Quick info
About But First
On Main St in York, But First is a cafe and breakfast restaurant that serves coffee with a heart-shaped shortbread biscuit alongside it. The kitchen runs a toastie and panini range, including a bacon and Brie toastie, a mozzarella and pesto panini, and mushrooms with Stilton, alongside home made cakes with large slices, some available to take home. Seating is on a first-come basis with no booking, and the premises are small and fill quickly. A courtyard area out back holds tables and chairs for outdoor dining, and dogs are welcome throughout. High chairs are available for families with young children, and a step-free entrance suits visitors with mobility needs. The cafe opens daytime hours Monday to Saturday and closes on Sundays. It sits near a cycle track and walking route, making it a stop for people passing through on foot or by bike.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
Menu & Prices
10 dishes- Creamy Stilton Mushrooms On Toasted Bloomer
- Chicken Ceasar Salad With Bacon & Free Range Egg
- Toast
- Jam
- Toasted Teacake
- Bacon Sandwich
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention homemade cakes, halloumi ciabatta, outdoor courtyard seating and bacon and mushrooms breakfast.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention homemade cakes, halloumi ciabatta, outdoor courtyard seating and bacon and mushrooms breakfast.
Customer Review Summary
Cakes and freshly cooked breakfasts anchor the praise at this small Bishopthorpe cafe, with reviewers repeatedly singling out the cakes as "delicious" and "huge slices" alongside dishes like scrambled eggs with bacon and mushrooms, a bacon and Brie toastie, mushrooms with Stilton, and a mozzarella and pesto panini. Coffee draws consistent approval too, often paired with a heart shaped shortbread or a chocolate orange hot chocolate. Staff are called friendly and welcoming across many visits, and the outdoor courtyard seating and dog friendly policy come up often as highlights, especially for those passing through on walks. One reviewer, however, describes a visit spoiled by several wet dogs indoors, with barking and poor acoustics making conversation difficult despite the food remaining tasty. Another notes the sandwich selection is limited and the cafe fills quickly at weekends. The strongest recurring moment is staff going out of their way with warmth, including one account of a waitress reassuring a customer not to worry about leaving a tip when the card machine couldn't process one.
Customer Review Summary
Cakes and freshly cooked breakfasts anchor the praise at this small Bishopthorpe cafe, with reviewers repeatedly singling out the cakes as "delicious" and "huge slices" alongside dishes like scrambled eggs with bacon and mushrooms, a bacon and Brie toastie, mushrooms with Stilton, and a mozzarella and pesto panini. Coffee draws consistent approval too, often paired with a heart shaped shortbread or a chocolate orange hot chocolate. Staff are called friendly and welcoming across many visits, and the outdoor courtyard seating and dog friendly policy come up often as highlights, especially for those passing through on walks. One reviewer, however, describes a visit spoiled by several wet dogs indoors, with barking and poor acoustics making conversation difficult despite the food remaining tasty. Another notes the sandwich selection is limited and the cafe fills quickly at weekends. The strongest recurring moment is staff going out of their way with warmth, including one account of a waitress reassuring a customer not to worry about leaving a tip when the card machine couldn't process one.
Featured reviews
- Tom S
“Absolutely brilliant little cafe and the cakes are fantastic”
- Katie Marsden
“A lovely cafe with yummy food and nice indoor and outdoor seating. There is no signal in the cafe so not suitable for working at, and I feel for the price of the food, WiFi should be provided.”
- Nooby McPwned
“A hidden gem, I recommend this this cosy café in Bishopthorpe, full of old world charm and cakes”
- Jem
“What a lovely find 👍😄. My wife and I called in for a coffee whilst on a walk. The setting is great, the ambiance is great, the two girls who served us were lovely and very helpful. The food and drinks were perfect - we had latte coffees and a shared bacon and Brie toastie. We sat outside in the beautiful courtyard and enjoyed the scent of the roses. One of the best cafes we have been, an absolute joy.”
- Alison Kingston
“First visit today and would recommend highly. Had tea and flapjack which was absolutely delicious. Very generous portions. The staff were lovely, very friendly and helpful. Dog friendly too which was a huge bonus. Will definitely return next time we are staying locally.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Offerings· 1
- Small plates
- Dining options· 6
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Parking· 1
- Parking
- Highlights· 2
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
Cafes near But First
- 0.7 miVegetarian optionsVegan optionsReservations
strawberry matcha, nutella brownie, billionaire shortbread
- The Nook Cafe York4.72421.3 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
avocado on toast, cinnamon bun, eggs benedict
- The Pig and Pastry4.89702.1 mi£10–20
french toast special, veggie fry-up, homemade cakes
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| But FirstOutdoor seating | 4.8300 | — | £15–30 | homemade cakes, halloumi ciabatta, outdoor courtyard seating |
| brew'd. community coffee co.Vegetarian options · Vegan options · Reservations | 4.9120 | 0.7 mi | — | strawberry matcha, nutella brownie, billionaire shortbread |
| The Nook Cafe YorkOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.7242 | 1.3 mi | — | avocado on toast, cinnamon bun, eggs benedict |
| The Pig and Pastry | 4.8970 | 2.1 mi | £10–20 | french toast special, veggie fry-up, homemade cakes |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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