If a Sunday well-spent brings a week of content, then The Botanist, York is the perfect setting. Visitors to York will no doubt know of the iconic Mulberry Hall on Stonegate which closed earlier this year after 60 years of trading. The Botanist now sits on these premises in the beautiful 1943 building on one of the most picturesque cobbled streets in the city.
Having seen friends’ shenanigans at the Leeds restaurant in my social media feeds, I was excited to be invited to the pre-opening launch of the York venue last week.
The Botanist vibe is laid-back living. Expect comfort-food classics accompanied by botanically-infused cocktails and beers whilst listening to live music sets; a country pub in the city if you will. It’s the kind of place you forget the world outside as the hours while away… it’s ‘a third-place’, kind of place.
Our food and drinks experience matched the setting. There are few places we visit about which can be said “I wouldn’t change a thing” but The Botanist was an exception. The cocktails and wines were amazing, every dish of our three-courses was bang-on (probably not a food writer term); the service, impeccable. The hanging skewers shown (jerk salmon & lamb) are a Botanist signature dish we’re told, and they were something to brag about. The prices are reasonable with starters from £4.95 and mains from £9.95.
We’re already looking forward to returning, no doubt now there’s the Christmas Decorations up… (even more reason to go!)
When the composition of place, product and people is as well-matched as this, the result will always be a little bit special for those party to it. One can only hope that everyone will have the same experience!
You can visit The Botanist Website here.