Golden Lion
📍 9 Church St, York YO1 8BG, UK
About Golden Lion
Craving a classic pub experience in the heart of York? The Golden Lion offers a traditional British atmosphere with live music, weekly quizzes, and a wide selection of drinks. With a solid 4.2/5 rating based on nearly 2000 reviews, it's a popular spot for both locals and visitors.
What to Expect at the Golden Lion
Step inside the Golden Lion and you'll find a traditional tiled bar area, perfect for enjoying a pint or a cocktail. The atmosphere is lively, especially during live music performances and quiz nights. It's a welcoming space suitable for groups, and even your well-behaved dog is welcome!
Dining & Services
The Golden Lion offers a typical British pub menu. You can enjoy your meal via dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Reservations are also available to secure your spot. They provide beer, wine and cocktails for drinks.
Location & Atmosphere
Located in the heart of the city center, the Golden Lion is easily accessible and a great place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. Nearby, you can find D'vine Restaurant & Social Bar and Valhalla York, offering other options for food and entertainment. The area also offers cultural attractions like York Fine Arts. Customer reviews highlight its friendly atmosphere, particularly praising its dog-friendly environment, as one reviewer noted, "After a walking tour around York we popped in for a warm and a nice meal in a place that was dog friendly. We found everything we were after."
Why Visit the Golden Lion?
The Golden Lion offers a classic pub experience with a modern twist. It's a great choice for a casual meal, a night out with friends, or simply a relaxing drink. The pub boasts a moderate price level, making it accessible to a wide range of budgets. One satisfied customer described their steak as "cooked perfectly," while another raved about the sticky toffee pudding, calling it "very moist and flavourful". With a solid 4.2-star rating and amenities like wheelchair accessibility and outdoor seating, The Golden Lion is set up for an enjoyable time for everyone. The pub is open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM, and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM.
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📍 9 Church St, York YO1 8BG, UK
from 1,944 reviews
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Showing 5 of 1,944 reviews from Google Maps.Last updated 16 December 2025.View all on Google →
We popped in quickly for dessert, and went for the sticky toffee pudding, as delicious - very moist and flavourful, the raisins were a nice surprise, they went well with the pudding. Only thing is it was served with custard, instead of the ice cream that is usually served with it - made everything slightly too sticky and wet. But still good! Came quickly too.
After a walking tour around York we popped in for a warm and a nice meal in a place that was dog friendly. We found everything we were after. It was a busy half term Thutsday but the staff were very jolly and accommodating, sorting a table for our group and going out of their way to give us a great experience. Lucy in particular was fabulous but the other staff were equally as good. Would certainly recommend.
Went for Dinner on a Monday night. Not many other customers so bit hesitant to order. Anyway did and food was hot and very tasty. I had the flat iron steak, cooked perfectly, hubby had Cheese & Bacon Burger. Staff really friendly. would defo return
Very friendly staff and fabulously tasty food. First time but will definitely return
This is a really great little pub in the middle of York, and is my go-to when I'm visiting and want to go somewhere for lunch. The food is really good - on my last visit, I had the steak sandwich which was really tasty. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and it has a "old school pub feel" to it which I really enjoy. One one occasion we had to wait 30 minutes for our food, but the staff told me before I ordered and were really apologetic, so I didn't mind that. Lots of great pubs in York, but this definitely one to check out. IG: Japan_Man_Dan