Overview

As a wheelchair user, I would rate access here 2.5 stars, which is a real shame because for food and atmosphere, it’s an easy 5 out of 5. Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten - and the desserts were absolutely unforgettable. You could tell they were made in-house, with so much care and quality. It’s rare for me to be genuinely impressed by restaurant desserts (I often find they’re overpriced and average), but here, it was worth every penny. Despite the access challenges, I would absolutely go again. The warm, comforting vibe really added to the experience.

Transport & Parking

We walked to Ippuku as it’s quite central within York and close to our accommodation. I’m not sure about parking options, but it’s reachable by foot from the city centre, and pavements in the area are relatively good for wheelchair users.

Access

Disabled access is quite limited, although staff were very upfront about this when I called ahead. There is level access into the venue, which helped. I’m relatively mobile, so I brought walking aids and left my wheelchair parked inside — staff were happy to accommodate this. There are a few steps up to the dining area. Tables are at a good height, the lighting is bright without being overwhelming, and the layout is spacious enough that I didn’t feel squeezed in or at risk of being bumped, which made a big difference to how relaxed I felt.

Toilets

I didn’t use the bathroom during my visit, but access would have been difficult — there’s a step down from the dining area to the toilets, so they wouldn’t have been accessible to me in a wheelchair. However, the overall positive experience made up for this limitation during this particular visit.

Staff

The staff were incredibly helpful, welcoming, and honest about access from the start. They couldn’t change the physical barriers of the venue, but they were very willing to support however they could. They let us use a plug with no fuss, gave fantastic food recommendations, and we had some of the most unforgettable desserts we’ve ever had - the black sesame cheesecake. Unanimously, the highlight of our experience in York. Their friendliness really enhanced the whole visit.

Photos