A fancy Champagne bottomless brunch in London's financial district that you won't need to take out a loan for? Now we've grabbed your attention, come with us to discover a pretty retreat promising exactly that. Enter: Aviary Rooftop Bar and Restaurant, a lofty paradise just shy of Bank.
The interiors at Aviary Rooftop Bar Finsbury Square are all kinds of wonderful.
DesignMyNight Review Of Aviary Rooftop Restaurant
Perched up 10 floors at the Montcalm Royal London House, Aviary had the wow factor from the beginning. Once inside, you’ll first see the gorgeous glass and gold panelled bar in the centre, very Art Deco-like, with seating surrounding the rectangular space. The patterned velvet lounge chairs towards the front were fun, plus we loved the pops of orange, fuchsia and blue throughout. My particular favourite design though were the flower-shaped lampshades that hung from the ceiling. Ornithologists, take note, as we saw classy references to our feathered friends everywhere, from paintings on the walls and peacocks standing proudly near the entrance to a huge metal birdcage.
The Aviary London reviews are in ...and
she's a stunner alright.
You might know Aviary because of their magnificent winter rooftop igloos that can be seen from afar, or perhaps as the perfect place for after-work cocktails (due to its proximity to Old Street and Moorgate stations, to name a few). But a new multi-course menu with endless fizz has people flocking there on Saturdays now too. The brunch itself will set you back £32 for two dishes and three just £37, and focuses on fresh, locally sourced seasonal faves but given an elevated edge (quite literally). To really up the VIP feel (ok, enough of the puns already), a free-flowing Champagne add-on is £35 each.
Immediately we were presented with glasses of Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale, a citrusy, delicate number that sparkled in line with our surroundings. Our first courses arrived shortly after; my smashed avocado on sourdough is a brekkie fave for a reason. The feta, alongside crème fraiche, was deliciously soft and creamy; contrasting nicely with the crispy shallots for crunch. I couldn’t detect much ponzu which was a shame, think it would have given this dish an extra zing. My lunch date (aka mother) picked a warming ginger crumble oats bowl from the Aviary menu and while she really enjoyed the layers of sharp passion fruit and al dente grains, for us it felt a bit more like a pudding rather than a starter.
Start the day right: we loved Aviary's vibrant decor and pretty plates.
As the DJ played relaxed, downtempo beats and we continued to be generously topped up with bubbles, our attention then turned to the mains. It's safe to say I did not regret choosing the sweet potato rosti as it was a complete knockout. Think ribbons of perfectly cooked spuds, slathered in a decadently rich mayo, placed next to bright green tenderstem broccoli. The sriracha honey brought wonderful sweet and spicy notes, plus don’t skip the crispy fried egg on top. Next up at Aviary rooftop? My mum couldn’t get enough of her fried chicken and Henderson’s relish waffles, including the oozy runny egg that dripped over the fluffiest of bases. Slices of sour pickled cucumber cut through the richness, including the lovely lemon thyme mayo and the stacked breadcrumbed meat, which was still moist inside. Win, win.
Next up, it’s dessert time. Our advice? Make a beeline for Aviary London’s blackberry cheesecake, a beautifully presented, not overpoweringly sweet plate bringing together refreshing sorbet and velvet purple layers on top of a buttery, crumbly base. Dainty swirls of white chocolate were not only easy on the eye but also finished everything off perfectly.
Aviary Rooftop Restaurant And Bar Review: Overall
Well, let’s just say we can’t stop chirping about our
trip to Aviary restaurant London’s bottomless Champagne brunch.
This elegant oasis, part of ETM Collection who also manage slinky
rooftop Wagtail, not only seriously delivered on views (you could
see famous London skyscrapers including The Shard) but the food was
also pocket-friendly and tasty. I can confirm they mean business on
their bottomless offering as well; our glasses were continuously
re-filled, sometimes without us knowing. An upmarket weekend treat
for early birds? You know where to go…
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💰 Price: £139 excluding service. 📍 Address: Montcalm Royal London House, 22-25 Finsbury Square, London, EC2A 1DX. 👌 Perfect for: Starting a day of celebrations with friends. ⭐ Need to know: The rooftop closes at 10pm daily. |
Like this? Then you're bound to love our guide to London's best rooftop restaurants. Go on, who knows what you'll discover.
