Lendal Cellars occupies the basement of a Victorian building on Museum Street, with low vaulted ceilings and a warren of rooms that can absorb a large number of people without feeling entirely overwhelming. It has been a student favourite for many years, partly due to its central position between the university campuses and the city walls, and partly because the prices are reasonable by city-centre standards. The range of cask ales is good, and the bar is busy most evenings.
The atmosphere is cheerful rather than atmospheric — this is a social pub, not a quiet one — and it stays open late, which distinguishes it from many York pubs that observe fairly traditional hours. It is not the most refined drinking option in the city, but it is reliable and well located. Museum Street runs from the Minster to the river, making Lendal Cellars a natural last stop on the walk back to either the station or the southern part of the city.