Olive Tree Tower Street · York 01904 624433
Laid tables inside The Olive Tree, with Clifford’s Tower framed in the plate-glass window

10 Tower Street, York

Italian cooking with a Norman keep in the window

A family-run Italian and Mediterranean kitchen facing Clifford’s Tower. Handmade pasta and stone-baked pizza, Yorkshire lamb and beef where we can get it, and a table by the glass that looks straight up the mound.

Call to book a table Read the menu

Lunch from 12pmKitchen open
Dinner from 5pmKitchen open
4.2 ★666 Google reviews

Service

When the kitchen is on

  • Lunch 12:00 – 14:00
  • Dinner from 17:00
  • Brunch from 10:00

Which days? Please ring 01904 624433 and we will tell you exactly what is on today. Booking by phone also means we can hold you the window table.

The Olive Tree shopfront on Tower Street, two white-framed windows under a first-floor terrace of red brick
Bruschetta on toasted bread with chopped tomato, red onion and rocket Linguine in tomato sauce with whole prawns and chopped parsley A stone-baked pepperoni pizza An antipasto platter of cured meats, olives, cucumber and grissini Lobster ravioli in a tomato and cream sauce Crispy calamari rings with a garnish of mixed leaves

Set menus

Two courses before the theatre, or lunch for two

The Barbican is a five minute walk and the Grand Opera House is ten. These are the fixed-price menus the kitchen runs alongside the card.

£21.95

Set menu, two courses

Sundays to Thursdays only. Starters include soup of the day, garlic mushrooms, homemade paté, bruschetta and deep fried halloumi.

Mains run from spaghetti bolognese and homemade lasagne to pepperoni pizza, calzone sausage and mushroom and chicken risotto. Profiteroles or tiramisu to finish.

£24.95

Set menu, three courses

Sundays to Thursdays only. The same choice across all three courses.

Mark C., who came in on a Wednesday evening, wrote: “usually you would expect portion sizes to be reduced on this menu but we really couldn’t complain about the quality of food or value for money.”

£13.50

Special lunch, for two

Per person. Spaghetti bolognese or tagliatelle al salmon, with free garlic bread or chips.

Also £17.50 per person for hunters chicken stew or cannelloni ricotta spinach, and £10.50 per person for the vegetarian option – fusilli vegetarian or vegetarian pizza.

Mediterranean brunch

Shakshuka, sujuk and a full English

The newest thing the kitchen does, and the one most people walking past Clifford’s Tower have no idea exists. Served from 10am – ring to check today’s sitting.

Our story

From the garden, sea and field to the table

Our menu is a seasonal one, a straightforward idea but one that ensures a quality approach. We have been influenced by classic and regional continental cuisine, mainly from the south of France, Italy and the whole Mediterranean region. These cuisines have relied on seasonal produce for centuries in order to maximise flavour and texture, and to present food at its peak.

Wherever possible, ingredients such as game, lamb and beef are sourced within Yorkshire. Our fish purchasing is more pragmatic.

Our passion borders on the neurotic when it comes to freshness. There is nothing to beat freshly harvested produce.

A vegetable-topped pizza on a plate at a laid table in the restaurant Sliced tomato and mozzarella dressed with basil Chicken in a tomato and pepper sauce topped with rocket

Guests

What people say about the view

Three of the most recent reviews on our Google listing, quoted as they were written.

★★★★★
“We had a good dining experience in York at The Olive Tree, located right opposite Clifford’s Tower! We ordered from the set 3 course menu. Now usually you would expect portion sizes to be reduced on this menu but we really couldn’t complain about the quality of food or value for money.”
Mark ChappellGoogle review, four months ago
★★★★★
“The food was delicious and the friendly service from Safa and Sop was excellent. With a view of Clifford’s Tower as the sun sets.”
Peter MabonGoogle review, five months ago
★★★★★
“What a lovely little restaurant. Fantastic service and beautiful food. Opposite Clifford tower and within easy reach of the Barbican theatre. Will definitely return when we’re back.”
natalie7178Google review, seven months ago

The cellar

Wine by the glass and the bottle

House white and house red are £5.95 for 175ml, £7.95 for 250ml and £24.95 the bottle. A few of the bottles worth knowing about:

Italy

  • Pinot Grigio, Gran Sentina £25.95
  • Sauvignon IGT Reguta £28.95
  • DOC Poesie £29.95
  • Gavi di Gavi, Serragrilli £34.95
  • Chianti Rocca £34.95

Further afield

  • Merlot Caracara, Chile £25.95
  • Chardonnay The Gavel, Australia £26.95
  • Malbec Para Dos, Argentina £26.95
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Los Pastos, Chile £27.95
  • Shiraz The Gavel, Australia £28.95

Sparkling

  • Prosecchino, 200ml bottle £9.95
  • Prosecco DOC Extra Dry £29.95
  • Rosato Spumante Brut Perla Rosa £34.95

Beer

  • Peroni, Corona, Moretti, San Miguel £4.50
  • Draught lager, pint £5.95

Find us

Facing the mound, at the bottom of Tower Street

Two minutes from Clifford’s Tower and the Castle Museum, five from the Barbican, ten from the Shambles. The window tables look straight across at the keep – ask for one when you ring.

Call to book a table

The illuminated Olive Tree Restaurant sign above the door at dusk