Perfect pubs and places to eat in the Yorkshire Dales

There are few places where you’ll find as many cosy and friendly pubs as in the Yorkshire Dales, and on rainy days they can be even better! Here’s a selection of 'locals' recommended by locals! And to find out who's dog-friendly, here's our special dog-friendly page.

Lister Arms, Malham

• At the Lister Arms in Malham you can enjoy a warm ambience and Yorkshire Chorizo created by local farmer Chris Wildman
• Convince yourself that you’re not just whiling away time in a lovely pub, but actually doing a good deed and community service while enjoying a hearty meal at the Foresters Arms in Carlton-in-Coverdale – it’s a community-owned pub!
• The Three Horseshoes Inn in Wensley is a great pub, with friendly staff, locally brewed ales and the best pizza you'll find in the area
• The Old Swan Inn in Gargrave is close to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal network, and offers lovely restaurant dining as well as an open plan bar serving local and interesting cask ales, ciders and lagers. Cosy fireside snug, and dog-friendly too!
• The Green Dragon Inn, Hardraw near Hawes has the added attraction of the walk to its very own Yorkshire Dales waterfall!
• The Fox & Hounds at Starbotton is known for the hosts' friendly welcome. Serving home cooked fine food and cask ales beside a comforting open fire or the sun-catching patio area outside
• Visiting The Forbidden Corner at Tupgill Park, Leyburn? The Saddle Room next door is a relaxing restaurant offering sumptuous food and has a fabulous wine cellar and bar
• The Game Cock in the beautiful village of Austwick is a firm favourite with locals, and has an extensive menu with a French flavour and ample portions
• The Kings Head at Gunnerside has now re-opened with new owners: it's a friendly village local with good food
  
  

• Eat at one of the original gastro pubs focusing on local food -  the Angel at Hetton, which also has an amazing wine selection and art displays around the bar and restaurant area
• Nothing like a cosy night in with fantastic food, some friendly locals and a welcome for your dog too at the Punch Bowl Inn in Low Row, Swaledale, or a speciality dining night at the CB Inn in Arkengarthdale
• How about trying a pub with no beer – the Cross Keys at Cautley, a temperance inn! The beautiful 400 year old building has a small farmhouse style restaurant open during the day. It’s been famous for its ham and eggs for over 60 years!
• Admire the view from England's highest pub at the Tan Hill Inn - the pub famous for its snowy 'lock ins' in harsh Dales winters!
• Fountaine Inn at Linton is idyllic, in a beautiful village setting, with cosy snug and roaring log fires, and low ceilings
• The Craven Arms in Appletreewick on the Dalesway is steeped in history, and also has a cruck barn for larger celebrations
• It's wise to book first if you plan some time in Kettlewell at The King's Head: a very popular venue. A traditional family run pub in picturesque surroundings with good beer and great food. Kettlewell the location for many of the scenes in the film 'Calendar Girls'

The Bridge Inn at Grinton

• The Bridge Inn at Grinton not only serves great ales but also offers live folk music to enjoy on Thursdays 
• The Friars Head, Leyburn is a striking blend of traditional & modern design, with distinct interior themes & creative menus
• Fox & Hounds, West Burton has a fantastic setting on the edge of the village green. Staff are very friendly and welcoming, even to dogs. Great real ales and good pub food too
• Kings Arms, Askrigg - a traditional old pub, with stone floors, good range of ales & hearty food. Lots of 'All Creatures Great & Small' mementos to be found here
• George & Dragon, Aysgarth is a picturesque and friendly gem, and serves some of the best food in the area. Extremely popular with both locals and visitors, and your dogs are welcome
• The Aysgarth Falls Hotel pub always provides a relaxed warm welcome, and the food is great, with a specific vegan menu available too
• The Station Hotel in Birstwith has many devoted fans who praise its great atmosphere and good food, with a lovely garden for sunny days
• The Freemasons Arms in Nosterfield on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales offers great food, especially Sunday roast
• The Black Horse is right in the centre of lovely Grassington, where friendly staff will serve you tasty food & great beer
• The Bull Inn on the banks of the River Ure in West Tanfield boasts traditional pub food, real ales and a terraced garden stretching down to the river. Then across the road...
• The Bruce Arms in West Tanfield near Ripon is a traditional 18th century coaching in with cosy rooms, wood fires and great food: Highly Commended in the White Rose Awards for the Best Pub in 2017
  
• Originally built as a coaching inn, the Fountain in Hawes has been owned and run by the same family for over 27 years - well recommended by the Hawes locals
  

• The Farmers’ Arms, Muker is the sort of old pub where you can just relax and sit by an open fire and eat home cooked food
• The Buck Inn is set on the village green at Thornton Watlass and offers well kept beer & excellent food to enjoy
  
• The Queens Arms in Litton has been upgraded but retains its original charm and serves local beers
• Number 29, in Frenchgate, Richmond comes highly recommended. Open since Autumn 2018 it's a craft beer and gin bar, serving great tapas and sharing boards. Good wines too. Lovely atmosphere, cosy, and different!
• The Fox and Hounds at West Witton is a great village local and very family friendly. You'll receive a warm welcome
• Reeth's Kings Arms is an especially dog-friendly cosy country pub and hotel. With a huge open fireplace and great snug the owners make sure you have a warm and comforting stay
• The Knights Table at Little Stainforth is excellent for a great feed. Drop in after watching the Salmon leap at Stainforth Foss in Autumn!
• The 17th century Bolton Arms in Redmire was originally a farm. It's long been known as the village meeting place 
• With Sharon and Ken now at the helm, the refurbished Bruce Arms in Masham offers great food, a cosy setting and banter from very friendly locals. While you're in Masham, why not visit Black Sheep Brewery and Theakstons Brewery and see how beer is made?

Black Sheep Brewery, Masham

• As soon as you walk in to The Sportsman's Arms in Wath, Nidderdale, you feel your shoulders relax and on a winter's day with the log fire, it's very difficult to drag yourself back outside. The beer is great too!
• Settle's Talbot Arms is open all day - and boasts the only spacious pub garden in town. A great popular local supporting dominos, darts, and pool games, and you may even catch a live band. Real ales and a good range of quality home cooked food 
• In Addingham? The Swan is a fabulous, dog and child friendly pub, serving wonderful food, an excellent range of cask ales, wines and ciders and cooking up daily specials 7 days a week
• The Falcon Inn in Arncliffe is one of the Yorkshire Dales' most famous traditional pubs: used as the original location for 'The Woolpack' in TV series 'Emmerdale Farm'. Camra regional pub of the year in 2018 you'll find great beer, welcoming hosts, lovely fires in winter, and beautiful views from the village green
• Enjoy an excellent meal at the Traddock, in Austwick, a local beer or two, and stay overnight in one of their cosy rooms
• The Old Hill Inn, near Ingleton in Chapel le Dale is a proper traditional pub with lots of old character plus really great food. They offer hospitality to walkers, campers, tourists and locals alike. The view of Ingleborough from the garden is amazing!
• The George Inn, Hubberholme must be one of the cosiest pubs in the Dales. Always a fire in the old fireplace and often with George the Jack Russell stretched out beside it, The George offers true warmth and hospitality, local banter and great food
• The George Inn Thoralby - is a traditional country inn located in beautiful Bishopdale near Aysgarth Falls - a hidden oasis
• Simonstone Hall Hotel in Hawes is open to non-residents too, and serves up superb food showcasing local, seasonal and homegrown produce in the restaurant. There's a very cosy bar & outdoor terrace with terrific views
• Enjoy Gastronomic delights in the Blue Lion at East Witton or fishy treats at the Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton 
• With the bright decor, beautiful wall-hangings by Andrea Hunter and high beams, you'll feel much sunnier in the Brasserie in the Courtyard near Settle
• The Station in Richmond was once the town's railway hub. A  unique building with cinema, shops, brewery, Brymor ice cream, gallery, bar, cafe & restaurant. At the start/end of Easby Abbey loop (walk) it's perfect for ice cream or coffee & cake after a stroll! Spacious too for those with pushchair or wheelchair
• The Devonshire Arms Country Inn at Cracoe in Wensleydale looks over distant Cracoe fell and serves delicious locally sourced home cooked food. It's also the pub where the famous Yorkshire Dales 'Calendar Girls' were based
• The George and Dragon, Hudswell is Yorkshire's first community pub serving mainly Yorkshire Ales & wholesome food. Recently voted CAMRA National Pub of the Year
• Askrigg's Crown Inn is very popular with locals & Wensleydale visitors alike. The Crown's staff are welcoming & friendly; their delicious home cooked food using locally sourced produce comes in good portions and is complemented with a great range of fine cask ales
• The Street Head Inn, at Newbiggin-in-Bishopdale - close to both Leyburn & Hawes serves up tasty, hearty meals, lighter bites & runs a popular carvery on Sunday lunchtimes. With all three local brewery's cask ales on tap plus guest beers, this lovely 17th century coaching inn is the perfect place to refresh and relax
• The 16th century Cover Bridge Inn on the River Cover in Wensleydale is in an idyllic location, dog-friendly and famous for its ham and egg! Go and warm your feet by the fire there.
  
  

Where have we missed? 

Where are your favourite pubs? Which restaurants do you  recommend?  What have we missed? If you have suggestions to be added to this page please email

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This is an independent site, using recommendations from people who live in the Yorkshire Dales. None of the businesses mentioned on this site have paid to be here, nor is the site funded by any other organisation so you can be sure these are genuine recommendations from people who really love the area. It's a work in progress so forgive the omissions, broken links and inaccuracies... If you'd like a more official and comprehensive guide to this beautiful area, please go to the sites run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.