Electric Bird Cage

The distinctively theatrical hand of bar and club designer Shaun Clarkson - responsible for Covent Garden's Denim, La Pigalle and countless other opulent interiors - is strikingly evident in his latest bar design. The Electric Bird Cage is clearly intended to be a style destination per se, rather than just a watering hole and its decor - a mix of contemporary Chinoiserie and Jeff Koons-ish kitsch - exudes the kind of idiosyncratic taste that has become Clarkson's trademark.

Visitors are greeted at the entrance before being ushered in to the main room, which is dominated by a dramatic, black and cream carousel bar beneath a high and elegant red stucco ceiling and featuring matching banquettes and cushions ranged around the matt black-painted walls, plus glass-topped turquoise tables with companion wicker stools. Guarding the entrance to the elegant, larger rear room (closed on quiet nights, as when we visited) are two huge, snarling panthers cast in black polymer, and beyond them, a display case full of painted wooden birdcages.

On a relaxed Monday evening the staff outnumbered the customers, but there was Barbara Windsor: downstairs in the women's toilets, her youthful monochrome portrait in a triptych that looms over two turquoise seats cast in the shape of upturned hands.

The drinks menu - which offers everything from green tea to beers, wines, champagnes, premium spirits and exclusive cocktails - is as imaginative as you'd expect of such a classy joint. Alongside the classic mint Mojito, there's also a coriander version, while the Frozen Vanilla Honey Bee (Absolut Vanilla, Kahlúa, Bailey's, honey liqueur Bärenjäger and vanilla ice cream) proves the venue's eccentricities aren't restricted to décor. To eat, there's a mix of oriental nibbles and dim sum. The sole sour note is struck by the music, a grisly (if mercifully quiet) mix of Café del Mar-style 'chill-out' and Chinese coffee-table pop. Even Babs would know that's far from hip.
Sharon O’Connell

Time Out London

See other:

Latest user reviews

Went to meet some friends on a quiet weeknight, but I won't be setting foot in this place again. The drinks were overpriced and cocktails were nothing special in this bar, which is trying too hard but failing to look like a great London venue. Despite being almost empty, the doorstaff gave me a... [More]
Anonymous  May 3 2008

I went to the Electric Birdcage last week and it was fantastic, the food was good and the service too, my friend wanted something special for his birthday to drink this was overheard by a very dishy manager who promptly jumped behind the bar and made him something amazing we were then looked... [More]
Anonymous  Apr 8 2008

totally different and a nice change from everywhere else! with friendly cool outfitted staff and some decor to tantilise the eyes as well as great (cheap) DimSum that is actually really good! this place is a little gem! don't just have an early drink and food - i always stay and dance the...
Anonymous  Mar 7 2008

This is an absolutely appalling place where they only care about making money! I booked a meal for 20 for my birthday and I have to say that every stage of the booking process was a nightmare. They force you to have the overpriced set menu rather than selecting your own dishes. When we arrived... [More]
Anonymous  Feb 2 2008

I do not recommend this place to anyone. I hope this place either changes their attitude to customers, re-trains their staff (and their manager) or just simply close down. I was appalled at how myself and my friends were treated here. My friend had booked for his birthday, and we were told we... [More]
Anonymous  Nov 26 2007

Overall, a hugely disappointing experience. While the standard and price of the food are reasonable, the service is appalling (worse than the infamous Wong Kei in Wardour Street, and that’s saying something)! Certainly not somewhere I would take my friends for a meal in future. In short, we... [More]
Anonymous  Nov 16 2007