It’s known for its pubs, its walks and its cosy vibe, but there are some fab places to eat in Otley too.
Bargainacious authentic Thai flavours. A veritable torrent of tapas. Italian classics served with a side of riverside richness. All of these and more are on the menu when you’re looking for the best restaurants in the delightful market town of Otley.
Whether you’re all set for a meat feast or you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan options that don’t sacrifice flavour, Otley has something for you. Which one will you head to first?
Buon Apps
Buon Apps has always been one of Otley’s best and most popular restaurants, but it seemed to reach another level when it moved from a backstreet mill location to its current highly desirable riverside address. On a sunny day, there’s no nicer place to dine in the whole town.
Perhaps kick things off with a fritto misto and then move on to their excellent porchetta, the pork belly rendered aromatic with fennel seeds, orange zest and herbs. Pastas are perfect, while desserts include classic tiramisu but also a soothing apple and plum crumble, perfect for the colder months.
Must-try: The Italian Sunday roast is a triumph – especially the whole roasted sea bass.
Find it: Buon Apps, Hartley House, 50 Mill Way, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1FE.
Mistal Kitchen
Just a short stroll from the centre of Otley – perfect for working up an appetite – Mistal Kitchen sits next to the Chilli Barn. It’s a tiny space that nevertheless serves up huge portions of vegetarian and vegan-friendly grub. While it generally keeps cafe hours, it also runs three-course supper clubs too.
Perfectly poached eggs Benedict is a solid way to start the day, while lunch highlights include sweetcorn fritter tacos and a generously stacked halloumi burger. You can find the details of their next supper club online, but expect three courses of creative vegan dishes for £40 per head.
Must-try: We adored the chaat masala fries – a gargantuan serving of skin-on fries with mint yoghurt, mango chutney and more.
Find it: Mistal Kitchen, Farm York Gate, East Chevin Road, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3DD.
Il Vicoletto
Two Roman expats have immeasurably improved Otley’s dining scene in recent years. Around the corner, Alessia serves up top-notch pizza and pasta at her cafe, while here Chef Anto conjures up Italian gems in this small but oh-so-friendly restaurant and wine bar.
Menus shift with the seasons, and are pepped up with frequent specials, such as the irresistible uovo croccante – a soft boiled egg coated in bread crumbs and then fried. You can get carnivorous with a trio of meats or indulge in a richly sauced vegetarian pasta dash – it’s that kind of place.
Must-try: If it’s on, the pecora alla cottora special. Leg of lamb, boned, cooked with juniper berries and black olives.
Find it: Il Vicoletto, 9 Mercury Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3HE.
Nam Jai Thai
Sometimes, the no-frills places are the best. And when we say no-frills, we mean it. No website, no Instagram page, the Facebook page last updated in 2014. But there’s a reason why this bijou place is always packed out – the food really delivers.
Take your own wine or beer, then order up some of the salmon chu chi curry or one deep and divine massaman with your choice of chicken, pork, beef or prawns. The spicy salads are a refreshing blast of Thai flavours to your tastebuds and there are veggie options aplenty.
Must-try: Go for the Gaeng Ped Phed Yang – a vibrant red duck curry.
Find it: Nam Jai Thai, 13 Manor Square, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3AP.
Mondo
This cafe-cum-kitchen took over the old Otta’s Leah site and has breathed new life into it. The coffee is perfect, and you can just drop in for a cuppa and a cake – but then again, Otley isn’t exactly short of places to do that. No, the real delights are to be found on the savoury menu.
This is where you’ll find treats such as honey and apple cider-glazed belly pork served on black pudding potato cakes, while the chorizo hash works wonders on an empty stomach at absolutely any time of day. Keep an eye out for specials like the chicken gnocchi or chicken katsu curry.
Must-try: The Canadian chicken pancake stack goes next level with the addition of candied bacon jam.
Find it: Mondo, 13 Boroughgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3AG.
Westbourne Spice
Sat out on the road from Otley to Menston in what was, long ago, a pub, Westbourne Spice has been the go-to curry house in Otley for at least a decade. It’s where you can get old school specials or zingingly-fresh vegetable karahis, with loads of great grilled choices too.
The Tandoori Raja mixed grill is a plate piled high with juicy, charred king prawn, lamb chops, seekh kebab and chicken tikka boti. You won’t want to share it but you might have to. The biryanis are brilliant too, scented with saffron and generously laden with your protein of choice.
Must-try: If you like it hot, go for the Massaledar chicken with naga pickle and fresh bullet chillies.
Find it: Westbourne Spice, Bradford Road, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3LS.
Thomas’ Taverna
It’s easy to pass by this family-run business without a second glance, but you’d be missing out on some fabulous Greek food in the process. At lunchtime it’s gyros o’clock, marinated meats wrapped up in a pitta with chips, salad and your choice of sauce for company.
At night, set the tone with some timeless classics – dolmades, creamy hummus – then dive into an unctuous and truly authentic moussaka. The Merida is great too – you get the same option as the gyros, but without the pitta wrap.
Must-try: When it comes to pud, it has to be the Portokalopita, a Greek orange syrup cake.
Find it: Thomas’ Taverna, 1 Orchard Gate, 23 Market Street, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3AF.
Fare

Credit: Ellie Hodgson
When it comes to wine and charcuterie, Fare isn’t just one of the best Otley restaurants, it’s one of the best in Leeds. Their drink-in list changes frequently and, if you like what you try, they’ve got a curated list of over 200 wines for you to take home too.
Food-wise, we’re talking superior cheeseboards – Ticklemore, Baron Bigod brie, Cornish gouda – and some stunningly oozy toasties using sourdough from nearby legends Underground Bakery. Even a plate of anchovies, gildas and gordal olives never misses with a glass of something crisp and cold.
Must-try: The Baron Bigod brie, fennel salami and chilli jam toasty is a plate of magic.
Find it: Fare, Unit 13, Orchard Gate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3NX.
Tapas & Tunes
Among the plethora of pubs and glut of cafes, Otley has long been crying out for a casual tapas place – and then this place came along. Even better, it includes an event place upstairs that has seen open mics, dinner jazz, tribute acts and acoustic performances.
Happily, the food really hits the spot, served up in a casual, family-friendly space at the heart of it all. The lunch and early bird menus are bargains, while the a la carte is packed with Iberian gems like croquetas, tortilla and zingy patatas bravas. Order some cava and tuck in.
Must-try: Feast on the sharing steak, pan-fried and served up with Jerez brandy sauce.
Find it: Tapas and Tunes, 50 Kirkgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3HJ.
Efes
Lovingly made Turkish food, chilled Efes beer, some rarely-spotted wines – just three of the reasons Efes has been an instant hit in Otley. They open in the morning for eggs royale and the like, but there’s a wider menu in the evenings, with a mixed hot and cold meze the perfect sharing platter.
As you’d hope, they do lovely things with lamb, with juicy marinated chops, skewers, kebabs and even the warm hug that is the lamb moussaka. You can go lighter too, with fish platters, sea bass and a handful of veggie dishes. It’s simple, it’s fuss-free, but it definitely whisks you away to the Med.
Must-try: Many a Turkish restaurant has lived and died by its mixed grill – this is a good one.
Find it: Efes, 29 Kirkgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3HN.