What is Indie Food Tours?
We started in Leeds, running guided food tours around the city centre, we then launched our self-guided food tour app which can be done by following a map to six venues across the city, it proved so popular that we’re now launching our self-guided tours in the lovely Harrogate, to showcase some of the special places we love, and want you to try too!
Find out more information here about Indie Food Tours.
We've split this blog into sections to make it feel a little less overwhelming (sorry, we wanted to fit them all on!), like Brunch and Lunch, Casual Eats and Great for the evening, which includes various cuisines.
Brunch and Lunch
Hoxton North
A London-inspired neighbourhood coffee shop in the heart of Harrogate, designed for people to relax and stay connected over great food and coffee. Hoxton North's focus is service and more importantly, good quality food- they serve brunch and lunch, and if you follow their Instagram, you'll see them regularly upload food they're 'testing' to put on the menu. We recommend booking if you plan to come here, as it’s a popular spot!
Image taken from Hoxton North's Instagram.
Farmhouse
If you’ve ever read our Leeds Food Tours blog, you’ll know we’ve become big fans of Farmhouse, since they opened up their second venue in Leeds in 2023. They have a fresh seasonal menu and are arguably most well-known for their decadent brunch menu (although don’t shy away from the mains at lunch time).
Image taken from Farmhouse's Instagram.
Quirky Farm Bistro
A small independent bistro offering a menu using fresh produce, with a vision of creating an inclusive menu to suit varied dietary requirements (vegan, gluten free). Each course has gluten-free or vegetarian/vegan options with a variety of different dishes to choose from. The Quirky Farm Bistro has just announced they will be opening for dinner service on Friday and Saturday nights, meaning more time to enjoy their delicious brunch and lunches, whilst getting the chance to try their crafted evening menu.
Image taken from Quirky Farm Bistro's Instagram.
The Wild Plum
A small and note, un-bookable brunch spot offering some of the most extravagant-looking (and tasting) breakfasts out there. The Wild Plum is an all-female team smashing out some of the best pancakes we’ve tried, people travel from far and wide to get a seat at this viral brunch spot – so make sure to arrive early. We’ve never tried the savoury lunch items here but can very much vouch for the sweet selection of items on their brunch menu. Attention to detail is top priority, the decor is wonderful and it’s situated above the Snooty Fox wedding-wear shop.
Image taken from The Wild Plum's Instagram.
Starling
Seven years strong, independently owned Starling are continuing to provide relaxed vibes, specialist coffee, great food and craft beer. They’re an all-rounder offering a variety of options for brunch, followed by San Marzano topped pizzas (with the addition of gluten-free pizzas) and Canadian poutine from 12pm onwards.
Image taken from Starling's Instagram.
Betty's
Quintessentially British, Betty’s is a family company based in Yorkshire. Founded in 1919 in Harrogate, Betty’s is a traditional tea room best known for their Fat Rascals, Afternoon Teas and elegant dining rooms. If you're from the area, you'll already know of this Yorkshire staple, however, if you are yet to visit, it's the perfect spot for a civilised brunch/lunch out. They also have a shop where you can purchase teas, cakes and treats to take home.
Image taken from Betty's Instagram.
Cold Bath Deli
A deli and wine bar opening for breakfast and lunch, Cold Bath Deli offers a light lunch or a great place for cake and coffee. Doubling up as a deli, Cold Bath Deli have a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients, often rotating Mediterranian dishes as loved by their chef, Christian. It's perfect for a casual meet up with friends, with outdoor seating for the warmer days. They've recently expanded their empire by opening a sister cafe in Skipton called Phoebe's, which is available brunch, lunch and dinner.
Image taken from Cold Bath Deli's Instagram.
Casual Eats
Rolands
An independent cocktail bar serving Detroit style pizzas, everyone’s talking about ‘those thick pizzas with the crazy names’. Rolands is a fabulous spot for a drink with friends or family, and they’re open until late Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which is perfect for those of you that like a nightcap in a more civilised and sophisticated environment. Pizzas are not quite served up until the later hours, however, make sure to go within pizza operating hours for either a slice or a full pan, they even do happy hours where you buy a slice and get another for £1.
Image taken from Rolands' Instagram.
Paradise
An independent craft beer and Mexican-inspired street food bar in the centre of Harrogate, Paradise is great for an evening with friends, drinks and small plates of Mexican food and they don’t take reservations meaning you can have a spontaneous visit to try a margarita and burrito, or plan a night of beers and tacos with friends at this quirky venue!
Image taken from Paradise's Instagram.
I am Donner
A small spot in the centre, don't shy away from this place due to its name, it’s great for a homemade good quality kebab. 'More than a guilty pleasure', I am Donner are championing the humble kebab by incorporating fresh, quality produce to have at any time of the day (not just at 2am). They're award-winning for a reason, and cater for veggies, vegans, gluten-free and halal. They use a total of 53 ingredients in their eight kebabs and bowls, producing homemade bread, sauces and use high quality meat, AND they use 100% recyclable or compostable packaging, go I am Donner!
Image taken from I am Donner's Instagram.
Thug Sandwich
Thug Sandwiches’ mission is to transform the humble sandwich using quality food from local suppliers around the Harrogate area. You’ll find classics like Ploughmans, egg, club and BLT’s, but if you’re feeling out there – make sure to try one of their specials; KFCeaser, pulled pork or even add on a scotch bhaji (lime and coriander sausage meat, coated in bhaji onions, with mango chutney- sounds absolutely incredible!).
Image taken from Thug Sandwiches Instagram.
Yuzu
Housed in Cold Bath Brewing Co, Yuzu have a kitchen residency serving up Asian street food. They have quite a few venues, including Leeds and York, however this particular branch serves Katsu curries, rice bowls, Bao Buns, and more! Pair it with a craft beer, cocktail and sunny day, and you’ve got the perfect afternoon!
Image taken from Yuzu's Instagram.
Vanilli's Gelato
Perhaps the best gelato around? A bold statement, but not one that comes lightly! Homemade with love, owner Alex crafts all flavours himself, and they regularly change depending on stock and season. We had the chocolate when we visited Vanilli's and it honestly transports you to a quaint coastal town in Italy, so much so, we almost felt the hot air on our faces after the first mouthfull. We might not have the weather for it most of the time, but it's definitely a must-visit if you find yourself with a sweet tooth in Harrogate.
Great for the evening
Pranzo
A modern take on traditional regional Italian dishes, Pranzo’s owner Marco has taken his favourite parts of his Nonna’s (grandmother in Italian) dishes and curated the perfect mouthwatering menu with a strong focus on pasta, pasta and more homemade pasta. They now have three restaurants, Harrogate, Ilkley and soon to be Horsforth and originally opened up six years ago in Ben Rhydding as a pasta bar. Our long-standing favourite dish is the Seafood bigoli with mussels, prawns anchovies, calamari, in a garlic, white wine, cherry tomato sauce. The sauce is typically thicker than other seafood pastas that we have tried elsewhere, meaning it clings perfectly to each individual piece of bigoli (pasta shape) and seafood. A must-mention is that Pranzo can cater for Coeliac's with a lot of their pasta dishes- make sure to see which menu items can be substituted with gluten-free pasta!
Three's a Crowd
A bistro-style restaurant originally starting up in Harrogate, and recently opening a second in Leeds, Three's a Crowd is extremely popular on Sundays for their renowned roast dinners, often offering lamb, chicken, porchetta and more. Their menu’s change often, which makes it a great excuse to return time and time again. They have an upstairs private dining area, making it perfect for special occasions or more intimate events. The variety of dishes is what originally drew us in here, featuring from all over the world - our favourite main that we've tried was a rich lamb ragu with parpadelle and you must order the bread to start!
La Feria
Transport yourself to Andalusia, where you’ll find a menu inspired by the cities, towns and villages in the region. Fresh fish, meat and vegetable tapas awaits, or if you’re after something lighter, La Feria offer sharing boards showcasing some of Spain’s best charcuterie options, including Iberico chorizo, Manchego and of course, Serrano ham.
Image taken from La Feria's Instagram.
Konak Meze
Authentically Turkish cuisine in the heart of Harrogate, Konak offers a fantastic two-course set menu until 6:30pm, Sunday to Thursday and until 5pm on Friday and Saturday. The menu is a chargrilled lovers dream, featuring meats, fish and stuffed vegetables that have been lovingly grilled over coals, giving it that authentic Mediterranean taste.
Image taken from Konak Meze's Instagram.
Fisk
Originally from Bangkok, Fisk’s chef has created a menu inspired by major cities all over the world, with a strong focus on seafood. Fisk have the option of ordering from an a la carte, a set lunch/dinner, and a Veuve Cliquot Sunday menu/Oyster bar, making it feel the place for a special occasion. They're known for their lobster and there's the choice of a whole lobster with salt and pepper, garlic and herb, chilli, or a 'Yanam twist' (Yanam is an Indian town).
Image taken from Fisk's Instagram.
Stuzzi
If you don’t know, get to know their Arancini! Stuzzi have restaurants in Harrogate and Leeds, and are famous for their fresh pasta and ever-changing weekly menu, it makes the perfect spot to visit time and time again as you’re able to try all the new items that they introduce on a weekly basis. It has a lovely vibe on the evening and would be the perfect date night or friends meet up, over a few Aperols. If you're a fan of roast dinners, you might want to hit them up on a Sunday, as they serve up delicious Porchetta, a typical meat found in Rome, they serve that up with beef dripping roasties, Neapolitan sausage and sage stuffing, and all the trimmings.
Image taken from Stuzzi's Instagram.
Orchid
Inspired by Pan-Asian cuisine, Orchid have brought a taste of Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, China and Japan under one roof in Harrogate. Ingredients are sourced from the Orient, and their cocktail list is inspired by Asian roots; Lychee Martini's Singapore slings and more delicious sounding drinks to enjoy whilst you peruse the food menu. It's a great spot that offers variation if you're in a group setting - portions come in regular or sharing size, which again makes it that bit easier to try a bit of everything if there is a couple of you wanting to get through more of the menu!
William and Victoria
Bistro-style food in a fabulous setting, William and Victoria’s (also known as ‘Will and Vic's) focus on locally supplied, seasonal produce to curate their menus. Downstairs, you’ll find a wine bar and bistro-style dining, whilst upstairs can be booked for private parties and events. Their focus on quality food shines through their choices on the menu, and the bar menu is perfect when you want that smaller bite to accompany one of their 50, yes fifty, wines on offer.
Image taken from William and Victoria's Instagram.
The Fat Badger
We’re here to talk about their roast dinners; tender meat, plenty of seasonal vegetables and best of all, they have a Sunday set menu, meaning you quite simply have to order either starter, dessert, or both! The Fat Badger has a cosy feel, especially during the colder months and also has outdoor seating for when it warms up, it's a great people-watching spot! They have a bit of something for everyone on their main menu, including a variety of vegan and gluten-free dishes, there's also a selection of small plates for those of you who have commitment issues!
Image taken from The Fat Badgers' Instagram.
Domo
A sushi-lovers haven, Domo is a Japanese restaurant providing brilliant personable and friendly service and even better food. Domo serve Ramen, Sushi and other Japanese favourites, presented beautifully on sharing platters. The sushi is refreshing, and the broths in the ramen are hearty and flavoursome - it's hard to choose the 'right' thing to order when all of it tastes so good!
Image taken from Domo's Instagram.
Royal Baths Chinese
With breathtaking architecture, sat in the old bath hall, the Royal Baths Chinese restaurant describes itself as an upscale Cantonese restaurant serving delicious dim sum, in a historical building. A fantastic choice on the menu, you'll want to go and order plenty of food to pick and choose from, it's also noting it a great spot for families.
Image taken from Royal Baths Chinese's Instagram.
The Drum and Monkey
An independent seafood restaurant focusing on quality fresh produce and great wine. There's the option of cold seafood platters, mussles, lobster, sardines, hot shellfish bowls, the list goes on! If you're a fish lover- this restaurant is the dream, making it normal to live out your fish-fantasy and order it for starter and main. The Drum and Monkey makes the perfect setting for a civilised evening sharing a bottle of something fizzy.
Image taken from The Drum and Monkey's Instagram.
Book on to a Harrogate Self-Guided Food Tour
This blog post highlights some of Harrogate's best places, but alas there is more to explore- and our self-guided food tour around Harrogate will take you to some of the best places, meaning you can try multiple places in one day.
The food tour will take you to six different eateries around Harrogate, if it's you and a friend doing it - you'll both get food included in the price at every stop along the way.
We offer gift vouchers, making it the perfect present for foodie-obsessed loved one, which can be used at a later date.
Find out more information about our Harrogate Self-Guided Food Tour here.
We hope you enjoyed our trip around the best places to eat in Harrogate!
Indie Food Tours xx