Oriole Bar in City of London, Westminster

Lovely, as you'd expect it to be with that pedigree. Perch at the bar and let them work through the list....

Was looking for a well-rated cocktail bar for drinks after a West End show and this place turned up. Couldn’t have been happier. We were able to reserve a table online from 1015pm to 1115pm. The drinks are really ambitious and well made. They’re hard to describe — very different than classic cocktails in most cases. We had six between us and they were all great. (And I suspect the alcohol content is lower than is typical; after three drinks I felt nowhere near as intoxicated as I normally would.) Good live music — a Cuban jazz trio the night we were there. The staff was GREAT! Three of them spent considerable time chatting with us. Highly recommend.

Among the best cocktail bars in the city, an obligatory stop.

Oriole Bar: A Global Cocktail Journey in Covent Garden Tucked away in the vibrant heart of Covent Garden, Oriole Bar offers a sophisticated escape into a world of vintage charm and global flavors. Its antique decor—complete with dark wood paneling, plush leather seating, and glistening chandeliers—exudes a timeless elegance reminiscent of a classic English speakeasy. The cocktail menu is a true masterpiece, taking guests on a journey across "Old World," "The Orient," and "New World" inspirations. While mezcal-based creations are a delight, the bar’s real triumph lies in its imaginative use of global ingredients, ensuring there’s something for every palate. Adding to the magic is the live jazz music, performed by some of London's finest musicians, providing the perfect backdrop for an evening of indulgence. Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast or someone seeking a refined night out, Oriole delivers on all counts. A must-visit for those who appreciate exceptional drinks, stunning decor, and live music in one unforgettable package.

Listen, I've seen a Golden Oriel. It's a big deal. A bit of a twitcher prized catch. Something of a rarity, It kind of passed me by when it passed me by on the banks of the Ouze. We happened upon a group of mad twitchers later, hell bent on spotting the thing. When I told them nonchalantly I had seen it, I felt I was going to be stabbed in each eye by sharp pencils. These people were scary. This Oriel is also a rare thing. A restaurant that's also a cocktail bar that's also a Jazz cafe. I'm not sure what the hierarchical order of things are and I also think that's why I like it. It's not the best on any of these but it also works very nicely thank you on them all. The place itself is nestled in one of these spanking new 'courts' that have appeared all over Soho. Ham Court, Court, Kingsley Court, Rathbone Square (a court masquerading as a square). Gleaming evidence of bundles of cash lying around somewhere nowadays. Yes a bit of character has been ironed out and there are fewer places to go for a piss after dark. But there is something seductive about this court. Peace and quiet a few yards away from the madness of Long Acre and Maiden Lane. Nice tiles, swish shops. Sacharine as a nut, thank you very much. The upstairs is OK inasmuch as there's a bar selling cocktails and everything is new. But it's downstairs where the action is. There's a bouncer type up top making sure the riff raff aren't wandering down there. The first hint of the 'speakeasy' vibe they have successfully captured. A charming carved wooden monkey greets us on the staircase down, a sign of the eclecticism to come. Ever so smart parquet flooring and walls covered with silky looking printed materials depicting exotic foliage. It's dark, the ceilings are as low as the lighting. A posh speakeasy. Sophistication and silliness in equal measure. We are guided past a small stage to our table where we immediately order cocktails from the extensive menu. The cocktails are great fun to look at. One has a fluffy white cloud floating above it. Another has a parmesan tuile for an umbrella. Ice cubes won't do. Ice balls it is. Big clear perfect spheres of the cold stuff. Worth the fuss of making them I'm sure. The cocktails all taste extraordinarily alcoholic and in truth a little bit challenging, but that's part of the fun/sophistication thing. We wince as we take sips of each others. A reminder that alcohol is poison, no matter how you dress it up. The food menu is short. Sharing plates that sound elegant and are tidily presented. Polenta with egg yolk and mushroom is rich and silky. Ceviche is clean and fresh. Leeks with some sort of cheese sauce finished with a black powder looks startling and taste good. Pork with chimichurri does the job. Flat iron steak is a little too chewy. Dipping sauce has depth as do the smoked new potatoes. The kitchen may be a little too ambitious but they are showing out like everyone in here and the ambition is welcome. The band appear. Jazzy and a little rough round the edges but two lethal cocktails in, they could wheel in S Club Seven and it would go down a treat. They do wonders for the conviviality levels anyway. As the volume goes up, more cocktails are ordered. We'd be bouncing off the screen printed walls but we're keeping ourselves nice because Oriel is a bit smoother than that. Cocktails, Jazz, sharing plates is a combination that could disappear up its own arse. But with the help of warm relaxed service and stylish kook, Oriel keep it firmly on the fun side. Watch out twitchers. I've got a Big Book in the making here.

Absolutely wonderful experience at the jazz night with dinner. Usually you have to compromise on food quality when dining at a bar but not here! It was faultless. Wonderful atmosphere, great jazz, friendly service and great food. Cocktails were delicious too! Thank you for the incredible evening

Rudest security team ever. Did not let us enter because they have to be ‘selective with walk ins’. Absolutely no other reason. Crazy. Won’t be coming in ever for sure. Do not recommend.

A beautiful bar for a special night out

Lovely polite and attentive service from staff, delicious and unusual cocktails. Yummy bar snacks

Went there for a drink with our colleagues in the office We sat on the ground level which is called the upstairs as they have an underground level as well I guess they do live entertainment downstairs Drinks were really nice and the service was very quick Nice place around Covent Garden area

Warm place, amazing cocktails and dishes. Staff experienced and friendly. We had a 3 course menu, portions were satisfying and the food delicious.

Very very vibey. Good date night spot and special occasion venue. Jacob is an incredible host here and makes the experience so memorable. Came here to celebrate with my best friend and had a wonderful evening. Delicious drinks and recommendations. Thank you Jacob and team! See you very soon

I went to this restaurant in Covent Garden with friends for dinner over the weekend, and we all loved the drinks—such a great selection. The vibe was amazing, especially the jazz music, which was so good that we got totally lost in it. If you’re looking for a place to chill on the weekend, this bar is definitely a must!

Amazing find. Great lice music. Awesome cocktails

Terrible service by door man. Was going to dine in here but giving it a miss 👎👎👎

Lovely atmosphere and the cocktails were perfect. Excellent service. Will be visiting again.

Fab service from Zainav.. Great cocktail recommendations going from our first drinks…lovely lady, very friendly

This was one of my favourite spots when it was in Farringdon and it still remains as one of my faves now that it’s moved to Covent Garden, they’ve managed to keep the speakeasy style as before. The cocktails are out of this world! The waiters are amazing and more than happy to talk you through the cocktail menu. The live music is just the cherry on the top 👌

Big time YES! Saturday night out with friends… live Cuban style band… wonderful cocktails and food!!! Cheerful and friendly service.

Nowhere in London has a similar vibe. People sipping drinks, others dancing. Great music, amazing service. Go!

I had high hopes for this place but was utterly disappointed. I booked a table for two and when we arrived we were taken to the bar. Luckily we got another table in the end. The cocktails were unfortunately quite awful and people were definitely not there to listen to the jazz band.

Gorgeous cocktails in an elegant setting. They are masters of their craft! Highly recommend. Great hospitality with high quality drinks served with minimal wait.

Doesn't quite hit the same atmosphere of the previous location but still a great time and the drinks are special.

Rafael hooked us up with the best cocktail. Beautiful venues and great atmosphere. 10/10

Stunning venue, fabulous music (danced all night), and staff that go out of their way to make you comfortable. Pricey but worth it. The cocktails are deliciously dangerous. Well that 👆was 8 years and many, many, MANY happy visits ago. My partner and I were crestfallen when Smithfields Oriole closed, and I admit I was sceptical that they could ever even come close with a second iteration. But by golly they’ve done it- it feels just like the old Oriole- if anything slightly enhanced! The same fabulous wallpaper, even comfier seating, attentive service, dazzlingly elegant design, the same atmospheric and evocative vintage bands, the menu has actually expanded and is superb, and now they even have outdoor seating in the calm oasis of Slingsby Place, hidden amidst the madness of Covent Garden. I’m planning my next trip with my five best girlfriends, glad rags and cocktails. If you thought you’d missed out when it closed, it really is back- new and improved, if possible. The team behind this can do no wrong IMO 👏👏👏

Great atmosphere, amazing food and cocktails and perfect service. Special thanks to Jacob! Highly recommended

Gran vibra en este bar. Es un cruce entre un bar de prohibición y un bar de jazz. Había música en vivo con una gran banda actuando la noche que estuvimos allí, y el personal era de primera clase. Creo que nuestro camarero se llamaba Leo. Era brillante. Atentos, sugiriendo bebidas que satisficieran nuestros gustos y realmente amables. Sin duda un lugar para añadir a la lista. Gran ambiente, ambiente fresco y gran personal. Vale la pena una visita

Great vibe in this bar. It is a cross between a prohibition speakeasy and a jazz bar. There was live music with a great band performing on the night we were there, and the staff were top class. I believe our waiters name was Leo. He was brilliant. Attentive, suggesting drinks that met our tastes and really friendly. Definitely a spot to add to the list. Great vibe, cool atmosphere and great staff. Well worth a visit

Best cocktails in London. "Sam-the-man" & Marco will make it an experience to remember. Try the "Toronto" or "The Louisiana" you won't regret it.

Amazing food and drinks🍸 Definitely would recommend !

Came back to Oriole after it has reopened and absolutely loved it! Delicious food and drinks, excellent service, and amazing vibe - recommend the Citizens of the Plains drink, the mushroom appetiser and the trout main. They have a pre/post dinner menu that is very reasonably priced. The live music was awesome. Will definitely be back!

beautiful atmosphere, incredible service. bit pricey but i’m a student so i wouldn’t know!

This is a fantastic little place with beautiful food and a real charming and cozy atmosphere. Great for a date night or friends who want to enjoy some live music and good food. The mushroom starter was heaven!! The ceviche was nice and sour and packed with flavor and my main trout was beautiful. Everything was delicious. Was really tempted to try the dessert if I wasn’t so full 😆 the cocktails tho were hit and miss. I had a mocktail with guava which I ask to add liquor and it was nice but a the blend side. However my friend ordered the one with peanut butter and it was delicious! Overall loved it and will defo come back

Great decor, a lovely chilled atmosphere, friendly staff. The food was excellent! For some reason I was actually quite surprised at how good it is, maybe because Oriole is a bar rather than a restaurant. The dinner and show is great value.

Amazing drinks, really incredible. And our waitress Zeinab was super sweet and attentive.

Amazing venue. Fantastic service. All the staff were friendly, including our lovely waiter Pranav. The food was delicious and unique. The Himachi Tiradito and Delicia Pumpkin with Peanut Sambal were new to us. We were full so shared a tart for dessert and the flavours were amazing. I'd say the cooking was Michelin standard! Finally the music and ambience- so much fun!

Great cocktails. The venue was a bit quiet/solitary. It closes early.

Great Laphroaig launch event. Cool music, cocktails and food. £40 ticket was expensive for sure but overall experience was great.

Amazing place, great atmosphere. Professional, personal and really authentic treatment from Jacob and Marco in the bar. Will be back for sure!

We booked this as we went to Oriele in Farringdon a couple years back and loved it. When I booked I couldn’t find the Farringdon one online. The staff were attentive and resolved or upset by taking the cocktails off our bill without us needing to ask. The food was nice; we had the chickpea fried and the bread with cured meat. The decor is nice enough but the setting is really strange. It’s not like a usual cosy cocktail vibe. It’s a strange complex in central London and it almost feels a bit “officey”. There wasn’t live music when we were there at 10pm - I assume it’s much earlier. We asked if they could do us mezcal margaritas, which they did. What we received was (to me) undrinkable and awful. I could taste a peach flavour, I had three sips to try figure it out and had to stop because it tasted like it had gone bad. When I asked they said they don’t use Cointreau (fair enough most top quality cocktails don’t) but instead they use a fermented peach liqueur. Why they hadn’t told us this to begin with we don’t know. Basically they don’t do classics, only their own takes on them. After how awful our cocktail was, I felt too nervous to order any others as they all had odd combinations. My husband and I have travelled extensively, we always visit interesting and experimental cocktail bars, we have tried so many different and interesting combinations most recommended by the staff and also often classics (because we love margaritas), and we have never not once had a cocktail that was undrinkable or tasted like it had done bad. Something is not right here. It was upsetting because we’d had such a lovely night and we’d booked this as our ending off. Overall an extremely disappointing experience. Whilst I am happy they took the cocktails off the bill without asking, we wouldn’t have chosen to eat there. I would have preferred not to have paid anything and not to have visited at all.

Very nice bar, good portion size on the food and some funky cocktails you dont find in the average cocktail section or the menu. Would definitely recommend and we will be back.

Tried Prelude by Oriole during their 3-month pop-up, and were made to feel very welcome by Sam, Marco, and Jacob. Interesting food and cocktails, as well - where else can you eat a mushroom meringue?

Great food, friendly service, a real gem of a place. Amazing what they produce from the tiny kitchen.

What a wonderful little cocktail bar! Just like a good cocktail, it leaves you wanting more and it’s so very fitting that this is just the warmup to the opening. Prelude has a lovely cozy vibe and atmosphere with very enjoyable live music. The cocktails are marvellous and I especially appreciated the personal touch of them making me a unique non-alc one. The service in general is really spectacular, attentive and friendly in a genuine way. Jacob & Marco are wonderful. I was also surprised by the food - I particularly recommend the sando. In a city as crowded by cocktail bars as London, it takes something special to stand out and Prelude by Oriole has it. I cannot wait until the grand opening itself!

Excellent service, food and cocktails.

Didn't expect that food was this top quality! Loved the chips and pumpkin dishes.🙏🏻 Their service was also just amazing. The guy sitting next to us split my wine when he was trying to pass by, they immediately came with papers and offered another drink. Read my food blog for a full experience.

We came during one of their opening nights and while we enjoyed the cocktails, the small plates didn't blow us away. The service was very attentive and helpful. It's a nice, intimate setting, complemented by live music, so I'll definitely return for that experience!

Benjamin makes incredible spicy margaritas! They’re so good that it’s impossible to have just one! ;)

This used to be a basement speakeasy, but now it's located on the first floor of the Hoxton. They had great cocktails and live music. Nice bar!

Very chic cocktail bar with an ambiance to match. I appreciated the bartenders’ attentiveness and the quality of my old fashioned :).

My happy place and the best dirty martini in town! Highly recommend you go for the oyster happy hour and stay for everything else. Unfortunately they do have a staff issue (everyone is new as they have a high turnover), all my favourites have moved on, which is such a shame - they really made you feel like family and gave that added service that made me go back every week/month! Service is a let down but, who can be sad whilst sitting on a sunny rooftop with an oyster in one hand a dirty martini in another!

The atmosphere and the music was incredible. However, the drinks are about two sips until empty and are mainly filled with ice.

Some scenes of the well-known Netflix series obsession were filmed here

Great cocktails and just the best service. We had a really good time. Would recommend to all and visit again!

This establishment is the epitome of class! Loved every visit. Much love to the owners, entertainers, and patrons for creating a first class experience. Great drinks, great music, great ambiance!!!

The live music was fantastic! Drinks and service were also great - they customised one of the drinks to accommodate a peanut allergy which was very kind.

Great cocktails & art deco vibe

Colonial style prohibition bar. One of the best in London. Great cocktails, fabulous atmosphere, live music. A little on the expensive side, but worth it!

We were fortunate to attend a live jazz night with an incredibly talented female lead singer and fantastic band. Creative and delicious cocktails to compliment the interior and entertainment!

Fun atmosphere and fantastic cocktails.

Amazing experience!!! Best cocktail bar I have been in ages Extremely attentive staff with tasty food and innovative cocktails Also they got live music Can't wait to be back Thank you guys

Don't think it. Just book and bring your partner here ❤️👍

Great bar, staff really nice. A star lost because the bouncer made a point of pretending not to let us in, which apparently he had done to everyone, not a great start to the visit.

Amazing cocktail bar! Atmosphere is great, staff are lovely and cocktails are on top level!!! Really recommend to try their signature cocktails! 10/10 ;)

I have been in the Oriole bar twice (before and after the pandemic). I always like the contrast between the dodgy-looking outdoor context within the same building of the Smithfield market (but not actually dodgy) and the Oriole bar location. The bouncer at the door was a bit cold but I think it is the speak-easy concept of the bar trying to keep the vibe as a secret place. The location is very lovely and calm designed as a warm place with some inspiration from Japanese interiors. I was sitting on a table in the small corner beyond the counter and I thought that was a kind bit more private area but it was next to the waiters' hub and close to the gents' toilet (but was not actually very annoying). I would suggest as to ask for the tables right next to the entrance on the small podium in case you want the quietest spot. The cocktail menu is a very nice list to explore, I had one from the menu, the D'arrigo, which was nice and well presented (I love the cocktails with the one single big chunky ice cube) and a Negroni that was perfectly executed! Service was very good but a tiny little bit too pressing from different members of the staff, I'd rather prefer one single person following for the whole evening. There was live music with a single piano-voice artist playing classic piano bar hits. I really appreciated the staff members met greetings me on my way out. The bill was a bit pricy (£63 for 4 drinks and service charge) but considering the entire experience I think it's within the high average band, and actually worth the entire experience. I would definitely come back again.

Great bar, food, service and live music. The bar will close at the end of 2022 and relocate in London.

I was lucky enough to get here on my birthday as a walk in. The cocktails were just AWESOME and Michael's service was literally GREAT, thanks a million for taking care of us. 12 out of 10!!!

Perfect autumn hideaway, great service and atmosphere, mixologist shakes up a storm

This cozy, stylish lounge is perfect for date nights. Nice atmosphere and drinks, the jazz performances are well worth the cover charge!

This cozy stylish lounge is perfect for date nights. Nice atmosphere and drinks, the jazz performances are well worth the cover charge

Lugar acogedor con vistas fantásticas y dónde se come muy bien. También hacen unos cócteles muy buenos. Pero nosotros cenamos muy a gusto

Nice cocktails and a cool Mediterranean feel.

Lidt af en oplevelse, super betjening men desværre var det som om, at musikken var sekundær.

All the vibes in this cool, dark cocktail hub.

Aside from the live Jazz band that wasn't abusively loud, and stylish decor, the staff were fantastic - on an anniversary night, especially Michael made it with such attention to detail, explaining the cocktails and personally determined to find the best one. I'd hire this person as he'll go far with such a personable and pleasurable nature which is just natural. Great way to celebrate - this place is 5* for sure

The jazz night was ok , however what made this place great was the service and the bar staff who were just so amazing and friendly and made you feel very taken care of. The old fashion cocktail was also just incredible and I could drink that again and again. Thank you all x

Excelente lugar para quem gosta de alta coquetelaria. Cardápio inspirado na rota de migração do Oriole, com releituras de drinks clássicos.

I love the Oriole Bar. Great food and even better drinks. Live Music on the weekend, Saturdays band is really good. The cocktail menu is always updated but they are happy to make anything you like!

Great speakeasy tucked away in the most unassuming of places. Really tasty cocktails 🍹 and lovely live music. The vibe of the place is perfect to unwind and relax after a busy day in London. Definitely recommend to anyone wanting to explore the speakeasy scene in London. 🦩

Accueil sympathique, cocktails au top avec des saveurs originales, une belle soirée et une serveuse très agréable.

Great music, delicious food and wonderful service.

Celebrated our anniversary there. Amazing music and SUPERB cocktails and food! Impeccable service...

Una experiencia sensacional, tuvimos una gran cena con un buen espectáculo. Oliver el camarero que nos atendió fue super atento y de lo mejor de esa noche 100% recomendado

Until recently this was a bar called The Cock Tavern which severed the workers of Smithfield Market when their shift were done and this a very poor replacement. On the face of this bar should do well - great historic location, lots of punters leaving restaurant wanting a few more drinks but it misses the mark so badly. Doorman - huge fuss about getting in ‘have you booked, we’re busy tonight’ lots of radio back and forth with the ‘management’. When finally allowed in the place is half empty?!?! Service and drinks I was wondering how to use my powers of invisibility it took so long to be served! When I was served I ordered an Old Fashioned - simple standard cocktail that they decided to insert a shot of port and top with a brownie. Keep the basics basics!! Cover charge - we took friends visiting from the US , who just wanted to stay a little longer and chat _and not drink - but we’re slapped with a £6 ‘cover charge’ for the music?? It’s a long time since I have seen a cover charge All in all it’s a bit of tourist trap that is in the wrong part of London. It has the potential to be a really great late night spot but has missed the mark and misjudged the typical Smithfield customers Sorry to say, I won’t be back Ps out ad a party of 7 only 4 people had a drink and 50% of tue bill was a cover charge

Great cocktails and at times you have a live music band. Staff is really friendly and knows their cocktails! The cocktails are categorised according to countries/regions and the corresponding alcohol. Really enjoy going there and would definitely recommend. 10/10

Loved this place. Great variety & quality of coctails. Food is not bad either. Music was awesome too.

Friday night £50 each for high quality food including a cocktail and then great music from the Jake Leg Jug Band. The sound needed some adjustment- they didn’t turn up the main mic and the sound was lost - but really good band, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere.

What a fantastic place! Cocktails are unusual and interesting! Service was 5* - Michael was very friendly and helpful the whole time. Would highly recommend if you are looking for an unique experience with equally unique cocktails!

Went here for my birthday and it was a lovely experience. Ambience was lovely, the live jazz music was so good and the set menu was really good too. It would have been nice if they'd paid attention to my booking which mentioned it was for my birthday celebration and maybe surprised me with a small dessert plate as many restaurants do this, but not kicking a fuss about it. Overall great place and would revisit.

Outstanding staff! Great selection of drinks and cool music and atmosphere!

Great atmosphere, fantastic musicians and an amazing selection of cocktails. Good food on the menu, but some options need improvement.

Secret find. Cocktails bar and opened until 2am. Loved the garnish on the cocktail. I'll go back for the live music next time.

Great experience overall, very delicious cocktails, and perfect ambience with live music on. However the food was average at best. The wait for the food was too long, but they offered a Prosecco on the house, which somewhat alleviated it.

I visited this bar with my sister after having thoroughly enjoyed the drinks at its sister bar Nightjar. The drinks at Oriole did not disappoint - the menu was extensive and well-researched, with lots of unique options that it was tricky to pick! We both loved the drinks we selected. The live music was really enjoyable too, however we were seated at a table right in front of the live music so it was difficult for us to speak to one another whilst the music was playing. Additionally (and this is the reason I did not give it more stars), we were not made aware until the bill came around that we were charged a cover fee of an additional £10pp. Were we to know, we may have ordered differently. It is a reasonable fee to pay, however we strongly wish we were told about this in advance.

Well located near Farringdon, this local gem is uniquely situated at the Smithfield Market with a spacious basement. Their menu is pretty creative showcasing different regions of the world and the cocktails are tasty and well presented. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the drinks!

I’m from Toronto but next time I come to London I am coming back. I came alone but all the staff made me feel so welcome. Everyone was so lovely. I came early and they accommodated for me, got a seat right in front of the stage. Now the drinks were absolutely incredible. I enjoy going to different bars a lot but Oriole really had some of the most innovative flavour combinations I have had in a very long time. I also really loved that they had an edible garnish with their drinks. I tried the Reunion and Daintree Collins and was recommended the Acadia. And oh wow the Acadia was so lovely. Definitely never expected to like peanut butter in my drink. Not to mention the live band was great. Anyways, long story short, would definitely recommend it here.

An absolute gem of a cocktail bar. The staff are super attentive and their list has some excellent choices that you can tell, the mixologists just love creating. Live music and excellent service make for a great night and 5 hours fly by! Highly recommended.

Incredible atmosphere! Great drinks, service, food and music. Just the best 😎

Interesting and really delicious offbeat drinks. Really some of the best Cocktails I’ve had

Been there for a Saturday night drink and show menu. Delicious cocktails, wonderful music, and above all, superb service.