On 28th August, Oriole will open in The Yards, Covent Garden - the second permanent iteration of the award-winning cocktail bar. The new Oriole will draw on the success of the team’s research and development pop-up, PRELUDE by Oriole, to this time open as both a bar and restaurant.
From a plush basement space reminiscent of the original speakeasy, guests will be able to enjoy the team’s innovative serves alongside a new á la cartè food menu from chef director Gustavo Giallionardo; marking the first time outside of PRELUDE by Oriole that visitors can compliment the team’s signature cocktails with an á la cartè offering. The menu will draw on Giallionardo’s Argentinian heritage to celebrate the fusion cuisines of Latin America, taking inspiration from Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese), Argentine-Italian and regional Mexican traditions. Dishes will pair native Latin American ingredients such as Peruvian huacatay (black mint) and Argentinian Torrontés with the likes of daikon and fig leaves in a number of combinations that feel distinctly Latin American, while showcasing the ubiquitous global influences on the continent’s cuisines. These will include: Hamachi tiradito with kimchi aguachile; Lamb rump with spring greens, huacatay (Peruvian black mint), carrot and yeast sauce; Sea trout with Torrontés beurre blanc, trout roe and daikon fondant, and Coconut tres leches with fig leaf sauce and coconut sorbet.
To accompany the food menu, Bar Director Samet Ali has developed a cocktail menu inspired by Oriole’s namesake - the adventure-seeking oriole birds. Drinks will draw on distinctive imbibing traditions from around the world, combining different ingredients and techniques in a series of unique serves. These will include the Finca Filadelfia, a complex, full-bodied take on an espresso martini with Eminente 7 y.o rum, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, cascara (coffee shell) vermouth, chamomile liqueur, espresso and coconut horchata foam. A number of Oriole’s signature cocktails will also appear on the menu, as well as the brand new Rio Verde, a take on a tequila punch with tamarillo (tree tomato) purée, peach aperitif and watermelon - designed for sharing.
As with the original Oriole, dinners will be soundtracked by live jazz, cabaret and world music, with diners able to book the show in advance - alongside a set three-course menu curated by Giallionardo and his kitchen team. Front of House Director Jacopo Correnti will lead the team in welcoming guests with the personal, attentive and informed service synonymous with Oriole.
The restaurant will also be home to Oriole’s first in-house bar lab, a dedicated space for cocktail development where the team will be crafting clarified seasonal juices and syrups using a centrifuge. An Ultrasonic Homogeniser will use ultrasonic waves to extract, infuse and rapidly create barrel-aged flavour across a number of drinks, maintaining the ingredients’ vivid colours and aromas while producing smoother overall flavours.
Upstairs, visitors will be able to enjoy a range of aperitivo-style cocktails at the ground-floor Bamboo Bar - an ode to the classic ‘Bamboo’ aperitif. Inspired by the classic cocktail, serves will showcase various expressions of sherry and vermouth, with a number of cocktails also available on draught. These will include the Odyssey (Don Julio Blanco tequila, The Lost Explorer Espadin mezcal, pickled pink ginger, Lillet rose, and timur berry soda) and Chincha Alta (Ketel One vodka, moscatel pisco, apple marigold, absinthe, champagne). For those looking for a lighter affair, a succinct menu of bar snacks will be available, featuring small plates such as Octopus Karaage and a Salt Beef Steamed Bun.
Located on Slingsby Place within The Yards, Covent Garden, the two-story venue has been designed in collaboration with Daytrip Studio to create a similar experience to the original Oriole. Downstairs, woven bamboo ceiling panels will compliment a signature tropical wall mural in an intimate setting, inspired by the natural world. Cabinets will punctuate the space, filled with many of the unique objects on display at the original Oriole. The ground-floor Bamboo Bar will take inspiration from classicism, with cherry red and timber banquettes set around a centrepiece bar made from Brazilian quartzite.
Edmund Weil, Director of Speakeasy Entertainment, says: Rosie and I could not be more excited to bring Oriole back to life in London’s historic entertainment hub. We built the brand into a true destination in an obscure location in Smithfield Market, and now have the opportunity to bring the concept in its new form to a wider audience within The Yards, Covent Garden. We’re also delighted to have the driving forces behind the bar, kitchen and front of house success of the original venue as partners in this new business. We believe Oriole’s offering of top-tier food, drinks and entertainment in the heart will fit perfectly into this dynamic and developing neighbourhood.
On behalf of Longmartin Properties Ltd, Owners of The Yards, Jamie Thipthorpe, Director at CBRE, said: The signing of Oriole marks a key milestone for The Yards, transforming the destination into a late-night proposition with quality and authenticity at its core. Following the success of Prelude, Oriole’s Latin-American pop-up concept at The Yards earlier this year, it’s fantastic to welcome the operator on a more permanent basis, playing a huge role in the diversification of the area. Our vision has always been to deliver innovative and distinctive concepts, and we look forward to seeing The Yards elevate its position as one of the best day-to-night F&B offerings in the capital.
Oriole comes from Speakeasy Entertainment, the group also behind the award-winning Bar Swift and Nightjar, which opened in 2010 and was voted one of the top three bars in the world at 50 Best Bars 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2015, the team opened Oriole in Smithfield Market, soon after named ‘Best New International Cocktail Bar’ at the Spirited Awards 2016. The original site closed at the beginning of 2023, with the new, larger Oriole marking the bar’s permanent return.
