Bettys York has welcomed guests to St Helen’s Square since 1936, with interiors inspired by the Queen Mary ocean liner. It is part of an independent Yorkshire family business founded in 1919 by Frederick Belmont, whose training in European baking and confectionery still informs the company’s character. The result is a tea room that combines Yorkshire hospitality with a distinct Swiss influence.
The all day menu moves comfortably from breakfast to lunch and afternoon treats. Swiss rösti appears in several forms, while kedgeree, poached eggs and a full English breakfast sit alongside lighter morning choices. Later in the day, diners can choose Yorkshire rarebit, sandwiches, quiche, salads, fish dishes and more substantial plates such as chicken schnitzel or a Yorkshire beef burger.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes are clearly represented, including a Florentine rösti, vegan English breakfast, vegetable gnocchi and plant based sandwiches. Bettys’ own craft bakery supplies bread, cakes, pâtisserie and chocolate, so baked goods are integral to the experience rather than an afterthought. Longstanding relationships with Yorkshire suppliers also shape the meat, eggs, dairy and other produce used in the cafés.
Tea and coffee remain at the heart of a visit, supported by the expertise of sister company Taylors of Harrogate. Guests can also book a formal afternoon tea in the Belmont Room or visit the Oak Room for its all day menu. Whether stopping for breakfast, a savoury lunch or cakes and tea, the historic surroundings make this branch an experience as well as a place to eat.
Address: 6–8 St Helen’s Square, York YO1 8QP, United Kingdom
Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms – York Menu
Breakfast Specialities
Breakfast items are served all day.
Swiss Breakfast Rösti
Made with grated potato and Gruyère cheese, and served with dry-cured bacon, tomato, mushroom and a poached egg.
Florentine Rösti (V)
Made with grated potato, served with spinach, mushroom, tomatoes, poached egg and breadcrumbs.
Vegan English Breakfast (Ve)
Smoked paprika aubergine, smoked beans, tomato and mushroom. Served with a miniature rösti and spinach.
Avocado & Poached Eggs (V)
Toast topped with crushed avocado, poached eggs and pesto.
Kedgeree
Made with creamy rice, smoked haddock, aromatic spices, fresh coriander, sultanas and flaked almonds, topped with a poached egg.
Eggs Florentine with spinach (V)
Served on toast with hollandaise sauce.
Eggs Benedict with traditional Wiltshire cured ham
Served on toast with hollandaise sauce.
Eggs Royale with Yorkshire smoked salmon
Served on toast with hollandaise sauce.
Scrambled Egg on Toast with Yorkshire smoked salmon
Scrambled Egg on Toast with dry-cured bacon
Toasted Dry-Cured Bacon Sandwich
Bircher Muesli (V)
A Swiss speciality made with rolled oats, yoghurt, nibbed hazelnuts, apple and sultanas, with mixed berries and raspberry sauce.
Cinnamon Toast (V)
Buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
Main Dishes
Chicken, Bacon & Cranberry Rosti
A festive version of our famous rösti, with Yorkshire chicken breast, Swiss raclette cheese, smoked streaky bacon, and red onion and cranberry chutney.
Haddock, Chorizo & Butter Beans
Fillet of haddock with a herb crust, served on a cassoulet of butter beans and Yorkshire chorizo.
Smoked Salmon Rösti
Made with grated potato, Gruyère cheese, cream, dill and chives, and served with Yorkshire smoked salmon and dressed salad leaves.
Haddock, Salmon & Prawn Gratin
Smoked haddock, salmon, prawns, spinach and leeks in a white wine and cheddar cheese sauce. With a potato rösti and seasoned breadcrumb topping.
Yorkshire Rarebit (V)
Made with Yorkshire Ale.
Soup of the Day (V)
Served with bread. Price: kcal on request £9.75
Sandwiches
Yorkshire Chicken & Sage
With lemon and sage mayonnaise and rocket.
Flaked Salmon & Prawn
With lemon mayonnaise and rocket.
Egg Mayonnaise & Cress (V)
Made with Yorkshire eggs. Served with sweet pickled white cabbage salad and in non-gluten containing bread.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea and Yorkshire Cream Tea are served all day.
Festive Afternoon Tea
A selection of Afternoon Tea sandwiches, a tea-infused sultana scone with strawberry preserve and clotted cream, three miniature cakes, served with a teapot for one of Spiced Christmas Tea. Please ask your server for the current offer.
Festive Afternoon Tea with Pink Champagne
Served with a glass of Collet Rosé Champagne 12.5% vol. (125ml Glass)
Festive Afternoon Tea with Prosecco
Served with a glass of Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore 11.5% vol. (125ml Glass)
Festive Afternoon Tea with Mulled Wine
Served with a glass of mulled wine 11% vol. (175ml)
Festive Yorkshire Cream Tea (V)
Two tea-infused sultana scones. Served with Yorkshire strawberry preserve and clotted cream, with a teapot for one of Spiced Christmas Tea.
Side Dishes
Pigs in Blankets
Finest outdoor reared Yorkshire pork wrapped in streaky bacon, with a honey and wholegrain mustard glaze.
Mixed Side Salad (V)
Mixed leaves served with a selection of salads; carrot and coriander, red cabbage and beetroot, and butterbean and balsamic roasted tomato.
Pear & Pomegranate Salad (V)
With pea shoots, rocket and radish, in a honey vinaigrette.
Green Beans (V)
Cooked in garlic and herb butter, finished with lemon zest.
Rösti Bites (V)
Made with crispy fried grated potato, served with sun-dried tomato mayonnaise.
Chips (Ve)
Pommes Frites (Ve)
Cakes & Pâtisserie
Please ask to see the cake trolley and choose from today’s selection.
Swiss Chocolate Torte & Ice Cream (V)
A Swiss dark chocolate cake made with almonds and hazelnuts. Served with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce.
Pâtisserie Selection (V)
Three dainty afternoon tea delights. Price: kcal on request £8.75
Grande Raspberry Macaroon (V)
With raspberry buttercream and fresh raspberries.
Carrot Gugelhupf (Ve)
A carrot sponge cake coated with water icing, decorated with a light frosting and dark chocolate.
Ice Cream Sundae
Bettys Fruit Sundae (V)
Mixed berries in raspberry sauce, with vanilla and strawberry ice cream and whipped cream.
Bettys Bakery Favourites
Tea-infused Scone (V)
With clotted cream and Yorkshire strawberry preserve.