Hole In The Wall

You'll duck through a low doorway on one of York's busiest streets and suddenly find yourself in another era. The Hole In The Wall sits snugly beneath street level, all exposed stone and creaking timber beams that have been doing their job since medieval times. It's the sort of place where locals genuinely outnumber tourists, which tells you everything about its credibility. The bar staff know their regulars by name, the real ale selection rotates properly, and there's proper pub food that doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. The cramped, intimate layout means conversation happens whether you want it or not—which is half the charm.