By Chloe Lansdall

One of the best things about York is the huge variety of places to go for food and drink. The city is the perfect spot for socialising, whether it’s grabbing a drink from a coffee shop through the week, or booking an evening meal on the weekend to celebrate, there’s somewhere to suit everyone.

Here’s our top 5 places we recommend to go in York that are affordable for those on a student budget:

1. Drift-In

Drift-In is a quaint and cosy café located in the heart of York, and is the perfect meeting place for friends and family. Its menu has a huge range of sweet and savoury options; with plenty of choice to suit all dietary requirements such as gluten free, dairy free and vegan.

They serve fresh juices, smoothies, milkshakes and hot drinks, and also offer 10% discount to all students! It is also dog-friendly, with a dedicated wall displaying Polaroid shots of all the fury friends who have visited the café. You can find Drift-In at 1-3 Nessgate, York YO1 9NP.

2. Plush Café

Plush café is an independent family-run business located at 6 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS. It has three themed dining rooms – the garden room with flower vines and wooden swing seats, the art deco-inspired neon room, and the luxurious, floor cushion-filled bohemian room.

There is a wide variety of sweet and savoury options to choose from, such as rainbow bagels, pancakes, burgers, and pizzas. They also cater for lots of dietary requirements such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten free. They also offer 10% student discount and are available on Deliveroo and Just Eat.

3. SPARK

If you don’t know about SPARK then get to know! SPARK is an outdoor community space, home to some of York’s most exciting start-up businesses. It hosts a wide variety of food and drink choices from all over the world, such as Mexican, Italian and Greek! It offers plenty of outdoor seating in its funky upcycled shipping containers, and there’s always a feel good atmosphere.

There are multiple bars and shops within the space, with a general knowledge quiz/bingo to take part in every Wednesday, and even fitness classes hosted every Wednesday and Saturday! It is located at 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB.

4. The Cut & Craft

For a more sophisticated and chic option, Cut and Craft’s flagship restaurant is located at 8 St Sampson’s Square, York YO1 8RN and is the perfect destination to celebrate, catch up and relax with friends and family.

The restaurant is famous for its 10 oz flat iron steak, burgers, ribs, alongside an extensive cocktail and craft beer menu. The flat-iron steak starts at just £12, with also a wide variety of burgers, salads and sides. The business has also just opened up a new restaurant in the heart of Leeds, and is worth visiting for the steakhouse experience that won’t break the bank.

5. Nola

Nola is a new Restaurant & Bar styled in a 1920s Art Deco Theme. The Great Gatsby style interior consists of mirrors, marble, large leather upholstered chairs and dark wood panelling. If you’re after date night on a budget then this is the perfect spot!

The menu consists of Cajun inspired dishes and tastes from around the globe, served on smaller plates giving you the chance to try a wider variety of the food. Nearly all the dishes on the menu are priced under £10, and they also offer an extensive cocktail menu. The venue hosts live Jazz music every Tuesdays, Friday and Sunday, adding to the atmosphere and roaring 20s essence. You can find Nola at 2A Lendal, York YO1 8AA, UK.