YOSMA BAR CLOSED PERMANENTLY 27 JANUARY 2019
The Turkish term ‘yosma’ translates as ‘coquette’. What to flirt with at the standalone bar of this modern mangal (grill restaurant) is a list of temptingly priced cocktails and a wide range of raki. Yeni raki informs a deft Pisco Sour on a list that’s largely inspired by other lands – witness the Rob Roy, Negroni, and Pomegranate Margarita – along with various Martinis, Slings and a house punch (where mezcal meets yellow Chartreuse). Various smoothies, cold-pressed juices and mocktails will find takers aplenty, paired with a cuisine associated with teetotal tipplers. Typical snacks include good barrel-aged feta; slightly bland hummus and crispbread; calamari with tartare sauce; and pomegranate, pistachio and chilli chicken wings. The interior mixes brash late-1960s American pop decor with nods to retro Istanbul cinema culture. DJs play at weekends, and during the day the bar becomes a coffee shop. Pity about the lamentable Turkish-disco soundtrack on our visit.