Eating at Fountains Abbey

Fresh tastes to enjoy

From bacon butties at breakfast to hot lunches and tasty sweet treats, no visit is complete without a spot of indulgance at our cafes or restaurant. Guided by the National Trust cookbook, seasonal food from the estate and local produce there's always something tasty on offer.

We care about the environment and are moving toward reducing single use plastics, including drinks bottles. You can read more on how the National Trust are moving towards reducing plastic usage here. If you have your own mug, please do bring it and we will happily fill that for a hot drink on the go.

Feel good about spending your hard earned money in our cafes knowing that all profits go back to looking after Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.

Join us for Christmas lunch...

Book now to come for a tasty Christmas lunch this December. Lunches will be running Monday - Thursday from Monday 3 December to Thursday 20 December. Have a look at the menu below to see what food you can get stuck into. 

To start choose from:

Homemade soup of the day with fresh crusty bread

Natural cured smoked haddock fishcake with a watercress, rocket and leek salad, poached egg and wholegrain mustard and dill mayonnaise.

A salad of mulled pears, Wensleydale blue cheese, roasted red onions and toasted walnuts.

For your main meal pick from:

Traditional roast turkey served with roast gravy, pigs in blankets, sage, onion and apricot stuffing, roast potatoes and cranberry sauce. 

Slow braised Fountains Abbey estate venison casserole, served with herb and cranberry dumblings.

Fountains Abbey Christmas roast vegetable Wellington served with a mushroom and tarragon sauce (V)

For your pudding, tuck into a choice of:

Homemade Christmas pudding with brandy sauce (V)

Raspberry and white chocolate terrine with orange shortbread and raspberry coulis (V)

Chestnut cheescake with vanilla ice cream and winter fruit compote (V)

Tea or coffee with a mince pie can be added on the day, too. For more information on booking a Christmas lunch with us throughout December please email us.  

Abbey tea-room becomes Mill Cafe

Sat right by both the abbey and the mill, this quaint little cafe is the perfect spot to have a brew with a view. Pick up a hot or cold drink or a light bite to eat here before you continue to explore the grounds. 

Refresh yourself at one of our three tea-rooms

You can choose from the restaurant at the visitor centre, Studley Royal tea-room or Mill Café.

For some delicious hot food, cake and sandwiches head to the visitor centre restaurant where a range of seasonal food will be offered. Or you can just enjoy a nice cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate.  

If you want a light bite and a cup of tea and cake with a view don't miss Studley Royal tea-room. Over-looking the lake, it's especially beautiful on a bright sunny day. From here you may like to go over for a stroll through the deer park, or loop back up to see the Octagon Tower, Temple of Fame and Surprise View on the High Ride path.

The newly re-vamped Mill Café (some of you may know it formerly as Abbey tea-room) is the place to go for some light bites and take-away drinks. There's seating outside with a wonderful view of the abbey. In summer, call by for some delicious local ice-cream.