Itchy York article
York's best cafes
The top spots in York for a cup of tea... or a shot of wheatgrass, whichever you prefer.
Whether you're out and about and need to grab a quick bite or you're a lucky girl (or guy) and don't have anything to do but sip coffees all afternoon, check out some of York's best cafes. By Maxine Glass.
Alleycats
Despite sharing its name with many a backwater strip joint, Alleycats is somewhere you could happily take your beloved without being denied sexual services for the best part of the month. Hidden away up a ginnal (do you think that word exists in any other language other than Northern English?), Alleycats offers kind-on-the-pocket romantic candlelit dining.
Betty's
A Yorkshire institution, Betty's is probably the most famous tearoom in the country, with people coming from far and wide to gobble down an eclair and sip tea from a china cup. The atmosphere is a bit stuffy, but the enormous queues out the door (even in freezing February) means the tourists are still willing to sell their flight tickets for a scone on a doily served by a woman in a fancy pinny.
Blue Fly Cafe Bar
Colourful cafe bar that offers enviable views of an Alliance & Leicester cashpoint from its summertime pavement seating, does a fine line of sandwiches and salads during the day, but is also open on weekend evenings for tasty, albeit slightly pricey, cocktails (you may need the aforementioned cashpoint). People with something to celebrate can take advantage of the free room hire from Sunday to Wednesday.
Coffee Culture
GMTV may well be advocating the ill-advised 80s fashion revival, but in our opinion the only item deserving resurrection from the decade that taste forgot is the humble bean bag. Coffee Culture seems to agree and offers a collection of the fun-filled furniture to rest your puff-balled behind on. Together with the decent music, friendly atmosphere and tasty tapas-style food, there's no reason (other than death, disability or incarceration) not to pop in.
The Juice Place
Super healthy juice emporium, serving everything from tasty smoothies, to immune boosters and hangover cures. Their wheatgrass shots have their own fan base, and they now do a version involving freeze-dried algae, called Spirulina - which although sounding scarily like pond scum, has got to be good for you. Health benefits aside, the cute staff are another incentive.
For a complete guide to York from the best cheap eats to the craziest place in town, buy the book! Itchy guides are available now from our very own on-line shop www.itchycity.co.uk/books
(or call 020 7288 9810).
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