Oriole
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Recommended Reviews - Oriole
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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.
1 year ago
5 years ago
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
2 years ago
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
7 years ago
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
8 years ago
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
4 years ago
5 years ago
8 years ago
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
9 years ago
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
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
11 years ago
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
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
11 years ago
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
10 years ago
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
10 years ago
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
7 years ago
Oriole Bar is a win - super unique flavors! The bartenders are fantastic and the food was delicious. read more
11 years ago
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
9 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
7 years ago
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
11 years ago
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10 years ago
7 years ago
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10 years ago
More info about Oriole
E Poultry Avenue
London Central Markets
London EC1A 9LH
United Kingdom
Farringdon
Directions
020 3457 8099
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.oriolebar.com/
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10 years ago
