
Sotano
An intimate, candle-lit underground bar and tapas spot with a lively rooftop terrace, offering classic Spanish small plates and a great wine selection...

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Sotano

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An intimate, candle-lit underground bar and tapas spot with a lively rooftop terrace, offering classic Spanish small plates and a great wine selection.
"The atmosphere was electric, lots of people enjoying the whole Sotano experience with music playing."
Book Ahead
Reservations are recommended to ensure entry, especially for this popular underground venue.
Weekday Deals
Consider weekdays for special offers like discounted tapas and wine pairings.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Tapas bar, Spanish
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Rooftop Terrace Vibes
Enjoy the Costa del Sol feeling on this beautiful rooftop terrace, perfect for sunny days or cozy evenings.

Exceptional Tapas Selection
Indulge in a wide array of classic Spanish tapas dishes, with croquettes and pork belly receiving special praise.

Unique Underground Ambiance
Experience the intimate and atmospheric underground bar, dimly lit with candles for a cozy speakeasy feel.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead
Reservations are recommended to ensure entry, especially for this popular underground venue.
Weekday Deals
Consider weekdays for special offers like discounted tapas and wine pairings.
Avoid Club Noise
Visit during quieter times or off-peak seasons to bypass potential noise from nearby clubs.
Tapas Ordering
For two people, ordering 4-5 dishes to start is recommended, with the option to add more.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead
Reservations are recommended to ensure entry, especially for this popular underground venue.
Weekday Deals
Consider weekdays for special offers like discounted tapas and wine pairings.
Avoid Club Noise
Visit during quieter times or off-peak seasons to bypass potential noise from nearby clubs.
Tapas Ordering
For two people, ordering 4-5 dishes to start is recommended, with the option to add more.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Sotano is widely praised for its vibrant atmosphere and excellent tapas, particularly the croquettes and pork belly. Many appreciate the diverse Spanish wine selection and the unique underground ambiance. However, some reviews mention inconsistent service and a preference for more authentic Spanish flavors in certain dishes. Despite occasional critiques, the restaurant is often highlighted as a memorable dining and drinking destination in York.
"We was visiting york from sheffield. We wanted to try a backstreet restaurant. And stumbled on this. Absolutely brilliant place. Indoor and outdoor roof top. But the food was amazing. Would highly recommend. And the service spot on."
steven baggaley
"Food excellent with portion size generally good we went out using a offer of bottle of wine and 5 tapas for £40 as it was Feb it was a little quieter , maybe in summer it will be even better will go again"
Kev Ryder
"Have been twice and definitely will come back for more. Food tastes great and fresh. Great wines to go with it. Service friendly and helpful. Fantastic option of tapas and wine on offer from Sunday to Thursday if I recall correctly."
Anna Mikulska
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Sotano offers a unique ambiance, with a cozy, candle-lit underground bar and a lively rooftop terrace, creating a Mediterranean feel.
Some reviews indicate that card payments are not accepted, which is unusual for a popular bar.
Popular tapas dishes include croquettes, pork belly, patatas bravas, and charcuterie boards.
Yes, there are often weekday offers like discounted tapas and wine deals, and a specific offer during York Restaurant Week.
The intimate, candle-lit underground setting makes it an ideal destination for couples seeking a romantic night out.
Yes, Sotano hosts live music events, including funk and soul nights, and has featured bands performing.
Mentioned in
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Hidden behind a thick metal door, Sotano is a candle-lit underground bar with an impeccable beer and gin selection. On-tap brews flow from converted steel pipes, while long dining room-style tables encourage visitors to socialise outside their social groups. If you’re peckish, there’s a tapas menu ‘with a Yorkshire twist’.
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Welcome to The Sotano Charcuterie & Bar in York, where meat and cheese come together in a harmonious union that will make your taste buds do a happy dance. Step inside and be prepared to be transported to a meat lover's paradise, complete with rustic wooden interiors and an ambiance that will make you feel like you're sipping wine in a cozy countryside cottage (minus the cows, of course). This hidden gem is a meat lover's haven, with a selection of charcuterie that could turn a vegetarian into a carnivore faster than you can say "bacon." From melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto to scrumptious chorizo, their platters are an artful collection of cured meats that will leave you completely satisfied and perhaps a little guilty for devouring them so quickly.
The 12 Best Cocktail Bars in York 2023
Although better known for its delicious tapas, Sotano York also offers a fantastic selection of beautifully created cocktails – from novel creations to old favourites. During the day, it is more than easy to totally miss this bar – hidden behind a chunky metal door, Sotano is an intimate underground bar lit by candles. Long dining room-style tables beg visitors to socialise with strangers while on-tap brews flow from steel pipes and cocktails are shaken by smart bar tenders.
5 Fab Restaurants for Small Plates and Tapas York
Sotano is an independent tapas bar and Spanish restaurant in York serving Mediterranean tapas plates and classically-inspired cocktails. Authentic with a modern twist, our food and drink is crafted by our well-travelled and technically astute team. New discoveries and seasons inspire our menus whether it is marinated grilled fish and meats, delicious tortillas or para picar (small nibbles) paired with trans-Atlantic craft beers and one-of-a-kind gins.
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Address: 1 Little Stonegate, York YO1 8AX, United KingdomPhone: +44 1904 620230Website:sotano.co.ukDetails: $$, Tapas bar. Sotano Charcuterie & Bar in York offers an enchanting and romantic dining experience, making it the ideal destination for couples seeking an intimate evening. Nestled below street level, this cellar restaurant exudes a cozy and atmospheric ambiance, illuminated by candlelight that sets the perfect tone for a romantic night out.
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Enjoy tapas underground in this laid-back, intimate spot that sits off the famous Stonegate in the heart of York. Serving up unrivalled Spanish wine, an ever-growing list of one-of-a-kind gins, classic cocktails and plenty of beers, guests can settle into the bar’s Mediterranean atmosphere, alongside an array of delicious small plates inspired by Spain. Sotano translates to basement, which is, of course, pretty fitting for the underground bar.
6 Of The Best Places To Get Small Plates And Tapas In York
Another independent restaurant serving tapas in York is the fabulous Sotano. The atmospheric underground hideaway on Little Stonegate is both lively and laid-back with cosy interiors, charming terrace space and a superb menu of cocktails that will undoubtedly help wash down their delightful array of tapas dishes. On the tapas menu, you’ll find wonderful tapas inspired by the many travels of their talented culinary team.
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It’s easy to miss this hidden gem of an independent bar and restaurant in York, as it’s tucked away up some stairs and only marked by a small sign, but it’s definitely one you shouldn’t miss!. Sotano offers an authentic Mediterranean-style tapas experience, complete with classic cocktails, gins, and craft beers. To start, it’s recommended to order 4-5 dishes for two people, and then add more as desired.
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This subterranean drinking establishment that has a touch of speakeasy in its Spanish DNA has become a local favourite. Regulars value its excellent selection of artisan drinks and also its slightly clandestine credentials with its blink and you’ll miss it single door entrance on Little Stonegate. Its big next door brother Kennedy’s bar is the extrovert whilst Sotano plies its trade in the shadows.
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Previously more well known as a sumptuous basement bar to snuggle down in with quality tapas and glorious cocktails, Sotano has turned itself into an equally ace outdoor terrace to do just the same at. The Mediterranean feel is perfect for sunny days, but Sotano knows exactly where they are, and so have also got some stylishly sheltered tables and ample heaters to cosy under into the night.
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Emerging on the scene in 2012, Sotano, has since remained an entrancing and underground gem in York known largely through murmurs of appreciation rather than loud advertisements. Stepping down the unassuming staircase, guests are treated to an atmospheric ambiance that oozes style and quiet sophistication. It pulls the connoisseurs, those who value the craft of cocktail creation.
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If tapas and classic cocktails are your thing, then Sotano is the place for you. What York lacks in rooftop bars, it more than makes up for with this underground gem, which boasts a mad 27 gins, over 60 beers, and a huge cocktail menu. The tapas selection isn’t bad – and neither are the prices – making this a firm favourite as an evening hangout.
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An authentic and laidback independent tapas bar and restaurant, the Spanish wine offering here is impressive, with small Mediterranean dishes to accompany your choice. Available Tuesday to Sunday of Restaurant Week, dine on three tapas and two glasses of wine for only £20. 1 Little Stonegate YO1 8AX 01904 620230sotano.co.uk
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Sotano is an intimate tapas restaurant and bar that is worthy of the title of one of the best cocktail bars in York. It’s an independent spot that serves delicious Mediterranean tapas and classically-inspired cocktails. Everything here is giving authenticity with its own modern Sotano twist, and the results are incredible.
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If you are in the mood for something Mediterranean, head to the Latin quarter of York to Sotano for authentic Spanish tapas. Here you can taste ham croquettes, grilled octopus, and charcuterie boards with the finest Spanish meats. The atmosphere is casual with low lighting and attention to detail.
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Sotano is an independent bar and restaurant in York serving Mediterranean tapas plates and classically-inspired cocktails. Food served within their new outside terrace or just go for drinks within a cosy and intimate setting in their basement bar. Over 27 gins and 60 different beers.
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Well-known for mouthwatering tapas and a great drinks selection, Sotano York is a local favourite. With generous portions and a rooftop terrace, it’s a great place for lunch or dinner. Daisy Willcox, who visited from Essex, wrote on TripAdvisor “Our experience here was a real treat.
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If you’re looking for a cosy and intimate spot for drinks, Sotano is a great choice. This underground bar offers a dimly lit atmosphere, exposed brick walls, and a selection of unique cocktails. Try their Smoke & Mirrors, made with mezcal, lemon juice, agave, and activated charcoal.
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Sotano is an independent bar and restaurant in York serving Mediterranean tapas plates and classically-inspired cocktails. Authentic with a modern twist, our food and drink is crafted by our well-traveled and technically astute team. New discoveries and seasons inspire our menus …
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For a night of creative cocktails and great sharing dishes, Sotano is the place. The food here is Meditteranean served tapas-style with a selection of grilled fish, meats, veggies, olives, croquettes, and tortillas. High-quality ingredients provide guests with authentic flavours.
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Sotano is a trendy basement bar that offers a taste of Spain in the heart of York. The bar serves a range of Spanish wines, sherries, and beers, as well as delicious tapas dishes. The bar has a cool and laid-back vibe, with exposed brick walls and a relaxed atmosphere.
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Sótano began life as a cellar bar, the kind you find in the nocturnal corners of San Sebastian or Barcelona. Lockdown conditions saw it pivot towards a bar and charcuterie with a rooftop terrace — two floors above. Thankfully both remain open.
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The Swinegate/Little Stonegate area has a number of bars with late licenses and DJs on a Friday and Saturday night (and often a Thursday as well) including Kennedy’s, 1331, Bobo Lobo (York’s Latin Quarter), The Biltmore and Sotano.
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Take a walk three minutes from the Minster and you’ll find yourself a small eatery on the Mediterranean coast. Ok not quite Spain, you are still in York. But, Sotano could really have you second-guessing yourself.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit