While walking the city of York we stumbled upon the charming Life on Mars, a bar that serves dumplings, coffee, and cocktails. The interesting part is that this business is located in one of the bridge lodges on the Lendal Bridge. The venue has a main seating area, plus a semi-private room adjacent to the staircase, and a small outdoor seating area nearer to the river. We were so intrigued we stopped in and are so glad because the cocktails here are amazing thanks to jumpsuit-clad owner Ross Woodford who had opened a previous Life on Mars concept when he lived in China.
We sat at the bar where Woodford and crew were preparing drinks and totally enjoyed the David Bowie touches in the decor, plus eclectic music playing. The cocktails lean on Chinese flavors such as the plum wine that’s paired with scotch in the outstanding highball Big in Japan. Woodford previously participated in Ti’ Punch cocktail competitions, so the Quiet Moment that includes Rhum Agricole was an interest of me. This outstanding drink includes Clement Blanc Rhum, rhubarb liqueur, caramel and vanilla syrup, plus lime.
Mrs. Mai Tai ordered These Hips Don’t Lie, a complex cocktail with Sichuan-inspired Peddlers Salted Plum Gin, amaro, lemon, and rosehip syrup – appropriate given that the symbol of Yorkshire is the white rose. This cocktail was amazing and encapsulates what Life on Mars is doing in the city of York: local focus combined with flavors from across the world.
York was a special highlight of our trip to the British Isles and we’re so glad we found Life on Mars which offers such an amazing and unique experience, with the highest quality cocktails in the city as well.
