diff --git a/esmvalcore/_recipe/check.py b/esmvalcore/_recipe/check.py
index bb935cbc0a..a2f8e68978 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/_recipe/check.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/_recipe/check.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
     from pathlib import Path
 
     from esmvalcore._task import TaskSet
+    from esmvalcore.config import Session
     from esmvalcore.dataset import Dataset
     from esmvalcore.typing import Facets
 
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def align_metadata(step_settings: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+def align_metadata(step_settings: dict[str, Any], session: Session) -> None:
     """Check settings of preprocessor ``align_metadata``."""
     project = step_settings.get("target_project")
     mip = step_settings.get("target_mip")
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ def align_metadata(step_settings: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
             mip,
             short_name,
             branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
+            session=session,
         )
     except ValueError as exc:
         if strict:
diff --git a/esmvalcore/_recipe/recipe.py b/esmvalcore/_recipe/recipe.py
index 7d8e15b1c4..b0c4e026ea 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/_recipe/recipe.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/_recipe/recipe.py
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ def _update_target_levels(
         settings["extract_levels"]["levels"] = get_cmor_levels(
             levels["cmor_table"],
             levels["coordinate"],
+            session=dataset.session,
         )
     elif "dataset" in levels:
         dataset_name = levels["dataset"]
@@ -600,7 +601,7 @@ def _update_align_metadata(
             "target_short_name",
             dataset.facets["short_name"],
         )
-        check.align_metadata(settings["align_metadata"])
+        check.align_metadata(settings["align_metadata"], dataset.session)
 
 
 def _update_extract_shape(
diff --git a/esmvalcore/cmor/_fixes/fix.py b/esmvalcore/cmor/_fixes/fix.py
index 3bfd524e69..dde5f4352f 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/cmor/_fixes/fix.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/cmor/_fixes/fix.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import inspect
 import logging
 import tempfile
+import warnings
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@
     _get_single_cube,
 )
 from esmvalcore.cmor.fixes import get_time_bounds
-from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_var_info
+from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_tables
 from esmvalcore.iris_helpers import (
     has_unstructured_grid,
     safe_convert_units,
@@ -51,8 +52,9 @@ class Fix:
     def __init__(
         self,
         vardef: VariableInfo,
+        *,
+        session: Session,
         extra_facets: dict | None = None,
-        session: Session | None = None,
         frequency: str | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         """Initialize fix object.
@@ -61,11 +63,11 @@ def __init__(
         ----------
         vardef:
             CMOR table entry of the variable.
-        extra_facets:
-            Extra facets. For details, see :ref:`config-extra-facets`.
         session:
             Current session which includes configuration and directory
             information.
+        extra_facets:
+            Extra facets. For details, see :ref:`config-extra-facets`.
         frequency:
             Expected frequency of the variable. If not given, use the one from
             the CMOR table entry of the variable.
@@ -210,7 +212,7 @@ def get_fixes(
         extra_facets: dict | None = None,
         session: Session | None = None,
         frequency: str | None = None,
-    ) -> list:
+    ) -> list[Fix]:
         """Get the fixes that must be applied for a given dataset.
 
         It will look for them at the module
@@ -247,15 +249,25 @@ def get_fixes(
 
         Returns
         -------
-        list[Fix]
+        :
             Fixes to apply for the given data.
 
         """
+        if session is None:
+            warnings.warn(
+                "Not providing a `session` argument or using `session=None` "
+                "is deprecated and will no longer be supported in v2.17.0.",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+                stacklevel=2,
+            )
+            from esmvalcore.config import CFG  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+            session = CFG.start_session("fix")
+
         if extra_facets is None:
             extra_facets = {}
 
-        vardef = get_var_info(
-            project,
+        vardef = get_tables(session, project).get_variable(
             mip,
             short_name,
             branding_suffix=extra_facets.get("branding_suffix"),
@@ -372,7 +384,10 @@ def fix_metadata(self, cubes: Sequence[Cube]) -> CubeList:
             Fixed cubes.
 
         """
-        # Make sure the this fix also works when no extra_facets are given
+        # Make sure the this fix also works when no extra_facets are given.
+        # Note that this never happens in practice because `"project"` and
+        # `"dataset"` are inserted into `extra_facets` in
+        # `esmvalcore.cmor.fix.fix_*`.
         if "project" in self.extra_facets and "dataset" in self.extra_facets:
             dataset_str = (
                 f"{self.extra_facets['project']}:"
@@ -598,7 +613,8 @@ def _fix_alternative_generic_level_coords(self, cube: Cube) -> Cube:
                     _get_alternative_generic_lev_coord(
                         cube,
                         coord_name,
-                        self.vardef.table_type,
+                        project=self.extra_facets["project"],
+                        session=self.session,
                     )
                 )
             except ValueError:  # no alternatives found
diff --git a/esmvalcore/cmor/_utils.py b/esmvalcore/cmor/_utils.py
index e2d33b762d..1d96927eba 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/cmor/_utils.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/cmor/_utils.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import logging
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-import esmvalcore.cmor.table
+from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_tables
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from collections.abc import Sequence
@@ -14,17 +14,18 @@
     from iris.cube import Cube
 
     from esmvalcore.cmor.table import CoordinateInfo, VariableInfo
+    from esmvalcore.config import Session
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 _ALTERNATIVE_GENERIC_LEV_COORDS = {
     "alevel": {
-        "CMIP5": ["alt40", "plevs"],
-        "CMIP6": ["alt16", "plev3"],
-        "obs4MIPs": ["alt16", "plev3"],
+        "CMIP5Info": ["alt40", "plevs"],
+        "CMIP6Info": ["alt16", "plev3"],
+        "Obs4MIPsInfo": ["alt16", "plev3"],
     },
     "zlevel": {
-        "CMIP3": ["pressure"],
+        "CMIP3Info": ["pressure"],
     },
 }
 
@@ -32,7 +33,8 @@
 def _get_alternative_generic_lev_coord(
     cube: Cube,
     coord_name: str,
-    cmor_table_type: str,
+    project: str,
+    session: Session,
 ) -> tuple[CoordinateInfo, Coord]:
     """Find alternative generic level coordinate in cube.
 
@@ -42,10 +44,10 @@ def _get_alternative_generic_lev_coord(
         Cube to be checked.
     coord_name:
         Name of the generic level coordinate.
-    cmor_table_type:
-        CMOR table type, e.g., CMIP3, CMIP5, CMIP6. Note: This is NOT the
-        project of the dataset, but rather the entry `cmor_type` in
-        `config-developer.yml`.
+    project:
+        Project that the dataset belongs to.
+    session:
+        The session to use.
 
     Returns
     -------
@@ -63,14 +65,16 @@ def _get_alternative_generic_lev_coord(
         coord_name,
         {},
     )
-    allowed_alternatives = alternatives_for_coord.get(cmor_table_type, [])
+    tables = get_tables(session, project)
+    allowed_alternatives = alternatives_for_coord.get(
+        tables.__class__.__name__,
+        [],
+    )
 
     # Check if any of the allowed alternative coordinates is present in the
     # cube
     for allowed_alternative in allowed_alternatives:
-        cmor_coord = esmvalcore.cmor.table.CMOR_TABLES[cmor_table_type].coords[
-            allowed_alternative
-        ]
+        cmor_coord = tables.coords[allowed_alternative]
         if cube.coords(var_name=cmor_coord.out_name):
             cube_coord = cube.coord(var_name=cmor_coord.out_name)
             return (cmor_coord, cube_coord)
diff --git a/esmvalcore/cmor/check.py b/esmvalcore/cmor/check.py
index 046a4bb03d..c2613a91db 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/cmor/check.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/cmor/check.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import logging
+import warnings
 from enum import IntEnum
 from functools import cached_property
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, NamedTuple
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@
     _get_new_generic_level_coord,
     _get_simplified_calendar,
 )
-from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_var_info
+from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_tables
 from esmvalcore.iris_helpers import has_unstructured_grid
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@
     from iris.cube import Cube
 
     from esmvalcore.cmor.table import CoordinateInfo
+    from esmvalcore.config import Session
 
 
 class CheckLevels(IntEnum):
@@ -947,14 +949,24 @@ def _get_cmor_checker(
     mip: str,
     short_name: str,
     *,
+    session: Session | None,
     branding_suffix: str | None = None,
     frequency: None | str = None,
-    fail_on_error: bool = False,
     check_level: CheckLevels = CheckLevels.DEFAULT,
 ) -> Callable[[Cube], CMORCheck]:
     """Get a CMOR checker."""
-    var_info = get_var_info(
-        project,
+    if session is None:
+        warnings.warn(
+            "Not providing a `session` argument or using `session=None` "
+            "is deprecated and will no longer be supported in v2.17.0.",
+            DeprecationWarning,
+            stacklevel=2,
+        )
+        from esmvalcore.config import CFG  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        session = CFG.start_session("cmor_check")
+
+    var_info = get_tables(session, project).get_variable(
         mip,
         short_name,
         branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
@@ -965,19 +977,19 @@ def _checker(cube: Cube) -> CMORCheck:
             cube,
             var_info,
             frequency=frequency,
-            fail_on_error=fail_on_error,
             check_level=check_level,
         )
 
     return _checker
 
 
-def cmor_check_metadata(
+def cmor_check_metadata(  # noqa: PLR0913
     cube: Cube,
     cmor_table: str,
     mip: str,
     short_name: str,
     *,
+    session: Session | None = None,
     branding_suffix: str | None = None,
     frequency: str | None = None,
     check_level: CheckLevels = CheckLevels.DEFAULT,
@@ -996,6 +1008,8 @@ def cmor_check_metadata(
         Variable's MIP.
     short_name:
         Variable's short name.
+    session:
+        The session to use.
     branding_suffix:
         A suffix that will be appended to ``short_name`` when looking up the
         variable in the CMOR table. Used by the CMIP7 project.
@@ -1005,6 +1019,11 @@ def cmor_check_metadata(
     check_level:
         Level of strictness of the checks.
 
+        .. deprecated: 2.15.0
+            The ``check_level`` parameter is deprecated and will be removed in
+            version 2.17.0. Please set the desired strictness level using
+            ``session["check_level"]`` instead.
+
     Returns
     -------
     iris.cube.Cube
@@ -1017,17 +1036,19 @@ def cmor_check_metadata(
         short_name,
         branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
         frequency=frequency,
+        session=session,
         check_level=check_level,
     )
     return checker(cube).check_metadata()
 
 
-def cmor_check_data(
+def cmor_check_data(  # noqa: PLR0913
     cube: Cube,
     cmor_table: str,
     mip: str,
     short_name: str,
     *,
+    session: Session | None = None,
     branding_suffix: str | None = None,
     frequency: str | None = None,
     check_level: CheckLevels = CheckLevels.DEFAULT,
@@ -1044,6 +1065,8 @@ def cmor_check_data(
         Variable's MIP.
     short_name:
         Variable's short name
+    session:
+        The session to use.
     branding_suffix:
         A suffix that will be appended to ``short_name`` when looking up the
         variable in the CMOR table. Used by the CMIP7 project.
@@ -1053,6 +1076,11 @@ def cmor_check_data(
     check_level:
         Level of strictness of the checks.
 
+        .. deprecated: 2.15.0
+            The ``check_level`` parameter is deprecated and will be removed in
+            version 2.17.0. Please set the desired strictness level using
+            ``session["check_level"]`` instead.
+
     Returns
     -------
     iris.cube.Cube
@@ -1065,17 +1093,19 @@ def cmor_check_data(
         short_name,
         branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
         frequency=frequency,
+        session=session,
         check_level=check_level,
     )
     return checker(cube).check_data()
 
 
-def cmor_check(
+def cmor_check(  # noqa: PLR0913
     cube: Cube,
     cmor_table: str,
     mip: str,
     short_name: str,
     *,
+    session: Session | None = None,
     branding_suffix: str | None = None,
     frequency: str | None = None,
     check_level: CheckLevels = CheckLevels.DEFAULT,
@@ -1095,6 +1125,8 @@ def cmor_check(
         Variable's MIP.
     short_name:
         Variable's short name.
+    session:
+        The session to use.
     branding_suffix:
         A suffix that will be appended to ``short_name`` when looking up the
         variable in the CMOR table. Used by the CMIP7 project.
@@ -1104,6 +1136,11 @@ def cmor_check(
     check_level:
         Level of strictness of the checks.
 
+        .. deprecated: 2.15.0
+            The ``check_level`` parameter is deprecated and will be removed in
+            version 2.17.0. Please set the desired strictness level using
+            ``session["check_level"]`` instead.
+
     Returns
     -------
     iris.cube.Cube
@@ -1117,6 +1154,7 @@ def cmor_check(
         short_name,
         branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
         frequency=frequency,
+        session=session,
         check_level=check_level,
     )
     return cmor_check_data(
@@ -1126,5 +1164,6 @@ def cmor_check(
         short_name,
         branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
         frequency=frequency,
+        session=session,
         check_level=check_level,
     )
diff --git a/esmvalcore/cmor/fix.py b/esmvalcore/cmor/fix.py
index ef23022846..aab3502dda 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/cmor/fix.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/cmor/fix.py
@@ -99,11 +99,12 @@ def fix_file(  # noqa: PLR0913
         session=session,
         frequency=frequency,
     ):
-        result = fix.fix_file(
-            result,
-            output_dir,
-            add_unique_suffix=add_unique_suffix,
-        )
+        if isinstance(result, Path):
+            result = fix.fix_file(
+                result,
+                output_dir,
+                add_unique_suffix=add_unique_suffix,
+            )
 
     if isinstance(file, LocalFile):
         # This happens when this function is called from
diff --git a/esmvalcore/cmor/table.py b/esmvalcore/cmor/table.py
index 6db325fe80..337aca7c3c 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/cmor/table.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/cmor/table.py
@@ -156,6 +156,12 @@ def get_var_info(
 ) -> VariableInfo | None:
     """Get variable information.
 
+    .. deprecated:: 2.15.0
+        The ``get_var_info`` function is deprecated and will be removed in
+        ESMValCore v2.17.0. Please use :func:`~esmvalcore.cmor.table.get_tables`
+        to retrieve the tables for a project and :meth:`InfoBase.get_variable`
+        to retrieve a variable from a table.
+
     Note
     ----
     If `project=CORDEX` and the `mip` ends with 'hr', it is cropped to 'h'
@@ -211,7 +217,7 @@ def read_cmor_tables(cfg_developer: Path | None = None) -> None:
 
         The config-developer.yml file based configuration is deprecated and
         will no longer be supported in ESMValCore v2.16.0. Please use
-        :func:`~esmvalcore.cmor.table.load_cmor_tables` instead of this function.
+        :func:`~esmvalcore.cmor.table.get_tables` instead of this function.
 
     Parameters
     ----------
diff --git a/esmvalcore/dataset.py b/esmvalcore/dataset.py
index 597a081c62..4557fa9636 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/dataset.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/dataset.py
@@ -829,10 +829,8 @@ def _load(self) -> Cube:
                 **self.facets,
             }
         settings["concatenate"] = {"check_level": self.session["check_level"]}
-
         if cmor_tables_available:
             settings["cmor_check_metadata"] = {
-                "check_level": self.session["check_level"],
                 "cmor_table": self.facets["project"],
                 "mip": self.facets["mip"],
                 "frequency": self.facets["frequency"],
@@ -849,7 +847,6 @@ def _load(self) -> Cube:
         }
         if cmor_tables_available:
             settings["cmor_check_data"] = {
-                "check_level": self.session["check_level"],
                 "cmor_table": self.facets["project"],
                 "mip": self.facets["mip"],
                 "frequency": self.facets["frequency"],
diff --git a/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_other.py b/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_other.py
index 7dac3d14c7..3de99e2d43 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_other.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_other.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 from iris.cube import Cube
 from iris.exceptions import CoordinateMultiDimError
 
-from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_var_info
+from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_tables
 from esmvalcore.iris_helpers import (
     ignore_iris_vague_metadata_warnings,
     rechunk_cube,
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
     from iris.coords import Coord
 
     from esmvalcore.cmor.table import VariableInfo
+    from esmvalcore.config import Session
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ def align_metadata(
     target_project: str,
     target_mip: str,
     target_short_name: str,
+    *,
+    session: Session,  # TODO: Add something to pass the session in when using this from the recipe.
     target_branding_suffix: str | None = None,
     strict: bool = True,
 ) -> Cube:
@@ -65,6 +68,8 @@ def align_metadata(
         MIP table from which target metadata is read.
     target_short_name:
         Variable short name from which target metadata is read.
+    session:
+        The session to use.
     target_branding_suffix:
         Branding suffix from which target metadata is read.
     strict:
@@ -90,10 +95,11 @@ def align_metadata(
 
     try:
         var_info = _get_var_info(
-            target_project,
-            target_mip,
-            target_short_name,
+            project=target_project,
+            mip=target_mip,
+            short_name=target_short_name,
             branding_suffix=target_branding_suffix,
+            session=session,
         )
     except ValueError as exc:
         if strict:
@@ -114,12 +120,12 @@ def _get_var_info(
     mip: str,
     short_name: str,
     branding_suffix: str | None,
+    session: Session,
 ) -> VariableInfo:
     """Get variable information."""
-    var_info = get_var_info(
-        project,
-        mip,
-        short_name,
+    var_info = get_tables(session, project).get_variable(
+        table_name=mip,
+        short_name=short_name,
         branding_suffix=branding_suffix,
     )
     if var_info is None:
diff --git a/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_regrid.py b/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_regrid.py
index 49c8343ee6..50d6faa9b2 100644
--- a/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_regrid.py
+++ b/esmvalcore/preprocessor/_regrid.py
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@
 from iris.cube import Cube
 from iris.util import broadcast_to_shape
 
-import esmvalcore.cmor.table
 from esmvalcore.cmor._fixes.shared import (
     add_altitude_from_plev,
     add_plev_from_altitude,
 )
+from esmvalcore.cmor.table import get_tables
 from esmvalcore.iris_helpers import has_irregular_grid, has_unstructured_grid
 from esmvalcore.preprocessor._shared import (
     _rechunk_aux_factory_dependencies,
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
     from iris.analysis import Regridder, RegriddingScheme
     from numpy.typing import ArrayLike
 
+    from esmvalcore.config import Session
     from esmvalcore.dataset import Dataset
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -1455,7 +1456,11 @@ def extract_levels(
     return result
 
 
-def get_cmor_levels(cmor_table: str, coordinate: str) -> list[float]:
+def get_cmor_levels(
+    cmor_table: str,
+    coordinate: str,
+    session: Session,
+) -> list[float]:
     """Get level definition from a CMOR coordinate.
 
     Parameters
@@ -1464,10 +1469,13 @@ def get_cmor_levels(cmor_table: str, coordinate: str) -> list[float]:
         CMOR table name
     coordinate:
         CMOR coordinate name
+    session:
+        The session to use.
 
     Returns
     -------
-    list[float]
+    :
+        A list of levels.
 
     Raises
     ------
@@ -1475,15 +1483,13 @@ def get_cmor_levels(cmor_table: str, coordinate: str) -> list[float]:
         If the CMOR table is not defined, the coordinate does not specify any
         levels or the string is badly formatted.
     """
-    if cmor_table not in esmvalcore.cmor.table.CMOR_TABLES:
-        msg = f"Level definition cmor_table '{cmor_table}' not available"
-        raise ValueError(msg)
+    cmor_tables = get_tables(session, project=cmor_table)
 
-    if coordinate not in esmvalcore.cmor.table.CMOR_TABLES[cmor_table].coords:
+    if coordinate not in cmor_tables.coords:
         msg = f"Coordinate {coordinate} not available for {cmor_table}"
         raise ValueError(msg)
 
-    cmor = esmvalcore.cmor.table.CMOR_TABLES[cmor_table].coords[coordinate]
+    cmor = cmor_tables.coords[coordinate]
 
     if cmor.requested:
         return [float(level) for level in cmor.requested]
diff --git a/tests/integration/cmor/_fixes/cordex/test_cordex_fixes.py b/tests/integration/cmor/_fixes/cordex/test_cordex_fixes.py
index 590b61e7ca..764f776c46 100644
--- a/tests/integration/cmor/_fixes/cordex/test_cordex_fixes.py
+++ b/tests/integration/cmor/_fixes/cordex/test_cordex_fixes.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import pytest_mock
 
+    from esmvalcore.config import Session
+
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def cubes():
@@ -145,10 +147,11 @@ def test_mohchadrem3ga705_fix_metadata(cubes, coord, var_name, long_name):
 
 def test_mohchadrem3ga705_fix_metadata_no_time_coord(
     cubes: iris.cube.CubeList,
+    session: Session,
 ) -> None:
     for cube in cubes:
         cube.remove_coord("time")
-    fix = MOHCHadREM3GA705(None)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+    fix = MOHCHadREM3GA705(None, session=session)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
     out_cubes = fix.fix_metadata(cubes)
     assert cubes is out_cubes
     for cube in out_cubes:
@@ -167,6 +170,7 @@ def test_timelongname_fix_metadata(cubes):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("has_time_coord", [True, False])
 def test_clmcomcclm4817_fix_metadata_time(
     cubes: iris.cube.CubeList,
+    session: Session,
     has_time_coord: bool,
 ) -> None:
     if has_time_coord:
@@ -189,7 +193,7 @@ def test_clmcomcclm4817_fix_metadata_time(
     lat.guess_bounds()
     lat.bounds = lat.core_bounds().astype(">f4", casting="same_kind")
 
-    fix = CLMcomCCLM4817(None)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+    fix = CLMcomCCLM4817(None, session=session)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
     out_cubes = fix.fix_metadata(cubes)
     assert cubes is out_cubes
     for cube in out_cubes: