York's got plenty to shout about ... but so has Malton and Beverley. MAXINE GORDON gets the insider low-down on what's hot in three of our area's top places to live

WE were all feeling rather pleased with ourselves last weekend when York was announced as the "best place to live" in the UK in a guide produced by the Sunday Times.

But our neighbours in Ryedale and East Yorkshire had reason to gloat too. Malton and Beverley were both picked out as among the top ten places to live in the North and the North East by the same judges.

And just this week, tourism chiefs launched a new initiative, #OnlyInYork, to promote the city's one-off attractions to the world via social media.

We invited three proud locals to share their insider knowledge and provide their own hot-list of what to do in their home towns - many of them off the beaten track...

York Press: EPIC TRIP: The Zapp family are staying with Florencia Clifford, owner of the Partisan cafe    Picture Frank Dwyer

York

Florencia Clifford (pictured) is Argentinian but moved to York more than 20 years ago. She now runs a thriving independent cafe and coffee house, Partisan, in Micklegate.

She said: "Since moving to York, it has become a lot more multi-cultural. A lot of talent stops here rather than heading to the big cities. There are a lot more independent businesses."

Here are her top five hidden gems in York:

1. Cave du Cochon, Walmgate. "This wine bar is run by the team behind Le Cochon Aveugle restaurant [headed up by acclaimed chef Josh Overington] and has some great wine."

2. Kiosk, Fossgate. "We sell great coffee at Partisan, but so does Kiosk."

3. School House gallery, Peasholme Green. "I like all that area behind the Minster, like Grays Court, but also the School House Gallery, which now has a vegan cafe."

4. All Saints, North Street. "This church has the most amazing stained glass. It's so pretty, and until recently, I'd never been here before."

York Press: EXPERT OWNER: Anne McCrickard, of the One clothes shop in Peter Lane, York

5. Independent shops. "I really like Maude & Tommy [fashion shop on Grape Lane, pictured]; Snowhome [quirky homewares on Gillygate] and I love Ken Spelman's [bookshop and gallery on Micklegate] because I always find lovely to things to buy there. I also like the Lotte Inch Gallery [Bootham] for gifts".

Malton

Tom Naylor-Leyland has been described as "Mr Malton" – the tour-de-force that has revolutionised the market town's reputation, turning it into one of the country's great food destinations. He is a director of Visit Malton, creator of the annual Malton Food Lovers Festival (May 26-27) and runs the town's Talbot Hotel.

York Press: Tom Naylor-Leyland with the new logo

MR MALTON: Tom Naylor Leyland

Here's his "to do" list for any visitor to Malton:

1. Talbot Yard Food Court, Yorkersgate. "This is the place to experience great artisan producers, such as Roost coffee roasters; Bluebird bakery; Rare Bird distillery – where you can book ahead to make your own gin – Florian Poirot master patissier who makes the most wonderful macarons and chocolates; and Groovy Moo gelato. You can also book on to a Malton Food Tour which visits many of these producers."

2. La Pizzeria, Wheelgate. "This is unmissable. They have a wood-fired pizza oven at the front, and there is the most beautiful interior that makes it feel like a hip East London pizzeria.

3. Brass Castle Brewery and Taphouse, Yorkersgate. "Beer lovers should head here. They produce some of the best beers in the country and several of their beers are national champions."

4. Malton Cookery School. "This is a lovely thing to do in the town. Many of their courses feature seafood and when you go in, you see live crabs, lobsters, bowls of mussels and clams. Seafood heaven!"

5. Independent shops. "It's not just food and drink. We have very high-quality non-food businesses such as Hare & Wilde in Market Street, a smart interiors shop, and Kemps General Store in Market Place [for books, art, cards, wrap and tableware]."

York Press:

FAMILY AFFAIR: Ed, Amy and Sally Hawkes of White Rabbit Chocolatiers, Beverley

Beverley

Ed Hawkes helps run the family business, White Rabbit Chocolatiers, which sells award-winning hand-made chocolates in its shop and cafe in Dyer Lane.

Ed, 26, is keen to shout about some of the newest additions to the town – and prove there's more to see and do than a visit to the famous Minster.

Here's Ed's top picks:

1. Pig & Whistle, Sow Hill Road. "This is my favourite place. It has an amazing chef - James Allcock, who used to be at 1884 in Hull, which was named one of the best restaurants in East Yorkshire. It's a bistro/bar that does small plates of cured meats really well."

2. The Creative Lab, Flemingate Centre, Chantry Lane. "This opened last Easter. It's a mini-mart of different spaces rented to local artists; from bag makers to chair makers. You could spend five hours in here or five minutes."

3. St Mary's Church, North Bar Within. "This is the church that has the ancient carving of the white rabbit [said to have inspired Lewis Carrol to create the character for Alice in Wonderland] and which gave us the name for our business."

4. Beverley Guildhall, Register Square. "This has several rooms of art works, some which have come from the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull."

5. Flemingate Centre, Chantry Lane. "This is a vibrant development on the other side of the railway. It's a shopping complex with the Parkway independent cinema, as well as a new Argentinian restaurant."