The High Street

The country's best hot chocolate

A tiny, legendary cafe on the High Street that has built a national reputation for exceptional handcrafted chocolate drinks made from solid, single-origin chocolate - never powder. Featured on BBC Countryfile, ITV, Channel 5 and named best hot chocolate in England by the Daily Mail. Rated 4.9 stars. Open Mon-Fri 10:30-4, Sat-Sun 10-5:30.

Speciality coffee, lunchbox and wraps

A beautifully curated cafe and boutique at 14 High Street. Wildish serves speciality coffee alongside a handmade lunchbox and wrap menu with Lebanese and Syrian touches - fattoush, tabbouleh, falafel wraps and baklava - plus a thoughtfully stocked shop selling artisan chocolate, prints and bags. Dog friendly, 5-star rated, and one of the most talked-about small businesses in the dale.

Breakfast, brunch, lunch and bakes by the River Nidd

A relaxed cafe in a lovely position by the River Nidd, serving breakfast, brunch and lunch built from proper ingredients: Baltzersen's sourdough and pastries, Lishmans charcuterie, Yorkshire Dama ricotta and Bessie's homemade chutneys. Think full Englishes, smash burgers, grilled cheese, scones and cream teas, alongside speciality coffee, loose-leaf tea, matcha and kombucha. A great sit-down by the water after a walk along the riverside path.

Freshly baked goods on the High Street

A welcoming bakery cafe serving freshly baked bread, tiffins, sandwiches and pastries. A reliable stop for a coffee and something sweet after exploring the town.

Genuinely delicious Italian food in a lovely stone-walled setting

A proper Italian restaurant and bar on Bridgehouse Gate, just off the High Street, serving real wood-fired pizza and Italian cooking in a warm, characterful stone-and-brick interior with a separate bar, a cosy fireside dining room and extra seating up a spiral staircase. One of the nicest places to eat indoors in Pateley Bridge, with lovely staff and food that's a genuine cut above. Vegan cheese is kept behind the bar, and the kitchen is happy to make any pizza, or anything else on the menu, vegan on request.

Fresh pizza, kebabs and burgers on the High Street

A highly-rated local pizza, kebab and burger takeaway at 2b High Street - a favourite with visitors and locals alike for fresh, flavourful food, freshly handmade pizza bases and their own secret recipe tomato sauce. Collection only. Perfect after a long walk in the dale.

Homemade food in a Georgian townhouse

A proper tearoom spread across several characterful rooms inside a handsome Georgian building on the High Street. Toasties, paninis, jacket potatoes, scones and homemade cakes, all made on the premises. Strong vegan and vegetarian options throughout the menu, and a full drinks list including loose-leaf Yorkshire teas and Pendlemas local ginger beer.

Indian restaurant and takeaway on the High Street

Pateley Bridge's go-to for Indian food - a proper sit-down restaurant and takeaway serving a full menu of classic and contemporary Indian dishes. A reliable and popular choice for an evening meal in the dale, whether you are eating in or taking food back to where you are staying.

Cantonese and traditional Chinese takeaway

A long-standing Chinese takeaway at 2 Park View, just off the High Street on Bridgehouse Gate, serving a large menu of contemporary and traditional Cantonese dishes and set dinners for two, three or four. Order by phone or call in to collect. Rated 4.1 stars on Google. Cash only. Open 4:30pm to 9:30pm daily except Tuesdays, and open on all bank holidays.

A country pub and hotel at Wath, just outside Pateley Bridge

A stone-built country pub and small hotel a short drive, or a lovely riverside walk, from Pateley Bridge in the hamlet of Wath. Good for a proper sit-down drink, with vegetarian options on the menu alongside its usual pub fare. Also has rooms if you fancy staying over in Nidderdale.

Pateley Bridge's 17th-century coaching inn

A pub-restaurant with rooms on the High Street, dating back to the 17th century. Serves a varied menu of pub classics - pies, steaks, burgers, sandwiches and a Sunday lunch - alongside a selection of Yorkshire ales.

A traditional pub on the High Street

A traditional pub serving a straightforward menu of pub food - pies, fish and chips, burgers and steaks - with a handful of vegetarian and gluten-free options. There's a kids menu and a Sunday roast. Dogs are welcome.

Working studios and galleries in the old Workhouse

Housed in the building that was once Pateley Bridge Workhouse on King Street, the Makers Yard brings together a group of working artists and designers with national and international reputations. Studios produce ceramics, hand-blown glass, textiles, jewellery in precious metals, sculpture, mosaic and handmade furniture. Many studios are open to visitors - watch makers at work, buy directly, or time your visit for one of the regular open studio weekends and artisan markets.

An independent bookshop on the High Street

A cheerful independent bookshop tucked in the precinct just off the High Street, stocking new books across fiction, children's and non-fiction, plus games, gifts and cards. A proper local bookshop worth supporting.

Pet supplies on the High Street

A local pet supplies shop on the High Street, stocking food, toys, treats and accessories for dogs, cats and other pets. A handy stop if you're visiting with a four-legged friend.

Contemporary art in the heart of town

A well-regarded gallery on the High Street showing contemporary paintings, prints and original artwork by regional artists. A good place to find something original to take home from the dale.

Award-winning local history across 11 rooms

One of the finest small museums in England, packed into 11 rooms on King Street. Step into a Victorian parlour, a cobbler's shop, an original schoolroom and a general store. Covers the dale's lead mining, textile and social history in vivid detail. Fully accredited, multiple award-winner, and free entry for children.

A Victorian theatre on King Street

The Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society has staged productions in this intimate Victorian playhouse since 1945. Three or four productions a year, from drama to comedy to musicals. The theatre seats around 100 and tickets sell out fast - worth checking what's on before you visit.

Trading continuously since 1827

A genuine Pateley Bridge institution, this little High Street shop has been weighing out boiled sweets since 1827, which makes it, by most accounts, the oldest sweet shop in the world. Old-fashioned glass jars of humbugs, pear drops and rhubarb & custards line the shelves from floor to ceiling, and the quarter-pound is still measured out by hand on traditional scales. A proper step back in time, and a favourite stop for children and grown-ups alike.