Nights Out at Botanist Marlow
Bursting with vibe and flavour, Botanist Marlow is a multi-faceted go-to destination in the otherwise rather sedate Buckinghamshire town.
Having established itself as a foodie haven, Michelin star restaurants are dotted around Marlow along with many other restaurants vying for – and worthy of – similar accolades.
But as you leave the hub and head towards the outskirts, the sound of live music on a Saturday night can be heard as you approach The Botanist.
An unpretentious restaurant and bar, it is welcoming and warm. We waded through the Saturday night revellers buzzing around the live guitar performance on stage, and made our way through to the spacious high-ceilinged dining room which was equally as atmospheric, the echoes of acoustic singalong hits wafting over the animated chat of fellow diners.
Seated by our hostess Anna, we relaxed with a cocktail each while browsing the plentiful menu. Cocktails are a speciality at all Botanists, but each offers their own quirky take on traditional recipes. We enjoyed a chilli Margarita and of course a house special – The Botanist – a delightful infusion of vodka, bacardi blanco, elderflower liqueur and Jasmine syrup with red amaranth petals and fresh mint, and topped with lemonade.
As a coconut-avoiding vegan you can often expect menus to be limited, but not so here. There were plenty of vegan options, and the staff are knowledgeable about allergy restrictions. There’s also a good selection of vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, but being accompanied by a carnivorous friend while I went for the vegan meatballs hanging kebab, she opted for the more traditional lamb kofta version.
While awaiting our mains we sat back and relaxed with another cocktail each and some freshly made hummus topped with paprika-laden chickpeas and accompanied by warm flatbread, and a plate of lightly fried mushrooms. Both were presented well and incredibly flavoursome.
We also took the chance to sneak a peak at the Sunday lunch menu which looked good enough to tempt us back the next day!
Our mains arrived and induced envious glances from our neighbouring table. Hanging over a bowlful of loaded spicy fries, these are not dishes for the faint-hearted but we enjoyed every morsel. Meat is succulent and lightly spices, the vegan meatballs were packed with flavour and had a great texture. The homemade coleslaw accompaniment was delicious, and so moreish we finished off the whole bowl. Darn you ‘slaw for filling us up before desserts!
Having enjoyed every mouthful of our dinner, dessert had to take the form of another cocktail as we bounced back out of the restaurant and on to the dance floor.
Once you pass a certain age nightclubs are both too noisy and too late to hold too much of an appeal, but the love of cocktails and dancing never seems to die out. While Marlow offers incredible choices for fine diners, and several loud pubs for younger groups, there is nowhere else to rival The Botanist which fulfils everything a girls night out needs, and also looks fab for families and upbeat date nights.
Only an hour from London by train, and with plenty of boutique as well as budget hotels nearby, The Botanist is easy to reach and well worth a visit whether passing through or planning a longer stay in the beautiful Buckinghamshire town.
