside, with dark wood panelling, old photos of York on the walls, cosy nooks, and a lovely warm fire. Beautifully decorated for Christmas when I visited in late November. It was also very busy, but I managed to find a table in a corner of the main bar. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Extensive drinks menu, with a great choice of cask ales and plenty of wines to pick from. I chose a good Merlot. They serve hearty traditional pub food here, as well as lighter and veggie options. Good selection of gluten-free main courses. Opted for the steak and Ruddles ale pie, hispi cabbage wedge, Merlot beef dripping gravy and mash, with onion rings as an extra. The pie had a nice thick crust and tender meat, and the meal as a whole was flavoursome, piping hot and filling. I had no room for a dessert! They serve coffee, though the machine was broken on the day I was there. The atmosphere was relaxed and convivial. Overall, an enjoyable lunch and not expensive either. Would certainly come again.

Nice older pub very busy didn't eat there but food looked good

Wonderful Christmasy atmosphere!

We got Sundays lunches and fish and chips, very busy pub so expected a wait. Fish and chips.. very dry bland cold chips..which I left. Fish was ok. The Sunday lunch didn't look the best but went down well, partner liked the Wellington Sunday lunch. Might be nicer if they weren't soo busy

Fabulous labyrinth of a Pub, looks tiny on approach, but has so many little rooms, good range of ales (10% off for Camra members) .. take a compass when you go to the loo so you can find your way back! Bags of history, atmospheric, friendly folks behind the bar .. loved it. . Didnt eat but what we saw looked like good pub food, Old Peculier was excellent.

Definitely worth a visit being the oldest pub in York. Good selection of beers and Ales as well

I had a fantastic time at the Ye Olde Starre Inne, the food was incredible especially the onion rings. The staff were beyond accommodating and the whole place had a lovely homely atmosphere. 10/10

Lovely place and atmosphere and a beautiful log fire these cold nights

Clean service always good great outside areas.

Throughly enjoyed our visit. Great ales, food, atmoshpere and staff were very helpful in accomodating us and our three labs. Highly recommend a visit, if you are in York!!

Stopped here for a pint, was a lovely experience. Charlie at the bar was super friendly and made it easy for us to get the student discount. Would recommend

Liam and Adam were excellent barmen this evening during our delicious and filling meal. We would recommend this venue to anyone seeking a cosy pub with warm food and great beer.