Cafe No.8 Bistro

Walk into Cafe No.8 and you'll find yourself in that rare sort of place where everyone seems genuinely pleased to be there. It's tucked away on Gillygate, just north of the city centre, in a space that feels lived-in rather than designed—worn wooden tables, mismatched chairs, the kind of bistro aesthetic that actually works because it's not trying. You're here for the food, and it delivers. Expect classic French bistro stuff done properly: confit duck that falls apart, beef bourguignon that tastes like someone's nan made it, fish specials that change depending on what's actually good that week. It's the sort of place locals book for anniversaries or bring visiting mates who claim to know about food.