Bartender (skinny white guy) took my order, then never delivered. I provided my drink order w two other people there, still no luck. Bartender was intent on being a dick, never said "hang on mate." Just completely ignored. Don't go here. Very rude and not friendly environment. read more

This place was recommended by one of our fave bartenders from home, so glad we listened! The staff was wonderful, the space was fun, and the cocktails tasty. They helped us celebrate our anniversary with a glass of bubbles while we flipped through the book of drinks. Drinks are unlike anything I've seen on other menus with creative ingredients and presentations. We finally decided on the Bon Echo- which came in a beautiful glass that glowed blue from the base and held a small bird inside a clear globe. It was photo worthy and even better to drink. I also loved the Lucknow Cocktail- a brilliant combo of whisky, kombucha, lemon, vetiver and bergamot liqueur and champagne. It was the best champagne cocktail I can recall. Skyefall was a bit too smoky for me, but B enjoyed it. We also tried the rum-based Montego Boulevard which came with a small chocolate bowl filled with nuts. There's a small food menu with an OK edamame hummus tostada that was specked with daikon kimchi. I wish it had more of that yummy kimchi! My mind was blown by the sweet potato- a very thick slice coated in nuts and served with a green curry ice cream and spicy sambal. OMG- so many flavors and textures. Incredible. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Wow the atmosphere was fantastic. I loved the live music, definitely plan to be there for that. Good service, good drinks. But the atmosphere was what made it. I recommend going to this place. read more

Oriole was my favorite bar in all of London! The best part of the night were the fabulous musicians who were super talented and entertaining. I really liked the rum and Prosecco cocktail but all the drinks were great. Food was absolutely delicious as well, especially the croquettes. I will definitely visit again and will recommend highly to all friends. read more

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WOW! The cocktails, ambiance, service, everything about this place was outstanding. My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday night without a reservation. We arrived around 10pm and they had a table available in the couch area. The room was dimly lit and there was a live band playing. The cocktail menu was inspired by different regions around the world and there were many to choose from. You can tell that they carefully craft their cocktail and get creative with the ingredients. Every cocktail we ordered was delicious and the presentation of each drink was unique. The drinks are pricey but they're worth it. I would definitely return next time I'm in London. read more

Oriole - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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This place deserves its top 50 cocktail bar designation. People complain about tiny drinks, tiny drinks, and overpriced menu. I disagree with a lot of the lower ratings. It is all relative especially when a standard bar is serving something of lower quality with zero thought at £8 versus the £12-£14 carefully crafted cocktail. If those prices scare you, then hotel cocktail bars will really scare you off. Anyways off my major digression and onto what matters: cocktails, food, and ambiance. On my trip, I went to American Bar, Dandelyan, Bar Termini, Coupette, Bramble (Edinburgh), Peruke and Periwig (Dublin), while all were great in their own right, Oriole took the crown for me. Acadia with bourbon, roots tentura liqueur, maple syrup, peanut butter, grapefruit juice, and rowan berry was the best drink I had on my trip. They did not miss once with the ten cocktails we ordered through the night. What sets Oriole apart goes beyond cocktails. The food is top notch bar food. Yes, it is tiny and not the best bang for your buck, but temper expectations and take Oriole for what it is, which is top notch cocktails with pricey yummy bites. Lastly, the ambiance is killer. The tropical feel made me feel I was in Havana. I pick that place specifically because of the jazz and decor; it just seems right to me. We were jamming all night that we canceled our dinner plans for a night of multiple small bites and cocktails and it was well worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. read more

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Hands down best cocktails on the planet. Nothing more needs to be said. Oh, great music too.

Standup spot. I came in & immediately loved it. Cute, cozy, & inviting. All of the staff are cute as well. I partook of the burrata dish & the 'finca filadelfia cocktail. Both amazing choices being the perfect sizes with complimenting flavors. A jazz band accompanied the evening as well. Staff was extremely accommodating and doting. I was quite impressed. read more

My boyfriend and I went to a multitude of cocktail bars during our week in London, and Oriole was by far the biggest letdown for us. We dropped by at 9 PM on a Saturday night and were able to be seated immediately. We were led into the main bar and the hostess explained that there would be an additional cover charge as there was live music. The music, though a nice touch, was very loud and made it hard to carry on a conversation. The music ended about thirty minutes after we arrived and the bar started to clear out a bit afterwards, which we found unusual since it was so early. The drink menu was very extensive and I wanted to try so many different ones that it was almost overwhelming. I ended up deciding on the Lambanog Mule and my boyfriend ordered the Cape of Good Hope. While both drinks were refreshing and the presentation was unique, they were very small for the price and were not very memorable. We also tried one of the shared drinks, The Persepolis Punch. While that was far better than the individual cocktails, I do think that you can find much better cocktail bars in London at this price point. read more

Oriole - Persepolis Punch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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Love love this place. Fabulous music and ambiance in an underground venue. They made a 20th century cocktail and corpse reviver no. 2 better than anywhere. Will long to come back again when I visit! read more

Definitely book ahead especially if you want a table on a music night. I had the Acadia cocktail and it is one of the best if not the best cocktail I have ever had. This peanut butter cocktail was absolutely delicious. Would return for this drink Alone. The jazz band we saw on a Friday night was very pleasant. Drinks range from 9-16quid typically. Can easily book a table or two for larger groups. read more

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Incredibly creative menu in a bar with perfect ambiance and great service. The epitome of an 5 star cocktail bar experience! David was our waiter and was outstanding. read more

Oriole - Skyfall & Haikadoo Cooler (sp) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Super super tiny drinks and so expensive but it's a unique concept for cocktails. I personally like led my drink but I still think it is not worth the price. The location is in the middle of industrial area and not easy to find. You need a reservation and 5 ponds charge for the music per person . I won't go back but I am glad I tried it. read more

Oriole - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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I've never seen such attention to quality and details perhaps in my whole life at a bar. The experience is a bit expensive (just over 20 GBP per person for a drink and cover) but each drink is so meticulously mixed and curated with exotic ingredients. And the live band helped to set a pleasant entertaining atmosphere. Not really a place for getting super drunk, and certainly not good for raucous groups, but great for people who want a more mellow experience. Definitely recommend just for the uniqueness of the place. read more

Oriole - Some sort of Mediterranean themed drink and a Swedish themed one - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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So. There is cocktail, and then there is cocktail, redefined. Needless to say that our experience here at Oriole was fabulous. It all starts at the door, under a bridge. One really couldn't imagine what's hidden underground. Oriole describes itself as "a cabinet of curiosities that draws on the adventurous spirit of explorers from all ages, referencing the glorious drinking habits of Old World, New World and the Orient". Well, not sure what their habits were back in the days, but I certainly like it. We stood there, watching those guys behind the bar perform their art. Cocktail here are "prepared", like a dish, more than just mixed like a random alcoholic drink. Look at the back, and you might see the mastermind (Ex Nightjar) preparing egg whites for the piscos (Oh my, the piscos). Behind us, in this out-of-time decorum, the live jazz-band gave the final touches to this wonderful movie-like atmosphere. If like me, you tought you knew...check this one out. I'll meet you there. 5/5. read more

Oriole - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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I've wanted to go along to Nightjar for a long time and when I heard that they were opening a new bar I thought that I would check it out. One positive is that it is very easy to get in. I booked a table with about 48 hours notice and there were only another 2 tables occupied when I arrived. The first thing to say about Oriole is that it looks fantastic once you get down the stairs and it still smells very new although. The whole place was very clean although slightly more attention could be paid in the toilets. The service was pretty attentive with water and asking if we needed any help with the drinks. Our waitress managed to talk us into ordering what she said was her favourite drink and then didn't explain that it was supposed to be drunk a certain way. Neither Hannah or I enjoyed it at all and at £14 this was very disappointing. The Goldeneye that we also ordered was pretty average as well and only slightly cheaper at £12. This is a very expensive place to drink and the tables are so close together that you can hear everyone else's conversation. The table next to me had similar thoughts as they described the drinks as visually stunning but they are trying to be too clever by using the most obscure ingredients they can find. If ever a place summed up style over substance it's Oriole read more

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I give this bar only 2 stars, and I think it's fair. This sister bar of nightjar is well hidden at a quiet alley opposite to a warehouse not far from the city. Tropical style internal decoration. With a larger space than nightjar yet copies the tiny table settings, which I find uncomfortable. Given such space people should sit in a more relaxing manner instead of a hard-to-turn-around tiny corner. The cocktail menu has two parts-- the Old world and New world (although the drinks have nothing related to these originations). The ingredients are not explicit as you cannot relate anything from them. What's more odd is under each drink there is an introduction to the place the drink's name related-- for instance a drink called Seoul sour has something to do with advanced technology Korean society. I have to say it is the last place I want a one-word travel guide from, I'd rather hear something about the drink I order instead... Come to the drinks, for a deep cocktail lover, everything we ordered were overdone with sugar or syrup. The finish of one of my drink gives a strong sugary-water taste. Quite a disappointment despite their use of fancy containers. On the music. There was a band playing Cuban music, although I was expecting some jazz rather than Latin American dancing melodies... The last to the price. Everything is highly over-priced. Drinks range from £12-14, bar snacks from £9-15. All of them are sooo tiny! read more

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A bizarre location, a weird reception (I had to wait 5 minutes with the bouncer before he could get ahold of someone to say I was coming in to meet my bf who had booked a table), awkward seating arrangements and slow service. Expensive cocktails should really be added to the list but I actually appreciate the effort that went in to them - original menu, obscure ingredients that blend taste with aroma and visually stunning. Unfortunately all errors combined means I won't be returning even though I'm dying to try some of the cocktails on the menu! read more

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Super yummy and interesting cocktails. The small bites were also very good. Especially the black truffle croquettes. Delish!! Beautiful venue and they also have live music too. Unfortunately, we didn't stay long enough to hear any of it. Def a great place to go to for a few drinks and small bites. The only reason I knocked one star off was due to the fact the drinks were pretty pricey..but I guess it's on par with central London bars. read more

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Oriole Bar is a win - super unique flavors! The bartenders are fantastic and the food was delicious. read more

Oriole - Peranakan Fizz - 12 pounds - cheap price for my NYC budget. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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Oriole is a huge innovation on Nightjar. Friendly, open group tables and similar snazzy cocktails served in open friendly group tables. Worse for dates, better for friends. Cool live music and a chilled decor provide a setting for amazing food (the creole chicken, truffle croquets and glazed pork are amazing) and delicious drinks. Still - the venue suffered from poor second night service. Drinks coming very late (20 minutes delay between the first and last in a table of 5 getting their cocktails with no warning), us needing to *ask* to order our first round after a 20 minute wait. And some of the cocktails were stingily small - but the food was generously served. So it all balances out. When the service improves, this will be a five star evening out. read more

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From start to finish, this bar was aces. The drinks, the music, the staff and the customers were fantastic. This place is a must see if visiting London. If you're there to see a show, consider making reservations. read more

One of the best bars in London. Creative drinks and lovely place. Highly recommended!!

Got to this bar after walking around china town. I was taken to this underground jazzy place by an Italian presenter of Vermouth. The decor was cool and fancy, the manager that came by to say hi was really nice and interesting. This place has some history. Cocktails though... the cocktails were the cherry on top. AMAZING! I ordered a cocktail with coffee-y something in it that I've been told that you either love or hate it. After the first sip I can securely say I'm on the loving side. Will definitely pay a visit again. Cheers! read more

In an understated location, short wait - and well worth it. The decor is beautiful, comfortable seating, immediate service & a really knowledgeable server (David). Great jazz band playing. Easy & affordable food menu. And most importantly, the cocktails are SO good & creative. A must for cocktail enthusiasts. Only off note is it's a little warm... read more

Oriole - Skyefall & Haikadu Cooler - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Let me preface this by saying that if I didn't know this was Nightjars little sister, and therefore comparing it to Nightjar, I would have given this place a 4 or 4.5 star rating. But when you compare a cocktail lounge to a place like Nightjar, it's never going to be as good. I was very excited to check this place out, and my group did have a wonderful time with some excellent cocktails. The ambience is very fun. You walk down the stairs and are transported to an old colonial world, like right out of the Jungle Book. Then the music started, which was even more Jungle book (they even played one of the main songs!) One guy had a banjo, which was fun and unique. The clientele was on the older side, which I wasn't expecting. There were a lot of grey or balding heads in the crowd, which wasn't really a bad thing. I appreciate a more sophisticated crowd from time to time. It's just not what I expected. The cocktails were very good. But ordering was a bit difficult as I couldn't mentally imagine what any of the drinks would taste like. At Nightjar, although they have funky ingredients you've never heard of, you can still get a sense of what the drink will be like (sweet, salty, fresh, fruity, strong etc) But here, I had no clue. We ended up asking for recommendations, I said I enjoyed old fashioneds and a fantastic spin on an old fashioned came out which I LOVED. But reading the description on the menu, I'd have no clue it was a spin on an old fashioned. I would come here again, and having it be so close to Smith and Smithfields, means you can go for an amazing dinner then great cocktails here after. Only strange thing was that my group was running late, so I wanted to call and let them know we'd be late. Called twice, no answer. read more

Last time I was here was when it was the Cock Tavern. It has changed. If you know how Ronnie Scott's can be, imagine a more relaxed and fun environment. (With better Jazz* and excellent service.) Tasty cocktails too. *love jazz clubs, not a fan of jazz that's hard work. read more

By far the greatest cocktail bar I've had the pleasure of stepping foot in. While visiting my niece in London we stumbled upon this gem on my final night in the UK.. the ambiance and the service were both impeccable, I had the Olinda Collins, Chihuahua, MiraFlores, Oaxaca and the Skyfall. While my niece enjoyed the Marine drive, Mare Nostrum Blacmrock Martini and the Peranakan Fizz... Who knew that sweet potato foam would be so delightful with mezcal (Oaxaca) or that clarified Octopus milk would taste delectable with scotch.. I know Oriole will be the first bar i step foot in when I return to London.. Keep up the amazing work guys!!!! read more

Been twice now and enjoyed my drink choices mightily on both occasions. Great theatrics around service of the beverages, wonderful ambiance, good musical performances at conversational noise level, and v tastefully appointed interiors. Admission (online booking) and entry is speak easy style yet welcoming. I docked a star bc the wait for drinks can exceed 15 minutes which is a bit beyond reasonable, even if the concoction arrives with all sorts of bells and whistles (figuratively and literally!). read more

Got here 30 till closing and only offered beer or wine and could not serve their specialty drinks false advertising and traveling american boo ! read more

The bar and decor is nice good for large groups but the cocktails were dreadful and ridiculously over priced. I had wanted to go here for ages so my friends and I popped in for a drink it was really disappointing. I had to send my cocktail back it was not drinkable my friends cocktails were also awful but they braved it but I couldn't. The staff tried to argue with me that I didn't understand the cocktail bla bla to me a cocktail doesn't need to be too complicated they are trying too hard to make the presentation of the drink a wow factor but forgetting about the taste. It was just not good! read more

I am in love with the sister bar, Nightjar, so I wanted to come here and check it out. My boyfriend and I had a lovely time here. It's a more open floor plan, but with the same cozy speak-easy feel. The drinks were creative as ever and delicious and the food was quite good as well. They are small plates meant to be shared so we ordered a bunch of things since we were hungry. The service is great and prompt. We went on a Monday so it was pretty quiet, but perfect for our date-night with the piano player playing/singing a mix of jazz and oldies. It's nice to have a live music venue where you can still chat and enjoy the music. I haven't given the full 5 stars only because I feel the drinks are on the weaker side, but you can't find more Instagram worthy and inspirational cocktail presentations than this. Will definitely be coming again! read more

Very disappointed by my visit here. Bad impression stated at the door when I was asked if my name was on the list (it was 6pm on Friday ). Once inside and with my friends that were already there we were pretty much told we needed to leave when the whole place was empty. I asked if we could move to another table. Apparently this was not possible. When I spoke to the manager it was because they had several large groups coming in who had booked areas - if only they had said this originally. The group of us were all professionals happy to have quite a few cocktails and we were treated like roudy teenagers! read more

Well this place is pretty damn spectacular. Surroundings are amazing. I'm not a cocktail guy but my colleagues speak highly. Door men are a little confrontational. Toilets are like a summer meadow and for a male that is a rarity. Make sure you have a booking because it's hopping after work!!! read more