Hoping to discover the best restaurants in Skipton?
There are many brilliant things to do in Skipton and eating out is most certainly one of them. Known as the “Gateway to The Dales”, Skipton is a charming market town in North Yorkshire that attracts thousands of visitors each and every year. Home to a remarkably well-preserved Norman castle, a picturesque canal basin, and an award-winning high street, it’s no wonder tourists flock to the historic town by the coach load.
Skipton’s town centre and quaint cobbled streets are scattered with all manner of independent businesses including an eclectic array of quirky shops and, a diverse selection of places to eat and drink. If you’re planning a trip to this much-loved market town, you’ll no doubt be seeking somewhere to enjoy a good quality meal. We’ve put together a list of our favourite restaurants in Skipton to help you decide where to go. Skipton does tend to get incredibly busy on weekends and during peak seasons so we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment…
So without further ado, here are our favourite restaurants in Skipton (in no particular order because they’re all brilliant in their own right!).
The Best Restaurants in Skipton
Le Caveau
86 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JJ
Le Caveau is a staff favourite here at The Yorkshire Press. With a diverse menu based upon locally sourced ingredients given a fantastic French twist, Le Caveau has an inviting ambience and an equally inviting wine menu. Interestingly, the restaurant’s building was a prison for Craven District criminals in the 16th century. Thankfully, prison food is but a distant memory and we can recommend it very highly.
Head Chef and owner Mark Byron’s passion for food is evident in the restaurant’s dishes – and with a very reasonably priced set menu and a consistently superb 5-course tasting menu, Le Caveau is as ideal for a candlelit dinner for two as it is for a party of up to thirty diners! As the menu is very much dependent on seasonal produce, it changes regularly but you’ll always find a tempting array of meat, fish and vegetarian starters and mains plus a number of indulgent desserts. The passion and creativity that goes into the food at this restaurant in Skipton make it rather special so if you’re planning a foodie tour of the town, a visit to Le Caveau should be a priority!
What You’ll Pay…
5-Course Tasting menu: £55 per person (an additional £20 for wine flight)
Lunch and Evening menu: Two courses for £28.95 or three courses for £33.50
You can read more about Mark, his career and a Le Caveau recipe here.
Oakley’s Grill & Pizzeria
5 Albert Terrace, Skipton BD23 1JD
Set over three floors, this family-run restaurant is a local favourite. One of our go-to venues for family celebrations and kid-friendly dining, Oakley’s offers a varied menu of pizza, burgers, pasta and grill dishes. In recent years, these guys have expanded their business so you may have encountered them at one of Yorkshire’s many outdoor events serving their legendary Pizza Fries, generously topped pizzas and delicious homemade cheesecakes.
When dining at their restaurant, expect laidback vibes, attentive servers and decent portions of tasty homecooked food. We recommend starting with their Cajun Prawns as they are exceptionally good and you can never go wrong with one of their burgers which are available with numerous tasty toppings. For those with larger appetites, the calzones at Oakley’s will undoubtedly satisfy. Packed with flavour and absolutely huge in size, they’re one of the most popular offerings at this restaurant in Skipton.
What you’ll pay…
Starters: £6.95 – £8.25
Main Courses: £9.95 – £25.25
Side Dishes: £3.55 – £4.95
The Curious Fox
Chapel Hill, Skipton BD23 1NL
Situated in an enviable location on Skipton’s Chapel Hill just, yards away from the historic High Corn Mill, The Curious Fox is a new addition to Skipton’s restaurant scene. Housed in the building which was once home to one of the town’s longest-established eateries, Napiers, it’s a restaurant bursting with charm and character. Eat in their rustic and cosy dining room or spend a summer’s evening sampling their culinary delights on their gorgeous outdoor terrace.
On the menu at The Curious Fox, you’ll find a range of British classics that have been given a luxurious and creative twist plus some truly mouthwatering internationally inspired starters and mains. We’re yet to dine at The Curious Fox but it has received some excellent reviews so far and we love the diversity of the dishes available. For us, the Crispy Beef in Sweet Chilli would be our choice of starter and we’d follow this with either the Braised Local Lamb Shank or the Miso Glazed Salmon.
The real stars here, however, are the steaks. With four different cuts to choose from including a 16oz Chateaubriand, it’s a must-visit for meat lovers! The Curious Fox also serves a selection of traditional roast dinners on a Sunday with options including Local Grass Fed Beef, Slow roasted Swaledale Lamb Shank, Vegan Nut Roast plus, their roast of the week and their market fish of the day. For £52 you can enjoy a mixed platter for two and tuck into all three types of meat. Yes, please!
What You’ll Pay…
Starters: £6.50 – £13
Main Courses: £13 – £64
Side Dishes: £4 – £6
Desserts: £5 – £10
The Krafty Kitchen
Keighley Road, Skipton BD23 2TA
Another new addition to our list of the best restaurants in Skipton is Krafty Kitchen. Located just out of the town centre near the Snaygill industrial estate, it’s a spacious bar and restaurant boasting beautiful gardens and a modern terrace area. Having visited quite recently, we can confirm that this is now one of our favourite places to eat in Skipton. Friendly staff, multiple dining spaces, contemporary interiors and top-quality homecooked grub at reasonable prices – what’s not to love?
The menu at Krafty Kitchen is primarily based upon British classics so expect comforting favourites such as Steak & Ale Pie, Lamb Henry, Cider-Braised Belly Pork, Fish & Chips, and Vegan Sausage Stew plus much more.
They have quite recently introduced a Tapas menu and these delicious small plates are ideal for sharing with friends on their terrace whilst enjoying views of the surrounding countryside. We highly recommend the Cauliflower Fritters! If you’re heading to Krafty Kitchen for a special occasion or celebration, they have a number of pretty dining pods in their fairy-lit secret garden which will no doubt provide the perfect ambience for a memorable evening.
What You’ll Pay…
Starters & Nibbles: £4 – £8
Main Courses: £10.50 – £24.50
Side Dishes: £2.50 – £4
Keelham Farm
21 Gargrave Road, Skipton BD23 1UD
Well, where do you start when it comes to describing Keelham Farm? It’s a unique place with a real sense of community at its heart. Naturally, we love it! The shop and the residing restaurant are the brainchildren of siblings Victoria and James Robertshaw, who took inspiration from their family’s rich heritage of butchery and farming to create a unique experience for locals and visitors alike.
Dedicated to supporting local producers, they’ve grown fantastic relationships with Yorkshire growers and merchants enabling them to stock and serve some of the finest produce in the area. They stock the produce and meat of over 400 local suppliers in their farm shop, whilst actively keeping waste to a minimum. If all businesses had the same values as Keelham Farm the world would undoubtedly be a much healthier, caring and well-fed place! An alternative offering amongst the restaurants in Skipton.
The in-house restaurant, Keelham Kitchen, puts local produce at the centre of all its dishes, and all the ingredients can be bought in the shop too. It serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon meals, showing off its abundance of beautifully fresh food. It simply is a must-visit! The menu at Keelham Kitchen isn’t the longest but there’s something on there to sit most tastes whether requiring a light lunchtime sandwich or something more substantial.
What You’ll Pay…
Starters: £4 – £9.50
Main Courses: £12.50 – £20
Side Dishes: £3.75 – £5
Desserts: £5
Le Bistro des Amis
1 Jerry Croft, Skipton BD23 1DT
Opened in 2010, Le Bistro des Amis was brought to Skipton by French-born chef Luc Dagazon. Dagazon has an impressive CV, including a stint at the award-winning Salvo’s in Leeds. As one of the highest-rated of all the restaurants in Skipton, it truly is not to be missed.
Bistro caters for all, with coffee and pastries in the morning, a great lunchtime menu and an evening Menu Du Jour. As well as an extensive menu suitable for a romantic or group booking, there is a Les Petits Amis menu for children, making Bistro a restaurant for all the family.
Like the many on our list, Bistro champions locally sourced ingredients and this combination of Yorkshire ingredients and traditional French cuisine is a major contributing factor to this restaurant in Skipton’s excellent local reputation. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is friendly and the staff are very attentive.
If you’ve not visited Le Bistro des Amis then be sure to book a table soon! There are a number of meat and vegetarian dishes to tempt your tastebuds but it’s the beautifully fresh seafood which seals the deal for us. Think Scottish Oysters, Filey Crab, Queenie Scallops and, of course, Moules Marinière. Yum yum! From Monday to Friday they offer a Lunch and Early Bird set menu from which you can order two courses for £15.00 or three for £19.50. With dishes including Garlic & Roquefort Blue Cheese Mushrooms, Tender Brisket of Beef, Homemade Fish Pie and Sticky Toffee Pudding available, it’s an offer well worth taking advantage of!
What You’ll Pay…
Starters: £5.95 – £9.95
Main Courses: £15 – £30
Desserts: £6.95
Efendy
8 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JZ
Efendy quite bravely opened its doors during a 2020 lockdown. Initially only offering a takeaway service, locals soon fell under their spell and delighted in the quality of their authentic Turkish cuisine. Although there are numerous vegan and vegetarian options available, the meat dishes here are divine! Succulent grilled meat mains delicately spiced and served with a number of tasty sides such as rice, salad and the best Tzatziki we’ve ever eaten. For children and those with a slightly simpler palate, they also do a selection of pizzas and traditional Turkish pides. It isn’t just the main courses that are mind-blowingly delicious either. We can’t get enough of their houmous starter which comes with a generous pile of Turkish bread and their Baklava is beautiful.
We’re huge fans of Efendy at The Yorkshire Press, not just because the food is great but because the staff are always so warm and welcoming too. Definitely, one to add to your Skipton itinerary!
What You’ll Pay…
Starters: £4.95 – £7.50
Main Courses: £8.95 – £17.95
Two Sisters
3A Mill Bridge, Skipton BD23 1NJ
A relaxed and friendly restaurant with a varied menu of good quality food and a great selection of drinks behind the bar. You’ll find Two Sisters Bar and Kitchen on Mill Bridge. In close proximity to the entrance to Skipton Castle Woods, it’s the perfect place at which to refuel after a scenic walk. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and dogs are welcome throughout the day. They even have doggy treats behind the bar!
The menu at Two Sisters changes quite regularly but it’s always very well executed so they consistently delight their diners with flavour-packed light bites and creative mains. All the dishes at this town centre restaurant in Skipton are reasonably priced and you’re bound to be thrilled with the quality of the food you are served. Currently, on the menu at Two Sisters, there are a handful of tasty mains for one, a selection of tacos and an eclectic range of fantastic small plates designed for sharing. Tuck into a spicy Quesadilla, stretch your chops around one of their lamb burgers, warm up with their tasty homemade Massaman curry or share a selection of Two Sisters’ Tapas style dishes with friends.
What You’ll Pay…
Small Plates: £7.95 – £11.25
Main Courses: £11.25 – £12.95
Side Dishes: £2.75 – £4.75
Alexanders
The Angel at Hetton
Back Lane, Hetton, Skipton BD23 6LT
No list of restaurants in Skipton would be complete without a mention of The Angel Inn at Hetton. The Angel changed hands in 2018 and, with Michelin-starred chef-patron Michael Wignall at the helm, continues to deliver exquisite food and exceptional service . The food at The Angel is outstanding! The fact that they are the holders of four coveted AA Rosettes and a Michelin star speaks volumes about the passion for food and service which the team hold. If you’re looking for something special, The Angel should be at the very top of your list.
The creative and contemporary A La Carte menu at The Angel is prepared daily using the freshest of seasonal produce and features some truly stunning meat and fish dishes. Vegetarians are also well catered for with a separate vegetarian A La Carte menu. With The Angel at Hetton being such a highly regarded place and probably not one most of us can afford to dine at on a weekly basis, we recommend booking in for the full tasting menu experience. For £95 per person you’ll get to sample an extensive range of dishes that celebrate seasonal produce and showcase the enviable talents of their remarkably talented kitchen team.
Perhaps leaning toward the more expensive end of the spectrum, The Angel is perfect for a special occasion or romantic treat.
What You’ll Pay…
A La Carte Menu: £85 for three courses
Tasting Menu: £95 per person
Elsworth Kitchen
18-20 Coach Street, Skipton BD23 1LH
Elsworth Kitchen opened in Skipton just a few years ago and quickly became a super popular spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Owned and run by husband and wife duo, Bruce and Rebecca Elsworth, it’s an excellent place to enjoy creative dishes made using the finest local ingredients. Between them, Bruce and Rebecca have over 30 years of experience within the Hospitality sector – making them the perfect team to head Skipton’s latest eatery. Bruce has had an enviable career with previous positions including Operations Director at The Angel in Hetton, Head of Taste at Keelham and demi chef de partie at Racasse in Leeds.
Elsworth Kitchen‘s light and airy interiors, welcoming staff and simple menus of perfectly executed dishes, all contribute toward making this an excellent place to eat, regardless of what time of day you choose to dine. Begin with one of their beautiful starters such as the Roasted Goats Cheese & Beetroot Textures before tucking into a hearty main like Crispy Pork Belly and finish with something wickedly indulgent like Dark Chocolate Marquise. Also, Elsworth Kitchen caters really well for most dietary requirements with numerous gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options featured on all menus.
What You’ll Pay…
Starters: £7.25 – £8.95
Main Courses: £14.95 – £23.95
Desserts: £6.95
Mastab’s
11 Keighley Road, Skipton BD23 2LP
Our go-to restaurant in Skipton for a curry is Mastab’s. Located in the centre of town and just across the road from the bus station, a meal here is the perfect way to start or finish a night out in Skipton.
The guys who run Mastab’s are super friendly and always go above and beyond to ensure their diners have the most enjoyable experience possible. The food is excellent too! With traditional Indian favourites cooked to perfection and house specials sure to set those tastebuds alight, it’s undeniably one of the best curry houses in the area. We always begin with their Bengal Rolls which are beautifully crisp and deliver just the right amount of spice for us. Pretty much all of their curries and tandoori grill dishes have exceeded our expectations too so whatever you choose you’ll likely leave feeling full and happy!
Calico Jack
36 Water Street, Skipton BD23 1PB
Another favourite with us locals is Calico Jack which is a fun and vibrant pirate-themed restaurant, brilliant for family meals and group celebrations. Kids will simply adore the nautical decor here and the extensive menu of American and Tex-Mex dishes features tasty treats to suit most appetites and cravings. The burgers, pizzas and Tex-Mex mains like fajitas, chimichangas and quesadillas are consistently delicious but it’s their steak and ribs we can’t get enough of. Beautifully marinated and served with a generous amount of fries or homemade wedges, they certainly hit the spot – particularly when washed down with a colourful cocktail or four.
The atmosphere is always jovial and upbeat so Calico Jack possibly isn’t the best choice if you’re after a candlelit dinner for two. However, for an evening of fun with friends or family, it is absolutely one of the best restaurants in Skipton.
What You’ll Pay…
Starters: £6.50 – £7.75
Main Courses: £10 – £25
Desserts: £1.75 – £7.50
