Evil Eye Lounge, or Evil Eye for short, is a popular bar in the centre of York. However, it's more than that – it also serves food, is an Internet café, and has a shop. Evil Eye is undoubtedly a contender for the coolest place in York. If you don't believe that, it may interest potential customers to know that apparently superstar actor and epitome of cool, Johnny Depp, was spotted in the bar while in York filming Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Evil Eye is located on Stonegate, which is one of the main shopping and drinking streets in the city centre. It runs between St Helen's Square and Petergate, which is alongside the Minster. Evil Eye is about halfway along.

Facilities

On the ground floor, next to the entrance, is a small shop selling all kinds of alcohol. Behind this is the main bar area, which contains a few computers which customers can use for a small fee. The bar itself, which is usually crowded, is long, with brightly painted panels. In front of the bar are a few bar stools and behind is every type of alcohol imaginable. The ground floor also has a small patio area.

Up the narrow, crooked steps on the first floor is a room with possibly Evil Eye's best feature – two beds. Yes, you read that correctly, beds. These are wooden, intricately carved and arranged opposite each other. They are covered in cushions which makes them perfect for sipping your cocktail with friends. During busy times though, they are usually occupied. There are also a few benches and tables.

On the second floor are more computers, and tables and seating for customers. Of course, having the computers in the same areas as the drinkers does mean that customers can see what the Internet users are doing, which can be amusing¹ when they are looking at somewhat adult videos.

Up the stairs again are the kitchen, toilets, and another room with tables and seats, many of which are leather covered armchairs and sofas. There is another floor above this, but it is for staff only.

The décor is not like a homely, old fashioned pub or a chic and sophisticated wine bar. Instead, it is decorated in East Asian style which gives the bar a more bohemian, raw feel. Contributing to this feel are wooden floors and ornaments and colourful walls. Another notable feature is the number of mirrors, to the extent that there are quite a few even in the cubicles in the toilets! Most of Evil Eye's mirrors are large, wooden, and decoratively carved mirrors, sometimes painted in gold. The furniture, with the exception of some very comfy leather armchairs and some metal tables and chairs on the ground floor and patio, is also made of wood. A gallery of pictures can be found on the website.

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, but it is not really the place to go for a quiet drink - York has plenty of excellent pubs if that's what you're after. Evil Eye is usually busy as it is popular but not particularly large. It is often used as a place to get one drink before heading elsewhere, such as to a club. Part of the reason for this is that many of its customers are students and younger drinkers who can't really afford to buy cocktails all night. There are cheaper cocktail bars in York, but none of them are as highly-regarded or have such a range.

Food and Drink

The range of drinks in Evil Eye is phenomenal. Luckily, there are plenty of menus at the bar. It serves a huge number of cocktails, both standards such as Martinis and Manhattans and the bar's own concoctions. While much of the drinks menu consists of cocktails, it also serves other drinks, from wine, shooters, tea, spirits and beer – bottled, not pints – to something more unusual like mead, sake or 89% Balkan vodka. A board above the bar proudly boasts that one of its drinks, the 'Hellshot' was banned by local authorities for being too dangerous. This is not surprising, considering that it was a mix of 88% vodka and 89.9% absinthe. For tee-totallers, Evil Eye also serves non-alcoholic drinks including a range of chocolate drinks.

Aside from drinks, Evil Eye also serves food. While it could not really be called a restaurant as drinking is the main focus in the evenings, it serves Thai food from midday until 9pm every day except Sundays, when a large Sunday Roast is put on from midday to 6pm. You can choose from lamb, beef, pork or vegetarian; it also comes with a real homemade Yorkshire Pudding. The roast is availabe in three sizes, but unless you have an enormous appetite, you probably won't need the 'Monster' size.

Evil Eye's staff have an impressive memory of the complicated and lengthy drinks menu and service is usually good and friendly, even if there is often a bit of a wait due to the queue at the bar.