Drink Here: Yosma, MaryleboneBy Angelica Malin
If you’ve ever found yourself Marylebone way, you’ll have probably walked past Yosma on Baker Street. Unlike other Turkish restaurants in the area, Yosma have forgone the heavy, rice-laden dishes, and instead whip up delicate small plates and that tahini fondant pudding, which is so much more thrilling than any chocolate dessert.
We come here for the food, but there’s now another reason to visit: Yosma have just launched a new cocktail bar, and, like the grub, it’s stunning. Sitting adjacent to the restaurant, the cocktail bar boasts weekly live music, a cocktail list to rival other bars in the area, and a menu of modern Turkish bar snacks. Here’s what you need to know:
Yosma: The Lowdown
The concept of the new bar was inspired by the Çilingir – the name given to an informal evening of food, raki and socialising in Turkey. The word directly translates as ‘locksmith’, referring to the unlocking and sharing of secrets amongst friends.
The bar’s design is influenced by vintage Turkish cinema and features an eclectic selection of artwork from artists including graphic designer, Emrah Yücel and special commissions from artist Sedat Girgin. By day, pop in for a Turkish coffee or Çay, and in the evening, as the light go down, come for heady cocktails.
Yosma: The Drinks
The drinks are really quite something, and the bar staff have created a cocktail of well-loved classic tipples with a Yosma spin. The House Punch Yosma Sour has all the gusto of a typical Pisco Sour, only this liquid beauty contains La Diablada Pisco, Yeni Raki, pineapple and lime for a citrus burst.
The Turkish Coffee Martini is a rich, indulgent and creamy concoction of naughtiness – and the drink dances between sweet notes from the Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka to chocolate and coffee flavours thanks to the Kahlua.
The Silver Bullet is a powerful gin cocktail, with an delicate flavour of aniseed spice. The cocktail is a medley of Dry gin, Kummel, lemon and almond which marry beautifully together.
Yosma: Snacks
Cocktail and bar snacks go hand in hand – and Head Chef Hus Vedat has created a concise bar menu featuring Turkish nibbles. The hummus is rich, bursting with flavour and the perfect thing with their freshly-baked crisp bread. The Pastirma and Kasar cheese croquettes are everything you could hope for in a deep-fried melting salty carb. Go get some.
For more information on Yosma, visit the website here.
50 Baker St, Marylebone, London W1U 7BT
