Sotano

You descend into Sotano like you're stepping into someone's sophisticated Barcelona cellar—all exposed stone, low ceilings and the kind of lighting that makes everything feel a bit more important. It's tucked away on Little Stonegate, that lovely cobbled stretch between the Minster and the Shambles, and the basement location feels properly secretive; you could walk past the entrance a dozen times without clocking it. The cocktails are taken seriously here—proper Spanish influences, skilled bartenders who know what they're doing, and a sherry list that'll genuinely make you reconsider what you thought you knew about the fortified stuff. It fills up quickly with people who know York's drinking scene, and the cramped, candlelit intimacy means conversations get louder as the night goes on in the best possible way.