The Cross Keys

You're walking down Goodramgate—that narrow medieval street between the Minster and the city walls—and you duck into The Cross Keys. It's immediately clear this isn't trying to be anything other than what it is: a proper pub, the sort that's been pulling pints in York for centuries. The kind of place where regulars have their spots at the bar and the staff remember what you drink. You'll find proper cask ales, real food that doesn't overthink itself, and the sort of no-nonsense atmosphere that makes you want to linger longer than you planned. It's the pub you'd hope to find on a wet Tuesday afternoon, or where you'd meet mates on a Friday without any fuss.