The Botanist York

You'll spot this place immediately on Stonegate – the ornate Victorian frontage practically demands attention, and once you're inside, the botanical theme takes over completely. Think hanging gardens, pressed flower cocktails, and enough greenery to make you feel like you've stumbled into some mad scientist's conservatory. The cocktails are proper showstoppers here, arriving with dry ice, edible flowers, and all manner of theatrical flourishes that somehow avoid being naff. The food's solid gastropub fare with a botanical twist – their sharing platters are particularly good if you're settling in for the evening. It gets absolutely rammed at weekends (book ahead), but there's something infectious about the energy when it's buzzing. Yes, it's part of a chain, but they've done well to make it feel distinctly York, especially with that prime Stonegate location.