What: A spacious cocktail bar, restaurant, and live music venue located within Covent Garden’s The Yards development. Oriole first debuted as a cocktail bar in Clerkenwell in 2016 but closed in 2022 due to the redevelopment of Smithfield Market. This summer, Oriole reemerged as a three-month pop-up named Prelude by Oriole, which served to test the new concept of equally prioritizing food and cocktails.
Who: Oriole is the latest venture from Edmund Weil and Rosie Stimpson’s Speakeasy Entertainment, the team behind acclaimed London cocktail bars Bar Swift and Nightjar. The project is spearheaded by Argentine chef Gustavo Giallonardo, along with front-of-house director and general manager Jacopo Correnti and bar director Samet Ali.
The food: Chef Giallonardo has curated a menu inspired by his heritage, showcasing Latin American fusion that blends influences from Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese), Argentine-Italian, and regional Mexican cuisines. The concise three-course menu features dishes like hamachi tiradito with kimchi aguachile; delica pumpkin paired with green curry ice cream, peanut sambal, and tamarind; chicken served with a soft arepa, mushrooms, and mole velouté; and coconut tres leches with fig leaf sauce and coconut sorbet. Starters are priced between £11 and £13, while mains range in the early twenties, except for a £40 steak option. A three-course dinner and show menu, including a corn chipa cheese bun, is available for £60.
To drink: Bar director Samet Ali has crafted a new cocktail menu for Oriole’s main basement area, drawing inspiration from the adventurous nature of the venue’s namesake bird. The menu is divided into sections for Europe and Africa; The Americas; and Asia. Notable cocktails include the Finca Filadelfia (a complex take on an espresso martini featuring Eminente rum, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, cascara vermouth, chamomile liqueur, espresso, and coconut horchata foam) and the Saraburi Punch (comprising Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask, mango yoghurt, pandan cream, and brown rice syrup). The upstairs Bamboo Bar offers a different cocktail menu with a focus on draft cocktails.
The vibe: Situated on Slingsby Place, this two-story venue was designed in conjunction with Daytrip Studio to evoke the ambiance of the original Oriole in Smithfield. Downstairs, design features include woven bamboo ceiling panels, a tropical wall mural, and cabinets displaying an array of curiosities that complement the globetrotting theme of the cocktail menu. Consistent with the original Oriole, guests can enjoy live jazz, cabaret, and world music during dinner, with the option to book shows in advance. The Bamboo Bar upstairs adopts a classic aesthetic, featuring cherry red and timber banquettes arranged around a stunning bar crafted from Brazilian quartzite.
And another thing: Oriole is part of a growing trend where seasoned cocktail operators are increasingly focusing on food. Other notable examples include London’s Three Sheets, Sheffield’s Bench, and the now-closed Stock Market Grill by Manchester’s Schofield brothers.
7-9 Slingsby Place, London WC2E 9AB
www.oriolebar.com
